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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Conley earns student honors
IVHS grad
makes time
for charity
By NADIA WALDEN
Even though Mirya
Holman of Cave Junction is
taking more than a full college
course load, is involved with
school organizations, and does
work study, she makes time
for tons of community service.
Holman, 21, a 2000
graduate of Illinois Valley
High School, is a junior in the
honor’s program at Loyola
University in New Orleans.
She has 18 hours of
classes a week and maintains
a 3.8 grade-point average.
Holman is also a member of
Loyola’s University Program-
ming Board, which plans
events around campus, and is
president of the History Honor
Society.
As a member of Loyola
University Community Action
Program (LUCAP) the politi-
cal science and history major
makes time every week to
give back to her community.
Three-to-four times a se-
mester, Holman works with
Habitat for Humanity, which
builds houses for low-income
families.
Holman also participates
in Loyola’s Hunger Relief
Program nearly every week
and in Voice for the Voice-
less, which lobbies the Legis-
lature to fight poverty and
hunger.
However, her favorite
community service project is
Children Are Reason Enough
(CARE), with which she has
been involved for the past 2
1/2 years.
Through CARE, a LU-
CAP project, Holman works
two or three Saturdays a
month with children living in
transitional housing.
As to why she is involved
with CARE, Holman said,
“Children are so loving.”
During her visits with the
children, she helps them for-
get their worries -- at least for
a short time.
The minute she walks in
the door, their faces light up
with big smiles, Holman said.
She has fun things planned for
the children every time she
sees them.
The last time she saw the
children, Holman tried to get
them into the Easter spirit.
Together they had a lot of fun
making and decorating Easter
eggs, which they made out of
construction paper.
Glue and glitter were eve-
rywhere when they finished,
but the smiles on the chil-
dren’s faces were priceless.
They were beaming from ear
to ear, Holman said.
When Holman began to
leave, the children kept asking
her when she would be back
and asking her what they were
going to do the next time she
came.
“I think they are special
and need love,” Holman said.
(Nadia Walden, a Loyola
University junior from New
Orleans, wrote this article
for a beginning reporting
class.)
Lisa Conley is Illinois
Valley High School March
Commissioner’s Student of
the Month. Conley is the
daughter of Mark and Diane
Wimper. She has maintained a
3.523 GPA.
She is a member of Na-
tional Honor Society, Key
Club, Youth Group and Cou-
gar Pals. She was also on the
Prom Court 2003. Her favorite
classes are English and pho-
tography. After graduation
Conley plans to become a reg-
istered nurse in pediatrics or a
sign language interpreter.
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JOSEPH PENASSO
Penasso karate kicks his way to worlds
By BRITT FAIRCHILD
Staff Writer
After nine years studying
karate, 17-year-old Joseph
Penasso knows the importance
of determination and focus.
These values will surely
be tested -- perhaps more so
than ever before -- when the
Cave Junction resident com-
petes in the Region 12 Ama-
teur Athletic Union Qualify-
ing Karate Championship on
Saturday, May 31 at Grants
Pass High School and again
the following day during the
World Karate-Do Champion-
ship.
Penasso is one of several
students from the Del Saito
Martial Arts Training Center
in Grants Pass to qualify for
both competitions.
“I like how it (martial
arts) builds character,” said
Penasso, who is skilled in sev-
eral forms, including Shito-
ryu, jujitsu, kickboxing and
freestyle.
His training, he said, has
taught him discipline and self
control.
To prepare for the compe-
titions, Penasso has formal
training at the center three
days a week. He trains at
home another three days, for a
total of 24-30 hours of prac-
tice a week.
“There’s so much memo-
rizing,” Joseph said, adding he
not only has had to learn the
Sullivan named
to Univ. of Ore.
fall dean’s list
Fink honored for academics
Lark Song Sullivan of
Cave Junction was chosen for
the University of Oregon
dean’s list for her scholastic
achievement during the 2002-
03 fall term. Sullivan is a jun-
ior Spanish major.
To qualify for the list stu-
dents had to earn a 3.75
G.P.A. or higher on a scale
having 4.0 as a straight-A av-
erage and must have com-
pleted 12 or more units during
the term.
More than 1,950 students
have been named to the deans’
lists for scholastic achieve-
ment during the fall term of
the 2002-2003 school year,
according to Anne Leavitt,
vice president for student af-
fairs and dean of students.
University of Oregon
deans’ lists are compiled for
fall, winter and spring terms
during each school year. All
undergraduate and post bacca-
laureate students, including
National Student Exchange
students, are eligible.
Meidinger Concrete Construction
Serving the Valley since 1974
Ivy Fink is Illinois Valley
High School April Principal’s
Student of the Month.
Fink is the daughter of
Mary Wertz. She has main-
tained a 3.47 GPA.
She has held the offices of
Jr. and Sr. Class Secretary.
Fink is a member of the Key
Club, OSSOM, mountain bike
club, soccer and basketball
teams and has participated in
the National History Day
event. Her National History
Day team was regional cham-
pions.
Fink has been awarded
Most Valuable Player 2001-
‘02, Most Improved Player,
Skyline Conference second
team, Skyline Conference
honorable mention in 2001-
‘02 in soccer; Most Valuable
Player 2000-‘01 in basketball.
She earned the Scholar Ath-
lete Award four times.
Fink’s favorite classes are
A.P. Composition, govern-
ment and P.E. She enjoys
playing soccer, basketball,
softball, hiking, jogging,
mountain bike riding, camp-
ing, backpacking and hanging
out with her friends.
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different karate forms but also
many Japanese commands.
Penasso admitted he’s
getting nervous about the
events, but noted that his anxi-
ety isn’t necessarily a nega-
tive.
“It all goes together, hand
in hand,” Penasso said, ex-
plaining Saito’s philosophy
that if an individual trains
hard enough, any nervousness
will aid performance.
Penasso will compete
against others from Oregon,
Washington and Northern
California during the regional
event. Hundreds of competi-
tors from around the world are
expected to participate in the
world finals.
Ivy Fink
After graduation she plans
to attend Rogue Community
College for two years and
transfer to the University of
Oregon to get a degree in oc-
cupational therapy.
Evening and Weekend Appointments
“We make Loans Work”
If you are a member of one of the classes listed
below your classmates may be looking for you!
If you haven’t been contacted,
please phone or e-mail:
1953 - Jonelle Benge Maurer - (541) 476-5379
Jack Cooke - (530) 620-3879 - jackc@innercite.com
1958 - Jeanne Tycer Warren - (541) 664-5251
warrendj@mymailstation.com
Jean Knight Hull - (541) 779-8579 - jrhull@mind.net
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Joe & Shawna Peterson Moody - (541) 840-9945
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