BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Students seek pledges for Jog-a-thon ’09

El Morro and Top of the World Elementary students will soon be asking family, friends and neighbors to support them as they participate in this year’s Jog-a-thon scheduled for March 20. Jog-a-thon is the schools’ largest annual fundraiser and a favorite student event.

Donations raised by students help support many PTA programs such as Art Masters, Colonial Days, Science-on-the-Go, after-school programs and teacher stipends. Pledges can be made per-lap, or for a set amount.

For more information about the El Morro Jog-a-thon, call Brendy Michael, (949) 499-0094.

Top of the World PTA is asking the public to help provide prizes for the joggers, such as clothing, skateboards and surf boards. And sponsoring a jogger is welcomed.

“For 2009, our hope is that TOW students’ standard of education will not be compromised,” said Top of the World PTA Secretary Anita Razin. This year’s major three donors are Silverfish, FallingWaters Construction and FritoLay.

For more information about Top of the World’s Jog-a-thon, e-mail [email protected]

College acquires new site for MFA program

Laguna College of Art & Design officials have recently acquired a new facility in Laguna Canyon. The 3,000-square-foot, two-story building at 2633 Laguna Canyon Road occupies 4,000 square feet of land and will be home to the graduate studies department of the college.

The building had been proposed as an expanded facility for the Laguna Relief & Resource Center and a homeless service center, which generated opposition from local residents. The Resource Center withdrew its proposal for the property.

The college currently owns and operates 20,000 square feet of building space on four acres of land in Laguna Canyon, its main campus. To accommodate growing enrollment and new majors in recent years, the college has leased 12,000 square feet of additional space between Tivoli Too and the Festival Center. The board of trustees has long recognized that it makes more sense to own property than to lease. While property is more affordable outside the city, the college also wants to stay exclusively in Laguna Beach.

“It was found for us by Executive Director of Returning Home Foundation Carole Urie-Chickering who kindly volunteered information on its availability and arranged for the seller to show it to us,” said President Dennis Power. “The purchase was managed by trustee Steve Gromet of PortfolioPartners, who served as advisor and broker on a pro bono basis; we are very grateful to both Carole and Steve.”

The new building will house the Master of Fine Arts program in representational painting which was founded in 2006. To afford the mortgage the college will give up the graduate space it now leases at South Campus. The department has 28 full- and part-time graduate students currently enrolled.

“As the program becomes better known we are seeing interest by some very qualified students from prominent institutions around the country,” said Department Chairman Perin Mahler. “The new building will provide administrative space, but mostly individual studios for up to 16 students to do their work, a requirement for all colleges offering advanced degrees in painting.”

Last spring the college awarded its first MFA degrees to 14 students, followed by an additional two graduates this fall, most of whom are pursuing careers as gallery artists and teachers. Laguna College’s graduate students are trained and inspired by faculty in Laguna Beach, but also are part of the dynamic art scene in Los Angeles owing to the college’s gallery and critique space at the Brewery, an arts cooperative in L.A.

“While economic times are tough and budgets are lean, we are thrilled that the college could expand its campus in Laguna Canyon; it reinforces the idea that Laguna Beach truly is a college town,” Power said.

Community Learning Center is turning 25

The Community Learning Center turns 25 this year, and alumni are invited to help celebrate with a dinner auction at Tivoli Too on March 28.

This year’s dinner will be a big anniversary party to salute this milestone. Former CLC students older than 21 are invited to attend, as are the parents and wonderful teachers who nurtured them. It will be a night of memories and reunions. Guests will enjoy music, dancing, food and one-of-a-kind auction items.

This alternative program, which is part of the Laguna Beach Unified School District, has emphasized teaching peaceful conflict resolution, respect for the opinions of others and the earth, and five “Lifelong Guidelines” that every person, young or not, would do well to review daily: truthfulness, trustworthiness, no put-downs, active listening and personal best. For more information, go to www.lbclc.org.

Invitations have been mailed, but any CLC alumni who may have been missed may join in by calling Maile Gee at (949) 376-8360.

Student wins with logo for ‘Grapes For Grads’

Laguna College of Art & Design freshman Michael Duncan was honored by representatives of the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club for his winning logo design to represent this year’s Grapes for Grads event. The award was presented Feb. 13 during the Rotary Luncheon hosted at Mozambique Restaurant. Duncan’s design was selected by event organizers from a pool of more than 25 entries, and received a $500 award.

Grapes for Grads is a wine tasting and scholarship fundraiser that will be at Tivoli Too on April 26.

Proceeds from the event will benefit students of Laguna College of Art & Design and Laguna Beach High School. Event highlights include premier local and regional wine tasting, heavy hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, live student painting demonstration and a silent auction.

Now in its fourth year, the Chamber and Rotary created Grapes for Grads to support local youth in their academic and creative endeavors by providing scholarships to four Laguna Beach students. Organizers anticipate the event will raise $8,000 for scholarships.

4-H program seeks youth hosts for exchange

The California 4-H Youth Development Program coordinates a monthlong Japanese Exchange Program. The state office is currently seeking host families for Japanese youth ages 12 to 16. This summer activity offers an opportunity for families to learn more about Japanese culture and gain a new friend from across the Pacific.

Students will be placed with host families who have a child the same gender and close in age, from July 22 to Aug. 18. Families do not have to be currently enrolled in 4-H but must enroll to participate.

More information is available at www.ca4h.org/exchange/ japanese/index.asp or by contacting Pat English at [email protected] or (530) 754-8520.