3/22/10 Local Teen News

Street Scene Teen Center turns 25 - Robert Humprheys helped created the teen center 25 years ago to give teens something to do, usually 15 to 25 teens will come during the week to use the pool tables or the computers while hundreds will come in for dances or parties on the weekends. “What is interesting is that the teens, the program and the place don’t change so much. What changes is the kind of music they are into,” said Carol Walborn, the center’s director between 1996 and 2001. (DTH)

NCSSM collects 400,000 pounds of food – North Carolina School of Science and Math fell short of their goal to break a Guinness World Record of most food collected on a single day. “I don’t think it could have gone any better,” she said Sunday. “It was really outstanding to see the way the community came together, along with our students, to get over 400,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank.” (Herald-Sun)

Study: Teens working too many hours? – UNC/Duke study finds that many employers are violating laws that prevent teens from working between 11pm and 5 am and 13-14 years from working more than 3 hours on a school day. “Sometimes employers don’t know,” an official said. “It’s not like they deliberately violate the rules. But they need to be informed.” (N&O)

Outreach Program shares idea of college – UNC students created the Tar Heel Outreach Program and to offer students an on-campus glimpse of college life.   Natalie Meier, who teaches fifth-grade reading at the Johnston County elementary school, said the outreach helps give children ideas of what they could do one day. “Most of our kids have never been on a college campus or too far out of Johnston County,” she said. “They’re all excited.” (N&O)

3/18/10 Teen News

Johnston Co. Teen of the Year - 14-year-old LaMale Williams is a preacher, organist, choir director and tutor at the Boys & Girls Club.  Since his father is in prison, he turns to religious leaders for mentorship, although they credit his work ethic for his young success.  “I like being different; I’m not that much of a follower,” Williams said. “What people do around me does not affect me. I do what I want to do.”  (Herald)

Fewer teen jobs this summer – Due to the recession in industry and the government, the city of Durham expects to offer teens fewer jobs than past years, which may lead to more problems related to poverty. “For some of them, it’s a very black and white choice,” said Olson-Getty, internship coordinator for YO: Durham, which serves at-risk youth.”On one hand they can get a job in a legitimate economy. but barring that they’re gong to make their money some other way. And the pull of the street is very strong.” (Durham News)

NCSSM seeks world record food drive - This Saturday, the NC School of Science and Math will seek to break the single day record for food collection of 509,000 pounds.  Additionally, they have already raised close to $25,000 for food banks in NC. “It’s been really great to see people back us like they have,” Lewis stated. “And like I’ve said, record or not, it’s all going for a good cause. And if we beat the record, that’s great, because that means even more food that we got for the Food Bank. But if not, we’re [getting] in one day a lot of food that will go to help a lot of people.” (Herald-Sun)

Basketball team unites gangs – At the same juvenile facility that served as the inspiration for the movie ‘Gridiron Gang” starring The Rock, this year’s basketball team of rival gang members has reached the state playoffs in basketball.  ”We have kids who in the past would rather shoot at each other than pass the basketball to each other,”the head coach said. “I’ve never had a kid for two seasons, and we don’t want to.” (LA Times)

2/24/10 Teen News: (∆)Local and National

(∆)NCSSM senior gets circus audition – Andrew Hicks said he is willing to put his free ride to UNC on hold if he is offered an opportunity to join Ringling Brothers after a Thursday try-out.  “Yes sir, I’d certainly love to run away with the circus,” he said.”Ringling Brothers clowns are the best in the world. And so to be able to perform alongside the greatest is just a dream come true for any clown.” (MyNC)

(∆)Blind wrestler honored at Apex High – Mauled by a tiger at age three, Tyler Forsythe is determined to live a normal teenage life, including 80 career wins in four years of high school wrestling.  “Other blind people I know lean on people,” Tyler says. “I want to be independent.”(N&O)

(∆)Interview with teen game innovator - Athens Drive freshman Tommy Evanoff is responsible for the idea to add a three point shooting matt to Sportcraft’s home basketball game. Q: How did you pitch your idea to the company? I e-mailed them in September (2008). The product manager responded pretty quickly. He said it sounded good, and wanted me to sign a nondisclosure agreement. I signed it and returned it to him. He wanted me to describe the game to him. (Cary News)

(∆) Student refused to do devil assignment – Tieanna Trough, an A-B honor roll student at Gray’s Creek High School, refused to write a creative story about making a deal with the devil in relation to Washington Irving’s short story “The Devil and Tom Walker. ” “We can’t allow God into the classrooms, but yet they are going to allow the Devil in the classroom, that’s the way I felt,” Trough’s mother Monice McLean said. “They were told if they didn’t do it they would get a zero.” (WTVD)

2/9/10 Teen news: local(∆) and national

(∆)NCSSM senior is finalist in Intel Search – Lanair Lett is the only NC student to reach the final round of the 2010 Intel Science Talent Search and has already won a $30,000 scholarship from the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology.  “Lanair’s a very hard worker,” said Jeffery Tessem, a post-doctoral fellow at Duke who supervised Lett’s summer research. “I think that’s one of his best qualities. He’s extremely smart, I don’t want to take away from his intelligence, but I think he shows a high level of dedication that you don’t always see in people his age group.” (Durham Herald)

(∆)Parents sue over CHHS player’s death – The family of Chapel Hill High School football player Atlas Fraley is suing Orange County for alleged negligence in not providing proper care that could have saved the life of the 17-year-old. “Atlas was only 17 years old when he called 911 desperately trying to get the emergency medical care that he needed,” Donald Strickland, the lawyer for the Fraley family, said on Saturday. “He got an EMS worker to his house, but he received no medical care and was left home alone to die alone.” (N&O)

(∆)Raleigh ad company wins Doritos contest – 5 Point Productions earned $650,000 for their 30-second ‘Underdog’ Superbowl ad, the second time this company of young producers has won this contest.  MSNBC also lists their best and worst Superbowl commercials.  (WRAL)

LA student sent home for Colts jersey - A Louisiana high school student who moved from Indiana three years ago was sent home for wearing a Colts jersey on a day the principal encouraged students to wear Saints jerseys.  “If they tell other students to support their team, why can’t I support mine?” Brandon Frost, 17, told The Associated Press. “I thought I remember him saying, ‘If you like Indiana so much, why don’t you go back?”‘ (CBS Evening 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)