News You Can Use For March 2006
SHREVEPORT – Six C.E. Byrd High School students have won honors in the national Foundations for Life character essay contest.
Senior Lisa Guy was one of only seven contestants in the country to earn both a summa cum laude title and a national scholarship.
The other five youth won awards without a scholarship. Senior Ashley McMaster earned summa cum laude. Freshman Claire Kennedy won magna cum laude. Three earned cum laude honors: senior Whitney Baronette, junior Claire Adkins and senior Jennifer Cook.
Foundations for Life is a maxim-based essay and recognition program that enhances the reading, critical thinking and composition skills required by the new Scholastic Aptitude Test, state and federal standards and the No Child Left Behind proficiency testing.
The program is packaged in a free kit for teachers and educators who wish to promote reading and writing as well as help students develop ethical values and positive attitudes. The kit can be downloaded online (www.charactercounts.org.).
LSU AgCenter 4-H and character education expert Sarah Williams says the program integrates smoothly with existing school curricula and activities.
Williams adds that the program can be used in classroom discussion, classroom assignments, local essay contests and the national contest.
Foundations for Life is adapted from the Laws of Life essay contest established by Sir John Templeton in 1987. The John Templeton Foundation provides funding to the Character Counts! Coalition to run the Foundations for Life contest.
For information on related 4-H topics, click on the clover at the AgCenter Web site: www.lsuagcenter.com. For local information and educational programs, contact an extension agent in your parish LSU AgCenter office.
###
On the Internet: LSU AgCenter: www.lsuagcenter.com
On the Internet: Louisiana 4-H Web site: www.louisiana4h.org
Source: Sarah Williams (225) 578-2196, or SAWilliams@agcenter.lsu.edu