Students
Beads & Boos: For Central LA students, some help & a healthy challenge
Beads: To the Orchard Foundation in Alexandria, for developing the new Cenla Work-Ready Network, which is a program designed to provide students in nine Central Louisiana parishes with relevant job skills training and help them earn the National Career Readiness Certificate. BEADS: To area high school students who are participating in "Get Healthy, Cenla," a video challenge issued by the Rapides Foundation in Alexandria. Online voting is under way for the 30-second videos on the importance of healthy eating and physical activity, produced by students at 39 high schools. Full article.
Cenla Work Ready Network prepares students for workplace
The Cenla Work Ready Network wants all public and private high school students in a nine-parish area of Central Louisiana to acquire various job-ready skills and attain a National Career Readiness Certificate. Marjorie Taylor, executive director of The Orchard Foundation: The certificate provides "portable credentials that students can take with them" to prove to employers that they have certain skills that relate to the jobs they are seeking. Full Article.
Reneau welcomes nearly 1,400 Murphy USA managers to "LA Tech family’"
LA Tech Univ.’s President a groundbreaking educational and professional dev. partnership between the two organizations, called “MurphyUSA@LaTech.” It will provide Murphy USA managers and employees with focused educ. programs, student & academic support services, & dedicated informational resources designed to meet the specialized needs of the MurphyUSA@LaTech student. LA Tech & Murphy USA believe that the collaborative nature of this type of partnership could serve as a model for forging public-private educational ventures that are focused on creating economic & workforce dev. opportunities for the communities & regions that they serve. Full article.
Local student writers, artists invited to submit work
Creative Communication recently announced its Spring 2011 essay and poetry contests: a "Celebration of Writers." The essay contest divisions are: grades 3-6, 7-9, and 10-12, with 10 top winners in each division. To enter an essay, write 250 words or less on any non-fiction topic. The deadline is February 15, 2011. Full article.
TOPS scholarship program gets boost from Gov. Jindal
Gov. Bobby Jindal recently announced he will ask state lawmakers to agree to pump more money into the state-funded TOPS scholarship program. The plan would increase funding for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, a merit-based scholarship. Full article.
LSU AgCenter: 'Less with less' the way of the future
Like other LA higher education institutions, the LSU AgCenter saw its share of budget cuts. What makes it different, however, is that it doesn’t have any students, so filling budget caps is more difficult. Universities can increase tuition to make up for the slash in funding, but since the AgCenter doesn't have any, more belt-tightening is expected. Full article.
Avoyelles Charter aims to raise healthy crop of student cooks
Last year, Avoyelles Public Charter School students celebrated a milestone as they watched their first crop of vegetables and fruits successfully grow in their new edible schoolyard garden. Now, they are celebrating as they open the doors to what some officials said is the next logical step in an effort to teach students about self-sufficiency and good health: a new kitchen. Full article.
A Perfect Fit providing vouchers for shoes for needy Rapides Parish children
A Perfect Fit Foundation today will provide funding for 1,200 pairs of shoes for needy students in Rapides Parish schools. The vouchers can be used for shoes from Academy. Of the 1,200 vouchers, about 700 will go to students who have been identified by the Homeless Coalition as technically "homeless" while the other 500 will be distributed by Jones to principals to provide shoes to needy children at their schools. Full Article.
LA considers new standards for fast-track high school students
A new law is designed to make it easier for public school students on an accelerated track to finish high school in less than four years. Some students meet graduation requirements in as little as three years. Officials are working on consistent policies for LA students who plan to graduate from high school in less than four years. Full Article.
State Library offers tutoring
LA students who need one-on-one help in basic subjects can access an online tutoring program that the LA State Library initiated this week as a statewide resource. The expanded service enables students of all ages to chat online with live tutors on homeworkla.org from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays from home or on a library computer. Full Article.
