Tar Heel Boys’ State at Catawba College June 21-27

Catawba College will host the 76^th annual session of Tar Heel Boys’ State June 21-27. This is the 11th consecutive year that the weeklong event has been held on campus and approximately 300 participants, all rising high school seniors from North Carolina, are expected.

Involving high school juniors who are academically in the top third of their class, the program is a week-long practical study of the structure and operation of North Carolina state government.

In a non-partisan atmosphere, participants take a hands-on approach to learning how state and local governments function. Citizens, as the participants are known, develop an understanding of the responsibilities of citizenship by creating and living under their own mock government.

During the week, citizens are grouped into cities as they organize their own local government, elect officers, prepare a city charter and conduct city activities. Citizens also assume the role of a senator, representative or lobbyist to research and write bills for their legislature. Each citizen is also a member of a fictitious political party that will develop a party platform, campaign for party candidates and ultimately elect a slate of officers to govern.

Notable state leaders traditionally speak at sessions during Tar Heel Boys’ State. This year’s lineup includes N.C. Rep. Linda Johnson, who will speak about writing bills; N.C. Sen. Jeff Jackson and N.C. Sen. Andrew Brock, who will talk about the political parties; Rowan County Board of Commissioners Chairman Greg Edds, who will discuss his role as an elected official in county government; Salisbury Mayor Paul Woodson, who will discuss his role as a city official; N.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert Edmunds, who will speak on the Judicial System; and U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis will speak on issues facing the U.S. government.

Sponsored by the American Legion, Tar Heel Boys’ State is directed by Roy Pressley of Waynesville, an American Legion member and a Boys’ State staffer for the last several years.

 

DCCC Continuing Education students receive SECU scholarships

Seven Davidson County Community College continuing education students are recipients of $750 scholarship awards from the State Employees Credit Union Foundation. The students are all completing certificates in Industrial Maintenance on the college’s Davie Campus.

“These scholarships help remove financial barriers for our students seeking to gain new skills or to upgrade current job-related skills,” says Teresa Kines, dean of the college’s Davie campus. “We’re grateful for this support from the SECU Foundation.”

Students receiving scholarships are Jonathan Baity, Christopher Brown, Larry Brown, Jeffrey Hickernell, Gary Holt, Marty McEwen and Robert Peyton.

State Employees Credit Union Continuing Education Scholarships help meet the needs of North Carolina’s unemployed and underemployed citizens. Ten $750 Continuing Education Scholarships are awarded annually to eligible students at each of the state’s 58 community college campuses. The program focuses on assisting unemployed and underemployed adults, military veterans and members of the National Guard with marketable job skills for future employment. Participants must be enrolled in a program that leads to state-recognized or industry-supported credentials.

National Environmental Summit for High School Students accepting applications

High school students are invited to apply for Redesigning Our Future: National Environmental Summit for High School Students, scheduled for July 7-11 on Catawba College’s campus.

They will explore the concept of environmental leadership through the perspective of their own skills and interest in everything from theater, photography and writing to politics, blogging and science. Students will learn how essential elements of these varied areas — creativity, expression, innovation, observation, experimentation and teamwork — are critical to their effectiveness as leaders.

Students will also acquire skills that will help them become collaborative leaders and effective communicators and return to their schools and communities empowered to make a positive impact.

For more information or to register, visit www.centerfortheenvironment.org .

 

4-H pet show

Rowan County 4-H will host the second annual Open Youth Pet Show on June 27 at the Rowan County Fairgrounds in Salisbury.

Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., and the show begins at 9 a.m.  All exhibitors must be pre-registered.

The pet show is open to any youth, regardless of membership in 4-H, ages 5-18. Age is determined by the child’s age as of Jan. 1, 2015.

There are nine divisions that youth can show in:  cats, dogs, domestic birds, ferrets, rabbits, reptiles/amphibians/crustaceans, small animals (gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and mice), and unique (pot-belly pig, pygmy goat, hedgehog and poultry). Each division has multiple categories. Each youth is allowed to enter one animal per category.

All pets must be in cages or on leashes, and youth exhibitors must be able to handle any animal by himself or herself.

All dogs, cats and ferrets must have proof of a current rabies vaccination upon check-in on the day of the event.  All dogs must have had vaccinations for distemper and parvo, in addition to rabies.

The youth will be judged on showmanship, awareness of the judge, how well the animal is groomed, and knowledge about the animal and its breed.

Any youth who is showing in the pet show must be pre-registered. Registration is due by June 24. The registration fee is $5 per child.

For more information about the Open Youth Pet Show, contact Sara Drake, 4-H Extension Agent, at sara_drake@ncsu.edu or at 704-216-8970.  You can also download the entry form, rules, and score sheet online at http://rowan.ces.ncsu.edu/categories/4-h-youth-development/.  Scroll down the page and the link will be under the category heading “Contest Forms & Information.”