Tyneka Smith might just be entering college, but she and her fellow Community Action Commission (CAC) Youth Corps peers are going back to junior high, minus the awkward school dances.
The group received a $1,400 grant from the Fund for Santa Barbara’s Youth Making Change to develop The Good Life program at Arellanes Junior High School through the end of May.
“Based on our experiences and what we see in the news, we think there is a definite need in Santa Maria for a program where students can talk about what is going on in their lives, and then write skits based on their experiences,” Smith said in a statement.
The skits the students write will center on current issues affecting their lives and help begin an open and honest dialogue among peers.
Smith, the group’s leader, said she hopes the Youth Corps members will be able to use their own life experiences to help the junior high students to make life decisions.
“We would like to create change in our community by helping those who are failing in class, gangbanging, or not listening to their parents,” Smith said in the statement.
Santa Barbara Foundation recognizes outstanding students
On March 30, the Santa Barbara Foundation recognized more than a dozen students for their outstanding academic records, exemplary leadership in school, and community service through the Floro and Fleischmann awards.
Five high school students received both scholarships: Christian Basulto and Katherine Brown from Pioneer Valley and Patricia Boerger, Nathan Jordan, and Alice Jun from Righetti.
Cymphanie Sherman and Andriana Siefe of Cabrillo High School received the Fleischmann award. Floro recipients were Cambria Bestrom and Paulette Rigali of St. Joseph; Victoria Greer, Desiree Hernandez, and Karina Quinones of Pioneer Valley; and Candice Hull, Stacia Koens, Tatianna Kufferath, Maria Prado, and Shannon Reese from Righetti.
One recipient of the Floro award, Hernandez, was recognized for helping minorities in Santa Maria through the California Rural Legal Assistance program. In one situation, Hernandez had taken photos of an apartment building that was rented out to migrant workers and documented the living conditions. She attends Pioneer Valley and plans on attending Cal Poly in SLO to study computer engineering.
Those who received the Floro award received $2,500 for their college education. Fleischmann awardees received $2,000 and an additional $500 to be donated to a chosen nonprofit.
Both awards are designed to recognize students who have excellent academic records and a commitment to community service. The Floro award is given specifically to students who live in the Santa Maria area.
School Scene is compiled by Contributor Henry Houston. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Apr 7-14, 2011.