"Tonight, we have a clean slate, an opportunity to pursue anything we want. Let's move on to the next stage of life and push back our comfort zones," said Alex Pien, Camas High School valedictorian.Pien certainly understands pushing the comfort zone as a distance runner, but on Friday he was addressing his 359 classmates participating in CHS commencement ceremonies at Doc Harris Stadium.
Excitement and elation were among the emotions of the day when the Hayes Freedom High School Class of 2012 graduated.Forty-one seniors received diplomas Saturday afternoon, among family and friends in the Liberty Middle School gym.
"What a journey high school has been."These words spoken during a speech by Washougal High School Class of 2012 co-valedictorian Katherine Ludwig were likely also on the minds of most of the 169 graduates who sat before her on Saturday night during commencement ceremonies.
Shane Chen almost always has inventing on the brain.Whether he's skimming through an in-flight magazine, cruising the aisles of a local grocery store or even enjoying his favorite hobbies, Chen is thinking of ways to make products work better.
Most adults remember learning about the Lewis and Clark expedition in their textbooks, which is not always the most exciting or memorable way to experience history.But fourth-graders at Dorothy Fox Elementary School in Camas had the opportunity to learn about the famous "Voyage of Discovery" through an Oregon Museum of Science and Industry interactive outreach workshop.
"When you cross the finish line, no matter how slow or fast, it will change your life forever."This quote comes from the movie, "The Spirit of the Marathon." Anyone who has ever trained for a challenging race, be it an Ironman, marathon or half-marathon, understands exactly what it means to push past your limits and cross the finish line victoriously.
Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of some people like the thought of preparing a meal from scratch.Local chef Karen Lasher is hoping to remove some of that anxiety by offering classes aimed at taking the trepidation out of cooking. "I just love teaching," said Lasher, a Camas resident who works as personal chef at the PeaceHealth Corporate Cafe in East Vancouver. Lasher, former owner of Around the Table restaurant in Camas, has taught everything from kids cooking classes to gourmet meal preparation for adults.
Summer. It's a time for kids to kick back, relax and enjoy themselves. There are several camps in Clark County that offer options ranging from a few hours to several days. Camps include everything from how to improve sports skills to how to improve outdoor skills. Best of all, there are choices for all ages, stages and price ranges.
Whenever Robyn Pfeifer puts on her costume for play rehearsal, she has an "ah ha' moment."We really take some things for granted today, such as being able to wear comfortable clothing," she said.
The theme of Earth Day 2012 was "Mobilize the Earth." Organizers encouraged participants around the globe to attend a local event or start one. "Together we will stand united for a sustainable future and call upon individuals, organizations, and governments to do their part," the Earth Day website states. Locally, the call to action was answered.
