High Life / A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Carlos Lopez of El Modena High School won Best of Show and $100 for his ceramic sculpture titled “Me and My Shadow” at the recent Orange Coast College third annual High School Art Exhibit.

Students who won first-place $75 prizes from the 19 Orange County high schools that participated: Jake Arellano, Costa Mesa High (two-dimensional category); Travis Conley, Foothill (three-dimensional category), and Mark Molsberry, El Modena (photography).

Dana Hills sophomore James Yow has good reason to scream “Yowza!”--one of Axl Rose’s favorite expressions, reports the Paper, the school’s student newspaper.

Yow’s cello performance for the recording of Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” and his appearance in the music video were, in his words, “anybody’s dream. . . . I don’t even have an agent.”

Because Yow’s teacher, who was supposed to be in the recording and the video, could not attend, Yow substituted for him. For his two nights’ work, Yow earned $318.84 and a new admiration for the band.

“I have a lot more respect for Axl,” he said. “He’s a genius on piano.”

UC Irvine’s continuing education department will present “Preparing for Success in College,” a six-session course for entering and beginning college students, July 27 through Aug. 5.

Students will be taught keys to effective time management, study skills, memory training, test-taking strategies and speed reading in classes that will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

Fees are $185, including materials. For information, call UCI Extension at (714) 856-5414.

“The human race is faced with a cruel choice: work or daytime television.”

--Unknown