Learning briefs 3/8/05

Area students compete in speech tournament

Students from 22 area high schools recently took part in the Missouri State High School Activities Association district speech competition on Saturday. The 2005 Speech and Debate Districts were held at Southeast Missouri State University. These local teams and individuals qualified for the state speech tournament in Columbia in April:

One-act plays: Central High School, "Check Please," first place.

Readers theater: Jackson High School, "How to be a Villain," second place.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Liz Lafoe, Central, first; Norman Popp, Jackson, second.

Public forum debate: Jerrica Houchins and Christina Perry, Jackson, first; Tyler Tankersly and Zack Ruesler, Jackson, second.

Humerous interpretation: Tyler Tankersly, Jackson, first; Holly Lynn, Scott City, third.

Dramatic interpretation: Ashtin LaFentres, Scott City, second.

Duet acting: Carman Scholl and Carrie Lasky, Central, second.

Storytelling: Taylor McMillan, Central, first.

Prose reading: Liz Kasten, St. Vincent, Perryville, second, Jerrica Houchins, Jackson, third.

Poetry reading: Faie Morgan, Scott City, first; Margot McAllister, Central, second.

Radio speaking: Emily Ponder, Central, first.

Extemporaneous speaking: Zack Ruesler, Jackson, first.

Original oratory: Daniel Schuenemeyer, Scott City, first; Norman Popp, Jackson, third.

Sweepstakes trophies from Southeast Missouri State University Department of Communications: Jackson, first; Central, second.

Local students advance in state geographic bee

Two local students were recently chosen for the Missouri Geographic Bee semifinalist competition to be held in April. Joshua Wen, son of Joseph Wen and Lisa Huang, is a seventh-grader at Central Junior High. Prithvi Rudrappa, son of Suresh Rudrappa and Dr. Devika Nagaraj, is a fifth-grader at Central Middle School. Both students will go on to the state competition, which is followed by a national competition sponsored by the National Geographic Society.

Elementary student takes part in honor choir

Soprano Jessie Ritter, a sixth-grader at Nell Holcomb School, recently participated in the 2005 American Choral Directors Association national elementary honor choir. Ritter submitted an audition tape last fall and was selected to sing with the choir in February in Los Angeles. She is the daughter of John and Karlyle Ritter.

Domian earns spot on Miami U dean's list

Kathleen Domian, a 2003 graduate of Jackson High School, was named to the dean's list for the fall 2004 semester at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Christian school pupils place in speech tourney

The following local students from Cape Christian School recently placed in a Christian Cooperating School District speech and word competition in St. Louis:

Poetry -- red ribbon: first grade, John Paul Goodman; second grade, Preston Arnold; fourth grade, Haley Braswell; fifth grade, Barry DeCoursey.

Poetry -- blue ribbon: third grade, Jacquelyn Kiefner; sixth grade, Torry Parry; seventh grade, Mollie Young.

Bible Memory -- blue ribbon: second grade, Eli Vines; third grade, Alyssa Garner; fourth grade, Marissa Bell.

Bible Memory -- first place: first grade, Clayton Monia; fifth grade, Dustin Peetz; sixth grade, Lars Monia.

Dramatic Monologue -- second place: sixth grade, Paige Kiefner; seventh grade, Megan Keesee.

Original Speech -- first place: seventh grade, Meg Goodman.

Declamantion -- second place: seventh grade, Steven Bell.

Mann named to Emmaus Bible College dean's list

Luke Mann was named to the fall 2004 semester dean's list at Emmaus Bible College in Dubuque, Iowa. He is the son of Debbie and Randy Mann of Cape Girardeau.

Foley named to Baylor dean's list with 4.0 GPA

Erika Foley was named to the fall 2004 semester dean's list at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Foley was also recognized as one of the top 100 freshmen out of 3,500 freshmen at the school. She is a graduate of Central High School and the daughter of Kerrye and Jon Foley of Cape Girardeau.

Deadline nears for ABWA scholarship applications

The Jacksonian Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association is offering a scholarship for fall 2005. Deadline is March 30. Applications may be obtained by contacting Southeast Missouri State University Financial Aid Department, any high school counselor's office or members of Jackson ABWA. For qualifications or more information, call Pearla Smith, education chairman, at 243-0198.

Applications for nursing scholarships available

The Visiting Nurses Association of Southeast Missouri will award five $2,500 scholarships to students this spring. The scholarships are open to graduating seniors from schools in 15 counties, including Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott. Deadline for applications is March 15. For more information, call (573) 888-5892.