Youth

News for the 18-and-under crowd

Science Team Excels in Contest

Seventeen Ladera Vista Junior High School students recently won the regional Science Olympiad.

The team, which placed first in the Orange County competition, came in second in the state. Members participated in several contests that test skills in mathematics, geology, aerodynamics, biology and mechanical engineering. The Olympiad is a national program that encourages interest in the sciences.

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Students Praise English Project

Students in Santa Ana High School’s Project EASE (English Acquisition in Secondary Education) gave testimonials at a recent reunion of former classmates, praising the program for raising their self-esteem and desire for higher education.

The project targets recent immigrant students who speak no English. It offers intensive classes to teach the language and helps students adapt to school life in a new country.

Santa Ana Unified School District officials attended the reunion, at which the Chicano Poet Society and Rondalla del Sol, a Mexican musical group, performed. They offered praise and encouragement to the students, who worked two months to put together their presentations.

Students titled the event “The Triumph is Within You” to emphasize that students can succeed if they want to.

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Rewarded for Community Work

Carrie Feiler, 18, of Sonora High School and Joseph Zizi, 17, of La Habra High School have been awarded $400 and $200, respectively, for their work in the community.

The awards were given by Soroptomist International of La Habra in recognition of their efforts to better their hometown.

Feiler, who is working toward a gold award from her Girl Scout troop, has volunteered more than 700 hours for the National Charity League. Zizi, his school’s student president, is a Boy Scout, a youth minister and captain of a cross-country track team.

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Student Captures Majorette Honors

Rancho San Joaquin Middle School student Rita Leigh Strom was chosen 1995’s Petite Majorette of California at a recent Drum Majorettes of America competition.

Strom, who is a member of the Fountain Valley Baton Team, also won top state ranking at the competition in the twirling, fancy strut, basic strut and advanced hoop categories.

--COMPILED BY MIMI KO, WITH RUSS LOAR