Andanh.com

A top-to-bottom restructuring of two Wichita middle schools is almost complete, say district officials, and about half the teachers will not return to those schools next fall.

Also, representatives with America's Choice, a for-profit school turnaround company, were in Wichita this week to visit seven schools they will help redesign.

"It all went about as smoothly as we could expect," said Kathy Busch, assistant superintendent of middle schools.

"The re-interviewing process is complete, and the teachers have been notified about who's staying and who will be placed in other schools," she said.

Last month, employees at Marshall and Mead middle schools had to reapply to district administrators for their jobs as part of a start-from-scratch restructuring required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The schools had failed to meet test-score targets for six years.

A suburban Kansas City school is the first to launch a national program warning students about prescription drug abuse.

Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park is one of three schools chosen to be pilot sites for the "Smart Moves, Smart Choices" program. But by having its kickoff assembly Wednesday ahead of the other sites, it became the first school in the nation with the program.

"Parents in general worry about illegal drugs, and they don't think about what's in their own medicine cabinets," said Shawnee Mission South nurse Kara Erickson.

"Smart Moves, Smart Choices" is a free program sponsored by the National Association of School Nurses in Silver Spring, Md., and PriCara, which is part of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Raritan, N.J.

Erickson said the program will include curriculum for teachers to use in their classrooms. She and others are working on creating a virtual library of program materials that teachers can easily access for their classes.

A policy adopted Thursday bans all weapons from the state's six university campuses and requires criminal background checks for university employees.

The move by the state Board of Regents was prompted in part by the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech university one year ago Wednesday, board president Reginald Robinson said.

The weapons policy formalizes statewide what the universities already are doing.

Wichita State University has had a policy barring weapons on campus for more than a decade, said Ted Ayres, university vice president and general counsel.

The universities also posted signs last year preventing people from bringing a gun into campus buildings, in the wake of a state law that allows people to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Pope Benedict XVI told leaders of America's Roman Catholic colleges and universities Thursday that academic freedom has "great value" for the schools, but it does not justify promoting positions that violate the Catholic faith.

Benedict, a former academic, said that church teaching should shape all aspects of campus life and that Catholic educators have a "profound responsibility to lead the young to truth."

"I wish to reaffirm the great value of academic freedom," Benedict told hundreds of educators gathered at Catholic University of America.

"Yet it is also the case that any appeal to the principle of academic freedom in order to justify positions that contradict the faith and the teaching of the church would obstruct or even betray the university's identity and mission," he said.

Benedict's talk contained no explicit directive to the school presidents, but emphasized a core theme of his pontificate: that faith is compatible with reason.

Many Wichita-area students will pay more for school lunches and breakfasts next year as school districts cope with the same higher food prices as other consumers.

Maize and Goddard schools have already upped the prices of their meals for the 2008-09 year. Derby and Rose Hill are expected to follow suit, and the Wichita school board will probably consider an increase in coming weeks.

Of other area districts contacted, only Andover and the Catholic secondary schools of Wichita said they had no plans to raise prices.

Even charging more for lunches, school food service officials say they'll be hard-pressed to break even, as they try to do with their programs. The increases -- 10 to 15 cents per lunch -- were kept low so as not to deny any student a nutritious meal, but that means they might not keep pace with higher prices for items such as milk, grain and fruits and vegetables.

"We're not a little worried, we're a lot worried," said Greg Kalina, food services director in Goddard. "You can only raise your school lunches so much, and you've still got to meet your nutritional requirements."

Watching his Heights High School classmates dramatize an alcohol-related car crash Wednesday revived Joshua Hanson's memories of a real accident the 17-year-old survived.

Hanson, a junior at Heights, said he chipped three vertebrae and broke four ribs and an arm about two years ago after the car he was riding in turned in front of a semi in Goodland. The truck clipped the car, he said; the car hit the shoulder of the road and rolled.

He and several friends were on their way to homecoming. They'd been drinking at a pre-party. Hanson said one of his friends remained in intensive care for two months following the accident. Hanson had to undergo a year of physical therapy.

"People think it's a game, but it's not," Hanson said of drinking and driving. "It's not at all. Any of us could have died that night."

Hanson and about 200 Heights juniors and seniors watched the school's peer leadership group perform the skit as part of "Operation Prom Night."

Elementary schools

Anderson Elementary vocal concert, by students in third and fourth grades, 7 p.m. Tuesday, 2945 Victoria.

Benton Elementary 50th birthday celebration, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Wilbur Middle School, 340 N. Tyler Road. Dinner, silent auction, physical education student performances. Call Ann Welborn, principal, 973-3300.

Isely Traditional Magnet musical, "The Patriots: Heroes of the War of Independence," and strings concert, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. today, 2500 E. 18th St.

McLean Elementary kindergarten and first grade music and dance program, "Frog and Toad," 2:30 p.m. today, 2277 Marigold Lane.

Three schools qualify for national Olympiad

Three Wichita schools will represent Kansas at the National Science Olympiad Tournament at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., May 31.

All Saints Catholic School, Wichita Collegiate and Kapaun Mount Carmel qualified for the national tournament during the Kansas Science Olympiad April 5 at Wichita State University.

Area high schools that participated include Collegiate, first place; Kapaun, second; Maize, third among large schools and fifth overall; East, ninth; Carroll, 10th; Goddard, 12th; and Newton, 17th.

Collegiate took first in Circuit Lab, second in Experimental Design, and third in Chemistry Lab, Electric Vehicle and Food Science.

Board members for The Friends of the Wichita Art Museum have been named for 2008-09. They are Susan Arnold, Karla Fazio, Charla Felt, Kathy Goree, Bev Hoover, Susan Koslowsky, Libby Merritt, Kathie Molamphy, LuAnne Neely, Adriene Rathbun, Abe Rodriguez, Joan Schulz and Paula Varner.

New officers are Mary Joyner, chairperson; Joy Archer, vice chair; Nancy Conover, secretary; and Vicki Skaer, treasurer.

Kristin Stang of Wichita, graduate student in interior architecture and product design, was one of 15 entries to earn honors in the Kansas State University College of Architecture, Planning and Design's second annual student photography competition. Stang won best of show and first place in black-and-white photography. Prizes included $100 for best in show, and $75 for first place.

In the military

Navy Seaman Recruit Tyler Jefferson, son of Loy and Thomas Jefferson of Wichita, has completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Com-mand, Great Lakes, Ill.

Criminal complaints from police beats in Wichita. Missing dates indicate days where no reports were filed.

Beat 11

Burglary

3700 block of W. 15th, April 4.

700 block of Woodrow, April 7.

Senior Health Alliance, information about recording health information on a computer card for use by medical professionals and in emergencies, 10:30 a.m. today, Orchard Park Senior Center, 4808 W. Ninth St.

What's New With Long-Term Care Insurance? with senior financial advisor Stan Webb, 2 p.m. today, Down-town Senior Center, 200 S. Walnut.

Kechi Over 55 Club meeting and covered-dish supper, 6:30 p.m. today, Kechi City Hall, 220 W. Kechi Road, Kechi. Valerie Fairchild of the Arthritis Foundation will speak on the Life Improvement class series.

Disaster Preparedness, by the American Red Cross, 10:15 a.m. Friday, Linwood Senior Center, 1901 S. Kansas.

Nutrition and the Eyes, by Envision, 10:30 a.m. Friday, Orchard Park Senior Center, 4808 W. Ninth St.

Today

• Northwest Big River Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., Antioch Christian Church, 3741 W. 15th St.

• The Elm Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., 606 N. Piatt.

• Matlock Heights Neighborhood Association, 6:30 p.m., North Patrol substation, 3015 E. 21st St.

• Crestview Heights Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., First Evangelical Free Church, 1825 N. Woodlawn.

Amick, Ryan Z. and Woods, Rachel L., both of Wichita.

Benson, Freddie R. and Dupree, Crystal L., both of Wichita.

Bista, Rajesh, and Luhellier, Hollie M., both of Wichita.

Booker, Derrill D., Valley Center, and Terry, Nicki D., Wichita.

Booker, Gary T. and Utting, Mary M., both of Bel Aire.

In search of...

Wichita High School West Class of 1963 classmates for the 45-year reunion Aug. 16. Members of 1962 and 1964 classes are also invited. Call Peggy Avery Cleaton, 316-944-0608.

Reunions

The Rose Hill High School Alumni banquet, 7 p.m. May 24 at the school. Elvis will be in attendance. Reserved tickets for $12 are available through May 16. Contact Karen Cox Royal, 316-776-2847, or Judy Sullivan Burnham, 316-776-0551. Tickets will be available at the door.

The 113th Haviland family reunion begins at 11 a.m. July 19 at Brant Park Conservation Area in Brantford, Ontario. Contact David Haviland, 18 Cadeau Terrace, Unit 26, London, Ontario N6K 4Z1; call 519-473-8059; or fax 519-652-5994.

Book Club at Evergreen Library, 1 p.m. today, 2601 Arkansas. Information, 316-303-8181.

Lambda Alpha anthropology student symposium,8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Room 126 Clinton Hall, Wichita State University. Anthropological papers and presentations by students from various schools. Free. Audience will vote on which paper receives a $100 prize.

Chickasaw Community Council, 3 p.m. Sunday, Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca. Speaker will be Linda Giles, the council's resource officer. Information, Lynn at 316-945-9219.

Rapid Change and the Olympics in China, video conference with students and professors from Xian International University in China, 7 p.m. Sunday, Friends University Marriage and Family Building, southeast side of campus, 2100 University. Free.

Military Order of the Purple Heart, 7 p.m. Monday, VFW Post 3115, Douglas and Anna streets. Call Tom Creel, 316-558-8059 or 316-650-1328.

Run 4 Rescue needs volunteers for a dog agility event Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Kansas Coliseum herding barn. Minimum age 13. No experience necessary. Adults also needed to set up and tear down equipment Friday and Sunday afternoon. Call Lee Ann, 316-210-6454.

Goodwill Easter Sealsadult literacy program needs volunteers to help adults learn to read. Free training 9 a.m. to noon or 6 to 9 p.m. April 24 and May 1 and 8, Goodwill Education and Training Center, 110 S. Main. Must attend all three sessions. Call Raye Street, 316-267-1155.

The United Way of the Plains Volunteer Center has the following opportunities. Call 316-267-0202.

• Unload food from postal vehicles for transfer to bins and semis during a national food drive May 10. Hours are 3 to 5:30 p.m. Children ages 14 and older are welcome along with a parent.

• Staff beverage stations for Youthville at the 2008 Renaissance Fair Saturday and Sunday. Shifts are two to three hours.

Brenda Tretbar, director of East High School's competitive International Baccalaureate program, will leave Wichita this summer for a job in the Shawnee Mission school district.

Tretbar, who has directed the IB program since 2002, will be an IB counselor at Shawnee Mission East High School.

Steve Shook, executive director of instructional technology for Wichita and a former assistant principal at East, will lead the school's IB program next year.

Wichita State University's student newspaper is preparing for a First Amendment battle with the university over what it says is illegal censorship.

A top university official, meanwhile, says his concern with the Sunflower isn't free speech, but sloppy journalism.

"Students have just reached a point where they're getting fed up with the Sunflower in terms of how articles are being published," said Ron Kopita, vice president for campus life and university relations.

Kopita, as chairman of the student fees committee, recently appointed a task force to review the newspaper's operations and recommend improvements. It would not review content before it is published, he said.

The Sunflower gets $155,000 a year -- about half its annual budget -- from student fees. The rest comes from advertising.

The East High Latino Club recognized the winners of this year's Multicultural Education Scholarships at an awards luncheon April 10 at East.

Recipients of the $400 Multicultural Education Scholarships, to be used at any school, are Huy Cao, Molly Martens, Ngoc Trang Nguyen, Phuong Nguyen, Nhat Pham, Maria Saenz-Dominguez, Nisha Shah and Saad Syed.

Money for the scholarships was raised through ticket sales to East's annual Multicultural Assembly.

History students go to state meet on Saturday

Area students who placed first or second in district history competition will go to Washburn University, Topeka, on Saturday to compete in Kansas History Day.

The United Way of the Plains has the following opportunities. Call 316-267-0202.

• Set up for a March of Dimes golf tournament Monday at Tallgrass Country Club, assist during the tournament or help with cleanup.

• Pull weeds, pick up trash and do lawn work at Inter-Faith Ministries. Minimum age is 16, or 14 with adult supervision.

• Be a community garden volunteer for Sisters of St. Joseph. Plant and water plants, mow and pull weeds. Minimum age is 18.

• Organize and file records and do entry-level office work at Wichita Child Guidance Center. Minimum age is 21.

These Emporia State University students have been awarded scholarships for the current academic year: Kaden Adams, Michael Bezdek, Sara Dawson, Katherine Hook, Andrea Menousek, Alicia Moss, Kassha Piotrowski, Yvette Toubia, Taryn Trousdale, all of Andover. Whitney Burrows, Elizabeth Preston, Elsie Borck, Regina Werner, Angelica Wheat, all of Augusta. Natalie Freerksen of Bel Aire. Jonathan Krueger of Bentley. Stuart Busenitz of Benton. Brooke Considine of Burrton. Amber Latta of Cheney. Jestin Blake, Sukkie Cleaver, Jessica France, Jenna Roland, Erynn Watt, all of Clearwater. Gwen Curtiss, Sara Reichenberger, Andrew Smarsh, all of Colwich.

Jessica Anderson, Carolyn Cessna, Kristine Elliott, Richard Landzettel, Holly Luehring, Mark Mahoney, Jessica Miller, Allison Miller, Brittany Norris, Heather Parrott, Amber Price, Heidi Ribordy, Clinton Rogers, Anton Sandoval, Traci Schremmer, Richard Stephenson, Jacob Walker, Cody Wilson, Glenn Woodard, all of Derby. Nicole Bergley, Jenna Shores, Jenna Soden, all of Douglass. Kacee Alonso, Jessica Baker, Kylie Bookout, Robin Carleton, Laura Kelley, all of El Dorado. Amanda Lewis, Benjamin Williams, both of Elbing. Christine Hays, Leslie Healy, Elizabeth Johnson, Laura Reida, Drew Voth, all of Goddard. Tara McNamara of Halstead. Sarah Snow of Haysville. Kevin Roulhac, Kathleen Schultz, Amanda Smith, all of Hesston.

Stephanie Diehl of Leon. Alise Steven of Mount Hope. Jessica Andrew, Brian Ball, Andrea Cline, Simeon Degraaf, Drake Foster, Tyler Goad, Sheila Heiens, Jacqueline Howe, Drew Nearhood, Stephanie Schifferdecker, Caitlin Sheridan, Julia Straut, Christopher Wilson, all of Mulvane. Aubrie Adams, Kaitlin Attebery, Shannon Buscher, Alisha Duell, Travis Dunn, Kate Flavin, Carissa Garcia, Kelsey Goering, Scott Goering, Jesse Hunsaker, Daniel Miller, Michelle Pauley, Lacey Pendry, Darcy Pendry, Katherine Pownell, Katelin Ross, Marissa Schroeder, Stephen Schuck, all of Newton. Kelleen Jenkins of North Newton. Michael Allard, Blake Ringwall, Rebekah Sooter, all of Rose Hill. Carinda Claassen of Sedgwick. Alexander Pyle of Towanda. Ryan Dunbar, Kelsey Hinckley, Douglas Irby, Katelyn Kaiser, all of Valley Center. Lindsay Dorsch of Whitewater.

Tenae Alfaro, Krista Blackwell, Matthew Boswell, Valynn Christie, Kyle Clement, Elizabeth Cliburn, Cory Cox, Kristy Criman, Zachary Day, Petra Elmore, David Evans, Rachel Fehrenbacher, Erin Foster, Whitney Franklin, Harrison George, Michael Gilbert, Wayne Gleason, Michelle Goodwin, Cody Grauberger, Louis Greaves, Jennifer Gurnsey, Andrew Guthrie, Alex Haines, Lauren Halstead, Brittney Hamilton, Christopher Hehemann, Ty Hill, Christopher Hunter, Sarah Johnson, Nicole Kaiser, Alexandra King, Arielle Kingwood, Courtney Knaup, Amanda Larkin, Kaitlin Leopold, Dylan Lewis, Kelly Logsdon, Sarah Lott, Bradley Maples, Megan Martin, Joel McClure, Joel McClure, Benjamin McKaig, Matthew Mercer, Deidra Mitchener, Douglas Moore, Lynnsey Nichols, Kayla Orth, Alysa Parson, Jill Peters,. Taylor Relph, Matthew Rosenhamer, Eric Runge, Sheila Sarrafizadeh, Anna Scheibmeir, Holli Schletzbaum, Kelli Sheahon, Jaclyn Sill, Sarah Smith, Kendall Snyder, Christopher Snyder, Amy Splane, Ashley Teneyck, Mary Terhune, Jacob Ternes, Autumn Thacker, Katherine Thornbrugh, Jonathan Torres, Atlee Vogt, Cody Wagner, Emily Warren, Dru Warren, Cecil Wattree, Alex Weed, Jamie Williams, Amanda Wilson, all of Wichita.

Alexander, Andrew L. and Taylor Sonya D., both of Wichita.

Basinger, Joel L. and Palmer, Lorna G., both of Haysville.

Belgard, Thomas J. and Bakken, Angela R., both of Rose Hill.

Bell, Jerry D. and Murrell, Shawntel E., both of Wichita.

Bender, Joshua M., Wichita, and Frid, Camilla H., Katrineholm, Sweden.

In search of...

Wichita High School West Class of 1963 classmates for the 45-year reunion Aug. 16. Members of the classes of 1962 and 1964 are invited. Call Peggy Avery Cleaton, 316-944-0608.

Reunions

Wichita East and Wichita Southeast Classes of 1958 for the 50-year reunion May 15-18 at the Broadview Hotel, 400 W. Douglas. Registration begins at noon May 15. Activities include golf tournament, city tour and dinner and dance May 16, school tours, Bar-B-Q, and attend the Wichita Pops Concert and River Festival fireworks May 17. Call Bette Hamilton, 316-682-1129 or e-mail beham@sbcglobal.net or Frank Chappell, 316-640-1360 or e-mail flchappell@sbcglobal.net.

The Rose Hill High School Alumni banquet at 7 p.m. May 24 at the school. Elvis will be in attendance. Reserved tickets for $12 are available through May 16. Contact Karen Cox Royal, 316-776-2847 or Judy Sullivan Burnham, 316- 776-0551. Tickets will be available at the door.

If you applied for a spot at a Wichita magnet school, you should soon get a letter saying whether your child got a place at his or her first-choice school.

The school district plans to mail more than 3,000 letters today, after completing its first round of magnet school placements. The letters will tell families whether they secured a spot or will be on a waiting list for their first-choice school.

Gordon Parks Academy, a K-8 magnet school scheduled to open this fall at 25th North and Grove, already is full in kindergarten, fifth and sixth grades, said Kathy Busch, assistant superintendent for middle schools.

She did not know how long the waiting list for space in those grades would be.

Busch said she is pleased with preliminary enrollment numbers for Gordon Parks Academy, despite low enrollment in seventh and eighth grades. So far, fewer than 30 eighth-graders have applied for the new school, she said.

When the more than 20 Bishop Carroll Catholic High School students walk into St. Francis Catholic Church for Mass this afternoon, they may feel -- and look -- a bit worn out.

They'll have a good reason: They all planned to sleep outside in cardboard boxes overnight.

By the time they get to Mass, the students will have spent 24 hours outdoors to draw attention to homelessness and give them a small taste of what it's like to be homeless.

"We're blessed to have the life that we have," said Lia Faber, a 17-year-old junior. "And so, it's to see what it's like to live in somebody else's shoes for a day."

The idea for the project came from Aubrey Logsdon, the school's student council sponsor, and the student council. Logsdon heard of students at Emporia State University who had slept outside in boxes to draw attention to homelessness.

The Wichita school board today will consider a proposal to sell the vacant Carter Elementary School building to the Wichita Catholic Diocese for $300,000 in a lease-to-own agreement.

Carter, at 4640 E. 15th St., was built in 1950 and closed in 1996 as a cost-saving measure.

The diocese wants it to house Holy Savior Academy, which leases the former Magdalen School building at Kellogg and Woodlawn from the city.

Dave Johnson, facilities division director for Wichita public schools, said the district does not have a clear title for the building because the land it sits on was donated to the district with the condition that it would remain a school or be returned to the family who donated it.

Johnson said the district plans to start condemnation proceedings to discover whether there are any living heirs to the property.

A teaching career is becoming a fast reality for Lisa Alford, a recently-divorced single mother of five.

In one year volunteering with AmeriCorps, she's taught at Mead Middle School; received certification to become an education assistant -- commonly called a para-professional -- and has been accepted into the Wichita school district's Grow Your Own Teacher program, which recruits minority educators.

"I am just floating," said Alford, 38. "It just gets better and better. AmeriCorps was a great choice."

Alford was placed in Wichita public schools through GRASP -- AmeriCorps' Growing Responsible Achievers in School Program. Certifying more para-educators is among the program's goals.

The program offers on-the-job training for people interested in education careers, prepares them for para-educator certification and offers incentives including $4,725 for education expenses, a $925 monthly stipend and health insurance for those who complete one year of service.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church didn't expect much controversy when it began talks about bringing a preschool onto its property.

But six months later, St. Stephen's and Discovery Place Preschool are caught in what the church's rector calls a "disturbing" disagreement with many residents in the church's neighborhood near Central and Rock Road.

The church needs a conditional use permit from the city to build the preschool on its property at 7404 Killarney.

But many residents do not want the preschool. Some have shown their opposition by posting red signs on their lawns that read: "Neighbors say no to special use permit."

"We don't have any opposition to the actual day care per se," said resident Suzanne Laycock. "It's just we don't want it in this area with the increased traffic."

Wichita Area Technical College will offer full-tuition scholarships to 70 Sedgwick County high school seniors, officials announced Tuesday.

Students who enroll in one of 14 programs that start in July and September will be eligible for the scholarships.

The total financial outlay of about $300,000 will come from the institutional scholarship fund and money diverted from the marketing budget, said WATC president Peter Gustaf.

Last year, only two full-tuition scholarships were available.

"We thought it made sense to market WATC by making it accessible to promising students," Gustaf said.

The Wichita Board of Education has honored the following students in its third-quarter 99% Awards, which recognize students who have good school performance but are not receiving other recognition for their efforts.

High schools -- Alicia Fullilove, Northwest; Cayli Phillips, Metro-Midtown; Eric Talley, South; Sara Uselton, East; Jermaine Tomlinson, Metro-Boulevard; Kaitlin Lawless, Southeast; Kayla Coleman, Heights; Kendra Bohannon, Metro-Meridian; Melissa Buchana, West; Nathan Thammavongsa, Northeast Magnet; and Stephanie Bullard, North.

Middle schools -- Alyssa McGill, Jardine; Amanda Dilley, Truesdell; Ashleigh Patterson, Allison; Bertha Cabrales, Horace Mann; Callie White, Brooks; Chelsea Cherry, Blackbear Bosin; Dalton Thompson, Wells; Deandre Rayford, Robinson; Giancarlo Molina, Pleasant Valley; James Huynh, Stucky; Lilia Treto, Marshall; Luis Vasquez, Curtis; Mia Fonesca, Hadley; Samantha Stinson, Wilbur; Sunny Olson, Hamilton; Victoria Simon, Mayberry; Lonja Burgess, Coleman; and Zechariah Kennedy, Mead.

Students advance to state history contest

History students from four area schools qualified for National History Day competition during the state history contest April 26 in Topeka.

Envision Kids Club classic car show for children who are blind or have low vision, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, 2301 S. Water. Cars and emergency vehicles will be available for children to touch and explore.

Spring Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Southside Education Center, 4501 E. 47th St. South. Baskets, jewelry, spices, skin care items. Free admission. Sponsored by Kansas Association of Interpreters-Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Lunch and concessions by Kansas Association of the Deaf 2009 Committee.

Charity Car Wash, with Jessica Hughbanks of Haysville, a contestant on "Big Brother 8," 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, 21st and Woodlawn. Donations accepted for the National Humane Society.

Military Order of the Purple Heart, 9 a.m. May 10, American Legion Post 401, 101 W. 31st St South. Open to all Purple Heart recipients. Call Tom Creel, 316-558-8059 or 316-650-1328.

Women of Purpose, conference for abused women, 4 to 7 p.m., registration 3 p.m., May 10, Office This, 4031 E. Harry. Cost $10. Speaker is Bernia Williams-Kelly.

Tim "J.T." Bryan of Valley, Ala., formerly of Wichita, was selected by the governor of Alabama to be a part of his trade delegation to tour South Korea and China April 11-18. Bryan, the son of J.B. Bryan of Wichita, is the city manager of Valley.

Kaley Morris of Derby received second place for her undergraduate poster presentation "The Tribolium Gut Proteome" at the 140th annual meeting of the Kansas Academy of Science at Emporia State University.

Luis Vargas is the third-place winner in the 26th annual University of Kansas Undergraduate Mathematics Prize Competition, receiving $150. Vargas, a senior in astronomy and physics with minor in mathematics, is the son of Luis and Romana Vargas of Wichita.

These students have received scholarships or awards from Pittsburg State University for the 2008 spring academic semester:

Case Clough, Glen E. and Shirly R. Hastings Scholarship, Skills USA Kansas Post Secondary Scholarship, son of Roger Clough of Wichita, and Sanna Lindley of Shell Knob, Mo.; Brandon Krahn, Distinguished Automotive Senior Award, son of Allan and LaVonne Krahn of Wichita; Darren Redburn, Jennie C. Walker Scholarship, son of Mel and Cathy Redburn of Wichita; Colin Sutter, Paul A. and Mary C. Oberholtzer Scholarship, Forrest and Emma Penney Scholarship, son of Richard and Wendie Sutter of Valley Center; Matthew Winter, Joe Hilger-Chrysler Employee Scholarship, son of Mel and Diane Winter of Wichita.

Adair, Tyrone C. and Barnett, Davette L., both of Wichita.

Adeisa, Mobolaji A. and Ojo, Oluwasey A., both of Wichita.

Beard, Ryan S. and Boyd, Whitney L., both of Fairway.

Beavers, Preston D. and Martinez, Mary Ann S., both of Wichita.

Breton, Carlos J. and Carrillo, Sandra, both of Wichita.

Reunions

Classmates of Wichita High School East and Wichita High School Southeast will meet for 50-year reunion May 15-18. Registration begins at noon May 15 at the Broadview Hotel, 400 W. Douglas. Send reservations to Bette Hamilton, 2010 S. Crestway, Wichita KS 67218.

Rose Hill High School Alumni banquet at 7 p.m. May 24 at the school. Reserved tickets for $12. Call Karen Cox Royal, 316-776-2847 or Judy Sullivan Burnham, 316-776-0551. Tickets will be available at the door.

Fortune finally smiled Monday on Bethel's bad-luck fourth-grade class.

A public-building evacuation -- their second in two years -- gave the students from Wichita's Bethel Life School an unexpected opportunity to meet Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The kids were in Topeka for a Statehouse tour to cap off their unit on Kansas government.

At first, they were seriously bummed out when they had to hastily exit the building for a fire alarm.

The delay meant they wouldn't get to make the 296-step climb to the top of the Capitol dome.

A task force charged with reviewing the operations of Wichita State University's student newspaper met Monday -- and adjourned with more questions than answers.

During the hour long meeting, task force members agreed to narrow their focus to issues related to the structure of the Sunflower, including:

• Clarifying the role of the student publications board, which has jurisdiction over the newspaper

• Clarifying the role and authority of the newspaper's part-time faculty adviser

• Exploring how WSU's Elliott School of Communication and the Sunflower help students grow as journalists.

Paul and Evelyn Cassat were frugal, hard-working people who never earned more than $6 an hour.

On Monday, the accumulated savings of their thrifty life and financial acumen became the second-largest gift ever to Wichita State University: $8.5 million.

The majority of the money will benefit the department of communication sciences and disorders -- specifically the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic -- and the WSU Regional Institute on Aging.

The gift is second only to the $8.7 million from the estate of Frank Barton in 2005.

Targeted gift

Earn a college degree without studying in less than a week? That's the type of pitch used by a company known as a "diploma mill."

A diploma mill offers "degrees" or certificates for a flat fee, and awards degrees based solely on life experience. Purchasing a diploma mill degree and attempting to use it to land a job, however, can have serious consequences.

Many potential employers and educational institutions consider a diploma mill degree as lying, and that can put you at risk for not getting hired -- or lead to getting fired.

Some diploma mills use names that sound similar to well-known colleges or universities. To sort out the legitimacy of an educational institution, perform some research beforehand. The U.S. Department of Education (www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (www.chea.org/search) feature a list of accredited academic institutions at their Web sites.

Other telltale signs of a diploma mill operation include:

Wichita State University's student newspaper will receive funding for next year regardless of what happens with a task force reviewing its operations, the university's president said this week.

"The way I see it, the conditions have been met -- the committee has been appointed," said WSU President Donald Beggs.

"That group will make whatever recommendations it is going to make, but that's not linked to funding.... That's not how I interpreted what was asked."

Last month, members of the Sunflower said they were preparing for a First Amendment battle -- possibly in court -- with the university over what they said was illegal censorship.

Responding to some students' concerns about the overall quality of the Sunflower, Ron Kopita, vice president for campus life and university relations and chairman of the student fees committee, appointed a task force to review the newspaper's operations and recommend improvements. The group is set to meet this month.

What's the Family Rule, boys and girls?

If C. Lindel Silvertooth was your principal, you probably know:

"No fighting, pushing, scratching, pinching, shoving or rock-throwing -- today, tomorrow, or ever. Practice kindness, not meanness.

"Remember the words 'respect,"kindness' and 'courtesy' as you go through the day. Be well, do good work, and try your very best. If it is to be, it is up to me!"

They say it every morning at Derby Hills Elementary, where "Dr. S." has been principal for 15 years.

Two Derby High School students have qualified to attend the National Forensics League speech and debate tournament in Las Vegas in June. Clinton Clare qualified in United States extemporaneous speaking and David Rose qualified in international extemporaneous speaking at the south Kansas tournament in Fort Scott on April 18 and 19.

Ariel Yager of Derby was named the South Kansas NFL district Student of the Year.

Tournament finalists from Derby were Robin Flaharty and Shaelynn French. Semi-finalists were Jeff Roebuck, Christopher Kellenbarger, Dustin Welden, Aaron Mikolajcik, Ariel Yager, Vyonis Schnell and Kayla Kuhrt.

Independent team on Monday TV broadcast

A competition between the Independent School and Lansing High School will be broadcast at 5 p.m. Monday on KPTS, Channel 8.

Allison Ingram is the 2008-09 director of social interaction for the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) at the University of Kansas. HALO assist KU with statewide outreach events for Hispanic high school students, participates in area festivals and cultural events, and co-sponsors programs with the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center.

Ingram is a sophomore in human biology with a concentration in anthropology. She is the daughter of Michael and Amber Ingram of Andover.

Radiologic technology students at Newman University placed well in several categories at the Kansas Society of Radiologic Technologists' annual meeting. In radiographic image: axillary shoulder, Simona Sankoh of Wichita placed first, Elena Sambros of Wichita placed second, and Cynthia Ignowski of Derby placed third. She also placed third in the essay competition for "Hydrocephalus and Image Based Technology, and in the Student Ray-bowl. Jack Beard and Kelsey Dickinson, both of El Dorado, also placed in the Ray-bowl. Diane Rupe of Wichita placed first in radiographic image: lateral C-spine.

Elected officers for the Fairmount Neighborhood Association for 2008-09 are James Van Milligen, president; Robin Allen, vice president; Robert Feleppa, treasurer; and Michele McCorn, secretary.

Amanda Quaney, daughter of Dan and Sharon Quaney of Cheney, was recently honored by Oklahoma State University. Quaney received a $500 Joseph Fleming Memorial Scholarship.

Wichita High School West Class of 1963 classmates for the 45-year reunion Aug. 16. Members of 1962 and 1964 classes also are invited. Call Peggy Avery Cleaton, 316-944-0608.

Reunions

Classmates of Wichita High School East and Wichita High School Southeast will meet for 50-year reunion May 15-18. Registration begins at noon May 15 at the Broadview Hotel, 400 W. Douglas. Send reservations to Bette Hamilton, 2010 S. Crestway, Wichita KS 67218.

Rose Hill High School Alumni banquet, 7 p.m. May 24 at the school. Elvis will be in attendance. Reserved tickets for $12 are available through May 16. Contact Karen Cox Royal, 316-776-2847, or Judy Sullivan Burnham, 316-776-0551. Tickets will be available at the door.

Today

• South City Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., Dawson Methodist Church, 2741 S. Laura.

• East Mount Vernon Neighborhood Association potluck picnic, 6:30 p.m., Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 5701 E. Mount Vernon.

• Ken Mar Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., Community Housing Services, 4620 E. 13th St.

Saturday

The Wichita City Council has scheduled a condemnation hearing at 9:30 a.m. June 17 in the City Council chambers, 1st floor, 455 N. Main, for the following properties:

1. 546 N. Madison

2. 537 N. Estelle

3. 1212 N. Wabash

4. 1301 N. Indiana

Opponents of a proposed $350 million bond issue for Wichita schools urged board members Monday to drop the proposal until a new superintendent is hired and until officials can show how proposed improvements would raise student achievement.

"The bulk of the money in the 2008 proposal is to be spent for new facilities and facility improvements," said Helen Cochran, spokeswoman for Citizens for Better Education, which opposes the bond.

"Little is said about the flat test scores and the high dropout rates."

Board members had invited representatives of two bond-opponent groups to speak to the board Monday. Last month, the board held a special meeting to hear concerns from Citizens Alliance for Responsible Education, or CARE, which supports the bond issue.

The board voted in April to delay the bond vote, originally scheduled for May 6, to allow supporters more time to campaign. The bond election is slated for "no later than Nov. 4," but the board has not set a date.

Lisa Fuson wants to be a therapist at a community health center.

Kiley Randolph wants to teach grade school.

Nigora Yakubova wants to be a school principal.

Saturday, they were among more than 1,000 area students who said goodbye to their college careers in commencement ceremonies for Newman University and Friends University.

Newman kicked off the college graduation season with a ceremony for its 349 candidates Saturday morning at Central Community Church.

School: South High School

Activities: In addition to taking advanced placement and honors classes, Bryce completed a Red Cross training course to become a peer mentor with Teens Hope, a group that visits middle schools to talk to kids about HIV and AIDS. He also has volunteered at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.

Accomplishments: Glenda Buche, a South High English teacher, says Bryce is "someone who at some point will make a phenomenal discovery.... He loves to read, loves to question. And he's so understated and unassuming."

Future plans: He plans to attend the University of Kansas and major in chemical engineering. He is considering a career in medicine, possibly opening a clinic in south Wichita, where he grew up, "since we don't have many practices on the south side."

Interesting fact: Bryce said he owes a lot to his high school instructors, particularly science teacher Kelly Owens, who now teaches at Campus High School in Haysville. "Ms. Owens could make anything interesting, even electron configuration," he said. "She's the best teacher you'd ever find."

A chemistry teacher calls her "phenomenal."

A school counselor describes her as "the hardest working, most motivated student I've ever seen."

Classmates say she's quiet, funny and super-smart.

But ask Ngoc Trang Nguyen how she went from non-English-speaking immigrant to East High valedictorian in four years, and she gives a shy grin.

"I work hard," she said. "I must do this, because I am a slow learner."

School: Bishop Carroll Catholic High School

Activities: Andy was a member of Bishop Carroll's bowling team and earned the team's Most Outstanding Bowler award along with his letter. He also has competed in Special Olympics -- basketball, bowling and track -- since age 8, and works as a an office aide at school.

Accomplishments: Andy was born with Down syndrome, a genetic condition that causes physical and cognitive problems. His parents "decided right away that he would write his own book," said Andy's mom, Kathy. With help from teachers, para-professionals, family and friends, Andy completed his course work and will graduate with his class this month.

Future plans: He plans to attend Chisholm Life Skills Center, a vocational training center in Wichita.

Interesting fact: For three years, Andy has worked Saturday afternoons as a busboy at a local Mexican restaurant, where "he pulls in more tips than anybody you've ever known," said Kathy Johansen. "He's Mr. Popular."