For four Delaware high schools, the 2018-19 school year will be the launch of the NAF Academy of Business Information Management program.

“These schools join a national network that provides the tools, resources and opportunities necessary to ensure that all high school students are college-, career- and future-ready,” Secretary of Education Susan Bunting said.

The schools are Caesar Rodney School District’s Caesar Rodney High School, Red Clay Consolidated School District’s A.I. duPont High School, Smyrna School District’s Smyrna High School and Odyssey Charter School. All four completed NAF’s rigorous planning program.

The Academy of Business Information Management (AoBIM) introduces students to the skills needed to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations through courses focusing on entrepreneurship, global and domestic economics, information technology, customer service and ethics. Students gain critical career knowledge through a series of work-based learning activities that are conducted in school, as well as outside the classroom, and a 120-hour paid summer internship. Completion of the program is validated with a NAFTrack Certification, NAF’s student certification assessment system.

“With technology playing such a large part in students’ lives, we are excited to broaden their perspective of how technology ties into the workplace with a focus on ethics and policies preparing them for the workforce,” A.I. duPont teacher Charles Schneider said.

These schools are now part of NAF’s network of 675 academies across 36 states, including DC and the US Virgin Islands. NAF provides high school students with career-themed instruction and hands on experiences in viable industries including finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. To adopt an Academy of Business Information Management program of study, interested schools may contact DOE education associate Lisa Wilson at lisa.wilson@doe.k12.de.us.

“On behalf of the entire NAF network, I’d like to give a warm welcome to all of our new academies and look forward to the many contributions you make to the network as a whole. Best wishes for a successful first year and know that you have the continuous support of your NAF family every step of the way.” NAF President JD Hoye said.

 

Media Contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

DOVER – If you are a student aged 12 through 15 with an interest in natural resources and law enforcement, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police is once again offering summer Youth Academies – with the deadline for applying extended to Friday, June 15.

The Youth Academy is a five-day program that teaches boating safety, hunter safety, and how to protect our natural resources while looking to nurture the relationship between Delaware’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police (NRP) officers and the community. Participants in the Youth Academy attend tuition-free.

This year, Fish & Wildlife NRP offers a Basic Youth Academy and two Advanced Youth Academy programs:

• Natural Resources Police Basic Youth Academy (New Castle County) –
  Monday through Friday, June 25-29, Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center, 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720
• Natural Resources Police Advanced Youth Academy (Kent County) –
  Tuesday through Saturday, July 10-14, Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center, 3018 Bayside Drive, Dover, DE 19901
• Natural Resources Police Advanced Youth Academy (New Castle County) –
  Tuesday through Saturday, July 17-21, Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center, 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720

The Basic Youth Academy is limited to the first 20 qualified applicants, with priority given to those who have not already completed a hunter safety course or boating safety course before the academy begins. Applications must include a 250-word essay on why the applicant wants to take part in the Academy and what Delaware’s natural resources mean to him or her. Students who complete the program will receive both their hunter and boating safety certifications.

The Advanced Youth Academy programs are for those who wish to continue learning what it is like to be a Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Officer, as well as learning additional outdoor skills. The Advanced Youth Academy programs are open to youth ages 12 through 15 years old who have either completed the Basic Youth Academy or have already earned their hunter safety and boating safety certifications. An overnight camping excursion is included and parent/guardian participation is mandatory for this portion.

Each of the Advanced Youth Academy programs is limited to the first 15 qualified applicants, with priority given to those who have already completed the Basic Youth Academy. Applications must include a 500-word essay on either what they learned from the Basic Youth Academy or, if they did not attend, what the applicant learned when they took their hunter and boating safety courses.

Applications are available online at http://de.gov/fwenforcement, and at DNREC’s licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

Opportunities to support the Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Youth Academies are available. These programs prosper through the generous support and donations from community businesses, private organizations and individuals.

For more information regarding the Youth Academy, please call Captain Brian Pollock at 302-365-8703 or email brian.pollock@delaware.gov.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Contact: Sgt. Brooke Africa, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-382-7167 or 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 134

Secretary of Education Susan Bunting will honor top public school students from the Class of 2018 at the annual Secretary of Education Scholars banquet Tuesday, April 24 at Dover Downs Hotel in Dover.

 

The students’ accomplishments will be celebrated by some of the state’s political and education leaders, who will be joined by their families, district superintendents, heads of charter schools and principals. The number of scholars from each school is based on enrollment, and students are selected by their principals based on both their academic records and community service.

 

“For me this is one of the most inspiring nights of the year, when I get to meet so many outstanding young people and the families and educators who have supported them during their academic careers. These scholars have all achieved incredible academic success while also making significant contributions to their school groups, athletic teams and community organizations,” Bunting said.

 

The state has named Secretary of Education Scholars every year since 1984.

 

The 2018 Secretary’s Scholars are listed by district/charter below.

 

Appoquinimink School District

Caelan Brooks – Appoquinimink High School

Bright Lu – Appoquinimink High School

Evan Rosario – Appoquinimink High School

Rajan Mann – Middletown High School

Timothy Mulderrig – Middletown High School

Ryan Singh – Middletown High School

 

Brandywine School District

Sylwia Pietrzak – Brandywine High School

Grace Ruoff – Brandywine High School

Sabrina Jaw – Concord High School

Connor Wagaman – Concord High School

Julia Simmons – Mount Pleasant High School

Emily Zheng – Mount Pleasant High School

 

Caesar Rodney School District

Nicholas Doak – Caesar Rodney High School

Jessica Goldschlager – Caesar Rodney High School

Stephanie Horne – Caesar Rodney High School

 

Capital School District

Adriana Kwok – Dover High School

Hayley Scheir – Dover High School

Katina Thongvong – Dover High School

 

Cape Henlopen School District

Emma Ballentine – Cape Henlopen High School

Melanie McCloy – Cape Henlopen High School

Hannah Wiswell – Cape Henlopen High School

 

Christina School District

Jaden Jefferson – Christiana High School

Ohenenana Sarfowah – Christiana High School

Carolyn Russell – Delaware School for the Deaf

Brennan Gallamoza – Glasgow High School

Michael Just – Glasgow High School

Chloe Frantz – Newark High School

In Jeong Yea – Newark High School

 

Colonial School District

Alanna Armor – William Penn High School

Kayla Harmon – William Penn High School

Sean Rutor – William Penn High School

Krystyn Williams – William Penn High School

 

Delmar School District

Maria Morelli – Delmar High School

Vasmi Patel – Delmar High School

 

Indian River School District

Delaney Brannon – Indian River High School

Priya Patel – Indian River High School

Caroline Davis – Sussex Central High School

Sergio Garcia-Gonzalez – Sussex Central High School

Carlynn Rodriguez-Bartolon – Sussex Central High School

 

Lake Forest School District

Amanda Bowman – Lake Forest High School

Kayla Thompson – Lake Forest High School

 

Laurel School District

Nyra Giles – Laurel Senior High School

Thomas Turnbaugh – Laurel Senior High School

 

Milford School District

Kaitlyn Cupelli – Milford Senior High School

Melina Hudson – Milford Senior High School

 

New Castle County Vo-Tech School District

Kelvin Amaya – Delcastle Technical High School

Yara Cruz-Murillo – Delcastle Technical High School

Jeffrey Hewes Jr. – Delcastle Technical High School

Alyssa Freund – Hodgson (Paul M.) Vocational Technical High School

Brianna Pavkovich – Hodgson (Paul M.) Vocational Technical High School

Dayonna Berryhill – Howard High School of Technology

Erin Chism – Howard High School of Technology

Danae Baxter – St. Georges Technical High School

Amanda Merritt – St. Georges Technical High School

 

POLYTECH School District

Ryan Hesterman – POLYTECH High School

Tyler Imprescia – POLYTECH High School

 

Red Clay Consolidated School District

Briseida Arreola – A.I. duPont High School

Courtlyn Witte – A.I. duPont High School

Michael Hemphill – Cab Calloway School of the Arts

Sachi Shetty – Cab Calloway School of the Arts

Christina Kim – Charter School of Wilmington

Ashley Pennington – Charter School of Wilmington

Kathryn Certesio – Delaware Military Academy

Russ Smith – Delaware Military Academy

Vasista Vovveti – Conrad Schools of Science

Heather McClure – Conrad Schools of Science

Samra Arshad – John Dickinson High School

Sofia Rose – John Dickinson High School

Marie-Noel Che – Thomas McKean High School

Richard Lopez – Thomas McKean High School

 

Seaford School District

Kaitlyn McKinney – Seaford Senior High School

Jorge Mendez-Mendoza – Seaford Senior High School

 

Smyrna School District

Samuel Mace – Smyrna High School

Kaelyn Press – Smyrna High School

Alec Shalk – Smyrna High School

 

Sussex Tech School District

Kaitlynn Adkins – Sussex Technical High School

Kira Short – Sussex Technical High School

 

Woodbridge School District

Yasmine Signey – Woodbridge High School

Aisli Torres-Landeros – Woodbridge High School

 

Charter schools

Andrew Bullock – Delaware Academy of Public Safety and Security

Willow Bowen – Early College High School at Delaware State University

Christiana Malone – Early College High School at Delaware State University

Priscilla Gorman – First State Military Academy

Michael Chen – Newark Charter School

Tanvi Venkatesh – Newark Charter School

Jemma Given – Positive Outcomes Charter School

Mia Kwan – Sussex Academy of Arts and Sciences

 

Media Contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

 

DOVER – Do you know a Delaware student who is working to make a difference for the environment? The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is encouraging teachers, classmates, parents, club or group leaders, and others to nominate these students for the 2018 Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards. Nominations must be based on actions or projects which have taken place between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, June 22, 2018. A winner will be chosen from each of the following categories:

The Young Environmentalist program honors Delaware students whose actions have helped protect, restore or enhance of Delaware’s natural resources through one or more of the following means:

• Demonstrating Environmental Stewardship
• Initiating an Innovative Project
• Increasing Public Awareness
• Demonstrating Environmental Ethics

Winners will be honored in a special ceremony on Governor’s Day at the 2018 Delaware State Fair Thursday, July 26. Each category winner will receive a certificate, gift card and prize pack in recognition of his or her contribution to the community.

This is the 25th year for the Young Environmentalist awards program, which was established by colleagues and friends in honor of Dr. Edwin H. “Toby” Clark II, who served as Secretary of DNREC from 1989 until 1993.

Nominations may be submitted by U.S. mail to Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by email to joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

For more information, including nomination forms, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Admin/Pages/YoungEnv.aspx, or contact Joanna Wilson at 302-739-9902 or email joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

Vol. 48, No. 71

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

DOVER – DNREC challenges 5th through 8th grade students to build and race solar-powered model cars in the 2018 Junior Solar Sprint, a statewide challenge of creativity, engineering, and speed. Co-sponsored by DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate and the Delaware Technology Student Association (TSA), the annual competition will be held Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington.

Middle schools statewide may register up to two teams of two to four students each. Registration is free, and the Division of Energy & Climate will provide each participating school with up to two starter kits, each including a solar panel, motor, and wheels.

Registration is due by Jan. 25, 2018, and may be emailed to Caren.Fitzgerald@delaware.gov or sent by mail to: DNREC Division of Energy & Climate, ATTN: Junior Solar Sprint registration, State Street Commons, 100 West Water Street, Suite 5A, Dover, DE 19904.

Complete Junior Solar Sprint rules are posted online at the Division of Energy & Climate’s renewable energy webpage, or the Delaware TSA State Conference webpage. Schools are not required to have a TSA chapter in order to participate. Delaware’s event is part of the National Junior Solar Sprint Competition, sponsored by the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program.

For more information, email Caren.Fitzgerald@delaware.gov or call 302-735-3480.

Vol. 47, No. 262

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902