Fernanda Silva Mendoza of Tucson High Magnet School has been named the winner of the 2018 Congressional Art Competition for Congressional District 3, U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva announced.
Silva Mendoza’s piece, “Dreamers,” is a black-and-white photo of an individual punching a wall, with mystical flowers in bright colors sprouting from the point of contact.
She will travel to Washington, D.C., to view her artwork hanging in the U.S. Capitol, where it will be displayed for one year.
Marana High teacher to learn about court
Janelle Edmonds, a teacher at Marana High School, will travel to Washington, D.C., in June to attend the Supreme Court Summer Institute.
After a competitive application process, 60 teachers were selected to participate this year. The institute is co-sponsored by Street Law Inc. and the Supreme Court Historical Society.
The institute offers teachers the opportunity to study recent Supreme Court cases in detail and learn innovative teaching methods for conveying the information to students. Supreme Court lawyers, reporters, scholars and educators will be among the speakers and instructors for the institute. Teachers will visit the court to attend decisions.
Tucson students win science fair awards
The Society for Science & the Public, in partnership with the Intel Foundation, has announced the Grand Awards of the 2018 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
High school students earned the right to compete at Intel ISEF 2018 by winning a top prize at their regional fairs, such as the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Fair in Tucson.
Natalia Jacobson of Empire High School won the second-place Grand Award of a $1,500 scholarship. Damian Galasso, home-schooled, won the fourth-place Grand Award of a $500 scholarship.
Cholla High senior wins A.C.E. Award
Cholla High School senior Hailey Avery has won the A.C.E. Award from The Southwest District Exchange Clubs. The award is given to a graduating high school senior who has overcome tremendous obstacles.
Avery has overcome physical as well as personal challenges, including numerous surgeries and medical procedures. Because of family issues, Avery has been raised by her grandparents since she was 8 years old.
Despite these challenges, she enrolled in Cholla High’s International Baccalaureate Program and completed all of her classes with a 3.7 grade-point average. She plans to continue her studies in the health-care field with an emphasis on children.
Desert View, Pueblo students honored
Two Tucson teens were among 100 Arizona high school students receiving a scholarship from College Success Arizona.
The scholarship to attend one of Arizona’s colleges or universities includes up to $6,000 per year in financial assistance and professional mentoring.
The local scholarship winners are Harun Abdi of Desert View High School and Iram Arce of Pueblo High School.
College Success Arizona works with educational partners, such as Arizona GEAR UP, from across the state to identify potential scholars, whose graduation from a four-year university will increase Arizona’s competitiveness and economy.
2nd-grade business makes $300 donation
Aimee Katz’s second-grade class at DeGrazia Elementary School has donated $300 to the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation using proceeds from a student-run business.
The business, Corky Kidz, makes creative designs and items from reused corks. The students sought donations from local businesses, family and friends; researched and developed product prototypes; and learned business aspects.
In February, students donated $300 from proceeds raised to Gabriel’s Angels, which seeks to inspire confidence, compassion, and best behaviors in at-risk children through pet therapy.
