Youth notes for Aug. 3

Student artwork selected for calendar

Three Knickrehm Elementary students -- Briseyda Ceballos, Jacob Rojas and Cornelio Jaimes -- had their art work chosen for a 2009 environmental calendar called "Nebraska: Don't Waste It."

Ceballos, Rojas and Jaimes all were in Diane Meyer's classroom this past school year.

The calendar, sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, focuses on the importance of waste reduction, recycling and cleaning up litter.

Officials from the Nebraska DEQ chose art work from 12 Nebraska students to be on the calendar. More than 730 students submitted art work for the calendar contest.

Ceballos, Rojas and Jaimes and the other nine students with art work on the calendar will be honored by Gov. Dave Heineman at an awards ceremony in the Governor's Hearing Room in the State Capitol in Lincoln on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Calendars will be available by contacting the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality at P.O. Box 98922. Each month, the calendar will feature one of the 12 winning environmental posters.



Zadina attends Girls Nation

OMAHA -- Abigail Zadina of Omaha is one of only 96 young women selected from all over the country who attended the 62nd American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., from July 19 through 26. She is one of two "senators" who represented Nebraska Girls State at the leadership conference.

Zadina is the granddaughter of Arthur and June Senseney of Grand Island.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors Girls Nation and Girls State to teach high school students following their junior year how government and the political process work on the local, state and national level.

Zadina, the daughter of Alice Senseney and Kurt Zadina, will be a senior this fall at Omaha Westside High School.



Area musicians perform in Masonic band

Three area students were among 228 high school students from across Nebraska who participated in the 14th annual Masonic All-Star Marching Band, which performed July 26 during Shrine Bowl festivities in Lincoln.

Participating were Ashley Panowicz of Centura, daughter of Robert and Carol Panowicz of St. Paul; Chance Christensen of Grand Island Senior High, son of Ron Christensen and Vicki Larson of Grand Island; and Brandon Pfeifer of Grand Island Senior High, son of Larry and Marlena Pfeifer of Grand Island.

The band members took part in four days of practice and then led the Shrine Bowl Parade down Lincoln's Havelock Avenue and performed at halftime of the Shrine Bowl football game.

Dan Sodomka of Aurora High School was one of three directors of the band.

Panowicz and Pfeifer each received a scholarship from Andrew Chapter No. 41, Order of the Eastern Star, Grand Island; and Christensen received a scholarship from Ashlar Masonic Lodge No. 33, Grand Island. The scholarships covered the cost of the camp.