Kent-Meridian High School’s Jovial Chakkalakkal and Kentridge’s Breanna Valdez have qualified to participate in the next phase of the Washington Aerospace Scholars Summer Residency program at The Museum of Flight.

WAS is designed to connect high school juniors in Washington and Oregon with educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through independent learning, hands-on interaction, professional guidance and site-based tours.

In December 2017, Chakkalakkal and Valdez were among the 200 who began competing for a spot in one of the WAS Summer Residency sessions by completing ten NASA and University of Washington designed lessons – Phase One of the WAS program. Students were able to register to earn five UW credits based on successful completion of the curriculum.

Phase Two is a six-day, three-session experience at the museum in June and July. In each session, four-student teams cooperate to plan a human mission to Mars with support from professional engineers/scientists, university students and certificated educators. Additionally, participants receive briefings from aerospace professionals, tour engineering facilities and compete in hands-on engineering challenges.

New piano for Excel

Excel Public Charter (Green Dot) School, was recently recognized by the Seattle Symphony for its excellence in arts when its music program was awarded with a brand new Yamaha piano.

Kyle Berry, teacher and music director at Excel, led the effort to win the symphony’s recognition by hosting students at the Ten Grands concert at Benaroya Hall on May 13. For the music program’s superior performance and its high attendance of students, Excel was selected among five local school programs to win the new piano.

The new instrument will help the school expand its music, orchestra, and digital music production classes in the coming school year.

“The arts teach students creativity and expression – both qualities that help students grow in their learning beyond the classroom. They can learn to better problem solve, communicate, and work with others when they have an education in the arts,” Berry said. “We place a lot of value on our music program especially because we know that students perform better in school when they have the opportunity to learn the language of music and share that knowledge with their communities.”

Elsewhere

Denali Federal Credit Union recently awarded $5,000 to Kentlake senior Ashlyn Greget for her college education. Greget will attend Washington State University and pursue a degree in business administration. She received her scholarship based on a combination of her academic achievements and her involvement with Distributive Education Clubs of America, associated student body, as well as her leadership, work ethic and dedication to success. Denali developed the scholarship program to reward its young members in high school who demonstrated excellence in academics, extra-curricular activities and volunteerism in their communities. …

Jerad Clark of Kent, an honor roll student, was among the 539 students who recently graduated from Western Nevada College. … Rebecca Madison of Kent has earned a degree in music at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. … Kyle Dougherty (bachelor of science, magna cum laude) graduated from the University of Saint Mary (Leavenworth, Kan.). The school held its commencement ceremony on May 12. … Kent’s Katherine Baker, Josef Matuska and Connor Riley made the presiden’t spring semester honor roll (4.0 grade point average) at Montana State University. Keeton Hersey, Wyatt Kelly, Bryanna Raap and Kyle Smith were named to the dean’s honor roll (3.5 GPA or better). … Kent’s Tamara Brockschmidt (master of science, occupational therapy profess development) graduated from Mount Mary University (Milwaukee, Wis.). … Kent’s Mason Johnson (bachelor of arts, psychology) and Nicholas Ramseth (bachelor of science, forest management) graduate from Oregon State University. The commencement ceremony is 10:30 a.m. June 16 at Reser Stadium in Corvallis. …

Madeleine Grace (Louise Herrington School of Nursing) and James Taw (College of Arts and Sciences) were named to the dean’s list for spring semester at Baylor University. … Francesca Curry-Edwards (bachelor of arts, musical theatre, summa cum laude) received a degree from the University of Northern Colorado (Greeley) during spring commencement ceremonies May 4-5.