ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 2, 1996 TAG: 9604020044
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Class Notes
SOURCE: HALE SHEIKERZ
Students from Christiansburg High School brought home 23 first-place awards from the Vocational Industrial Club of America District VII Conference. In addition, students also received 11 second-place awards and and five third-place. VICA is an organization for students enrolled in trade, technical or health occupations. This year's district conference was at Blacksburg High School, where 18 high schools competed in 65 competitions. Competition included events such as industrial motor technology, spelling, residential wiring, club scrapbook and precision machining technology.
Following is a list of students who received first-place awards individually or as a member of a team: Ryan Rose, Charlene Jackson, Tony Stump, Mike Cantrell, Jacob Walker, Bryon Collins, Sabrina Cole, Jessica Carroll, Virginia Radford, Heather Bradley, Margaret Rose, Angie Myers, Alisha White, Tara Poff, Denise Beckner, Jessica Heinline and Amanda Taylor.
Second place winners include: David Robinson, Steven Walker, Keith Collins, Bradley Davidson, Clay Rogers, , Cole, Myers, Peter Alexander and Helen Smartt.
Third place winners include: Margaret Rose, Brian Porter, Eric Lucas, Tim Ratcliffe and Cynthia Fenton.
Students who place first will travel to Virginia Beach in May to compete in the state VICA Leadership Conference and Skills Championship. State winners will then advance to the national competition.
VICA advisers at the school are Marshall Linkous, Tom Studebaker, Pat Bauer, Selina Ratliff, Olen Gardner, Rick Weaver and Chuck Stone.
The following students have been selected as Senior of the Month for March.
Crystal G. Moles is captain of the girls' basketball team at Auburn High School. She is a three-year member of the All-District team, a member of the first team All-Region as a senior and received a state honorable mention award as a senior. Moles also was captain of the volleyball team. She was All-District for two years and was Three Rivers District player of the year and first team All-Region as a senior.
In addition to sports, Moles has participated in the Spanish Club, Beta Club and College Club. She also was homecoming queen this past year. She is the daughter of Gene and Gail Moles of Riner.
Sarah Hendricks has earned 10 varsity letters in her four years at Blacksburg High School. An active member of the cross country team, she has received the team's outstanding distance runner award for four years. In 1995 she was a district, regional and state cross country champion. In the past, she has been a state champion in the 1,600-meter and runner-up in the 3,200-meter. She also made second team in the south region in the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.
Hendricks also runs indoor and outdoor track. She qualified and competed in the National Scholastic Championship in the 1,600- and 3,200-meters.
In addition, Hendricks has participated in the German Club, National Honor Society, Theater Arts Association and Leo Club, of which she served as president. She is a session member/elder at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church and serves on a youth ministry committee. She is the daughter of William and Mary Lee Hendricks of Blacksburg.
David Rhudy is treasurer of the Youth and Government Club at Christiansburg High School and last month he traveled to Richmond to participate in the Model General Assembly. He also has attended the United Nations Seminar in New York City for the past two years.
A four-year member of the basketball team, Rhudy was co-captain this past season. He also has been on the baseball and tennis teams. He is a four-year member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has served as treasurer for the past two years.
Rhudy also is involved with the Monogram Club, Students Against Drunk Driving and Future Business Leaders of America. As a senior, he has been a representative on the Spirit Court, Homecoming Court and Mr. and Miss CHS competition. He participates in Service Learning and in his church youth group. He is the son of Dan and Ann Rhudy of Christiansburg.
Wendy Rencsok has been accepted and plans to join the U.S. Army in the communications field for four years. The Shawsville High School student is a four-year member of Students Against Drunk Driving and College Club, and a three-year member of Future Business Leaders of America, Spanish Club and MACC Science.
She is a recipient of several awards, including Who's Who Among American High School Students, Academic Letter and the VHSL Academic Excellence Award. She also has been a member of the tennis and volleyball teams for the past two years and lettered in volleyball.
Rencsok also is active with her church youth group, church choir and has volunteered at Veterans Administration and the Montgomery County Christmas Store. She is the daughter of Charles and Dianne Rencsok of Christiansburg.
Bethel Elementary students have been studying the ocean and ocean life for the past several weeks. The firstt-graders in Mrs. Carlson's and Mrs. Farmer's classes have integrated a variety of ocean-related activities into their curriculum - such as language arts, math and science.
The pupils have studied the concepts of sinking and floating - such as finding out why is it possible for a heavy ship to float? They also have kept oceanography journals to record what they are learning about the ocean, the plant life and the animals that live there. In addition, they have read books about the ocean and even invented a few ocean creatures of their own.
The students also had a guest speaker, Carolee Bondurant, visit and talk about ocean life. Bondurant grew up at the beach and has studied ocean life for several years. She brought with her a display of ocean plants and animals. Many of the pupils in the class have never been to the beach, the program gave them the opportunity to learn and see something new.
A Blacksburg High School student has been selected as a 1995-96 Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation Leadership Ambassador. Emily Keowin will represent Blacksburg High at the HOBY seminar this spring. The Foundation motivates and encourages 10th-graders to become future leaders. It also prepares them for responsibilities in their schools and communities, and helps them to expand their talents and leadership abilities.
Keowin is involved with the Art Guild, Peer Counselors, her church youth group and charitable organizations.
April Orange of Christiansburg High School was selected as Montgomery County's Outstanding D.A.R.E. student. She was selected by D.A.R.E. officer Martha Spencer for commitment to a drug-free life-style. In February, Orange was recognized for her commitment Susan Allen, wife of Gov. George Allen, at a luncheon in Richmond.
In other D.A.R.E. news, several members of the Christiansburg High School Teens Need Teens group assisted Spencer at Prices Fork Elementary with a D.A.R.E. program. The students demonstrated the eight Ways to Say No through skits to fifth-grade students. Members who participated include: Traci Barr, Garret Bonnema and Chad Danner. EVENTS, MEETINGS & HAPPENINGS
Girls in grades 8-11 who are interested in cheerleading at Christiansburg High next year should attend a meeting April 9. Parents of interested student also should attend. This will be the official meeting before tryouts in May.
Virginia Tech cheerleaders, along with the varsity and junior varsity squads from Christiansburg High School, will demonstrate cheers at the meeting.
The meeting will be in the gym at the high school at 7 p.m. For more information, call Joann Becker at 382-5178.
The Bethel PTA will meet April 16 at 6:30 p.m. A pot luck supper and an open house will follow the meeting. A covered dish should be brought to the pot luck. A slate of officers for the 1996-97 school year will be presented for voting. Nominations will be taken from the floor.
During the open house, parents can visit classrooms and meet teachers. The library will have its book fair April 15-19; parents and students can purchase books that week until 8:30 p.m.
The Christiansburg High School After Prom Committee will meet April 9 at 7 p.m. in the girls' health room at the school. Committee members and anyone who is interested should attend. For more information, call 382-5178 or 381-0059.
LENGTH: Long : 146 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: headshots of Rencsok, Hendricks, Moles, Rhudyby CNB