Fourth-graders raise money to drill wells
Fourth-grade students at Indian Ridge Elementary have formed an
organization called Aqua Army to raise money to drill water wells
in Niger, Africa, and improve Colorado’s watershed.
The group’s global mission is to raise $15,000 and partner with
Colorado Women of Vision, a volunteer arm of World Vision, to drill
the wells. The local mission is to positively impact Colorado’s
watershed through reforming state water policy and implementing
hands-on water improvement projects during the school year.
By using the civics program Project Citizen, the students will
present their research and proposal to state legislators in the
spring.
In their vision statement, they emphasize that clean water not
only saves lives, but it creates sustainable change. By having a
central village well, women and children in Niger will not have to
haul water up to 14 hours a day just to survive. Having clean water
will keep families together and make their lives easier by
providing a healthier place to live.
Fundraising efforts include grant writing, using a school
fundraising contest, operating a weekly school store, recruiting
sponsors, and developing community partners, all by the end of the
school year. The money raised will be matched by the Conrad Hilton
Foundation. Colorado Women of Vision will be going to Niger in
January and will use the money the students raise to start the
project.
Locally, the students will study and research how water policy
in Colorado impacts our state and what suggestions they might have
for improvement. They will learn how a bill becomes a law and how
citizens work with the government to create change using the
Project Citizen curriculum, developed by the Center for Civic
Education and the National Conference of State Legislatures. They
will develop an action plan and will present their ideas to state
legislators in the spring.
For information on how to help their effort, contact Donna
Shepherd at Indian Ridge Elementary School in the Cherry Creek
School District, or visit www.protopage.com/AquaArmy.
Satar completes master’s degree in library science
Nurulhuda Mohd Satar, of Centennial, earned a master of library
and information science from the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Local students graduate from Northern Colorado
Monica Heather Braden, Claire Marie Chapman, Tara Arlene
Clifford, Sean Michael Frazier, Sydney Reves Gerstman, Jennifer
Marie Kaplan, Molly Elizabeth O'Brien, Karen Park, Chesney
Christine Randolph, Danielle Frances Rowland, Kendra Anne Sargent,
James Daniel Woolley and Cheryl A. Vandell, of Centennial, earned
degrees from the University of Northern Colorado. Braden earned a
master’s in clinical counseling; Chapman, a bachelor of arts in
interdisciplinary studies; Clifford, a bachelor of arts in
interdisciplinary studies; Frazier, a bachelor’s in sport and
exercise science; Gerstman, a bachelor of arts in communication
studies; Kaplan, a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies;
O'Brien, a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies; Park, a
bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies; Randolph, a bachelor’s in
journalism, communication studies; Rowland, a bachelor’s in
communication studies; Sargent, a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary
studies; Woolley, a bachelor’s in social science; and Vandell, a
master’s in special education.
Local student completes degree at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln
Jessica Nicole Rathje, of Centennial, earned a bachelor of arts
degree in arts and sciences from the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln.
Centennial’s York makes honors list at Benedictine
Kathleen York, of Centennial, was named to the dean’s list at
Benedictine College.
Local student graduates from University of Kansas
Patrick Lawrence Mathay, of Centennial, earned a bachelor of
arts degree at the University of Kansas.
Area student named to president’s honor roll
Sofia Elisabet Johnson, of Centennial, was named to the
president’s honor roll at the University of Wyoming.
