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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Education notebook: St. George’s senior named National Merit Scholarship honoree

Among only 2,500 seniors nationwide, St. George’s School senior Connor Cremers has been named National Merit Scholarship winner.

Merit Scholars are chosen through an annual National Merit Scholarship Program, which had more than 15,000 finalists in its 2018 talent pool. Scholars are selected by a committee of high school counselors and college admissions officers through consideration of high school academic records, standardized testing scores, school leadership and community contribution, an essay and written recommendation from a high school official.

Cremers graduated the top of his class on May 20. An active participant in both the classroom and extracurricular programs, Cremers was the captain of the state championship soccer team, leader of the world championship FIRST Robotics team and the middle school FTC Robotics team. He is a candidate for the IB Diploma and will be attending Stanford University this fall.

School shootings focus of play

Rogers High School senior Noah Schmidt will direct a one-act play at 7 p.m. Friday called “Bang, Bang, You’re Dead.”

The play was written by William Mastrosimone in response to school shootings in 1997 and 1998 in an attempt to raise awareness about the issue. The performance is centered on a teenage boy who is sitting in jail, haunted by the ghosts of the five classmates he killed along with his parents, whom he also killed.

The Rogers Encore Drama group will perform the play at Rogers High School, 1622 E. Wellesley Ave.

‘Annie’ opens at Oaks tonight

Opening today from The Oaks Classical Christian Academy is “Annie,” the popular tale of a Depression-era orphan who finds a home with a New York millionaire. Teri Woodroof directs the 60-member cast of students ranging from grades two-12 as well as The Oaks’ sixth-grade teacher in the role of Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. Heidy Cartwright choreographs and Amy Kim is music director.

Performances are 7 p.m., opening today and continuing through Saturday. One matinee performance is available Sunday at 2 p.m. Presented at the University High School Theatre, 12420 E. 32nd Ave., in Spokane Valley.

Tickets are available at TheOaksCCA.org or at the door. Prices are $14 for adults and $10 for students. Matinee prices are $14 for adults and $8 for students.

Clay artwork makes top 15

Cheney High School student Johnathen Jacobsen was one of the Washington winners in the 45th annual Superintendent’s High School Art Show. His glazed clay work, “Sun,” was one of 15 winning selections out of 121 entries that had reached the state level. Jacobsen’s work will become a permanent part of the state collection.

CV celebrates new Ponderosa

The public is invited to celebrate Central Valley School District’s new school at the Ponderosa Elementary School Dedication Ceremony, at 10105 E. Cimmaron Drive, in Spokane Valley on May 31. The ceremony will be from 6-7 p.m. with school tours to follow until 8:30 p.m. Parking is available with bus shuttles from Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3606 S. Schafer Road.

Correspondent Nina Culver contributed to this report.