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CSN Fire School Gets National Recognition

CSN Fire School Gets National Recognition

The College of Southern Nevada is getting national recognition for its efforts to educate firefighters.

The National Fire Academy and the U.S. Fire Administration recognized the college for its Fire Science Technology program. CSN is one of only 25 institutions around the country to receive the honor.

The recognition is similar to being accredited. It means the school has met the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education standards. CSN now offers a six-course model fire science curriculum. Students who graduate will get a NFA achievement certificate.

“This is a mark of respect for CSN and future fire services’ graduates. There is no higher honor,” Greg Gammon, Director of Fire Science and Emergency Management said. “Our program is among the most relevant in the nation in preparing top-notch future fire and safety leadership.”

Basic High School Students Celebrate Graduation

Basic High School Students Celebrate Graduation

Students from Basic High School celebrated their graduation Friday with a ceremony at the Orleans Arena.

"Wow! I just did it! I'm done after four years. I'm going to be going to college and hopefully start a career with physical therapy. Congratulations class of 2013! Woo!" graduate Jessica Pittman said.

The ceremony included a tradition that has been around for years. The kindergarten students from Taylor Elementary School introduced the 2013 graduates and then introduced themselves as the graduating class of 2027.

The Basic High School graduation is one of several going on through the week at the Orleans Arena.

 

Orchestra Students Get New Instruments

Students at one Henderson school received the gift of music Wednesday with the donation of musical instruments.

Leadership Henderson Class of 2013 presented instruments to students in the Brown Junior High School's orchestra. The money for the instruments came through the group's Keep the Music Alive initiative.

"The goal was $20,000 and they actually exceeded their goal of $20,000. So, not only were they able to purchase new instruments for the orchestra program. They were able to have additional funding for other programs at Brown Junior High," Henderson City Councilwoman Gerri Schroder said.

Students said the new instruments were desperately needed because the ones they had been using were old and often fell apart. There were also not enough to go around, and students would have to share.

Southern Nevada Students Earn iPads in Essay Contest

Southern Nevada Students Earn iPads in Essay Contest

 

Twenty high school students are enjoying the new iPads they earned by reducing their carbon footprint and writing a great essay about it.

The students were part of an essay contest held by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Coca-Cola, Mariana's Supermarkets and the Clark County School District.

The 20 winners were chosen out of the 200 entries from 40 high schools around the Las Vegas valley. They all wrote a 500-word essay describing how they used transit services provided by the RTC to reduce the amount of carbon they personally use.

The winners for the 2013 contest are:

Greenspun Students Campaign for Lake Mead Health

Greenspun Students Campaign for Lake Mead Health

 

A group of local middle school students wants southern Nevadans to be aware of what they call an environmental hazard at Lake Mead.

Greenspun Junior High School Leadership Club students are launching a public campaign about “the dangers and the damage done by the use of carbureted 2-stroke engines.”

In 2013, a ban on personal watercrafts with carbureted 2-stroke engines went into effect to help reduce pollution at the lake. Leadership Club students, led by educators Gwendolyn Buckles and Katie Litzenberg, started an educational campaign named “Lake MEad.” It focuses on the effects pollution has in southern Nevada’s public recreation areas.

The students created a multimedia campaign to spread the word about the 2-stroke engine ban at the lake. During their after-school club, students chose this cause as their annual community project.

Three Southern Nevada Students Named Presidential Scholars

 

The 49th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars have been announced, and they include three students from southern Nevada.

The 141 students represent some of the best and brightest from around the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The 2013 Presidential Scholars for southern Nevada are Caolinn Y. Mejza, Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing & Visual Arts, Sharon T. Fang, Clark High School, Justin M. Joseph, Valley High School.

The awards are not just given for academic excellence but also for community service, leadership and a demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

The three students from southern Nevada were selected from the more than 3,000 candidates who qualified for the 2013 awards because of their scores on the SAT and ACT exams. A commission then reviewed applications and selected the scholars.

The program was founded in 1964 and since it was created has honored more than 6,000 students.

Healthy Eating, Physical Activity Win Awards for Students

Healthy Eating, Physical Activity Win Awards for Students

 

Winners recently were announced for the 6th annual UNLV Coaches Challenge, a program that encourages children to choose healthy food and participate in physical activity.

This year’s Coaches Challenge included more than 13,000 elementary school children from 112 schools. The program experienced its best success since 2007.

A UNLV head coach will visit each winning classroom throughout May to congratulate the students.

This year’s UNLV Coaches Challenge winning classrooms represent four elementary schools: