High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Foothill Student Takes First Prize in Poster Contest

Jennifer Anderson of Foothill High School in Santa Ana won a $300 savings bond as the first-place winner of the annual Knights of Pythias poster contest.

This year’s contest theme, “The Hazards of Drug Abuse,” drew entrants from seven county schools with more than 120 posters depicting the problems caused by drivers who are impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Anderson, who will receive her award April 20 at the Knights of Phythias lodge hall in Tustin, is now eligible to compete in the state contest.

In second place was Octavio Camacho (Tustin High), who will receive a $200 savings bond, and in third place, Jayce Hwang (Foothill), who will receive a $100 savings bond. Honorable mentions went to Michelle Garde and Lisa Templeton (Tustin), Darin Walker and Stephen Wu (Foothill), Edwardo Corona (Century) and David Kimball (Los Alamitos).

Receiving $200 scholarships will be Anderson, Corona, Sheryl Murakoski (Cypress) and Nancy Basse (Mater Dei).

The Knights of Pythias was founded in Washington in 1864. Its members support children’s charities, a youth camp in the Sierra and the Children’s Welfare Foundation. For information about the April 20 awards ceremony, contact John O. Bradley, poster contest chairman, at (714) 531-6340.

More than 100 drawings and paintings produced by 39 Foothill High School students are on display through April 30 at the Orange County Department of Education. The works can be viewed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the county office at 200 Kalmus Drive off Red Hill Avenue in Costa Mesa.

“The display has been very well received,” said Foothill art teacher Elizabeth Gecsey, who received an “outstanding contributions to education” award from the county Department of Education last October.

Villa Park High School senior Tricia Roby, 17, a song leader who carries a full schedule of honor classes, was named Miss California Teen USA during a three-day pageant in San Luis Obispo.

Roby received $3,000 in cash and an assortment of gifts and expense-paid trips. She will compete with 50 others for the national title in July in a televised pageant.

The Orange resident, a cast member of the musical “Bye-Bye Birdie” at her high school, plans to attend UC San Diego and major in psychology.

“Can you imagine a world without men? No crime and lots of happy fat women.”

--Sylvia (Nicole Hollander)