CV Student Wins World Bridge-Building Competition

Aaron Miller, 16, a sophomore at Central Valley High School, won two years of college and a sense of great possibilities in his life - all by building an elegant balsa wood bridge.

Plus, he made a new friend, Josey Booth.

“I didn’t even know I wanted to be an engineer,” Miller said. “I actually wanted to be an airline pilot.”

Life doesn’t get much sweeter than that, except in the movies.

Miller and Booth, a 10th grader at Valley Christian School, traveled to Miami earlier this month for the International Bridge Building Competition.

Miller won the competition with a bridge 24.2 grams in weight that held 187 pounds. Booth won fourth; his bridge, at 24.16 grams, held 106 pounds.

Miller’s prize included a two-year scholarship to either the University of Miami or Illinois Technical Institute.

In the course of flying and rooming together for four days, the two teens became friends, Miller said.

Entering the local bridge building competition is a family tradition for the Millers. Aaron’s older brother Damon, 20, did it. And his sister, Jessica, 18, had won $100 for the craftsmanship of her bridge.

“If she can do it, why can’t I?” thought Miller.

Besides, an extra $100 sounded good to a guy who works as a boxboy at Safeway.

But 400 or 500 hours into designing and redesigning his bridge, Miller had solved several weaknesses in his original design.

His initial truss design gave way to an arch; rounded legs yielded to “tangent legs.” Canted supports won out over vertical ones. Miller dowelled certain joints for added strength.

Each change built more efficiency into the little bridge.

Still, Miller didn’t think he would come out on top.

“I thought some guy from Germany or Japan would win.”

Nope. Instead some guy from Spokane, Washington, built the strongest bridge. And changed his life. Notebook,

Kudos for Orchard Center teacher

Diane Crumley, a third-grade teacher at Orchard Center Elementary School, has won national recognition from the National Down Syndrome Society.

Crumley won a Teaching Initiative Contest for devising a lesson plan that helped her students learn about disablilites, diversity and acceptance.

A helping hand A Spokane Valley women’s group, the Chapter DR, P.E.O., has awarded $375 scholarships to each of the following students: Kelly Ray, Central Valley High, and Cynthia Williams, East Valley High.

Ray plans to attend Eastern Washington University, with an interest in social work. Williams expects to attend EWU, as a pre-law student.

Academic honors at CV

Central Valley High School recently awarded academic letters to 57 students.

Requirements include maintaining at least a 3.6 gpa, with 20 hours or more community service.

Recipients include: Brenda Adams, Matt Ahrens, Steve Anderson, Dmitri Arbacauskas, Lance Bastian, Anna Bersagel, Tracy Bishop, Charles Booten and Melody Crick.

Kristina Dauterman, Ty Dempsey, Chad Duncan, Phong Duong, Brandy Eastman, Michael Easton, Sarah Ekman, Patty Eng, Kelly Erikson, Jenna Faulkner and Adam Franke.

Denise Hartley, Ashley Imus, Dave Johnson, Starlene Johnson, Justin Johnson, Aneska Lindblad, Sasha Lindblad, Shawn Long, Carrie Main, Meg Mann, Ryan McElvain, Brien McGuire and Aaron Miller.

Megan Neal, Traci Nichols, Jeremy Ovak, Sabrina Page, Eric Phinney, Desiree Poffenroth, Sara Radmaker, Kelly Ray, Nathan Reese, Kenneth Sawle, Tim Schaeffer, Laura Schearer, Curtis Schultz, Todd Sears, Jessica Sinclair, Marissa Sprank.

Eddie Stack, David Stone, Morgan Straub, Jessamyn Tichy, Chris Trefry, Bryan Utecht, Katie VanHouten and Heather Wright.

University High School will present its academic letters tonight.

EV junior high plans

East Valley School District is holding the second of two informational meetings tonight on its new alternative junior high school program. Starting time is 6 p.m. at Mountain View Middle School.

District officials will start the program this fall with at least one teacher. If enough parents show interest, the school board may commit a second teacher to the program.

Entrance to the program will be through application and interview. “Parents and kids need to explain to our team of people why this student should be involved in this program,” said Larry Busse, special programs director.

Registration for summer school is also available at Mountain View that evening.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a Valley school or about the achievements of Valley students, teachers or school staff, please let us know at the Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Call: 927-2166. Fax: 927-2175.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Next Thursday The June 6 Valley Voice will be a special high school graduation section. The Voice will feature the names of all 1996 graduates of Valley high schools, as well as comments from the valedictorians and special feature stories about the Class of ‘96. Look for this special keepsake graduation section next Thursday.