School notes for Sept. 24, 2013

Search underway for top youth volunteers of 2014

Now through Nov. 5, students in fifth through 12th grade are invited to apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service within the past 12 months.

The application is available at http://spirit.prudential.com and www.nassp.org/spirit.

The awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial, in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, were created in 1995 to recognize middle and high school students for helping people in need, promoting health and safety, protecting the environment or volunteering in other ways.

The awards are presented annually on the local, state and national level.

Applicants for 2014 awards must complete an online application by Nov. 5, then submit it for certification to a middle or high school principal, Girl Scout Council, county 4-H agent, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA or HandsOn Network affiliate. Paper application forms can be requested by calling 877-525-8491.

Participating schools and local organizations will select local honorees in November. They will also receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama if they have contributed the minimum number of volunteer hours.

A committee will name 10 of the 102 state honorees as America’s top youth Volunteers of the Year. They will receive additional awards of $5,000, gold medallions and crystal trophies for their nominating schools or organizations, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice.

Low-cost internet service available for some families

Families with children who participate in the National School Lunch Program’s free- and reduced-price meal plans may be eligible for low-cost internet service.

The service, offered through Comcast, charges $10 per month for internet with no price increases, activation fees or equipment rental fees.

To determine eligibility, visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-8-INTERNET for more information.

District seeks Citizens Advisory Committee members

The Camas School District is seeking volunteers to serve on its Citizens Advisory Committee.

The CAC consists of 18 to 25 school district patrons who advise school administrators and board members on a variety of issues.

Meetings are held the first Monday of each month during the school year from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Applications for appointment to the CAC can be obtained online at www.camas.wednet.edu or by contacting gail.gast@camas.wednet.edu or 833-5412. All completed applications should be returned to the Camas Zellerbach Administration Center, 841 N.E. 22nd Ave., no later than Tuesday, Oct. 1. Recommendations will be forwarded to the School Board for appointment at the Monday, Oct. 14 board meeting.

Interested citizens are encouraged to visit the next CAC meeting on Monday, Oct. 7 at the Zellerbach Administration Center.

Fadlovich semifinalist in National Merit Scholarship program

Rachel Fadlovich, a senior at Camas High School, has been named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship program.

She joins approximately 16,000 others across the country who represent the highest scoring entrants in each state, which represents less than 1 percent of all students who took the preliminary SAT as juniors.

To become a finalist, the student and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, have an “outstanding” academic record throughout high school, be recommended by a high school administrator, write an essay and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Finalists compete for one of 2,500 National Merit Scholarships, as well as other related scholarships. They will be announced beginning in April.