School briefs | High school art students win MIVAL awards

Three art students from Mercer Island High School have won the prestigious MIVAL Senior High School Scholarship Award for 2010. They include James Suh, in diverse mediums (first place); Tim Malcham, acrylic painting and drawing (second place); and Olivia Wold, photography (third place). According to Robb Wick of the MIHS Art Department, “These students have demonstrated outstanding effort and productivity in creating art the entire year.” The students were honored with their parents and teachers at a special luncheon on May 6 at the Aljoya Retirement Community Center.

May 11, 2010 2:10 pm
The 2010 junior Masonic scholars were recently honored at a luncheon. Junior class advisor Chris Twombley
The 2010 junior Masonic scholars were recently honored at a luncheon. Junior class advisor Chris Twombley

High school art students win MIVAL awards

Three art students from Mercer Island High School have won the prestigious MIVAL Senior High School Scholarship Award for 2010. They include James Suh, in diverse mediums (first place); Tim Malcham, acrylic painting and drawing (second place); and Olivia Wold, photography (third place). According to Robb Wick of the MIHS Art Department, “These students have demonstrated outstanding effort and productivity in creating art the entire year.” The students were honored with their parents and teachers at a special luncheon on May 6 at the Aljoya Retirement Community Center.

MIVAL (Mercer Island Visual Arts League) is dedicated to promoting and enhancing art on Mercer Island. The organization raises funds every year to support student scholarships for future art endeavors. First-place winner James Suh will receive a $600 scholarship that includes the Jean Jack Memorial Scholarship this year. Jean Jack was an accomplished watercolor artist and the grandmother of two Mercer Island High School students. Her family and friends generously established this memorial fund in her honor to support a student artist.

“We are very pleased and proud to support these talented students,” said Susanne Foster, president of MIVAL. The community is invited to view their work along with other Island artists from May 20 through June 12 at the MIVAL Gallery at 2836 78th Ave. S.E. Hours are 12 to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. The opening reception as part of Third Thursday Art Walk is from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 20.

Masons honor MIHS junior students

On April 29, the Freemasons of Mercer Island, in conjunction with Mercer Island High School Junior class advisor Chris Twombley, presented the 2010 Junior Achievement Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Community and School Services at an awards banquet held at Masonic Lodge #297 on Mercer Island.

The outstanding junior scholars for 2010 were Amelia Merritt and William Goodwin. There is a plaque at MIHS that will commemorate their achievement.

At the ceremony, junior class president Aaron Poor spoke of the varied achievements of the class.

Finalists for the honor were juniors Trina Fanfant, Mahalina Lind-Diamond, Amelia Merritt, Kelsey Schergen, William Goodwin, Benjamin Poor and Ryan Tam.

Roth selected for AJC’s Max Block award

Mercer Island High School student Lauren Roth has been awarded the Max Block Award from the American Jewish Committee for her dedication to improving

others’ quality of life in her community and beyond.

Roth was among 23 high school students honored last week at an awards ceremony recognizing their individual contributions to strengthening intergroup relations and promoting understanding across racial, ethnic and social divides. The Max Block Award was presented to the students who represent 23 public and private schools in Seattle and surrounding areas. Additionally, three Block Award finalists were granted a Deborah Rosen Scholarship of $2,000.

Rosen, a Mercer Island resident, presented the scholarships.

Roth has been working at Camp Solomon Schechter, where she is a counselor-in-training and the head of the programming committee.

The AJC event also featured guest speaker Victor Villaseñor, an author and motivational speaker who frequently addresses educators.

For more go to www.AJC.org.

MIHS senior wins entrepreneur award

Mercer Island High School senior Gabriel Davis received the National Federation of Independent Business Visa Inc. Young Entrepreneur Award. Davis is among five Washington high school seniors who received a NFIB entrepreneurial award.

The eighth annual NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards is a scholarship program designed to reward and encourage entrepreneurial talents among high school students. The award recipients will attend the university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute of their choice with tuition assistance from the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation.

This year, the NFIB YEF Awards program will award 141 scholarships to young entrepreneurs nationwide.

More information is available at www.NFIB.com/YEF.