Hard Work Makes the Grade for 8

It’s not every day that struggling students get to receive an A for effort. But eight Burbank students who managed to pull themselves out of the academic doldrums last year were recently rewarded for their efforts by the Burbank Noon Lions and the Burbank Family YMCA, which honored the hard workers with “Catch a Falling Star” awards at a special luncheon.

Burbank High School senior Nancy Casteneda joined Burroughs High School senior Josh Van Keuren at the noontime ceremony. They and six other turnaround students representing each grade at both high schools received $50 savings bonds and summer memberships to the local YMCA.

Nancy raised her failing grades by attending adult education classes four nights a week. She graduated with a B average.

“Every student has the potential to do well,” said Marva Murphy, coordinator of the Lions Club project. “What’s often lacking in getting him or her motivated is self-esteem. Kids who turn themselves around deserve the recognition to help build up that self-esteem.”

KUDOS

Student Honored: Brande Sheree Cain, an incoming freshman at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, has won the 1999 Huntington Learning Center Opportunity Scholarship, co-sponsored by the Encino Chamber of Commerce. The 13-year-old honor student, who served as a peer mediator at Mulholland Middle School, was chosen from among dozens of nominees from seven public middle and high schools, based on counselors’ recommendations and the students’ community involvement.

Brande will receive 100 hours of instruction in reading, math and critical thinking skills at the learning center, part of an enrichment program designed to maximize her academic potential.

In addition to her volunteer work at the Van Nuys middle school, Brande participated in church activities, worked for the NAACP and volunteered for local food and clothing drives.

Essay Winners: Six local high school seniors have won American Honda/Mario J. Machado scholarships based on their winning essays on cultural diversity in Los Angeles. Receiving the $1,000 scholarships were Suzanne Cabral of Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, Joanne Chang and Joseph Tran of Van Nuys High School, Lily Lam of North Hollywood High School, Karen Landaverde of Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga and Surapong Somkaew of Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley.

END NOTES

High school students interested in veterinary or zoology careers are invited to attend an informational meeting on the Los Angeles Zoo’s student volunteer classes at 10 a.m. Saturday in the zoo’s Andrew Norman Education Building. The classes, which run 19 weeks, begin in October. Call (323) 644-4763 for details . . . The Valley Cultural Center invites Valley students, ages 7-12, to attend the center’s free “Monday Morning Concerts for Kids” at 10 a.m. at the Madrid Theater in Canoga Park through Aug. 9. The San Fernando Symphony will perform Monday. For information and reservations, call (818) 704-1358 . . . About $3 million in scholarship money is available to teachers and students in Target stores’ Take Charge of Education program. About $2 million will go to qualified high school seniors who demonstrate a commitment to community service, education and volunteerism. The application deadline is Nov. 1; applications are available now in all Target stores.