Amherst News-Times, 2006-05-17

              track stars win swc - page amherst news-time five seniors vie for valedictorian hon toyota placates epa 2 & race to the head of class is tight as june 5 graduation ceremony nears by jason hawk news-times reporter there arc jitters, last-minute nerves, and uncertainty future. day fast approaching 3 1 steele high school seniors, this year's crop wrestling with old generational problems their career prospects, parting familiar faces, moving away from security creche into world adulthood. "high a safety zone. it's big' deal when you leave because have no idea what's coming next," says bridget coughlin, 18, one standing at 2006. along jillian carroll, bradley akin, jordan tcmplcton, chris grcsscl, coughlin waiting sec who will stand alone on day, monday, 5. all grade point averages above 4.0, anticipating final exams deciding factor in four-year finish. 4.04 gpa, plans capitalize her english classes study magazine journalism ohio university fall. she has been captain volleyball team, president choir, yearbook editor, girls state delegate, member national honor society. 17,hasa4.9gpaand burning interest biology. gearing major genetics ball indiana, where pre-natal embryo screening. involved academic youth 4 youth, leo club, society, ballroom dancing. "once we get graduation, we'll be little sad, but we're ready. going feeling 'finally,'" said. advice underclassman: "don't ever slack off. behind, deeper trouble," said carroll. "it become huge mountain won't able push that rock back up cliff it keep slipping down." balancing 4,19 gpa well-known initiating avid debates philosophy politics his peers. he'll apply fire history economics college william mary, hopes find job professor. he junior statesmen america, continued pogo 7 commencement 7:30 pjn., cleveland wolstein convocation center. bridgot brndloy akin emm! tompluton grossol don attlo veterans start vietnam memorial site construction war they fought over past decade half finally close. since 1991, local struggling way properly pay homage comrades fell far-away jungles during conflict killed more than 50,000 american patriots. now dedicated group survivors announced ready building monument bands brothers never made united states soil. long time coming, overdue. anxious," attie, spokesperson lorain county committee, addressing city council members monday night. friends larry stevanus ken layport sr. side, attie told leaders who's rumble? stuckart kids bring martial arts tourney awards home karate kid was just punk. jackie chan can step aside. three ninjas stood chance. exit dragon. teenage mutant ninja turtles? please. if want real action, call chris, mikcy, bccki, alexis stuckart. fearsome foursome, live hidden glen drive township, training kindergarten, starting two years hakido another tae kwon do, they're making splash. late last month, four battled ways ton 2006 ahn classic held florence, ky., across border near cincinnati. "these dedication," father, mike "the ability most important. isn't 'the brady bunch' any means; still run yell fight each other. under there's unity teamwork." becki, fiery 12-year-old red head, bested competition take first place 12 bocki launches kick learned while art do. jllllan carroll future looks dismal after levy failure, officials say paul morton associate editor apparent failure 4.4-mill emergency may primary election, woiking contingency schools afloat financially. according unofficial results board elections, lost mere 58 votes. would brought about $2.3 million per year years. treasurer shirley antcl cautiously optimistic election result could reversed elections adds absentee provisional ballots count. not release count until 25. superintendent robert boynton several opportunities ask voters tor money before projected deficit kicks 2009. "as went process seek an operating put issue ballot, had plan," "and plan did pass look special education levy." forward november consortium districts. vice ron yacobozzi free general fund currently used spe- pago 11 daily student broadcast wins emmies mm mrti mv ml 2a news anchors shlrin lotsl, priscilla rossi, allison marty prepare early-morning classroom studio. receiving academy attention reporten looking honored show region? fox 8, or newsnet 5, 19 action news, even channel news. no, hard-working students. 10 minutes every morning, cast crew broadcasts announcements, happenings, sports coverage, feature stories 1,400 fellow students classrooms throughout school. week, teacher mark lowry tejevision video production six emmy excellence feat duplicated only other states, "a lot people set goals don't reach them. rare go beyond them," year, senior received honorable mentions, current out shatter benchmark. "we knew raise bar abilities our competition," "but phone learn won i literally sat silent seconds, speechless." total handed ohio, scooped unprecedented six. institutions parallel success are james hubert blake silver spring, md., john marshall los angeles. area, orange school, medina middlebiook center mention. steele, though, region award excellence. young protege's participated competition, collected ii 13 mentions. both accomplishments rank ohio. "it's something nobody done before. we've next class, work hard," amber lewandoski, honored. "i almost feel bad like being older sibling." lcwandowsi singled