4-H forestry program for teens honored with national award The Forest Youth Success program in Skamania County has been recognized nationally for its "outstanding impact" on youth, the environment and the local economy.
There was excitement in the air as youngsters assembled zucchini, potatoes, green beans, carrots, radishes, cucumbers and peppers into race cars at the Camas Farmer's Market last week. The Kids Connections booth was overflowing with children and veggie cars in all shapes and sizes during the fifth annual Veggie Derby. The derby is an annual highlight at the market, organizer Marilyn Goodman said. "The market kids look forward to playing with their veggies and making them 'vroom' once a year," she said. "Kids worked very hard making their cars and vying for prizes."
'Stuff the Bus' school supply drive to benefit local students A "Stuff the Bus" school supply drive to benefit kids in the Washougal School District is currently underway at Wal-Mart in Vancouver.
Free back-to-school vaccinations available A local health care provider will be offering free vaccinations for kids as they prepare to head back to school this fall.
Every summer, groups of volunteers congregate at local churches, where they spend many hours planning and hosting vacation Bible school events.The focus of VBS programs vary depending on their yearly theme, but organizers at several different churches all emphasized that the main purpose is to provide a caring environment for young people to get to know themselves and God more, and to learn to reach out to others in need. Bree Truax, youth and Christian education ministries coordinator at Zion Lutheran Church in Camas said regardless of belief, all are welcome at VBS. "No question is too big or wrong," she said. "We come as we are, together, to share life and love. God's love is expressed in countless ways in the world, and VBS is one vehicle for it as we play, seek, sing, explore and more."
Skyridge Middle School acknowledges several students each year who contribute on a personal level to the school and fellow students. The Warren Awards are presented annually in conjunction with the Jack, Will and Rob Center Sustaining Fund and the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. The 2012-13 recipient of the Good Will Award is JT Tumanuvao. As an eighth-grader, his classmates view JT as a, "supportive role model with a sense of humor and caring heart," according to a press release. "He consistently displays care and compassion to both staff and students in the classroom, hallways, football field, basketball court, stage, track, wrestling room and beyond. He does this without prompt or reward, rather simply from the goodness of his heart. JT is consistently very respectful and considerate to everyone."
Local student named to dean's list Sarah Yedlick, of Camas, was named to the dean's list at the University of Dayton for spring semester 2013.
Kandai Shimada's winning poster reads, "At my stop, you stop."It shows children exiting a school bus, with drivers waiting in the background. The poster has impressed judges at several levels. It won first-place honors at both the Camas School District, regional and state levels. Shimada, soon to be a fifth-grader at Grass Valley Elementary, will have his poster entered into a national contest with the opportunity to win a savings bond of $1,000 and have his work displayed during the 2014 National School Bus Safety Week. He received $50 for his statewide win, and is contemplating buying a new baseball bat. "It felt good to win and I was also surprised," Shimada said. "The poster (idea) was the first thing that came to me. I just kept working on it. I do a lot of contests for art."
When Meghal Sheth won a coveted spot at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, she was thrilled. As one of only 10 students from the state of Washington to win the all-expenses-paid trip to Phoenix, Ariz., Sheth, 16, enjoyed being surrounded by others who shared her passions. She was joined by her friend and fellow Camas High School sophomore Sophie Shoemaker. "It was a surreal and humbling experience," Sheth said. "It was amazing being surrounded by kids who have the same passion for science and who are conducting breakthrough research in many different fields of math and science."
The following is a list of scholarships and honors earned by the class of 2013 at Camas High School. The list is provided by the school.Aarhus, Amee: Portland State University Oportunity Scholarship, Athletic-Softball;
