Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars present scholarships

The Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars presented scholarships during a banquet July 26 at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts' Cafe Bleu.

The organization offers opportunities for underprivileged youths to participate in sports, educational, cultural and community enrichment programs after school and in the summer.

Scholarships are given to select Clark County School District students, who receive as much as $2,000 each to pursue college educations. The scholarships are based on academic performance, community service and financial need.

After-School All-Stars Executive Director Jackie Locks and board members and education committee members Kathy Harney, Judy Reich and Eryn Rice presented gifts and $1,000 checks to four returning scholarship recipients: Kiara Fairman, Ambrosia Hafen-Hayes, Shontarius Webb and Nancy Steele.

New scholarship recipients, receiving $2,000, were Susanna Bouse, a 2007 graduate from Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, and Liaudie Demanche, a 2007 graduate from Canyon Springs High School.

The 2007 Beacon of Light $1,000 Award given to an individual who has shown extraordinary effort in supporting the After-School All-Stars while achieving in academics and community service went to teen race-car driver Jace Meier. He's involved in the annual "Kids on Track -- Night at the Races" at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Bullring.

Cafe Bleu's General Manager David Keith, chefs Carlos Fernandez and Scott Sharkey, and culinary arts students treated award recipients, their guests, board members and the After-School All-Star staff to a dinner of Caesar salad, chicken cordon bleu and cheesecake with berry coulis.

Scholarship donors included Anderson Dairy, Allen Kaercher and McCrea Martin & Allison, LDT via Tim Harney.

The After-School All-Stars program currently is in 10 schools and plans to expand to 14.

Recognizing teamwork: The Clark County School District presented a Celebration of Progress Aug. 7 at Cashman Theatre. The program introduces new schools in the district by honoring their namesakes and the building teams that constructed them.

For the 2007 school year, the district has nine new schools and two replacements schools.

Architectural firms that played a leading role in the schools presented plaques to the school principals. The firms and the schools they worked on and honored included:

* Domingo Cambeiro Corp., Forbuss Elementary School, Dr. Claude G. Perkins Elementary School and Smalley Elementary School.

* JMA Architecture Studios, Bailey Elementary School, Dickens Elementary School and Roundy Elementary School.

* PGA/WHA, Booker replacement elementary school.

* SH Architecture, Burkholder replacement middle school and Northwest Career and Technical Academy, a high school.

* Welles Pugsley Architects, Escobedo Middle School and Faiss Middle School.

Elaine Wynn served as master of ceremonies and received a plaque of appreciation from Clark County School Superintendent Walt Rulffes and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., for her dedication to Clark County students.

Ruth Johnson, president of the district's board of school trustees also spoke, along with Wade Simpson of Welles Pugsley Architecture and Mark McGinty of SH Architecture.

Performances by the After-School All-Stars Bell and Wynn elementary schools' Future Dance Teams and the Rowe Elementary School Drum Club also were part of the program.

Other major sponsors for the event included Melvin Green Architects, Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects, MSA Engineering, Pace Contracting Co., CORE Construction, McCarthy Building, Martin Harris Construction, Sletten Construction and Southwick Landscaping Architects.

The event was sponsored by the Las Vegas Chapter of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International.

Outside the event, architectural firms offered scale models and information about the new and replacement schools. Principals and some teachers also were on hand to talk about the schools. Refreshments were offered.