Briefly In Education

LCAD announces new president

The Laguna College of Art & Design announced Tuesday that Jonathan Burke will replace Dennis Power as president upon Power’s retirement June 1.

Burke started at LCAD in 1980 and is the vice president of academic affairs and the dean of fine arts. He holds an MFA from Boston University.

After Power announced his retirement in the fall, the school picked Burke from a pool of 50 applicants.

“I am excited about becoming LCAD’s next president,” Burke said in a statement. “As an artist and educator, I deeply care about the college and the cultural significance of educating the next generation of artists and designers. As an academic leader, I bring an understanding of LCAD’s unique culture with its focus on students, academic rigor and strong community participation.”

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SchoolPower Golf Classic

On May 13, attendees of SchoolPower’s Annual Golf Classic only have to look up to the sky for a chance to win an iPad 2.

The theme of this year’s Classic is “Celebrating ‘La Vita Bella.’”

A helicopter will hover above, dropping 500 balls onto the course at Bella Collina Golf Club in San Clemente. Ticket holders are assigned to a ball and whoever gets closest to the target will take home the Apple tablet.

Proceeds will go to all four Laguna Beach schools and 20% will only go to Laguna Beach High School athletics.

Call the SchoolPower office at (949) 494-6811 for tickets.

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Top of the World raises $65,000

Principal Ron LaMotte announced last week that Top of the World Elementary raised more than $65,000 at this year’s Jog-a-Thon.

All the money goes directly to school programs. LaMotte thanked Michelle Struss, Slyvia Colladay and Jami Medley for coordinating the event.

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LCAD partners with Chinese university

Laguna College of Art & Design has partnered with the Communications University of China in Beijing to share graphic design work between the two universities and its students.

Last year LCAD Vice President and Dean of Visual Communication Jack Lew visited the school for a conference regarding video game development. During his stay he forged a relationship with their associate dean, hoping to work out something between the two schools.

Lew is regarded as an expert who can forecast trends in digital media and entertainment art. This month, Lew will lead the Education Leaders Institute, which is sponsored by the annual National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, visit lagunacollege.edu.

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LBHS students travel to Hawaii

Laguna Beach High School students traveled to Molokai, Hawaii, over their spring break for Laguna Presbyterian Church’s 12th annual Molokai Mission Trip.

During the trip, 32 students completed work projects such as building a wheelchair ramp, painting a women’s shelter and renovating a Baptist Church. They also learned about the culture and the island, which is facing high unemployment and poverty levels.

“I never believed doing manual labor could make such a big difference in my life and bring me so close to people I’ve never met,” LBHS junior Dane Zarinelli said in a statement.

They also got to enjoy their trip with some skateboarding, sandy beaches and farming in the ancient taro plant fields.

Seven adult chaperones accompanied the students on the trip.

— Joanna Clay