IN FOURTH
Dr. Charles Best secondary student Selin Jessa was last month awarded fourth place and $1,000 for her work in the International BioGENEius Challenge science competition. The event for high school students at the Biotechnology Industry Association's annual conference in Chicago saw Jessa compete against Arjun Nair of Calgary, 10 American finalists and two students from Australia.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Coquitlam's Pinetree secondary hosted a cupcake sale last week and whipped up more than $300 for the Share food bank. The students baked and sold the desserts to fellow students to help the organization that provides food hampers for hundreds of Tri-City families. The students did an "awesome job and had so much fun," said Maria Pichichero, a school youth worker.
YOUNG PAINTERS
Mary Hill elementary students held an art show last week to display their paintings to parents and the community. Jill Doyle, an artist, educator and author, has spent the last several weeks working with the Port Coquitlam Kindergarten to Grade 5 students on paintings using pen and ink, and mosaics. The project was paid for by the school's Parent Advisory Council, said chair Kim Stack. Among the participants were Jacob Blessin, Grade 4; Nate Goldstein, Grade 1; and Alexandra Rud, Grade 5.
END BULLYING
Hundreds of Tri-City middle school students this week shared strategies for ending bullying during the Sow Love and Compassion: Positive Chain Reaction, organized by School District 43's Student Leadership Council. Teacher and former Olympic runner Leah Pells was the keynote speaker and talked to the students about accepting differences and being loving and compassionate.
PLAY TIME
A Coquitlam community came together last month to open a new school playground. On April 18, staff and students at Alderson elementary marked the grand opening of Orca Play with guests from the city of Coquitlam, the Burquitlam Lions Club, Vancity Place Maillardville, School District 43 and the Alderson PAC Group.
TUITION $
Port Moody's Andrea Palmer has charged up an engineering scholarship for her studies at UBC.The third-year mechanical engineering undergrad won the $5,000 prize from the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation.
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