School notes for March 31, 2015

Riverside Christian hosting dinner, auction

Riverside Christian School is hosting a dinner and auction fundraiser at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19. All proceeds benefit the school.

Currently, donations from local businesses and individuals are being sought. Donations can include a service, item or being an event sponsor.

The event will include a Mexican dinner with vegetarian or vegan options, as well as silent and live auctions.

The cost is $20 per ticket. An RSVP is requested by Friday, April 3. Casual/business attire is encouraged.

Riverside Christian School is located at 463 N. Shepherd Road, Washougal. For more information, call 835-5600 or at riversidesch@gmail.com.

Herrera Beutler announces Congressional Art Competition

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Camas) is seeking submissions for the Congressional Art Competition, open to all Third Congressional District high school students.

Submissions are due Friday, April 17.

The competition is open to students in ninth through 12th grade, who either reside or attend school in Southwest Washington’s Third Congressional District.

The winner of the competition will have his or her artwork displayed for one year in Washington, DC’s U.S. Capitol Building Corridor. The winner will also receive free airfare for themselves and one guest to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Washington, DC.

“The Congressional Art Competition is a great tradition that gives me the honor of showcasing one of Southwest Washington’s talented young artists in the halls of our nation’s capital,” Herrera Beutler said. “It is a fun way to celebrate the gifts and creativity of this region’s high school students.”

Entries must be submitted electronically, via digital photo, and will be evaluated by a blue ribbon panel of judges.

Call 695-6292 for complete details and guidelines. Art submission forms can be found at www.herrerabeutler.house.gov/assistingyou/artscompetition.htm.

WSU Vancouver receives research grant

Washington State University Vancouver has received a three-year, $260,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support undergraduate students conducting scientific research in the Columbia River Basin. The nine-week summer program, “Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Dynamics: Integrating Terrestrial and Aquatic Perspectives,” is part of NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program.

Participants in the WSU Vancouver REU project will work with a faculty member in any of 10 research areas focused on the Columbia River Basin, such as aquatic invasive species, endangered butterflies and disturbance ecology at Mount St. Helens. Students will conduct research in the mentor’s lab as part of a team, along with other undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and research technicians.

In addition to hands-on research, students will participate in a variety of team-oriented professional development activities to build collaborative research skills.

During summer 2015, the project will run from June 15 through Aug. 14 on the WSU Vancouver campus, with field trips around Washington state. Each student will receive a $4,725 stipend for the nine-week program, plus commuting and meal expenses.

Applications are due by April 6. For more information or to apply, visit vancouver.wsu.edu/reu.

Local woman is cast in George Fox spring drama

Katie Wight, a junior theater major from Camas, will portray the role of Charlotte in the George Fox University spring production of “These Shining Lives.”

The play is inspired by real events and chronicles the lives of four women who worked for the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Ill., in the 1920s and ’30s. They began to suffer debilitating illnesses from radioactive paint, and after a long fight, it resulted in a change in state law to hold companies responsible for the health of their workers.

The play will be held during two weekends, April 9 to 12, and 16 to 19. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of two Sunday performances, which begin at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $12 for general admission, $8 for senior citizens and George Fox alumni, and $6 for students and children under 12 years old.

These can be purchased online at www.theatre.georgefox.edu.

Childfind screening set

There will be free screenings for children ages 3 to 5 who reside within the Camas School District boundaries Wednesday, April 22.

The screening tests children in hearing, vision, speech, concepts and motor development. It lasts approximately one hour. Results are confidential and discussed with parents only. For an appointment, call the Special Services Department at 833-5570.