NORTH COUNTY -- Three of four San Diego County high school seniors who competed in and won awards at the recent California Junior Miss State Finals are North County residents.

Carolyn Southern of Torrey Pines High School and Alize Rozsnyai of Rancho Bernardo High School placed in the top 10 out of 46 girls from throughout the state and received $1,000 scholarships. Southern also won the Be Your Best Self category, and Rozsnyai received the talent award, for an additional $500 each. Brianna Wright of La Jolla High School was awarded $500 in the Self-Expression category, and Kaci Yamanaka of Carlsbad High School received $500 in the Fitness category.

California's Junior Miss is an official preliminary of America's Junior Miss. Founded in 1958, it is the oldest and largest scholarship program for high school senior girls. The nonprofit program's goal is to honor young women who excel and encourage them to obtain a college education and assume roles of leadership in their communities and professions. During the past 49 years, the program has awarded cash scholarships totaling almost $90 million to girls across the nation. More than 700,000 college-bound young women

have competed in the program.

LCCHS graduate accepted to Georgetown University

CARLSBAD -- Austin Uhler has been accepted to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He also was accepted to Norte Dame, Boston College, Pomona College, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. He ultimately decided to attend Georgetown because of its strong government and policy programs. Austin was an award-winning speech and debate student at La Costa Canyon.

Pine Street School reunion set

CARLSBAD -- A reunion for all students and teachers who have ever attended Pine Street School in Carlsbad will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 9 at the new Pine Street Park. Bring a chair and a picnic lunch. For more information, call Steva Breen at (760) 729-2106 or Carole French at (760) 729-2040.

Palmquist fundrasier planned

OCEANSIDE -- Fifth-grade classes at Palmquist Elementary School will hold a rummage sale and all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 9 at the school, 1999 California St. Admission to the breakfast is $3. The rummage sale will feature a variety of items, including furniture, computers, bikes and clothing. All proceeds will go toward deferring the cost of the students attending this year's fifth-grade camp. For more information, call (760) 757-0337.

'Back to School' rally scheduled

OCEANSIDE -- The North San Diego Branch of the NAACP will hold its 2006-07 Back to School/Stay in School rally from noon to 2 p.m. at the bell tower at MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive.

Registration will take place and food will be available from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Participants will receive gifts for school; and scholarship and career counseling information will be available from education professionals. Students also may sign up for tutoring support for the high school exit exam.

The goal of the event is to reduce absenteeism and truancy among students and provide them with academic support by offering tutoring sessions, family and parent workshops and academic enrichment. Anyone interested in tutoring or participating in the program is encouraged to attend. Admission is free. For more information, call (760) 754-9686 or e-mail nc_naacpyouth@yahoo.com.

New charter high school opens

VISTA -- Eagles Peak Charter public school has announced the opening of Renaissance High School Academy. As with all public schools, there is no charge for classes or curriculum.

Renaissance High School Academy allows students a wide choice in how they meet their high school graduation requirements. It is suited for students who can work independently, who want to take an active role in how they learn, who like the idea of mixing a two-day "social" classroom environment with three days a week of focused self-learning, who love computers and computer-based projects and who want time to pursue non-mainstream academic or vocational interests. Students attend classes at the Eagles Peak Learning Center in Vista.

Eagles Peak encourages high school students to take classes at the community college level while they are enrolled in high school. The classes can be academic or vocational. Students receive both high school and college credit for the classes. An independent study, school-to-work program is also available to all Eagles Peak high school students. Students can graduate with a certificate that demonstrates required knowledge to obtain employment in the medical front office field.

For more information, visit Eagles Peak's Web site at http://www.eaglespeak.org or call Mimi Miller, director of outreach at (760) 630-5325.

Oceanside resident makes dean's list

Devan Minyard of Oceanside earned a spot on the June 2006 session at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo. To be named to the list, students must have completed 12 semester hours and achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or greater.

VHS math tutoring available

VISTA -- Vista High School students can receive individualized math tutoring from certificated teachers and student tutors from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in Rooms 822 and 821.

EC Pride Meets

OCEANSIDE -- El Camino High School's EC Pride group is made up of parents, staff members and students dedicated to enhancing and supporting the education, aesthetics and environment of the school. Several past accomplishments include: fundraising for and installation of a new school marquee, creation of the Student Circle in front of the gym, benches for students at lunch and ongoing beautification of the campus. The group meets at 4:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month in the staff lounge. For more information, call Donna Contrado (760) 757-0992.

Student speakers sought

NORTH COUNTY -- Mona Vyas, operations manager for the San Diego Better Business Bureau, is seeking high school juniors and seniors to deliver speeches on their high school campus on how to be smarter consumers

The speakers bureau, called the BBB Student Ambassador Program, involves students delivering a BBB-scripted speech to their peers on such topics as using credit, budgeting, preventing identity theft and spending and using a cell phone wisely. Students who deliver the most speeches will be eligible to receive one of three cash scholarships in the amounts of $1,000, $500 and $250 from Union Bank of California, the title sponsor of the program. Training will be held in November.

For more information and an application, log on to http://www.sandiego.bbb.org, or call Mona Vyas bureau operations manager at (858) 637-6199.

Artist volunteers wanted for school program

VISTA -- Artist volunteers are needed to take part in Guajome Park Academy's Artists in Residence program, where professional artists join with teachers to enhance the school's curriculum. The program offers students the opportunity to explore different art experiences and mentorships they may not have in a traditional classroom environment, providing a "real-world" experience.

The commitment is flexible to match artists' busy schedules. A minimum of 1 1/2 hours per school year is requested of volunteers. Last year, the school's artist registry included 17 local artists who volunteered a total of 88 hours in 43 classrooms for 458 students, producing 450 pieces of art.

For more information, call Rosie Barnett at (760) 941-6079.

Reading volunteers sought

CARLSBAD -- Hope Elementary School in Carlsbad is seeking volunteers for its award-winning Everyone A Reader Program. Volunteers will work one-on-one with struggling readers for one hour each week. Training will take place in late September. For more information, call the school at (760) 331-5900 or e-mail Deanna Presley at dpresley@sdcoe.net for details.

OHS Centennial Celebration planned

OCEANSIDE -- In honor of Oceanside High School's 100th anniversary, the Oceanside High School Foundation/Alumni Association is planning several events from Sept. 14 through 16. In addition to a pep rally, a football game and open house, a Centennial Celebration will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight Sept. 16 at the Camp Pendleton Staff NCO Club. The event will include dancing, a buffet and no-host bar. Tickets cost $75. Dress is cocktail or business casual. Space is limited. For more information and to make reservations, log on to http://ohsfoundation.org/.

Charter high graduate earns scholarship

ESCONDIDO -- Morgan Mitchell, a 2006 graduate of Escondido Charter High School, was among recent recipients of a Don Diego Fund Scholarship for $1,000. The award was for her accomplishments in the 4-H Club. The Don Diego Fund provides scholarships for outstanding San Diego County high school students who have participated in the San Diego County Fair or other events associated with the fairgrounds in Del Mar.

Principal's Coffee planned

POWAY -- Parents of students at Poway High School are welcome to take part in the next Principal's Coffee from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Sept. 8 at the Home of Melissa Holiday. Questions, comments and feedback from parents about the school will be welcome. For more information and to R.S.V.P., call Violette Jackson at (858) 674-5958. Upcoming coffees are planned for Nov. 15, March 8 and May 10. Anyone interested in hosting one of the gatherings should call Jackson.

School marching bands to perform

ESCONDIDO -- The Orange Glen High School Marching Patriots and the Hidden Valley Middle School Marching Raiders will perform "Splish Spash" together during the Grape Day Parade, to be held starting at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 9. The performance will be the first of many joint and separate efforts by both schools to breathe life into the arts in schools and the community.

Poway High PTSA plans meeting

POWAY -- The Poway High School Parent Teacher Student Organization will meet during Back to School Night at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 in Room K-99 of the campus.

SPHS Athletic Boosters to meet

ESCONDIDO -- San Pasqual High School's Athletic Boosters parent group will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. Sept. 20 in the school library.

The purpose of the organization is to promote the individual growth and development of students through athletics; support the school, coaches and students in athletic endeavors deemed appropriate; increase the bond of understanding between parents, youth and school personnel so that all may learn to work cooperatively for their common good; and to provide financial and other assistance to ensure a well-balanced, outstanding, total athletic program.

The Athletic Boosters meets at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of each school month in the library. For more information, call (760) 291-6000.

Volunteers sought to help students read

SAN MARCOS -- Richland Elementary School is seeking volunteers to help students become good readers through its Everyone A Reader program.

Experience is not required, only a love of children and a desire to help them develop strong reading skills. Volunteers are asked to commit to 1 1/2 hours per week. Parents, college students, senior citizens and community members are encouraged to participate.

A training/information session will be held from 3:35 to 5:15 p.m. Sept. 12 in Room 5 on the Richland campus, 910 Borden Road.

For information, call Kay Willer at (760) 290-2400, Ext. 3405.

Escondido Charter High grad is President's Scholar

Katherine Brothers of Escondido, a 2006 graduate of Escondido Charter High School, is entering Cal State Long Beach as a President's Scholar. As part of the President's Scholar program, she received a four-year scholarship from the university worth about $35,000.

Brothers was selected for the program from a pool of more than 600 students statewide. She will be among 50 new scholars joining the university when fall classes began on Aug. 28. The incoming class of scholars brings the total number of high school valedictorians and National Merit Scholars attending the university to about 350. The daughter of Nina Hopkins Sugawara of Escondido, Brothers is a journalism major.

Her scholarship covers general student fees, an annual book allowance and paid housing in the campus residence halls for four years. In addition, she receives priority registration, personal academic counseling and more.

Established in 1995, the President's Scholars Program is recognized as the premier program of its kind in the state. It was created to bring valedictorians and National Merit scholars from California high schools to Cal State Long Beach. Graduates of the program are attending prestigious graduate and professional schools such as Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, UC Berkeley Law School, Stanford, Duke and Johns Hopkins medical schools and UCLA Dental School and Cal State Long Beach. Others have started successful careers at companies like Disney, Boeing and TRW.

The benefits for qualifying valedictorians and National Merit scholars from accredited California high schools are made possible through the support of the Cal State Long Beach Alumni Association, President's Associates and the Corporate Scholars Council.

With more than 34,500 students, Cal State Long Beach is the second-largest campus in the 23-campus Cal State system, the largest public higher education system in the nation.

For more information about the Cal State Long Beach President's Scholars Program, call Valerie Bordeaux, director of University Outreach and School Relations, at (562) 985-8236.

Class of 1961 plans reunion

FALLBROOK -- The Fallbrook High School Class of 1961 has several events planned for its 45th reunion. Members will attend the high school homecoming football game at 6 p.m. Oct. 13.

A wine-tasting tour is planned for 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 14. There is a tasting fee at each of the Temecula wineries of between $5 and $10 per person. The reunion social will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Embassy Suites Hotel at 29345 Rancho California Road in Temecula. There will be a no-host bar and hors d'oeurves. Cost is $35 per person. For information, call Judy Payne Crawford at (619) 579-1454.

Poster contest details announced

FALLBROOK -- The Fallbrook Players Junior Conservatory, in conjunction with the Fallbrook branch of the San Diego County Library, is sponsoring a Wizard of Oz poster contest. This contest is open to area youths ages 6 through 17. All participants will receive a free ticket to The Wizard of Oz Nov. 4 show, when prizes for the contest will be awarded.

Complete rules and paper for the contest are available at the Fallbrook library. Additional information can be obtained at www.FallbrookTheater.com.

Luncheon set for program participants

FALLBROOK -- Fallbrook High School will sponsor its annual School to Career Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28 in Room 201 of the high school at 2400 S. Stage Coach Lane. Entree choices are Chinese chicken salad or beef tostada. The luncheon recognizes program participants. For reservations or information, call (760) 723-6300, Ext. 3211.

Candidates forum set for Sept. 7

FALLBROOK -- Candidates for the Fallbrook Union High School Board of Trustees will introduce themselves to the community and speak on issues facing the high school district at a forum set for 7 p.m. Sept. 7 in the board room of the Fallbrook Public Utility District building at 990 E. Mission Road. The forum is sponsored by the Fallbrook Democratic Club.

Candidates will make an opening statement and answer questions posed by a moderator. The public will have an opportunity to submit questions in writing. Candidates will remain after the forum to answer individual questions. Three seats are up for election.

The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:

• Jim Hutcherson is a 34-year resident of the Fallbrook area. He is a physical education and literacy teacher at Sullivan Middle School in Bonsall. He previously worked at Fallbrook High School as an English teacher, football and baseball coach, and assistant principal; and as principal at Bonsall Elementary. Hutcherson has served on the Fallbrook High School Board since 1990.

• William O'Connor is a 16-year resident of Fallbrook. He was a teacher in the Poway Unified School District from 1973 through 2004 where he also served as a department chairman, academic league coach, and as a consultant for Educational Testing Services from 1981 through 2006.

• Michael Schulte has been a Fallbrook resident since 2004, but his association with Fallbrook dates to 1979. He has worked at Core-Mark International, a distributor of consumer products to the convenience retail industry in North America, since 1977 and currently is their director of operations.

• Marc Steffler is a 26-year resident of Fallbrook. He has worked in the Fallbrook district as a teacher, mentor teacher, Fulbright Exchange Scholar, football, track and volleyball coach, and as principal of Ivy High School, Oasis High School, and Fallbrook High School. He is currently an administrator in the San Marcos Unified School District and president of District IX Continuation High Schools.

• Fran White was raised in Fallbrook and is a graduate of Fallbrook High School. She was a middle school teacher for eight years before she began managing her family's avocado business. She has served on the Fallbrook High School Board since 1998.

La Paloma plans back-to-school activities

FALLBROOK -- La Paloma Elementary School will host a back-to-school night for parents Sept. 7 at the school. Details will be sent home with children.

Other programs and activities include PTA fundraising assemblies at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 15 and a PTA fundraiser Sept. 15 through 29. Money raised will be used for student assemblies and field trips. A PTA membership drive will run from Oct. 2 through 13. For information, call (760) 731-4200.