Names & Notes
NCHS dedicates new track
A dedication ceremony was held for Natrona County High School’s new track on May 9.
“This is a day to be really thankful for all those people out there on oil and gas rigs or in coal mines,” said teacher and coach Steve Harshman. “We’re thankful for the board of trustees’ vision that allowed this to be done the right way … and the wisdom to provide for the health needs of the kids and community for years to come.”
Activities Coordinator Glen Legler said thousands of students and other community members already have benefited from the track, which was completed this winter.
By the time school is out at the end of this month, NCHS will have hosted 11 elementary school track days and two junior high track meets, as well as high school events, including the 4A West Regional track meet.
“Thank you to everyone who made this possible,” said student athlete Kayla Dick. “It’s great as a senior to have a track.
“Practices are more efficient … and I’m sure Kelly Walsh is glad to have us out of their hair,” Dick joked to the good natured cheers of a few Trojans.
During the dedication ceremony, NCHS recognized several former track coaches who returned to the school for the event, as well as distributed awards to many people who helped fund and build the track.
“Thank you so much for all the work you have done to make this dream come true,” said Superintendent Jim Lowham. “And keep up the good work of building community.”
Carruth recommended for Pineview principal position
A recommendation was made May 12 to the Natrona County School District Board of Trustees that Christine Carruth be appointed principal of Pineview Elementary School.
The selection of Carruth is the result of a Targeted Selection Process.
Carruth received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education in 1995, and obtained her Master of Educational Leadership on May 10, 2008, both from the University of Wyoming.
During the 2007-08 school year, Carruth was the interim principal at Pineview. She taught sixth grade and was an academic and behavior interventionist at Evansville Elementary School from 2001-07.
She taught sixth grade at Fort Caspar Academy for the 2000-01 school year. Carruth also taught first and fifth grades in Laramie from 1996 to 2000.
Summer class registrations slated
Back on Track will offer Summer Bridges for students for two semesters: June 2-20 and June 23-July 25, with both sessions from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Catherine Hartley at 261-6122.
Registration for the 2008 summer semester, or Summer Bridges, is being conducted from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through May 30 at the Central Services facility, 970 N. Glenn Road.
Summer Bridges for students in grades 9-12 and will be housed at Dean Morgan Junior High. Two semesters will be offered: the first from June 12 through July 2, and the second semester from July 14 through Aug. 1.
Busing, breakfast and lunch will be provided. Tuition for Summer Bridges is $20 per class per semester, and payment is due at the time of registration.
For more information about Summer Bridges, contact Judi Christensen at 577-0260.
Special education also will offer extended school year opportunities at Manor Heights for elementary students and at Dean Morgan for secondary students.
Both sessions begin June 10 and end July 24, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only.
Brock named to Phi Beta Kappa
Jason Brock recently was selected to Kansas State University’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, an academic honor society.
Brock, the son of Paul and Cynthia Brock of Casper, now lives in Manhattan, Kan., and is a senior in English literature.
Those initiated into Phi Beta Kappa must have at least a 3.7 GPA or between 3.5-3.7 for harder course work and must be a junior or senior.
Adams graduates from Beacon College
Steven Lynn Adams of Casper graduated on May 3 from Beacon College in Leesburg, Fla.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in computer information systems.
Thomas scholarship applications due by June 2
Anyone wishing to apply for a scholarship from the Craig and Susan Thomas Foundation must submit an application by June 2.
For more information, call 307-634-8195 or log on to www.thomas-foundation.com.
NCHS Student Council earns national honor
The National Association of Student Council (NASC) recently announced the winners of the 2007-08 National Student Council Awards.
Natrona County High School was one of only two schools in Wyoming to receive the National Gold Council of Excellence Award, its second consecutive year getting the honor.
The NC council will join the other 79 Gold Councils at the National Student Council Convention in Austin, Texas, in June.
These awards provide national recognition for student councils that consistently provide quality leadership activities and service to their schools and communities.
Bruce Berst and Devon Strube Martin are the council sponsors.
Members are: Kayla Dick, student body president; Alyssa Lane, student body vice president; Kayla Lineman, student body secretary; Kaytie Christopherson, senior president; Mary Kaiser, senior vice president; Becky Myler, senior secretary; Jackie Schulte, Kaylee Beddes and Jonathan Olsen, senior representatives; Joel Defebaugh, junior president; Ian Gibson, junior vice president; Nicolas Martinez, junior secretary; Grant Bauer, Brian Degenfelder, Jamie Smith, Rachel Chittim, Makenzie Bartsch and Ryan Murphy, junior representatives; Callie Quinlan, sophomore president; Johanna Clifton, sophomore vice president; Leland Hepworth, Jonathan Barella, Amy Andreen, Whitney Stack and Laykin Boyes, sophomore representatives; and Chelcie Barnett, ROTC representative.
For more information about the NASC, visit www.nasc.us.
UW/CC honors its donors
Donors, faculty, staff and student scholarship recipients recently recognized the generosity of various foundations, organizations and individuals who have made financial contributions to the University of Wyoming/Casper College (UW/CC) Center this year.
Brent Pickett, associate dean and director of the center, presented awards to 10 donors of student scholarships and 21 contributors of UW/CC student funds.
He offered “sincere appreciation” for the generosity toward the center’s students, who may otherwise not be able to continue their education, Pickett said.
Donors of student scholarships honored were the Casper Star-Tribune, John Jorgensen, McMurry Foundation, Myra Fox Skelton Foundation, Lillian Portenier Scholarship Fund, Paul Stock Foundation, Rocky Mountain Power, First Interstate Bank, Central Wyoming Board of Cooperative Educational Services and the Zimmerman Family Foundation.
Contributors to UW/CC Center student funds recognized were Larry and Margo Bean, Bruce and Kathy Bummer, Jeff and Terrie Hockin, Kit and Sheridan Jennings, Arthur and Joann Schubert, Scott and Diane Seville, Corine Stark, Robert and Barbara Thurman, David and Mary Crum, Lorraine James, Kim Lau, Bruce Richardson, Gail Zimmerman, Neil and Susan McMurry, David and Melanie True, Diemer and Susie True, Hank and Karen True, Stuart and Daney Tanner, Brent and Jeana Pickett and Bob and Carol Tarantola.
Casper student graduates from MSU-Billings
Jessica M. Bratton of Casper was among the 917 students who received degrees during the 81st commencement ceremony at Montana State University-Billings on May 3.
Bratton received a B.S. degree in mathematics teaching option.
UW students receive internationalization awards
Four University of Wyoming students received awards, which are given annually to undergraduate and graduate students, for helping to internationalize the university.
This year's recipients are Olalekan Ajayi, Ilorin, Nigeria; Justyna Podziemska, Wroclaw, Poland, who attended Casper College; Anne Spear, Richmond, Va.; and Josh Taylor from Casper.
Podziemska, majoring in business economics/finance and international business, received the international undergraduate student honor; while Taylor, an international studies major, earned the U.S. undergraduate student honor.
The U.S. undergraduate awards are for students who have studied, interned or worked abroad during their undergraduate years or who have fostered international understanding at UW.
The international undergraduate award is for contributions to international understanding at UW and the community, for broad contributions to internationalization at UW, and for academic accomplishments bringing distinction to the university's international community.
Each student received a $500 award and medal.
UW summer institute participants named
The University of Wyoming has selected 90 Wyoming sophomores to participate in the annual Summer High School Institute (SHSI) June 8-28 at UW.
Local students are Hayley Allington and Preston Blakeley from Glenrock High School; Wilmer Davis, Allysa Rosalez and Bryan Sanger from Kelly Walsh High School; and Joannie Ouellet from Natrona County High School.
The students, nominated for SHSI by their schools and then selected by a group of UW faculty members, get an opportunity to learn and exchange ideas without concern about grades or credits.
Among the areas to be studied are world hunger, knights and cowboys, drama, ethics and society, weather aviation, understanding cultural development, pharmacy and the links between life and the arts.
The goals are to help these students achieve their academic and personal potential and cultivate leadership capabilities.
Mitchell earns National Merit Scholarship
Evan Mitchell of Casper was named a National Merit Scholarship winner.
The Natrona County High School senior, who might pursue a career in art, was awarded a $2,500 scholarship.
The scholar designees were chosen from about 15,000 finalists in the 2008 program.
The winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in college.
Chief Washakie scholars named at UW
Kristopher Holbrook, a senior majoring in geology at the University of Wyoming from Casper, was awarded a Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarship to attend UW for the coming academic year.
The 25 recipients were recognized at the American Indian Studies Honoring of Graduates ceremony on May 9.
"The Chief Washakie Memorial Endowment at UW was established to help students and educators with significant ties to the Wind River Reservation community gain formal knowledge, skills and abilities," said John Nutter in the UW Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
"The spirit of the award assumes that the recipients have, as part of their ultimate goals, some direct participation, appropriate to their educational background, in activities that will further the common good of the people of the reservation."
Frontier Middle School teacher receives Presidential Award
Frontier Middle School science teacher Brant Jungck was one of 99 secondary school teachers who recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to be honored by President Bush as winners of the 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
"This award is a great honor, not only for me, but also for the students and staff that I have worked with over my career," wrote Jungck. "I'm so excited to share and celebrate this award with them. These learners, mentors and friends truly formed and molded my core beliefs to make me the teacher that I am today."
For the 2007 awards, 99 middle school and high school math and science teachers received this recognition. In the citation from the president, winners are commended "for embodying excellence in teaching, for devotion to the learning needs of the students, and for upholding the high standards that exemplify American education at its finest."
Each winner received a $10,000 award from NSF, as well as a trip for two to Washington, D.C., for a week of celebratory events and professional development activities.
Among the activities during that week were a day with scientists and science educators at NSF; meetings with members of Congress and federal agency leadership; and a reception and dinner at the U.S. Department of State featuring guest speaker Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, a NASA astronaut-mission specialist.
Bar Nunn School celebrates 25 years, dedicates courtyard
In conjunction with celebrating its 25th anniversary, Bar Nunn School will hold a ceremony dedicating its courtyard to Georgia Bissell, former secretary, and Kenda Lake, former student, both of whom are deceased.
The dedication ceremony begins at 2:45 p.m. on May 21 at Bar Nunn School, 2050 Siebke Drive, and will be followed by the anniversary reception in the gymnasium.