School Notes (6/12)

Collins College earns multiple awards

Collins College was recently honored with several achievements by the Arizona Private School Association, winning awards in three separate areas, including Best Retention and Completion, Best Student Organization and Best Placement Practice.

Collins College is located in Phoenix and has an enrollment of approximately 1,200. Earlier this year the school opened a new 70,000-square-foot facility in the Cotton Center Business Complex.

For more information, visit www.collinscollege.edu.

Hampton Inn supports parents with ‘Cash for College'

The excitement of visiting college and university campuses just got a boost with Hampton Hotels' "Cash for Colleges" contest to award families with funds for their college-bound children's tuition.

To be entered automatically into "Hampton's Cash for College Sweepstakes," parents simply need to book a stay at www.hampton.com/collegetours and enter promo code CAMPUS now through Dec. 7. Two lucky winners will receive $5,000 each, to be used for college expenses. The first grand prize winner will be announced in September, and the second grand prize winner in December.

For more information, call Donalie McIntire, general manager of Hampton Inn Phoenix, Chandler (7333 W. Detroit St. in Chandler) at (480) 753-5200.

AF students named to Dean's List

• Darren J. Pilcher has achieved academic distinction during the spring term and has been named to the Dean's List at Beloit College, which recognizes students who have maintained at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA for the semester.

• Erica Tighe was named to the Dean's List at DePaul University for the 2009 winter quarter. To receive commendation, full-time students must earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above.

Seton Catholic receives prestigious Tony Komadina award

Seton Catholic Preparatory High School has been honored with the 4A-5A 2008-09 Tony Komadina Award.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Executive Board established the Tony Komadina Award For Outstanding Girls' Athletic Program in 1987 to recognize schools that demonstrate advocacy of, and progress in, girls' athletics. Komadina served as executive director of the AIA from 1976 to 1987.

The school is located at 1150 N. Dobson Road in Chandler.

CGCC names Lujan interim president

Dr. Linda Lujan has been named interim president of Chandler-Gilbert Community College. The appointment will be effective in July, when Dr. Maria Hesse, the college's current president, moves to a new position at Arizona State University. Lujan has been vice president for academic affairs at South Mountain Community College since July 2005.

A national search for a permanent president for CGCC will commence in September.

SMCC offers flex-start classes

New spring classes are still starting almost every week at the South Mountain Community College Ahwatukee Foothills Center, 10429 S. 51st St.

Classes range from single-day sessions to eight weeks in duration, with most meeting evenings, one to two nights per week. For a complete spring flex-start schedule, visit http://ahwatukee.southmountaincc.edu or call (602) 243-8393.

Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Chalice donated to Seton Catholic

A Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Chalice has been donated to Seton Catholic High School in Chandler. The chalice belonged to Phillip Anthony Scandura, Sr., father of Seton's athletic trainer, Joanne Scandura.

Phillip became a Charter member of the Pope John Paul I Knights of Columbus Council in Parkville, Mo., in 1978. He then went on to receive his 4th degree of the Order, the highest, and members of this degree are addressed as "Sir Knight." The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism and to encourage active Catholic citizenship.

When an active 4th degree Knight passes, a chalice is donated to wherever the Knight designates it. Phillip and his wife were proud that their daughter was working at Seton Catholic High School and especially loved the new Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel. After Mr. Scandura passed, Mrs. Scandura said they had agreed that the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel would receive his Chalice.

Phillip Scandura passed away Feb. 15, and his Chalice was presented to Eric Francisco, Seton Catholic Director of Campus Ministry, during the annual "Father's Mass" in April.

Parents of kindergarten-age children urged to register now

Registration for 2009-10 kindergarten is currently in progress. Parents of children who turn 5 prior to Sept. 1 are urged to go to their neighborhood Kyrene elementary school and complete the kindergarten registration process.

Kyrene also accepts students from outside of the district boundaries through its Open Enrollment Program.

For information, visit www.kyrene.org.

Sonoran Science Academy-Ahwatukee now enrolling

Sonoran Science Academy-Ahwatukee, formerly known as Paragon Science Academy in Chandler, has moved to its new location at 14647 S. 50th St., Building 1, Suite 125, in Ahwatukee Foothills.

The school is now enrolling kindergarten to sixth grade for the 2009-10 school year. For information, call (480) 385-9007.

Desert Garden Montessori to launch middle school program

After 10 years on the campus at Warner Road and Interstate 10, Desert Garden Montessori announces the opening of its middle school program. Enrollment applications from both new and experienced Montessori students in grades 7 and 8 are now being accepted. School begins Aug. 10.

For additional information, call Director Shetal Walters at (480) 496-9833, e-mail shetal@desertgardenmontessori.org or visit www.desertgardenmontessori.org.

ASU offering over 100 classes next fall to high school seniors

Arizona State University is offering more than 100 classes next fall to qualified high school seniors, to give them a head start on a university career. Students can test their academic interests and explore majors and career options, before they begin freshman year.

The Collegiate Scholars Program offers courses in every college of the university at all four campuses. Eligibility is based on GPA, class rank and test scores. Once eligibility is confirmed, students may apply for admission and register. For a full listing of courses, visit http://promise.asu.edu/csp.

For more information, e-mail Mark Duplissis at mark.duplissis@asu.edu or call (480) 965-2621.

SMCC offers G.E.D. high school equivalency testing

South Mountain Community College, 7050 S. 24th St., is offering G.E.D. testing for individuals who do not have a high school diploma and are seeking to earn a high school equivalency diploma.

Candidates must be at least 16 years of age. Those under 18 must bring a notarized letter of consent from a parent or guardian, along with an official letter of withdrawal from their last school attended. The G.E.D. testing fee is $75, with a $15 re-test fee for each subject area. Testing is by appointment only, and pre-registration is required prior to testing. Pre-registration takes place on Monday afternoons between 1:30 and 3 p.m. Testing takes place on Wednesdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tests are available in English, Spanish and large-print. Special accommodations are available for examinees with documented disabilities.

For more information, call (602) 243-8188.

Kyrene continues free, reduced-price meals

Kyrene School District has announced its continuing policy for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program. Each school and/or the central office has a copy of the policy for anyone to review. Applications are avail­able at any time in each school office.

Navy Secretary OKs ROTC unit at ASU

The establishment of a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) at Arizona State University for fall 2010 was announced by Rear Adm. Cliff Sharpe during a recent visit to the Tempe campus. ASU's application for a NROTC unit was approved by the Secretary of the Navy.

The NROTC program was established to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. A four-year NROTC scholarship features full tuition at a select college or university, all college or university educational fees, a stipend for text books, all uniforms, up to three summer training events and a subsistence allowance for each academic month.

Plans are to have teaching and administrative staffs in place by the summer of 2010 in order to support the arrival of students in August 2010.

More information is at https://www.nrotc.navy.mil.

Mountain Pointe High School happenings

• Summer office hours at Mountain Pointe High School will be observed through July 17 and will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Wednesdays, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays and closed on Fridays.

• Book and preliminary schedule distribution dates for the 2009-10 school year will be held 7:30 a.m. to noon alphabetically by last name as follows: So to Z, July 28; Pe to Sn, July 29; M to Pa, July 30; Hi to L, July 31; E to He, Aug. 3; C to D, Aug. 4; and A to B, Aug. 5.

CGCC non-credit courses include piano, painting, picture books

Chandler-Gilbert Community College, 2626 E. Pecos Road in Chandler, is offering a variety of non-credit courses to help students meet their personal and professional goals. The schedule includes Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 17; Fabulous Faux for Boring Walls, 6 to 8:30 p.m. July 17; How to Write Children's Picture Books, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 18; and How to Write Young Adult Novels, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. July 18.

To learn more or to register for any Continuing Education classes, call (480) 732-7080 or visit www.cgc.edu/cont_ed.

Ribbon cutting at new public charter school

Phoenix Collegiate Academy, a tuition-free, public charter school located at 5610 S. Central Ave., will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. Aug. 1. Local political officials, the school board chair and school director will speak. Attendees will also receive a tour and have a chance to learn more about the school.

Phoenix Collegiate Academy's mission is to prepare sixth through twelfth grade students for success in college and leadership in the community. 

For more information, visit www.phxca.org or call Rachel Bennett at (602) 268-9900.

Bilingual adults interested in becoming registered nurses

If you are interested in becoming a registered nurse and you speak, read and write fluently in both Spanish and English, you will want to attend an information session of the Bilingual Nursing Fellowship Program (BNFP) at South Mountain Community College. Sessions will begin at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19 and 10 a.m. Sept. 5 in the Student Union, 7050 S. 24th St. Applications will be available at the meetings.

For more information, call (602) 243-8269 or visit http://nursing.southmountaincc.edu/.

Reunion planned for DV's 1st graduating class

The Desert Vista High School Class of 1999 will have its 10-year class reunion on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Rustler's Rooste. Spread the word, and come reminisce with old friends! More details will be available soon.

For information, e-mail reunion committee members at DVHSreunion1999@gmail.com or visit them on mySpace and Facebook.