BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Tourney raises funds for breast cancer

Laguna Beach High School’s Pink Ribbon Club will hold its second annual Parker Games basketball tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday to raise money for breast cancer research.

The games pit students and faculty against each other.

Students from all four grade levels and faculty members will play on co-ed teams in a tournament-style format in the high school’s Dugger Gym. Last year, the seniors took top honors.

There will also be a live auction with goods from sponsors including Hobie and Gina’s Pizza, a bake sale and an information station with materials about breast cancer.

The school’s dance team and members of Pink Ribbon, a breast cancer awareness club, will perform during intermission.

The event is named after Laguna Beach high school teacher Kristin Parker, who participates in the 60-mile Breast Cancer 3-Day walk in San Diego.

Funds raised will go toward her walk, raising money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Last year’s Parker Games raised about $4,000.

Admission is $5 for presale tickets or $8 at the door. For more information, call the school at (949) 497-7750.

Imagination Celebration opens

The 2007 Imagination Celebration, an annual countywide spring art festival for children, teenagers and families, opens tomorrow and continues through May 20.

More than 60 affordable or free events are offered in 24 Orange County cities, including performances at the Laguna Playhouse.

For a detailed list of events, go to www.ocimagination celebration.org or call (714) 556-5160, ext. 16, for a free brochure.

MY HERO releases educational DVD

The MY HERO Project, based in Laguna Beach, has released its first “MY HERO Report” 30-minute educational DVD, featuring Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.

The DVD uses youth reporters and narrators to showcase heroes from around the globe.

In this episode, youth reporter Slater Jewell-Kemker chronicles Jean-Michel Cousteau’s work as an environmental hero. Cousteau is celebrated for his work in educating young people around the world and fostering a conservation ethic.

The DVD also shows the MY HERO Project in action. Viewers watch a brief history of the organization and learn how to become a part of the MY HERO Project by sharing stories of the people who have touched their lives.

For more information, call (949) 376-5964 or visit myheroproject.org.

Sanders receives merit scholarship

Laguna Beach High School senior Luke Sanders was named the winner of the National Merit Rockwell Collins Scholarship.

The National Merit Scholarship program offers corporate-sponsored awards to seniors from about 300 companies, foundations and other business organizations.

Sanders said that he plans to go into the mechanical engineering field.

Irvine Co. names semifinalists

Laguna Beach High School seniors Cameron Cler and Sam Trusley have been selected as two of eight semifinalists by the Irvine Company for its annual Student Leadership Awards program.

The students will each receive $5,000 in scholarship funds and could earn another $5,000 as the competition progresses.

No Thurston ‘Town’ fundraiser this year

Thurston Middle School is not holding an “Out on the Town” fundraiser this year at local restaurants, as stated in this column on April 13. An outdated e-mail announcing a previous event was accidentally included in the column.