Former Washington Gov. Al Rosellini, who celebrated his 100th birthday Thursday (Jan. 21st), will be the guest of honor at Burien’s Kennedy Catholic High School this Sunday, Jan. 24 at a 3pm Italian dinner to raise funds for a scholarship named after him.

The “Governor Albert D. Rosellini Scholarship” benefits deserving students at Kennedy Catholic, where two of his great-grandchildren are students, and which all four of his grandchildren attended, according to Joe Faccone of the school’s Advancement Department.

Sponsored by the school and Sons of Italy Lodge 1390, the event starts at 3 p.m. with a reception in the cafeteria of the school, which is located at 140 South 140th Street. A dinner featuring traditional Italian fare will be served at 4 p.m., with a program celebrating the former governor’s centennial at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $50, and can be purchased at the door.

An invocation will be given by Oratorian Father Clarence Jones, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish in Seattle, the Rosellini family’s native parish.

Gov. Rosellini, who served two terms from 1957 to 1965, noted in a 2008 letter to the Kennedy Catholic community that he has strong ties with the school in addition to the fact that his offspring went there. He met President John F. Kennedy, the school’s namesake, on several occasions and in 1962 was selected chair of the U.S. governors to represent their collective concerns to the president.

“Then in 1964, shortly after his tragic passing, I was pleased to learn that the first high school in the nation to bear his name was going to be the new Catholic high school in Seattle,” the governor wrote.

For more information, or to donate to the scholarship fund, call 206-246-0500.

The 2nd Annual Scholarship Benefit Soccer Game for the Andy MacDonald EMT Scholarship Fund at Puget Sound Skills Center will be held Sunday, Nov. 29th beginning at 11am at Highline Memorial Stadium.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Benefit Soccer Game for the Andy MacDonald EMT Scholarship Fund – Boys vs. Girls! There will also be a Raffle drawing for great prizes afterwards at Mick Kelly’s.

WHEN: Sunday, November 29, 2009; Gates open at 10:30am; Game begins at 11:00am.

WHERE: Highline Memorial Stadium

COST: Admission by donation accepted at the stadium and after the game where the gathering will continue at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (435 SW 152nd, Burien)

INFO: Here’s info on Andy MacDonald:

Just over three years ago, a torrential storm hit, causing the Cowlitz River near Mt. Rainier to overflow and sweep Highline High ‘05 graduate Andy MacDonald away to a tragic death at age 19.

Andy was hunting elk with his family, and the truck he was in fell into the raging river after the bank gave way underneath it.

He was a popular high-school athlete with a great sense of humor, as well as an aspiring firefighter and a friend with “the best hug in the world.” He played soccer, wrestled, was president of his junior class as well as homecoming king. He was known at Highline as a kid who was kind to all, friends said.

Out of tragedy something good can be born; Andy’s family and close friends set up a scholarship in his name. Each November, in honor of Andy’s birthday and untimely passing a soccer game is held known as the “Boys vs. Girls” game. All of his old teammates and friends come out to play a friendly game, and the public is invited to attend.  Afterwards the team holds a raffle at a local restaurant. This consists of items donated from local business and personal items contributed by Andy’s family.

Last year over 200 people attended the game, which was held at Highline Stadium, and we raised more than $4,500.  All of the money is donated to the scholarship. The Andy MacDonald EMT Scholarship is set up at the Puget Sound Skills center where Andy received his firefighting training. This scholarship will assist future Cadets in the Puget Sound Skills Center Fire Services class to help send them to an Emergency Medical Technician class. This year we anticipate sending four to six Cadets to the EMT class and this will aid in covering lab fees, required equipment, travel expenses, etc. Andy’s passion in life was to help those in need and this is our way of assisting others with the same life goal.

For more information on Andy MacDonald, here’s a link to a Facebook tribute page, chock full of great photos that will soon make those who didn’t know him feel like they actually did.

If you can’t make it to the game, you can also donate directly to:

Puget Sound Skills Center
“Explorer Post-24” in care of Andy MacDonald
18010 8th Avenue South
Burien, WA 98148

To donate prizes for raffle or for more info please contact Becky MacDonald at 206-439-0745.

Six Highline School District students are among the 260 talented juniors from across the state accepted into the first phase of Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS).

Five of the six students chosen attend Des Moines’ Aviation High School, which is located at the campus of Olympic Elementary School at 615 South 200th.

Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) is an educational program for high school juniors from across Washington. The WAS program emphasizes science, technology, engineering and math, and encourages students to consider careers in these fields. The program is funded by the Washington Aerospace Scholars Foundation, and is offered at no cost to participants.

Phase One of the program uses a NASA-designed online curriculum consisting of ten lessons and a final project. Phase Two is a six-day summer residency experience for 160 students. To be considered for Phase Two, students are expected to meet deadlines and show mastery of the Phase One curriculum. The Museum of Flight hosts the week-long summer residency experience during which students are guided by professional engineers and educators as they design a human mission to Mars. Summer residency participants are also visited by guest speakers, tour engineering facilities, and compete in hands-on engineering challenges.

Highline’s Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) are:

• Andrew May – Aviation High School
• Andrew Reece – Aviation High School
• Michael Thompson- Aviation High School
• Isaac Ackerman – Aviation High School
• Thomas Malchodi – Aviation High School
• Alan Soto – Health Science & Human Services High School

Just over two years ago, a torrential storm hit, causing the Cowlitz River near Mt. Rainier to overflow and sweep Highline High ‘05 graduate Andy MacDonald away to a tragic death at age 19.

Andy was hunting elk with his family, and the truck he was in fell into the raging river after the bank gave way underneath it.

He was a popular high-school athlete with a great sense of humor, as well as an aspiring firefighter and a friend with “the best hug in the world.” He played soccer, wrestled, was president of his junior class as well as homecoming king. He was known at Highline as a kid who was kind to all, friends said.

His family established a scholarship fund for Occupational Skill Center’s Firefighting program in Andy’s name, and they’re holding a special soccer match between Andy’s ‘pink shirt boys’ rec team and alumni of Highline’s girls’ soccer team on Saturday Nov. 29th at Highline’s Memorial Field, from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Admission is by donation, and all proceeds will go to Andy’s scholarship fund.

So come down to Memorial Field and join Andy’s friends in this high-energy tribute to his memory.

For more information on Andy MacDonald, here’s a link to a Facebook tribute page, chock full of great photos that will soon make those who didn’t know him feel like they actually did.

View Larger Map

According to the Highline School District, its students far surpass other districts in signing up for state scholarships.

Hundreds of Highline middle school students have applied for the state College Bound Scholarship, which pays for four years of college tuition, fees, and books for students who stay in school, stay out of trouble, and keep their grades up. Low-income students and students in foster care are eligible for the scholarship.

Statewide, only 29% of eligible students have signed up for the scholarship since it was announced last spring.

In Highline, 71% of eligible students applied.

At Pacific Middle School, 95% of the eligible students sent in applications. Principal Cecilia Beaman says she talked about the scholarship with students and parents at every opportunity. “When a parent came in to talk to me, I signed them up on the spot. As I saw students in the halls, I talked with them, handed them an application, and then dogged them,” she says. Teachers and counselors talked with individual students. A language tutor worked with Latino families to sign students up. “It was a team effort, and we were tenacious,” says Beaman.

Sylvester Middle School signed up 167 students, 82% of those eligible. At both Chinook and Cascade middle schools, well over half of qualifying students applied for the scholarship.

“Getting students to apply was a big priority for us, because getting kids prepared for college is our focus as a school system,” says Highline Superintendent John Welch. “Finances are a barrier for many of our families who want to send their children to college. The College Bound Scholarship removes that barrier, so we work very hard to make sure all our families take advantage of this opportunity.”

When students apply for the scholarship, they pledge to keep their grades above 2.0 GPA, graduate from high school, and be law-abiding citizens. As long as they still meet income requirements at graduation they receive the scholarship, which can be used at any state college or university.

BURIEN – Two Highline Public Schools students have been named Governor’s Scholars, and we here at the B-Town Blog extend a double Borat-style thumbs-up with a hearty “High Five!” shouted in a weird accent in their general directions: 

• Mary Magdelene (Madel) Rogulj of Global Connections
• Byron Maye of HS3

Both received four-year scholarships to any public or private university or college in the state of Washington, which is pretty cool considering that the average tuition for a resident is over $25,000.

In addition to the free education, they will also get a mentor to help them along the way.

Six former Washington governors joined forces to support youth in foster care when they created the Governor’s Scholarship program.  Former Governor Gary Locke stated, “Only 3% of foster kids ever make it to college – primarily because they can’t afford to support themselves and go to school at the same time.”  The state foster care system support for youth ends at age 18.

Trina Hickey, a recipient of the Governor’s Scholarship early on, has graduated from UPS and is working to help transition foster youth into adulthood.

In the seven years since its inception, the Governor’s Scholarship has been awarded to 144 foster care youth from around the State.

SOURCE:

• Highline School District