Education news...

	Contributed photo Pictured are (front row) Ryan Keyes, Kristin Pohle, Stephen Rickard and (back row) Mr. Richard Pohle, mentor, Jessica Beers-Hindley, Kelly Sheptstone and Mrs. Linda Baldwin, advisor. Absent are John Baldwin and Mrs. Michelle Tonkin. (Click for larger image)

HONESDALE - Students from Wayne Highlands School District participated in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competition held recently at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre.

Kristin Pohle, daughter of Rick and Sue Pohle of Cold Springs and a Wayne Highlands Middle School student, was awarded the Excellence in Earth and Space Award for her project that tracked the accuracy of temperature forecasting for 24-hour and five-day periods. She will take her research to the state competition at State College in May.

Honesdale High School sophomore Jessica Beers-Hindley, daughter of Nick Hindley and Beverly Beers-Hindley, completed a Behavioral Science project examining the English grades of students also learning Latin and Spanish. This was Jessica's first project.

Ryan Keyes, son of Sue and John Keyes of Pleasant Mount, studied the growth of bean plants exposed to acid rain for his presentation.

Stephen Rickard, son of Diane and John Rickard of Cherry Ridge, observed the effects of acid rain on carrots, lettuce and radishes.

Sophomore Kelly Shepstone presented her research on the effects of temperature on the development of monarch butterflies. A four-time presenter, Kelly is the daughter of Tom and Mary Shepstone of Honesdale.

Western Wayne Middle School student John Baldwin, son of Linda and John Baldwin of South Canaan, joined the students from the Honesdale area. John's project explored the effects of air pollution on plant germination. John received an award and will join Kristin in participating at the State College meeting.

Mrs. Michelle Tonkin, Mr. Richard Pohle and Mrs. Linda Baldwin, members of the science faculty at Honesdale High School, served as mentors for the students.

	Contributed photo Nicole Williams

Honesdale's Williams named Tools for Tomorrow winner

HONESDALE - Junior Nicole Williams has been named recipient of the 2000 Tools for Tomorrow All American Vocational Student Award (AAVSA) at Honesdale High School (HHS). In addition to an awards certificate, Nicole received a $100 gift certificate good at any TruValue or Service Star store.

Daughter of Teresa and Chip Williams of Damascus, Nicole was one of 1,500 vocational and technical students from across the country who were chosen to receive this award for achievements in vocational programs, academics and potential for leadership in their respective communities.

In order to be considered for this award, Nicole had to complete an essay as well as take appropriate vocational and business courses.

She hopes to be placed in HHS's Vocational Internship Program for her senior year and to attend post-secondary school as a business and financing major, to eventually work in a bank.

UCCC participating in summer science getaway course for high school seniors

ULSTER CO. - Ulster County Community College (UCCC), a member college of the Catskill Institute for the Environment (CIE), will be a participant in the Institute's Catskill Summer 2000, the inaugural offering of a program which provides a college credit summer course for high school seniors interested in a career in science.

The program built around the course focuses on terrestrial and aquatic habits, ecological research and the fundamentals of ecology. Students live and study at four biological field stations and throughout the Catskills.

Ulster's Professor Ted Wohnsiedler, chair of the college's Biology Department, will direct the academic portion of the program. All expenses except tuition, books and supplies will be subsidized, making the total cost for the three-credit-hour course slightly over $300. Students will be evaluated on the basis of their achievements and efforts.

In addition to their academic work, students will participate in campus life activities designed to include team building and awareness. This portion of the program will be under the direction of Hartwick College Education Department Chair Jose Maldomado-Rivera and his students. Students will also spend a day with the "Catskill Geologist" Bob Titus, chair of Hartwick's Geology Department. Other professors and scientists from SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Delhi and the Huyck Preserve will lecture and introduce students to their research.

To receive an application for Catskill Summer 2000, mail your name and address to: Catskill Institute for the Environment, 212 High Point Mountain Road, West Shokan, NY 12494 or e-mail to: Morton S. Adams, President CIE, madams@ulster.net.

Klein wins Word Thursdays Catskill watershed essay contest

TRI-VALLEY - Serena Klein, a junior at Tri-Valley High School, is the winner of Word Thursdays/Bright Hill Press Catskill Watershed Essay Contest for her essay, "The Delaware System: Rondout, Neversink, Pepacton and Cannonsville Reservoirs."

Klein will receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond at the May 11 meeting of Word Thursdays. The savings bond will be presented by Catskill Watershed Corporation Communications Director Diane Galusha, after which Klein will read her winning essay.

Klein will also receive three Bright Hill Press books, a reading at Word Thursdays annual Speaking the Words Poets and Writers Tour and Festival and publication in the "On the Watershed" anthology, forthcoming from Bright Hill Press.

Judges for the competition were writers from Word Thursdays/Bright Hill Press, who expressed their pleasure at the "investigation undertaken by the writer and her ability to convert inquiry into elegant writing."

Serena, age 16, hopes to attend SUNY Cobleskill upon her graduation in 2001, after which she plans to transfer to SUNY Binghamton.

For more information, call Word Thursdays at 607/746-7306.