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Two seniors at John F. Kennedy High School in Wheaton took first place in a competition highlighting the dangers of underage drinking, winning $1,000 for their school.
Evan Bentz and Sol Prensky created a 30-second video about how receiving an alcohol violation as a teen can ruin college and career aspirations later in life. The video was for a competition held by "Drawing the line on under 21 alcohol use," a community coalition of public and private partnerships that aims to curb underage drinking.
Drawing the Line visits middle and high schools and youth groups in the county to teach about teens about alcohol use. Their annual video competition is open to all middle school and high school-aged children in the county.
The Kennedy students won this year's competition because their video focused on a more obscure consequence to using alcohol as a teen, said Meg Baker, the program coordinator for Drawing the Line.
"Everybody thinks drinking and driving," Baker said. "And it isn't that. There's a whole lot of other consequences."
Baker surprised the students at Kennedy last week, with a presentation that included the Kennedy drumline.
Blair High to stage
‘Sweeney Todd'
The Montgomery Blair Players present the high school edition of "Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" 7:30 p.m. March 20, 21, 27 and 28, and 2 p.m. March 22 in the Blair High School Theater, 51 University Blvd. East. Student Night is March 20 - all student tickets that night are $3. Adult tickets for all performances are $8; seniors and students with ID pay $5.
Reserved seats can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets
.com/event/57914 or by calling
1-800-838-3006 (there is a small service charge). Reserved and general admission tickets may be purchased at the Blair attendance office during regular business hours. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door.
This production contains thematic material which may be inappropriate for young children. For more information, e-mail sij1@comcast.net.
Northwood High
presents ‘Road Trip'
Northwood High School's Academy of Music Theater will present "Road Trip," its fourth annual variety Billboard Magic show, March 13 to 15 at the school, 919 University Blvd. West in Silver Spring.
A cast and crew of 35, including a full orchestra, will perform songs from classic artists such as the Miami Sound Machine, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, Kelly Clarkson, Otis Redding and The Beach Boys. Showtime is 7 p.m. March 13 and 14 and 3 p.m. March 15. Ticket prices have been reduced. They are $10 for reserved seating, $7 for general seating and $5 for students with an ID. A block of 12 tickets will cost $50. For more information or to order tickets, call 301-649-8293. Tickets can also be bought at the school the night of the show.
Riderwood to award scholarships to 49 students
The Riderwood, a retirement community in Silver Spring, is honoring 49 area high school seniors with scholarships to support their pursuit of a college education, during a Scholars' Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. March 30 in Montgomery Station Clubhouse, Performance Hall, at Riderwood.
The theme of this year's recognition is "Give from the Heart." The Riderwood Scholars' Fund was created to support student staff members as they continue their formal post-secondary education through the provision of up to $6,000 for college, trade, or vocational certificate programs. Eligible scholarship candidates are student employees who are graduating in 2009, performed their jobs in an exemplary manner, and, plan to attend school in the fall of 2009.
In previous years, a total of $910,000 has been raised and more than 232 scholarships have been awarded.
This year's candidates from Montgomery County attend the following public and private high schools: Paint Branch High School, seven student scholars; Sherwood High School, one student scholar; Montgomery Blair High School, one student scholar; James Hubert Blake High School, five student scholars; Springbrook High School, six student scholars; John F. Kennedy High School, one student scholar; Takoma Academy, two student scholars; Washington Christian Academy, one student scholar.
Learn how to ‘Play It Safe'
A "Play It Safe Beach Week" event sponsored by the Albert Einstein High School PTSA will be held 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 18 at the school 11135 Newport Mill Road in Kensington. Representatives from Drawing the Line On Underage Alcohol Use and the Worcester County Health Department will talk about the dangers of underage drinking and offer information about valuable resources and strategies on ways to help teens have fun but also stay alcohol and drug-free. Learn about Ocean City's "Play it Safe" program, which provides resources to help parents and seniors plan and supportive teen activities to ensure a safe and enjoyable Senior Week. This event is open to all parents of high school students. For more information, contact Emily Sudbrink at ee.sudbrink@
verizon.net .
On campus
Silver Spring resident Jaclyn King has been named to the fall 2008 dean's list at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
Nathan P. Lourie, son of Benjamin Lourie and Christine Arnold-Lourie of Silver Spring, recently performed piano with the Kenyon College Jazz Ensemble at the Gambier, Ohio, school.
Realty group offers scholarship
The Rhonda Mortensen Group of Long & Foster Realtors is offering a $3,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior in the 20901 and 20910 ZIP codes. Students must be accepted to a junior or four-year college in the 2009-2010 school year and have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average (include high school transcript with application). The deadline is May 1.
To be considered, applicants must submit a 300-word essay on the importance of a positive attitude on your life and successes, including: the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, the role a positive attitude has played in your life and the role you see a positive attitude playing in your future.
Include your name, address, phone number, name of your high school and the college you plan to attend; three letters of recommendation reflecting the applicant's positive attitude.
Get an application at www.
helpmerhondarealestate.com or by a request at rhondamortensen@aol
.com. Mail to Rhonda Mortensen at the Bethesda Gateway Office, 4650 East West Highway in Bethesda.
Barrie School holds play
The Barrie School, 13500 Layhill Road in Silver Spring, will stage "Crazy for You" 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and March 13 and 14, and 2 p.m. Sunday and March 15. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. Tickets for the Sunday matinee cost $5 for all.
To buy tickets, visit the school Web site at www.barrie.org.
Send items for School Notes to The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. Items may be e-mailed to flewis@gazette.net or sent by fax to 240-473-7501.