Blessed Sacrament students triumph at forensic meet

Every year in March the schools in the AVA (Association of Virginia Academics) gather for the Upper School Forensics Meet.

This year Blessed Sacrament Huguenot hosted the event in Powhatan on Wednesday, March 5. Over 350 students, faculty and parents participated in the meet as either competitors, judges, guides, hosts, timers, or score tabulators.

Each division, varsity (grades 10-12) and novice (grades 8-9) had 13 categories from which to choose ranging from serious and humorous poetry reading to dual oral interpretation and extemporaneous speaking.

Winners were as follows:

Novice:
3rd place: Brunswick Academy
2nd place: Kenston Forest Academy
1st place: Blessed Sacrament Huguenot

Varsity:
3rd place: Kenston Forest Academy
2nd place: Brunswick Academy
1st place: Blessed Sacrament Huguenot

The James T. Davidson Memorial Award (for highest number of quality points): Blessed Sacrament Huguenot

The J. Barrye Wall, Jr. Memorial Award (for excellence in forensics based on average quality points):
Blessed Sacrament Huguenot

This marks the 8th year in a row that BSH has won this meet.

First place winners for BSH included:
Dual Oral Interpretation: Matt Amonette and Colin Benusa
Varsity Storytelling: Katie Kidwell
Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking: Tory Gilliam
Novice Storytelling: Alyssa Regula
Novice Extemporaneous Speaking: Brandon Holt
Novice After Dinner Speaking: Gavin Paul
Novice Humorous Prose: Morgan Rogers

Monacan SWCD offering scholarships

The Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring two scholarships to Youth Conservation Camp and two scholarships to Forestry Camp to students living in Goochland and Powhatan counties.  Scholarships include tuition, room and board, and all educational materials; the scholarship winner is responsible for transportation and a small commitment fee.

Forestry Camp will be held at Holiday Lake on June 16-21, 2008. Applicants must be age 13 – 17; previous attendees are not eligible. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about forest management, wildlife, and environmental protection supplemented by special presentations from natural resource professionals.  There will be a lumberjack competition, exploratory classes, swimming and sports. Application deadline is April 7, 2008. Selected campers pay only $60 to confirm their acceptance of the scholarship.

Youth Conservation Camp will be held at VA Tech on July 13-19, 2008. Applicants must be in grades 9 – 12 during the 2007 – 08 school year. Previous campers are not eligible. Students will participate in lake ecology, canoeing, watershed planning, hiking, agricultural best management practices, forestry and wildlife issues, GIS technology and more.  Participants will be given the opportunity to tour Claytor Lake, the Virginia Tech Campus and Agriculture Research Farm, and the New River.  Application deadline is April 7, 2008. Selected campers pay only $50 to confirm their acceptance of the scholarship.

Applications may be obtained by calling the Monacan SWCD office at 804-556-4936 or at your local school guidance office.  Completed applications should be mailed to the Monacan SWCD office at PO Box 66, Goochland, VA 23063.