Briefly In Education

Teen conference builds leadership

Nine members of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach’s Keystone Club joined 400 teens Nov. 12 to 15 to participate in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2009 Regional Keystone Conference in the Bay Area.

The teens took over the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City to celebrate their commitment to community service, academic success and career preparation.

While in Foster City, members had the opportunity to explore colleges and career opportunities. The teens visited corporations including Google, NASA, Oracle, Facebook and EA Games. Others took BART to Berkeley, Stanford, San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco for tours. For many of them this was their first time on a college campus.

They also learned how to put together a resume, handle themselves in an interview and save for college. One of the highlights was a speech from Maria Ryes, one of the original Freedom Writers.

Members also enjoyed activities like carnivals and dances.

This year the group participated in a National Keystone Service Project, “Teens helping Teens.” The goal was to raise money through teen events and then purchase items for the underprivileged teens living at Orangewood juvenile facility. The Orangewood Children’s Foundation began 25 years ago with a vision to build a facility to shelter Orange County children who were the victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment.

Through two fundraising events, the Keystone members raised enough money to put together teen toiletry kits, filled with items teenagers really need such as face wash, razors, shaving cream, deodorant, ChapStick, body wash and nail care items.

Call Megan Wilson at (949) 494-2535, ext. 106 or e-mail meganw@bgclaguna.org.

Kirk Castro is student of month

Laguna Beach High School student Kirk Castro was recently presented with a $250 award from Laguna Rotary Club for Student of the Month honors.

He is recognized in the art department and plans to pursue a career as a graphic designer after college.