High Life : A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Drill Team to Compete in Japan

Valencia High School’s dance team, which placed second at the Miss Drill Team U.S.A. competition April 25 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, will represent the United States at Miss Drill Team International July 23 through Aug. 3 in Japan.

The team, which is coached by Vicki Ortega and faculty adviser Emily Chumchal, competed against 22 teams in the national competition. Diamond Bar won the right to compete internationally but is allowing Valencia to take its place.

Japanese officials are picking up the tab for everything for the girls but their air fares, which will run $1,100 per person. Fund-raisers are being planned, including garage sales and carwashes (every Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at 1201 N. Rose Drive, Yorba Linda).

Dance showcases are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 29 and 30 at Valencia High School. Admission is $4 in advance, $5 at the door. A Mexican dinner will be served before the May 29 showcase beginning at 5 p.m. for $5.

Members of Valencia’s dance team are Koppi Beskid, Carmela Brunetti, Carrie Dallies, Heather Dipre, Melissa Jaramillo, Kim Lapeere, Lindsay Maurer, Lesley Norris, Debi Pian, Suzan Robison, Jenni Soo and Shea Swearingen.

For further information, call Valencia High at (714) 996-4970.

At the ninth annual Golden Touch Awards breakfast May 6 at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, students from 15 Orange County high schools honored adults they deemed instrumental in their lives.

The awards ceremony, sponsored by the Assessment and Treatment Services Center, is designed for high school students in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Orange and Tustin to recognize positive support given to them by adults.

This year’s winners: Ellen Grant (Alternative Education Center), Sue Thompson (Canyon High School), John Weyhrauch (Corona del Mar), Joe Havens (Costa Mesa), Gail Richards (El Modena), Bob Hammond (Estancia), Susan Radley (Foothill), Jim Mamer (Irvine), Mary Ann Archbold (Newport Harbor), Shirley Fox (Orange), Len Casey (S.E.L.F.), Linda Andrews (Tustin), Roberta Dieter (University), Norma Preston (Villa Park) and Nikki Robinson (Woodbridge).

ATSC is a private, nonprofit juvenile diversion and counseling program dedicated to the mission: “Arrest the problem, not the child.”

“Never get into fights with ugly people because they have nothing to lose.”--Unknown