NIC students bring home medals
<p>Members of the Lt. George Farragut Chapter of The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently held an awards ceremony to recognize Aidan Toole, Lutheran Academy of the Master fifth-grader, for his entry in the American History essay contest sponsored by DAR. From left, Lora Gervais, American History Committee chairman, Jean Van Bockel, committee member, Geri Borkoski, DAR chapter regent, and Aidan Toole.</p>
Students of North Idaho College's Collision Repair Technology program took home silver and bronze medals from the annual Idaho Skills USA competition in Boise in April.
NIC competed among 20 other college contestants in hands-on categories including small dent repair, estimating, structural analysis, plastic repair and welding. Participants were also judged on their performance on a written test, interview and resume.
Ryan Hanley, of Post Falls, took home the silver medal in the competition. Gavin Krieg, of Post Falls, took home the bronze medal.
As the only one-year program in the state, NIC is typically the underdog going into the competition against two-year schools, said Calvin DeHaas, NIC Collision Repair Technology instructor. Collision Repair Technology is a 10-month professional-technical program at NIC.
Dan Armstrong, a teacher at Lake City High School, was one of four Adobe Educator Leaders that Adobe honored as a Local Hero - educators who do extraordinary work within their school or district.
As part of Teacher's Appreciation Week May 7-11, Adobe highlighted Armstrong's contributions to the Coeur d'Alene community, emphasizing the positive impact he has on his students.
As director of T-Wolf Productions - Lake City High School's Career and Technology Education course for graphic arts - Dan Armstrong strives to help his students' visions become reality while preparing them for tomorrow's careers. He's committed to helping his students acquire highly developed skills in their trade and approaches his work with a dedication to do things right.
"We continue to investigate ways to add to our CTE program so that our students stay ahead of the game coming out of high school and give them a competitive advantage in whatever they decide to pursue after they graduate," he said.
Betsy Absec, a 2008 graduate of Coeur d'Alene High School, graduated with honors from The University of Montana on May 12.
Absec began her college career as an undergraduate in the English Department. Shortly after completing her freshman year, Absec was accepted into the Phyllis J. Washington School of Education at UM and began her courses in Secondary Education (5-12) Licensure. Absec also graduated with an endorsement in Reading K-8, a separate certificate which will allow her to work as a Reading Specialist in any school. Absec will be working on a five-week practicum at Hellgate Elementary School in Missoula where she will work with children who are 1-2 grade levels behind in reading. Beginning August 2012, Absec will be student teaching at Sentinel High School in Missoula where she will be teaching in several English and creative writing courses.
The University of Montana College of Arts and Sciences recently announced the winners of its inaugural Richard Drake Award to honor written excellence in the humanities, specifically history, literature, philosophy, religion, politics and the classics.
David Baker, a senior history major from Coeur d'Alene, and Craig Rigdon, a history graduate student from Wexford, Pa., received the first awards and $750 each.
Students were invited to submit a paper dealing with any theme based on a humanistic discipline. Submissions were judged on the basis of excellence in writing, imagination in research and force of argument.
Baker's winning submission was titled "Minority Rules: How Being Black Saved Joan Little's Life and Unified Feminism."