Education Notebook, April 2-8, 2015

CANYON SPRINGS RECEIVES GRAMMY SCHOOLS AWARD

Canyon Springs High School, 350 E. Alexander Road in North Las Vegas, recently was honored by the GRAMMY Foundation with the 2015 GRAMMY Signature Schools Enterprise Award. As an economically underserved school, Canyon Springs is being recognized for its commitment to music education with a grant of $5,500.

For more information, visit grammyintheschools.com.

CSN TO BRING THERAPY DOGS ONTO CAMPUS

The College of Southern Nevada plans to have a group of therapy dogs visit each of CSN’s three campus libraries throughout April to help students de-stress as they gather to work on research papers and group projects and prepare for upcoming final exams. The schedule is: noon to 2 p.m. April 2 at the Henderson campus library, A-120; noon to 2 p.m. April 9 at the Charleston campus library, I Building; and noon to 2 p.m. April 16 at the Cheyenne campus library, E-201 in the main building.

For more information, visit csn.edu.

GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP SET FOR LOCAL FOOD PROMOTION

The Regional Rural Development Centers, in cooperation with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, have developed workshop materials and resources focused on improving the funding success rate of applicants to USDA AMS grant programs, specifically the Farmers Market Promotion Program and the Local Food Promotion Program.

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension plans to offer free training from 1 to 5 p.m. April 7 at its Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road, to assist individuals and organizations in their efforts to secure AMS resources to further the provision of local foods. Registration is required. To register, visit eventbrite.com and search for “Farmers Market and Local Food Grant Workshop.”

For more information, call Carol Bishop at 702-397-2604, ext. 1. or visit unce.unr.edu.

EAST CAREER & TECH PLANS SENIOR PROJECT DAY

Seniors from East Career & Technical Academy, 6705 Vegas Valley Drive, are set to present their senior capstone projects to the public April 8. The projects are culminating learning experiences that allow students to conduct research based on exploring a new idea or proposing an innovative way to improve an existing product or a process. Students are required to research their topic using primary sources, write an in-depth report and create exhibits for the community, staff and students to view.

The academy has eight different program of study: automotive mechanical technology; construction technology, culinary arts, education, electronic technology, information technology systems, marketing and hospitality, and medical professions.

Guests are welcome for the event, set from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the school, 6705 Vegas Valley Drive. For more information, call 702-799-8888 or visit easttechtitans.com.

MGM RESORTS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CULINARY ASSOCIATES PROGRAM

MGM Resorts International is accepting applications from professional cooks who wish to broaden their experience under the guidance of expert chefs at Bellagio, Aria, The Mirage, Mandalay Bay and other MGM properties through MGM’s Culinary Associates Program. During the program, they will work in full-time paid positions for one year in the kitchens of MGM Resorts, guided by hands-on instruction from the resorts’ executive chefs.

Applicants must have at least one year of resort experience and at least three years of experience in a lead cook position. Apply by April 10 at mgmresortscareers.com (select “MGM Resorts International Operations” from the drop-down menu, click “Search New” and enter “Culinary Associates Program.”) Training for those accepted is set to begin July 15.

YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

A five-year scholarship and educational support program is accepting applications for its Young Scholars Program through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The foundation seeks seventh-graders from low- to moderate-income families who stand out because of their high academic ability and achievement, persistence and desire to help others.

Young Scholars come from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and from rural, suburban and urban communities throughout the U.S. They are typically in the top 1 percent of their class academically and have family incomes averaging $30,000 annually.

Up to 65 students will be selected and paired with an educational adviser who will work to ensure that scholars are academically challenged and inspired, have the financial resources to develop their academic and extracurricular talents and are prepared for college success. Successful Young Scholars are eligible to apply for the foundation’s $40,000-per-year college scholarship.

The application deadline is April 14. For more information, visit jkcf.org/ysp.

LVA TO HOST COLLEGE FAIR APRIL 27

The Western Association for College Admission Counseling plans to bring a Las Vegas College Fair to Las Vegas Academy, 315 S. Seventh St., from 7 to 9 p.m. April 27. Pre-fair workshops are planned from 5:15 to 6:40 p.m. All Clark County high school students and their parents are encouraged to attend to meet with representatives from more than 150 colleges and universities. The fair is open to both public and private school students. Admission is free.

For more information or to pre-register, visit wacaccollegefair.com or email Joel S. Diamond, college counselor, at jsdiamond@interact.ccsd.net. For more information about WACAC, visit wacac.org.

POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO OFFER $2,500 SCHOLARSHIP

The Nevada Policy Research Institute plans to offer a $2,500 scholarship to a graduating Clark County high school student who shows the potential to make a significant contribution to the cause of economic liberty.

This is the fifth year that the Professor R.S. Nigam & NPRI Freedom Scholarship is being offered. It is open to all Clark County high school students (public, private, online or home school) who plan to attend college beginning in the fall. Students are asked to write a two-page essay on the topic “Improving education: raise taxes or allow school choice?”

All applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.2 and complete an application, which includes the essay question. To be eligible, a student’s parents must have earned less than $125,000 in income in 2013, and the student must plan to attend a four-year degree program in business, economics, political science, public administration or a related field, at an accredited college or university.

Essays and applications are due by May 1. For the application, visit tinyurl.com/nureqff. For more information, call 702-222-0642 or visit npri.org.

ENGELSTAD FOUNDATION AWARDS $1.6M GRANT

The Engelstad Family Foundation has awarded $1.6 million grant to Project 150, a nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students in Southern Nevada and Reno. The grant will be issued over three years to help support operating expenses and allow for the purchase of an 8,000-square-foot facility housing an office, warehouse and boutique shop at 3600 N. Rancho Drive. The boutique will be stocked with donated clothes for students.

For more information, visit project150.org.

CIS OF NEVADA GETS GRANT TO PURCHASE LAPTOPS

Nevada Women’s Philanthropy recently awarded a $350,000 grant to Communities In Schools of Nevada for the purchase of 240 laptops for six high schools that previously did not have access to those resources. The computers give high school students the chance to apply for college and scholarships, do research and find and apply for jobs post-graduation.

A presentation was held March 24 at Cimarron-Memorial High School, 2301 N. Tenaya Way. For more information about Nevada Women’s Philanthropy, visit nvwomensphilanthropy.org. For more information about CIS of Nevada, visit cisnevada.org.

CSN TO INSTITUTE SAFE ZONES FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS

The College of Southern Nevada has launched a Safe Zone program, a resource for the LGBTQ community. The program is modeled after programs at colleges and universities across the country and aims to promote a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for members of LGBTQ communities and to educate and promote understanding, appreciation and respect for everyone.

The program includes training for CSN faculty and staff members and the identification of Safe Zones throughout CSN’s campuses. These Safe Zones will be easily identified by stickers placed in conspicuous areas and will provide judgment-free zones for students to visit with faculty and staff members who have gone through the training and receive information about resources available in the community.

For more information, visit csn.edu.

CAST MEMBERS FROM ‘NEWSIES’ VISIT FRENCH ELEMENTARY

Disney Theatrical Productions’ new wellness and fitness program Get Up and Go had cast members from “Newsies” visiting French Elementary School, 3235 E. Hacienda Ave., March 19 while the Broadway musical was in Las Vegas for an eight-show engagement at The Smith Center. Instructors taught students one routine and offered tips for nutritious eating and everyday activity.

Get Up and Go promotes fun ways that kids can lead healthier lifestyles through dance, inspired by Disney’s Broadway shows and choreography. For more information, visit newsiesthemusical.com/getupandgo.

ACTOR’S WORKSHOP PLANNED AT CSN

Don Barnhart plans to teach The Actor’s Responsibility, a five-week workshop, beginning May 30 at the College of Southern Nevada. CSN’s forthcoming course catalog will have complete details, including location and times.

Barnhart plans to cover, for both the beginner and experienced actor, the fine points of dealing with directors, scripts, fellow actors and editors. The workshops is not on “how to act” but rather a look into the fine art of performing on stage, on film, on sitcoms and commercials.

Bring headshots for critique and analysis. Students will prepare a monologue or scene to perform at the end of the course.

For more information, visit donlewisbarnhart.com and csn.edu.

COX SCIENCE CHALLENGE TO AWARD FUNDS

Cox Las Vegas hopes to discover Clark County School District high school students who are Stars of Science through its Science Challenge 2015. Students can participate in the challenge by creating a 2-minute digital story (video) that shows science at work in one of three categories: applied science, natural science and health science.

The first-place participant in each story category will receive $1,000 plus $1,000 for his teacher and $1,000 for their school. Second- and third-place winners, their teacher and school also will receive cash awards. Winners will be announced May 2 during the 2015 Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival at Cashman Center.

The entry deadline is 11:59 p.m. April 15. For more information, visit coxstarsofscience.com.

NEVADA NATURALIST PROGRAM TO BEGIN APRIL 6

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Nevada Naturalist program is set to start its spring semster April 6 and to continue from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The program educates and trains adults interested in learning about Southern Nevada natural resources. Participants study natural resources, environmental education and interpretation, laws and regulations, and environmental issues.

Field trips are scheduled for Saturdays at various times and locations. The cost is $195 per semester, which includes all program materials, refreshments and some field trips. The second semester is planned for fall.

For more information or to register, contact Denise Parsons at 702-948-5906 or parsonsd@unce.unr.edu. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/nevadanaturalist.

NEVADA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY PLANS INFORMATION SESSION

Nevada Connections Academy, a virtual public charter school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, plans to host an information sessions regarding enrollment for the 2015-16 school year from 5:30 to 7 p.m. April 13 at the Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

For more information, visit connectionsacademy.com.

UNLV LAW STUDENTS TO TEACH FREE INCOME TAX CLASS

UNLV law students are set to teach free income tax education classes during a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. April 16 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Under the supervision of a Boyd School of Law professor and a Nevada Legal Services attorney, UNLV law students will discuss filing status, earned income tax credit, child tax credit, premium tax credit and penalties for not having health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. An open question-and-answer session will follow.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/nqkejqm.

SONS OF NORWAY OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP

Norwegian-American students who are at least high school seniors living in Clark County can apply for a scholarship from the Vegas Viking Lodge of the Sons of Norway.

Applications must be postmarked by April 10 and are available at vegasviking.com. The scholarships are worth at least $500 each and must be used for full-time, post-high school studies. Winners are chosen based on grades, financial need, involvement in extracurricular activities, and the content and quality of their essays, including how they express appreciation for their Norwegian heritage.

Tax-deductible contributions to the scholarship fund, including naming gifts, are welcome. If preferred, a donor’s name may be kept confidential. To donate, a check payable to the Vegas Viking Sons of Norway Scholarship Fund should be mailed to treasurer Warren Halvorsen, 830 Kingston Springs Way, Las Vegas, NV 89123-3643.

For more information, call Suzan Sibert, co-chairwoman of the scholarship committee, at 702-645-6666.

UNLV TO HOST FESTIVAL OF COMMUNITIES APRIL 11

The Festival of Communities, a celebration of cultural traditions, is set from noon to 5 p.m. April 11 at the Alumni Walk at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Live music, dancing, readings and performances are planned, along with international food tastings, booths with displays of art and culture, balloon art, face painting and more.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/ly7uezr.

REBEL PREVIEW TO OFFER LOOK AT COLLEGE LIFE

Prospective students are invited to learn about life as a UNLV student at Rebel Preview from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 11. Students and families can get questions answered and tour the campus at 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, along with residence halls and specialty areas. Activities and informational sessions are planned, including discussions of degree programs and qualifying for scholarships and prizes and meeting current UNLV Rebels.

For more information, visit unlv.edu/event/rebel-preview.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING SET FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Partners in Policymaking plans to offer leadership training for people with developmental disabilities, parents and family members. The training is designed to teach the power of advocacy and change the way people with disabilities are supported, viewed, taught, live and work. The program will provide information about issues and policies related to disability and develop participant competencies to become more effective in influencing policy development at all levels.

Parents of children with developmental disabilities and adults with developmental disabilities are encouraged to apply. Classes are planned from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. once a month through August at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road. Participants are expected to commit to all classes or complete make-up assignments. Remaining dates are: April 18, May 16, June 20, July 19 (in Reno) and Aug. 15. Participants will receive a stipend to help with child care and transportation costs.

For more information or to apply, visit nced.info/pip.

SPLASHDOWN FOR KIDS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR NONPROFIT GROUPS

Communities In Schools of Nevada and After-School All-Stars Las Vegas announce that tickets for the second annual Splashdown For Kids are on sale. The event is planned for April 25 and 26 at Wet‘n’Wild water park and offers a preview to summer with proceeds benefiting both local nonprofits.

Tickets are $25 and include entry to Wet‘n’Wild. For tickets, visit shop.omniticket.com/WWL/index.cfm and use the promo code “CISASASDAY.” Select general admission tickets, enter the code, and ticket options will become available.

For more information about Communities In Schools, visit cisnevada.org.

For more information about After-School All-Stars, visit asaslv.org.