News - Local News

POSTED: Friday, Apr. 17, 2009

Bellingham Childcare names board members, officers

Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center has elected three new board members: Angela Murray, Johann Neem and Debbie Chudek. Continuing board members are Renetta Pollock, Mary Hanson Adler, Kammryn Buss, Jof Abshire, Krista Morrow, Mike Roberts and Karen Stuen. Officers for 2009 are: Pollock, president; Adler, vice president; Buss, secretary; and Murray, treasurer.

Western Washington University junior Justin Lund won a Gold Award at the 2009 Northwest Design Invitational for BEEP, a timer designed to help children make successful transitions to and from the computer. BEEP plugs into a laptop and perches on the back of the screen. At the start of the half-hour session, BEEP’s eyes are wide open and alert; after 15 minutes, BEEP’s interest wanes and its eyes glance around the room, informing the child that the session is halfway done. At 25 minutes, BEEP’s eyes become lidded and almost closed, signaling the session is nearly complete; finally, after 30 minutes, BEEP’s eyes close and it falls asleep, and BEEP puts the laptop into sleep mode.

Seven Squalicum High students have been selected in the Washington Aerospace Scholars program for 2009: Loren Bates, Tyler Cole, Albert Goo, Kayhan Kazemi, Kara Merfeld, William Trump and Justin VonFeldt.

Bellingham and Sehome high schools both received “superior ratings” at the Washington State Thespian Festival March 20-21 at Western Washington University for their Neil Simon comedies: Bellingham High for “Rumors” and Sehome High for “Brighton Beach Memoirs. In addition, Sehome’s “Brighton Beach” won “Best in Festival.” More than 40 schools participated.

Lisa Conlon, a fifth-grade teacher at Larrabee Elementary School, won a $10,000 grant from Qwest Foundation for her students to develop and implement projects to make their portable classroom more energy-efficient. Conlon is one of nine winners in the state.

Western Washington University student Stephanie Raper, daughter of Alan and Kim Raper of Deming, received a $1,000 President’s Scholarship for the 2009-2010 academic year. An incoming freshman, she earned a 3.785 gpa at Mount Baker High School.

Western Washington University student Sean Cooper, son of Steven Cooper and Lisa Conlon of Bellingham, received a $1,000 President’s Scholarship for the 2009-2010 academic year. An incoming freshman, he earned a 3.93 gpa at Bellingham High School.

Michael Barbero, a student at Western Washington University, won a competition for the best promotional piece for the upcoming Northwest Projections Film Festival, April 17-19 at Pickford Film Center. Barbero made a video commercial for the festival.

Katy Mullen, a freshman at Sehome High School, worked as a Senate page in Olympia. She was sponsored by Sen. Brandland, R-Bellingham.

Alyssa Brandland, a freshman at Sehome High School, worked as a Senate page in Olympia. She was sponsored by her grandfather, Sen. Brandland, R-Bellingham.

Eighteen members of the Lynden High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America won honors at the organization’s State Business Leadership Conference in Spokane. First place in parliamentary procedures: team of Brooke Vanderveen, Chelsea Bates, Krista Beck, Tanner Lingbloom and Julia Roper. First place in introduction to parliamentary procedures: Julia Roper. First place in FBLA principles and procedures: Julia Roper. Second place in business law: Chris Yoder. Second place in business ethics: Team of Brooke Vanderveen and Chelsea Bates. Second place in creed: Elana Kuntzen. Third place in introduction to parliamentary procedures: Elana Kuntzen. Outstanding chapter member: Riley Myers. President’s award: Riley Myers.

Bellingham Bay Rotary donated $4,000 to Bellingham Special Olympics for venue rental for figure and speed skating, soccer and bowling.

Bellingham Music Club announced recipients of its annual high school awards. Lena Montgomery vocal award, first place to Lindsey Nakatani; second-place tie, Austin Czarnecki and Alec Smith. Nicholas Bussard Instrumental award, first place to Finnegan Hopper; second place to Roman Yearian; third place to Molly LeCompte. Ethel Crook string prize, to Luke Brog. Martin Kuuksmann woodwind prize, to Corin Droullard.

Two students from Bellingham received scholarships at Washington State University: Lauren Baumgart received a $2,500 Claude and Kathleen Irwin Regents scholarship for the 2009-2010 school year. A Sehome High School graduate and the daughter of Tanya and Jim Baumgart of Bellingham, she plans to graduate from WSU in 2011 with a degree in applied intercultural communication. Kyle Kelln received a $2,000 Linda L. Bump Graduate Fellowship. A Squalicum High School graduate and the son of Velva and Bradley Kelln of Bellingham, he plans to graduate from WSU in May 2009 with a degree in French education.