Clark elected president of State Board of Education
The State Board of Education voted Thursday to elect Linda Clark as the policy-setting organization’s new president.
Clark is a lifelong educator who spent 37 years of her career in Meridian-area schools. She served as superintendent of the West Ada School District — the state’s largest district — for 11 years before her resignation in late 2015.
Gov. Butch Otter appointed Clark to a five-year term on the State Board in July 2015.
The State Board includes the superintendent of public instruction, as well as six other members who are appointed by the governor. The State Board is a policy-setting body that provides general oversight and governance of Idaho’s public schools and colleges and universities. The State Board also serves as the board of trustees for Idaho’s public colleges and universities, and as the board of regents for the University of Idaho.
Clark succeeds past president Emma Atchley.
Idaho kids win at Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo
Thirteen Idaho students competed in the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo (NICEE) in Washington, DC, this month. Six kids won top prizes at the invitation-only event. Kid inventors and entrepreneurs displayed their critical thinking skills through inventing, innovating, and entrepreneurial activities. Nearly 300 students from across the nation competed. Idaho students were selected to attend NICEE through Invent Idaho state finals held at the University of Idaho in March.
The Idaho NICEE winners include:
Best Poster: Luke Pixton, 3rd grade, Trailwind Elementary, Boise, project: SnowBot
Best Log Book: Kai Hatten, White Pine Elementary, 6th grade, Boise, project: Ice-Bot
Best Log Book: Corinne Pixton, Collister Elementary, 5th grade, Boise, project: Noxilus
Best Log Book: Vishali Sutharsan, White Pine Elementary, 6th grade, Boise, project: Banana Peel Mush Battery
Jules Verne Award for Forward Thinking Innovation and Global Change: Taelyn Baiza, 5th grade, Roosevelt Elementary, Boise, project: Mare Sanum (Healthy Sea) Fishing Net
Idaho libraries receive summer STEM grant
The Idaho Commission for Libraries received a $30,000 grant from the Idaho STEM Action Center to facilitate learning of science, technology, engineering, and math by Idaho kids, during the summer, through school and public library outreach. A portion of the funding was awarded to 32 libraries for their STEM outreach.
“It is crucial for youngsters to continue reading and learning in the summer to maintain the achievements they made during the school year,” said Ann Joslin, the Idaho State Librarian.
The grant will provide libraries with STEM-related books and materials for initiatives such as “Summer STEM from You Library,” which complements existing Library in the Park outreach efforts. Libraries throughout Idaho help curtail the “summer slide” of learning loss by offering reading and education.
Idaho Governor’s Cup Scholarship recipients
Gov. Butch Otter announced the recipients of the 2017 Governor’s Cup Scholarships to Idaho colleges and universities. The 42nd Governor’s Cup fundraising drive brought in enough money for 38 new scholarships to be awarded this year.
Recipients were chosen from more than 1,000 applicants by the Idaho Governor’s Cup Scholarship Fund Inc.’s 16-member board of directors. Selections were made based on each applicant’s commitment to public service, academic achievement, leadership and community involvement.
The award is $3,000 per year, renewable for up to four years, or two to three years for professional-technical programs, contingent upon the availability of funds.
Here are this year’s recipients:
Academic Scholarships – four-year programs
Cole Brusven – Logos High School, Moscow – Attending the University of Idaho
Ashton Caldwell – Bishop Kelly High School, Boise – Attending Boise State University
Brookelyn Carpenter – Potlatch High School – Attending Boise State University
Alania Chambliss – Kellogg High School – Attending North Idaho College
Abigail Childress – Coeur d’Alene High School – Attending the University of Idaho
Cameron Coyle – Bishop Kelly High School, Boise – Attending College of Idaho
Kathryn Frostenson – Jerome High School – Attending the University of Idaho
Kaliesha Gamett – Mackay Jr-Sr High School – Attending BYU-Idaho
Cassidy Gilman – Borah High School, Boise – Attending Boise State University
Abbey Grigg – Garden Valley School – Attending Boise State University
Riley Haun – Homedale High School – Attending the University of Idaho
Kendra Hollar – Capital High School, Boise – Attending Boise State University
Jessiny Howard – Rigby High School – Attending Lewis-Clark State College
Emma Jensen – Butte County High School, Arco – Attending Idaho State University
McKenzie Kennedy – Grangeville High School – Attending the University of Idaho
Mia Klopfenstein – Renaissance High School, Meridian – Attending Boise State University
Ivie Linger – South Fremont High School, St. Anthony – Attending the University of Idaho
Kaden Marchetti – Highland High School, Pocatello – Attending Idaho State University
Kyle McCain – Watersprings High School, Idaho Falls – Attending the University of Idaho
Kennedy Melad – Nampa High School – Attending Boise State University
Zebediah Miller – Twin Falls High School – Attending Boise State University
Mitchel Nuxoll – Clearwater Valley Jr-Sr High School, Kooskia – Attending the University of Idaho
Taylor Pfefferkorn – Clearwater Valley Jr-Sr High School, Kooskia – Attending Lewis-Clark State College
Nicholas Phillips – Timberline High School, Boise – Attending Idaho State University
Devin Richards – Potlatch Jr-Sr High School – Attending the University of Idaho
Sandra Siharath – Capital High School, Boise – Attending Boise State University
Megan Smith – Melba High School – Attending Idaho State University
Allana Snowball – Borah High School, Boise – Attending Boise State University
Sydney Soppe – Caldwell High School – Attending Idaho State University
Elisabeth Stephens – Mountain Home High School – Attending Idaho State University
Meagan Tucker – Salmon High School – Attending Boise State University
Chaye Uptmor – Prairie High School, Cottonwood – Attending College of Idaho
Madalyn Watt – Idaho Arts Charter School, Nampa – Attending College of Western Idaho
Samantha Weber – Sugar-Salem High School, Sugar City – Attending BYU-Idaho
Josie Wickstrom – Meridian High School – Attending Boise State University
Professional Technical – two- or three-year programs
Janson Figueroa – Bonners Ferry High School – Attending Lewis-Clark State College
Kyle Mattson – Meridian High School – Attending College of Western Idaho
Krishna Regmi – Borah High School, Boise – Attending College of Western Idaho
