Youth News for Friday, Sept. 28, 2012

List of National Achievement semifinalists released

Photo provided by Judy McGehee --First Place winners of the Torgrimson/Swanzy State Piano Competition, from left, Elizabeth Haley, Judy Vu and Ella Otken attend a recent meeting of the Baton Rouge Music Teachers Association to peform for the members.

The National Merit Scholarship Corp., an independent nonprofit scholarship organization based in Evanston, Ill., has released its list of 2013 National Achievement semifinalists. More than 1,600 black high school seniors from across the nation are on the list.

Students were selected based on their scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test.

Listed below are Baton Rouge and Lafayette area students included on that list:

• Baton Rouge Magnet High School — Ikechi I. Akujobi, Jasmyne D. Farrell, Aaron K. Felix, Marissa M. Richerson, Alexandria L. Williams.
• Episcopal High School, Baton Rouge — Ashley M. Bell, Kelsey E. Phares.
• McKinley High School, Baton Rouge — Khaili L. Sam-Sin, Jordan M. Victorian.
• St. Joseph’s Academy, Baton Rouge — Candace L. Allen.
• Academy of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau — Breanna E. Sonnier-Thompson.
• Lafayette High School — Aleshia L. Hector, Kaleb Lee.
• Loreauville High School — Kyrsa Williams.
• Catholic High School, New Iberia — Anthony A. Berry, Joshua M. Childers.
• New Iberia High School — Terrance K. Christian.
• St. Amant High School — Hakeem A. Brooks.
• Zachary High School — Allison R. Burton, Myleka K. Jefferson, Destiny J. Johnson, Ikenna T. Nzewi.

Haley, Vu, Otken win first

Elizabeth Haley, Judy Vu and Ella Otken were first-place winners at the Torgrimson/Swanzy State Piano Competition held earlier this year and performed recently for the Baton Rouge Music Teachers Association kick-off meeting at LSU.

Haley, a ninth-grader at Denham Springs Freshman High School, is the daughter of Terrilee Haley.

Vu, a sixth-grader at St. Thomas More Catholic School in Baton Rouge, is the daughter of Joe and Kim Vu.

Otken, a fifth-grader at Amite Christian School in Denham Springs, is the daughter of Jim and Michelle Otken.

Kiwanis Club seeks talent

The Kiwanis Pancake Festival is scheduled for Oct. 20 and the Kiwanis Club of Baton Rouge is looking for young talent to compete in the festival’s talent contest.

Children from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible to compete as solo acts or in groups. Performances may be vocal, instrumental, dance, comedy, acrobatics or other types of talent, but must be limited to four minutes.

Contestants will be divided into four divisions based on ages and the youngest division will compete first, beginning at approximately 9 a.m.

For more information, call Jude Bourque at [phone] or email at [e-mail].

It’s not too late to join 4-H

Even though school has already started, students wishing to participate in 4-H can still join a club, said Mark Tassin, 4-H youth and family development department head at the LSU AgCenter.

“Students can join 4-H at any time during the school year,” Tassin said.

4-H offers programs focusing on food and fitness, science and technology and a weeklong summer camp near Pollock in Grant Parish.

Last year, nearly 250,000 young people in the state participated in 4-H activities. 4-H members participated in teen conferences, met with their legislators during 4-H Day at the Capitol, and were recognized for their works at an LSU football game and a New Orleans Hornets basketball game.

4-H is offered in all 64 parishes, Tassin said. Those interested in becoming a member should contact their LSU AgCenter parish extension office. For more information regarding 4-H, visit http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/4h.

To be eligible, club members must be 9 years of age and no older than 20 before Jan. 1 of the current club year.

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