CV’s James Ganas state’s top debater

Sat., May 22, 2010

By Lisa Leinberger lisal@spokesman.com (509) 459-5449

James Ganas, a junior at Central Valley High School, has captured the state Division 4A championship of the Washington Forensics Association Lincoln-Douglas Debate Tournament.

The tournament took place in Tacoma in March and Ganas competed in six preliminary rounds before winning against a Gig Harbor student to win the championship.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debate format is named for the 1858 debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. Those debates centered around the logic, values and morals of slavery. Today, the debates emphasize logic, ethical values and philosophy.

Participants debate one-on-one for 45 minutes in front of a panel of judges.

Seniors earn Kiwanis scholarships

The Spokane Valley Kiwanis awarded scholarships to five Spokane Valley high school seniors in a breakfast ceremony Tuesday at Holman Gardens. Courtney Ramsey of University, Kaitlin Gillespie of Central Valley and Jamie Frucci of East Valley all received $1,200 scholarships. Cameron Nemeth of Central Valley and Melissa Seely of Central Valley received $1,000 awards.

Applicants are judged on community service, school activities, academics and an essay. The five scholarship winners combined for more than 2,300 community service volunteer hours during their high school careers.

Central Valley kudos

•Students at Liberty Lake Elementary School in the Central Valley School District recently collected and delivered 2,750 donated books to Broadway Elementary School during the school’s Earth Day Book Recycle and Donation event.

•Fifth-grade students at Sunrise Elementary School in the Central Valley School District recently participated in the “Whose Side are You On?” project in collaboration with the Spokane County Library District.

The project helped the students connect with the American Revolution with a $4,000 grant the school received from the Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Library Division.

The funds paid for new history materials relevant to the Revolution which the students and teachers used for their classroom-based assessments. The school was also able to purchase 11 portable writing tools for the classrooms.

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