Youth News for June 8, 2009

• Published: Jun 8, 2009 - Page: 6D

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Beta clubs compete
Six Glasgow Middle School students will compete at the National Junior Beta Club convention beginning Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

Competitors include Stephen Steinmuller, Anni Zhang, Uday Tooti and Rufei Zhou, all members of the quiz bowl team; Zoe Swarzenski, a spelling contestant; and Jackie Xu in one category of drawing.

All the students completed eighth grade this year and all of them placed first in district competition in January, as did Bob Liang, math competitor. Liang did not proceed to state competition because the date conflicted with the national MATHCOUNTS competition.

The quiz bowl team and speller took second place at the state convention in Lafayette May 7-8 and earned the right to go on to the national competition. Xu won first place with her drawing in Lafayette.

Four other Junior Beta members will accompany the competitors and their sponsor, Melanie Hanley, to Orlando. They are Sonia Azad, Josh Nabatilan, Stephenie Wang and Kevin Zhang.

Competitors travel at their own expense to represent Louisiana Junior Beta Club.

The convention concludes June 16.

Students study arts
Five area middle school students were among more than 175 from across the region who participated in a special summer session at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts June 1-5.

Local participants were Ke’Gan Taylor, Zachary, drama; Claire Palmer, Baton Rouge, dance; Brooke Barbay, Baton Rouge, jazz music; Elizabeth Garrard, Baton Rouge, drama; and Griffin Smith, Greenwell Springs, musical theater.

The students successfully completed an application and audition process and were selected for their high aspirations and artistic talent. Many of them hope to continue their studies with NOCCA throughout their high-school careers.

NOCCA provides arts training in dance, drama, theater design, musical theater, classical instrumental and vocal music, jazz, visual arts, media arts and creative writing to Louisiana students who successfully complete an audition. Tuition is free. For more information, visit http://www.nocca.com.

Mansion displays art
The art of a couple of Baton Rouge teenagers is among the work on display this month at the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion.

Art by Libby Ingram and Travis Williams, both seniors at McKinley Senior High School, is shown along with work by other students from across the state.