4/23/10 Local Teen News

 Comedian says school ‘waste of time’ – Aries Spears began performing stand-up at age 14 and dropped-out in 10th grade to study comedy on television and in the clubs.  “School is highly overrated,” he says. “Once you learn how to add, subtract, read and write, it’s a waste of time unless you go on ‘Jeopardy.’” (N&O)

 Profile on NC Youth Tap Ensemble - One of the world’s most premiere tap groups relies on collaboration where older dancers teach routines to the younger dancers.  Michelle Dorrance, daughter of UNC women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance, will perform with the ensemble this weekend at the Carolina Theater in Durham.  An NCYTE alumna, Michelle Dorrance is now considered one of the premier tap dancers in the world, highly sought after and currently performing in the Off-Broadway production of STOMP.  (Daily Tar Heel)

 Profile of Durham 4-H Meat Goat Club – Led by Joel Dahms of Durham Academy and Alex Flores-Burgess, the team last year won the state championship in a competition called the 4-H Jr. Livestock Skill-a-Thon, and they competed hard at the 65th Annual Central Piedmont Junior Livestock Show & Sale Wednesday and Thursday at the Central Carolina Holstein Association Barn in Orange County. (Herald-Sun)

 Student profile of Olivia Bass - Garner High School senior will attend UNC to double major in Biology and Spanish, with hopes of attending medical school.  “Olivia is a great person; but more significantly she is a kind-hearted, positive, spirited, young lady,” Golden said. “Never have I seen her without a smile on her face. Her smile is contagious to both faculty and students alike. And whether in the classroom, at sporting events or merely in the hall between classes, her personality draws people to her. She is an asset to Garner Magnet High School and the Garner community in general.” (Garner Citizen)

3/05/10 Local Teen News

CHHS art show focuses on Haiti – Students created art using the events of Haiti as inspiration and are selling the works at a local coffee shop with proceeds going to American Red Cross.  “Kids feel like they want to help and contribute something, but that they don’t have a lot that they can offer,” Watson said. “This gave them an opportunity to give something of themselves.” (Carrboro Commons)

Should schools require minimum GPA for athletes - Daily Tar Heel column argues that all high schools should follow Chapel Hill’s consideration of requiring athletes to maintain a 2.0 GPA instead of the current policy which requires students to pass 5 classes the previous semester.  Sure, some of these students are aspiring to play professional sports after high school. But most of them will not make it, and the school board owes it to every student to ensure they are prepared to join the work force or enrol in post-secondary education. (Daily Tar Heel)

6 local students selected as Park Scholars - 6 Triangle winners were among the 53 Park Scholars who receive a full-ride at NC State and other stipends, valued at $80,000.  Nicole Doris Roscoe from Chatham Central High School and plans to major in biology. Ansilta Zulima De Luca-Westrate from Durham Academy and plans to major in elementary education. Madhulika Vulimiri of Morrisville from Enloe High School and plans to major in biology or public health. Alex Jin-Wei Chin from Broughton High School and plans to major in mathematics and physics. William Hampton Coe from Sanderson High School and plans to major in philosophy. Stephen Thomas West from Trinity Academy and plans to major in aerospace engineering. (N&O)

“Alternative Spring Break” – More and more college students are foregoing the beaches of Florida and instead opting to volunteer for public service projects around the nation and world.  ”Some students come back saying they’ll change their major or career path,”Samantha Giacobozzi says. “Some come back and think differently about the world a little bit. Many students think it was best experience of their lives.” (US News)

1/20/10 Local Teen News

Wilson teen models in Paris fashion shows – 16-year-old Carter Helms will walk the runway for Christian Dior, although he thinks he will be a better print model than show model.”It’s very exciting,” he said last week. “It’s overwhelming as well. I’ve been [modeling] for two years, and it’s finally paid off.” (N&O)

H.S. students attempt to set world record – Students at NC School of Science and Math in Durham are attempting to set a world record for the most food collected in one day. The school must collect over 509,147 pounds of food to break the record. “In the end there are more kids out there who are not getting food daily, but we’re getting fed three times a day,” said Daniel Choi, 18, a senior from Goldsboro. “Our main point is to do the food drive so we can give the food to the community.” (Durham News)

Lowes Groves has 1st middle school drumline – Art teacher Shawn Smith created Durham’s first middle school band to involve students in positive activity.“People are definitely impressed by them when they see them come in,” the principal said. “They’re disciplined. They have spirit. It’s all one package. It’s just another incentive for them to take control of their lives and go forth as a positive person.” (Durham News)

Profile of Mollie Pathman – Durham Academy Senior who will attend Duke to play soccer has been named Gatorade Player of the Year in NC and Adidas High School Scholar Athlete of the Year. “Mollie just gave me and our team that traditional definition of what hard work is,” soccer coach Sue Ellis said. “You want people to copy her passion for the game and you want people to copy her commitment for the game. Her passion for the game and her schoolwork is what sets her apart.” (Durham News)

Mother wants leniency for suspended son – Jasper Lee was suspended from South Johnston High School for the remainder of the year and prohibited from attending school events after he and three others were caught gluing toothpicks into the exterior locks of the school.Under the school system’s conduct code, a student who vandalizes school property can face long-term suspension. Such a suspension is more likely when the damage to school property exceeds $1,000. Jasper Lee was ordered to make $1,350 in restitution, according to court documents. (Garner Clayton Record)

Vote all but ends year-round schools - The Wake County School Board approved by 5-3 a resolution saying that every effort will be made to eliminate mandatory year-round schools. (N&O)

Durham County/City Cross Country Championships – photos

(click images for info – photos by wjzo.com)

Monday’s teen news (local)

Enloe High senior speaks from heart - In a graduation speech to fifth graders, 18-year-old Aziel Faison offered his own life as evidence that change is always possible. (N&O)

The challenges of leaving foster care - Profile of recently emancipated 18-year-old Deshaun. “Within 18 months of leaving foster care, only 54% of those who have aged out of the system have earned high school diplomas while 84% have become parents, 51% were unemployed and 25 percent had been homeless.” (Herald-Sun)

N&O’s H.S. Athletes of the Year – Boys, girls, and profiles of Adam Flur of Northern Durham and Adrianne Soo of Durham Academy.

Durham Hillside principal resigns – Earl Pappy leaves after only three years. “Fabian Burch, who recently graduated from Hillside High, said the school ‘was kind of a crazy place to be, kind of wild and frantic and crazy’ before Pappy arrived. He credited the principal with turning the school around.” (WRAL)