Students at Catalina High School got a reminder Friday on the dangers of distracted driving .

The presentation was provided by the organizations Look! Save A Life and Down for the Count.

Brendan Lyons, executive director for Look! Save A Life, is a former firefighter and crash survivor who works to remind motorists and cyclists that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Down for the Count, founded by David Hazan, is a mobile app that rewards teen drivers with gift cards for not using their phones while driving.

“We appreciate Mr. Lyons’ dedication to helping educate students with his real-life perspective about the dangers of distracted driving,” said TUSD Assistant Superintendent Abel Morado.” We can teach our students about these dangers, but Mr. Lyons can show them what it really means to have your life changed forever by one decision.”

For more information on Look! Save A Life, visit looksavealife.com For more information on Down for the Count, visit downforthecountapp.com

Three get scholarships

Three Tucson-area high school seniors are being awarded $4,000 in scholarships from the Pearls of Wisdom Foundation.

Jonacarl Vilchez of Cholla High Magnet School will receive $2,000, while Jeffery White of Rincon High School will take home $1,500. Venisha Tounsel of Andrada Polytechnic High School was awarded $500.

The money is to be used to help advance students’ educational pursuits.

To qualify, students have to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or better and submit a letter of recommendation from their school’s faculty and a letter of acceptance from the college or university of their choice.

The foundation works to enable students to actualize their educational goals and motivate them to make positive contributions to their communities.

Five schools in STEM program

Five Tucson-area elementary schools have been selected to take part in an Arizona STEM School Community of Practice program.

Lulu Walker Elementary in the Amphitheater school district, along with Coyote, Quail Run, Rattlesnake Ridge and Twin Peaks elementary schools in the Marana district will participate in Arizona SciTech’s initiative involving high-tech businesses, community members, educators and students to share information, build relationships and come up with solutions to the challenges of educating youth in STEM fields.

The effort is made possible through a partnership with the Arizona Science Center and the Maricopa Education Service Agency.

Sonoran Schools, which operates charter schools in the Tucson area, is also taking part in the community of practice.

Sabino High Hall of Fame nominations being accepted

Nominations for the Sabino High School Foundation 2016 Hall of Fame are being accepted through April 28.

Application information is available through Bruce Johnson at bnjohn49@gmail.com

The ceremony will be held Sept. 16 on the Sabino High School football field.

12 Marana teachers, early

in their careers, recognized

Twelve Marana Unified School District teachers were recognized by a society for women educators.

They are:

  • Kim Hill,
  • Butterfield Elementary School.
  • Jenna Nicholarsen,
  • Coyote Trail Elementary School.
  • Allison Rogers,
  • Desert Winds Elementary School.
  • Natashia Novak
  • , Estes Elementary School.
  • Stephanie Marts
  • , Ironwood Elementary School.
  • Teresa Pfleiderer,
  • Marana Middle School.
  • Alyssa Sams,
  • Picture Rocks Intermediate School.
  • Vanessa Sampson,
  • Quail Run Elementary School.
  • Megan Kelly,
  • Roadrunner Elementary School.
  • Kim Tinghitella,
  • Thornydale Elementary School.
  • Alayne Wilson,
  • Twin Peaks Elementary School.
  • Ashley Evans,
  • Tortolita Middle School.

All of the recognized teachers are in the first five years of their careers .

The Alpha Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Key Women Educators, which promotes growth of women educators, presented the honorees with classroom-related items and a membership to Treasurer 4 Teachers, a member-based resource and supply store for educators.


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Compiled by reporters Alexis Huicochea and Yoohyun Jung. Contact Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@tucson.com or 573-4175. On Twitter:@AlexisHuicochea