BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Senior is finalist for scholarship

Laguna Beach High School senior Andrew Lyon was selected as a scholarship finalist from a field of more than 2,100 semifinalists by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, based on academic excellence, school leadership and community activities.

Lyon is one of 250 high school seniors selected nationwide to compete for a cash scholarship from the foundation.

On April 12, Lyon will join other finalists as they travel to Atlanta, the headquarters for the Coca-Cola Company, for the Scholars Weekend to compete for 50 four-year college scholarships of $20,000 and 200 four-year scholarships of $10,000.

Over the four-day weekend, the finalists will interview with a National Selection Committee, tour the city, meet with former Coca-Cola Scholars and participate in a range of activities including a community service project.

Additionally, the 2007 Class of Coca-Cola Scholars will be recognized at a banquet hosted by Coca-Cola, educators, local dignitaries and friends of the Scholars Foundation.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation was created in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to establish a legacy for the education of tomorrow’s leaders through college scholarships.

With the 2007 Class of Scholars, the foundation will have provided more than 3,750 young scholars nationwide with nearly $32 million since the foundation’s inception.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ at LBHS

Laguna Beach High School will debut its production of “Beauty and the Beast” at 7:30 p.m. March 22, with additional shows on March 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 at the Artists’ Theatre on the high school grounds. Matinee performances will be 2:30 p.m. March 25 and April 1.

The show will feature a massive set, “magical” props and over 100 costumes, and is based on the Disney musical.

Tickets are $10 for students, $12 for adults and $15 for reserved seats.

For more information, call (949) 497-7769.

Elementary kids celebrate reading

Top of the World and El Morro Elementary Schools celebrated the 10th anniversary of the National Education Association’s “Read Across America” program with a focus on Dr. Seuss.

Adult guest readers — from school board members to “Desperate Housewives” actors — shared books with students at both schools; the children listened to varying reading styles, and learned that many adults possess a life-long passion for reading.

“The Cat in the Hat” was read to the entire student body at Top of the World, and the winners of the Dr. Seuss writing contest read their favorite book summaries to the rest of the school.

Children send letter of thanks to city

The children of the Community Learning Center (CLC), an alternative elementary school within the Top of the World campus, presented a letter to the Laguna Beach City Council at its March 6 meeting.

The CLC program’s 38 first- through fourth-graders had learned in school about the City Council’s passing the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, and decided that they wanted to thank the city for taking this step against global warming.

The kids prepared and signed a letter, which they presented to Mayor Toni Iseman, that proposed five steps that the city should take to reduce greenhouse gases, including sending letters to the president and governor urging them to reduce global warming, and planting more trees which absorb carbon dioxide.

The students also asked the City Council to keep them informed on the steps that the city was taking to meet the requirements of the agreement.

Mayor Iseman accepted the letter and urged the students to monitor the City Council to make sure that the objectives of the Agreement were met.