Contributed photo Heather Lander (at left), Tierney Cole and Stephen Daley were selected to play with the Marywood University Junior High Honors Band Festival. (Click for larger image)

Lander, Cole and Daley play with honors

SULLIVAN WEST — On Saturday, December 1, three music students from Sullivan West participated in the Marywood University Junior High Honors Band Festival.

Heather Lander, Tierney Cole and Stephen Daley were chosen to participate in this year’s program.

Heather Lander and Tierney Cole both played flute while Stephen Daley played saxaphone. William J. Weber was the conductor and the students were recommended for the festival by Roseann Auditori, the music teacher at the Sullivan West at Narrowsburg Campus.

A few songs included this year were “Stars and Stripes Forever,” composed by John Phillip Sousa, “Star Spangled Banner,” composed by Francis Scott Key and “Majestia,” by James Swearingen.

Veterans and education

MILFORD — The Delaware Valley School District Board of Directors has established a program to honor World War II veterans who were forced to leave high school to serve their country.

This program provides for the awarding of a Delaware Valley High School Diploma to honorably discharged veterans of World War II who, due to early entry into military service, did not graduate from a local high school. Further, a diploma may be awarded posthumously to an eligible veteran through this program.

Those eligible include any honorably discharged veterans of the United States military service in World War II between September 16, 1940 and December 31, 1946 and who attended any school that now comprises the current Delaware Valley School District boundaries.

For more information, or an application for a diploma, call Dr. Thomas Finan, Delaware Valley School District Director of Secondary Education, at 570/296-1850.

Ackerman nominated to PLA competition

CALLICOON — Jen Ackermann, a Sullivan West at Delaware Valley High School senior, has been nominated to compete in the national Principal’s Leadership Award scholarship program (PLA), sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Herff Jones, Inc., funds the Principal’s Leadership Award Program.

David Evans, principal, Delaware Valley High School, announced the nomination, which places Ackermann in the national competition. Around 150 national PLA winners will be awarded $1,000 college scholarships this spring.

While at Delaware Valley High School, Ackermann has been senior treasurer, National Honor Society Member, in SOIL, SADD and yearbook staff. She has played on the soccer, basketball and track teams.

Where in the world?

DAMASCUS — The fifth-grade geography classes at Damascus School are studying population distribution.

As a class project, students paired up and drew the entire floor plan of the school, using the original blue prints as a guide. They then placed each of the school’s 454 students in their appropriate homerooms.

Talk about a conversation…

LIBERTY — The Sullivan County Conversation on Youth Development in the 21st Century, part of the national 4-H Youth Development program, will take place Wednesday, December 19, at 6:00 p.m. at the Extension Education Center on Ferndale Loomis Road.

The local Conversation will lead to a state Conversation in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and five territories. Sullivan County Conversation participants interested in representing the county in Albany for the February New York State Conversation will be selected. Those participating in the New York State Conversation may be one of 2,000 individuals chosen to speak at a National Conversation in Washington, DC in March of 2002.

For more information call 845/292-4641 by December 17.

Getting a capital educational experience

LIVINGSTON MANOR — Brandi Lee Maggio, a student at Livingston Manor High School, will attend the Presidential Classroom Scholars Program from February 2 to 9, 2002 in Washington D.C.

Presidential Classroom gives high school juniors and seniors an introduction to how the federal government works. The week’s activities will include visiting Senators and Representatives’ offices from the student’s state, and observing congressional meetings. Other program highlights include a CIA briefing, a mock presidential election with student candidates and a tour of the White House (subject to White House schedule).

Maggio will join hundreds of high school students from across the country and abroad. Students will take part in seminars presented by leaders representing each branch of government, the military, media and other Washington insiders. Small-group workshops will allow students to debate current issues such as the role of the media in the American political process.

“We provide students with the rare opportunity of a front row seat of the American political process at work,” said Presidential Classroom Executive Director Jay Wickliff. “In learning about the federal government and discussing key issues with Washington policymakers, our Presidential Scholars graduate with a better understanding of their civic responsibility.”

For more information about Presidential Classroom visit www.presidentialclassroom.org.