Senior Class President’s singing inspires students, faculty, staff and Principal to join in dancing

By Frances Spijker

Students at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School displayed their knowledge and talents during an evening that included a science fair, as well as art and talent shows, in the school’s multipurpose room on Friday, May 6. A variety of students participated with the Garden Club serving a pizza dinner.

Following are the winners of the Science Fair.

9th/10th Grade:

1st place:  Chinyere Umozurike   $100 prize

2nd place:  Stephanie Spijker  $75 prize

3rd place:  Jordin Lara  $50 prize

11th/12th Grade:

1st place:  Andie Lindeman  $100 prize

2nd place:  (group project)  Matthew Beland, Sierra Abel, Mina Hernandez  split the $75 prize.

3rd place:  Lucas Stuart-Chilcote $50 prize.

Honorable mentions for great projects:  Madison Miller, Sarah Bohannon, both freshmen. Were given Starbucks gift cards

I have requested from the science teachers that they offer some type of extra credit to their students for their extra effort and helping us to promote this new annual event that I hope to grow bigger and better each  year.  I hope to work with the administration next year as PTSA Pres. to set up the fair earlier so that the students have time to participate in the larger fairs available in the district/region.  Thanks to Callida Martinez, one of our science teachers, for her help in organizing this event.

The awesome participants in the art show by the DLMHS Art Club, included Matthew Beland, Chinyere Umozurike, Cheyanne Jellich, Madison Miller, Ismal Obad and Graciela Ornelas.

Club Sponsor:  Gretchen Kohl (she did an awesome job organizing the amazing artwork.)

Talent Show performers:

The Hula Club

Freshman Nicole Cadigan sang Love Story by Taylor Swift

Sophomore Xavia Tanner sang NO by Meghan Trainor

Sophomore Merry D Wilson played Hey Jude on the saxophone and the audience sang along with “nah, nah, nah, nananana, nananana, hey Jude.”

Senior Class President and President of the Garden Club, Lucas Stuart-Chilcote sang the 1972 song Dancing in the Moonlight with Senior Andreas Soto, as his back up dancer.

Chilcote’s performance inspired other students and staff, and even Principal Scott Bergerhouse to join in and dance to the music.

We would like to give a special Thank You to our prestigious Science Fair judges:  DLMHS science teacher, Callida Martinez;  AUSD Board President Diane Gibson-Gray, Trustees Walter Ruehlig and Fernando Navarro,  and Interim Superintendent Stephanie Anello.  Thanks also to School Board Trustee Debra Vinson for representing the board and attending our event.

Our upcoming year will be filled with many new and exciting events at Dozier-Libbey to stimulate the young minds of the future.

Spijker helped organize the science fair. She is the Executive Vice President of the Dozier-Libbey PTSA.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

 

 

Website: YASSEMBLE.CO

Register: YASSEMBLE.eventbright.com

Everything from how to find a job or preparing for college to how to make a film to dating relationships will be offered to the youth who attend the 16^th Annual Youth Conference & Empowerment Summit. Formerly known as the Youth Summit, this year’s countywide gathering of young people from 6^th grade through high school, will discover that have a plethora of new offerings for their workshops, an integral part of the summit, which will be held at Pittsburg High School on May 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The first 250 youth who walk through the door will get a free summer bus pass. A tasty lunch  will also be offered. The entire day is free. Plus a musical concert has been added to cap the daylong event.

“We are changing the flavor of the summit this year,” says Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover, who sponsors the conference. “We are updating some of the workshops and offering new ones to make them more relevant to today’s youth. There’s a stronger emphasis on the STEM fields and how the new technology affects our everyday lives.”

The charismatic Shaun Derrick will be returning for the third year to emcee the proceedings and to guide the youth through the day’s activities.

“He connects with young people through straight talk and music,” says Glover.

The youth summit will start the day with a team of Deer Valley High School graduates who will give the keynote presentation.

Lenard The KYD Jackson, who graduated Deer Valley High School two years ago, is being joined by Team KYD, which includes fellow DVHS alumni Lawrence Eyo White, Jr., Cherokee White and Ledell Jones. Performing at the annual youth conference is a way of giving back to their community. The interactive presentation called Talkback will consist of comedy skits, standup comedy and a personal testimony from KYD members and a Q&A with the students.

Since he left Antioch, KYD has worked in film, stage and in comedy clubs. As an actor and a musician, he has worked with Kevin Hart, Paul Mooney, Dick Gregory, Sinbad, Charlie Murphy and Condoleeza Rice.

Eyo White and Ledell Jones are still students at LMC and Cherokee White is a student at San Francisco State University.

Following the conference, students who stay for the entire conference will be treated to a free, live concert featuring up and coming artist Samaria, a 19­‐year-old singer from Oakland who is on the verge of breaking out. Her music has a 1990’s R&B vibe to it but her sound is so distinct that it extends beyond just R&B or soul. Her sound cannot be placed into a box. Samaria said her musical style is heavily influenced by her heritage ­‐ Jamaican and Puerto Rican.

One of the more intriguing workshops will talk about the results of a research project by Rising Youth for Social Equity, based in Richmond. It will explore the coping strategies for stress caused by living in an environment where friends and family are shot and killed is an everyday experience of growing up. The young people growing in such a stressful environment are showing signs of PTSD, a malady usually associated with veterans of warfare.

Here’s a sampling of the other 40 workshops being offered:

•Dance movement

•Developing trust

•Navigating the media maze

•Healthy relationships

•Empowering youth to change communities

•Find your voice, find your ‘hustle’

•Building a rocket

•How to cope with violence

•Access to new technologies

•How to build a robot

•The alcohol industry’s marketing towards youth

•Trademarks of an effective leader

With Team KYD, Samaria and M.C. Shaun Derrick, almost 40 workshops, resource tables, fun activities and a free lunch Y.ASSEMBLE will be a full day for young people. Doors will open at 8 a.m. For the day’s schedule and a list of the workshops, go to YASSEMBLE.CO or YASSEMBLE.eventbrite.com. The free concert starts about 4:15 p.m. and is open only to YASSEMBLE participants.

“I hope the event opens the eyes of the young people,” said Glover. “Through the inspirational speakers, resources and opportunities that we’re offering and the impact of the day will help them make some critical choices in their lives. That’s what it’s all about.”

Y.ASSEMBLE Youth Conference & Empowerment Summit

Saturday, May 21, 2016

9 a.m. ­‐ 4 p.m.

Pittsburg High School

1750 Harbor Street, Pittsburg

Host Irvington High from Fremont in NCS playoff game, tonight

By Luke Johnson

For the first time in two decades, Antioch High School’s boys’ volleyball team brought home the Bay Valley Athletic League Championship after finishing undefeated (10-0) in inter-league competition, on top of a 25-6 overall record.

The Panthers’ crosstown rival Deer Valley dominated the BVAL the past decade by going unbeaten in league play the previous nine seasons without losing a single set the latter five seasons. But the departure of legendary coach Lou Panzella, who won three consecutive North Coast Section Titles, along with graduating multiple key players among that dynasty, caused contention for the BVAL crown to become wide open.

“I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t [think this was possible],” senior outside hitter Josh Johns said, who led the NCS in attack kills with five per set, more than double the amount of anyone in the BVAL. “I thought Deer Valley was going to win it all four years that I was in high school.”

Coach David Diskell was a junior in 1996, when Antioch last won BVAL, but said he did not play on the team due to an injury. Ironically, the coach of the Panthers back then was Panzella; the year before he transferred to the newly established high school on the other side of the city.

“Anytime you’re in the same category as a Lou Panzella-type coach, who in my eye is a legend, is an honor,” Diskell said. “To even be thought of as a such a great coach to bring a championship back to Antioch as he did is a huge compliment, and I never thought I’d be in the position to be talking about Lou Panzella and myself.”

Along with Johns, a pair of other fellow seniors propelled the team to prosperity. 6-foot-8 middle hitter Jake Perky led the BVAL in blocks with 67, and was third in attack kills with 203. Setter Jordan LaBier was also a leader in NCS with 8.5 assists per set.

Antioch High School was in a dry spell the past four school years (2011-15), and did not win one league championship. But the Panthers rallied for two this year in boys’ volleyball and football.

Antioch 16-year-old Rebecca Boyer has been missing from home since March 29th. According to her parents, she may be with her boyfriend who is over age 18. She has experienced two head traumas in the past three years, from a pool diving accident and an amusement park ride, which also caused a heart murmur.

If you know who and her whereabouts, please contact Antioch Police at (925) 779-6900 or her parents Johnny & Bonnie, who are offering a cash reward for information that leads to her safe return, at (415) 990-7319.

Her parents say “We love her and just want her to come home. Whatever she’s going through we can work it out.”

Please see and download the flyer, here: Rebecca Boyer

 

 

By Allen Payton

At their annual awards banquet, the 18 members of the Deer Valley High School boys varsity team were presented with scholastic achievement awards. Each player was awarded by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and North Coast Section (NCS) with a Distinguished Scholastic Team Certificate of 3.33 GPA. Nine players earned a GPA of 3.5 or better.

“I think this is an outstanding accomplishment for our varsity team this year,” said Coach Juan Tannus. “Our school and I are very proud of this achievement.”

 

By Luke Johnson

Two star football players from Antioch High School, other than the nation’s number one recruit Najee Harris, received Division I football scholarship offers early in March.

First, freshman wide receiver Guadie Campbell was offered by Brigham Young University on March 2, followed by an offer from Eastern Washington University two days later.

On that same day, sophomore linebacker/running back Omari Harris (no relation to Najee) earned an opportunity to play at the University of Nebraska, then received the same news from the University of California, Berkeley on March 7. All of these are full-ride scholarships.

Campbell’s offers came under rare circumstances, considering he has yet to record a varsity stat. He played the entire 2015-16 regular season on the freshman team, and was pulled up to varsity during the playoffs with minimal playing time. But BYU noticed his upside and potential, and wanted to jump on him early.

Now with these new accolades, Campbell feels opponents might start targeting him due to his young age.

“I’m just a freshman,” he said. “They think, ‘Oh, he has offers. He’s just been going against little kids.’ That just gives me an opportunity to show them how I got these offers.”

Omari Harris started his high school career at De La Salle, then transferred to Antioch as a sophomore. He became a part of the Panthers’ historic 10-0 season, and finished the year strong, filling in for injured senior linebacker/running back Nick Perry. He recorded 203 rushing yards with 22 carries, four touchdowns and three sacks.

“It’s exciting, because it brings so much positivity to the team and the school,” offensive coordinator Brett Dudley said. “A couple years ago, you mention ‘Antioch,’ and no one knows where it is. Now the notoriety that our team got this year, going 10-0 in the regular season, I mention, ‘Antioch,’ and people who aren’t even college coaches say, ‘Oh, I know where that is. I know about you guys. I’ve heard of your team. I’ve heard of your running back,’ or this or that. It’s really put Antioch on the map.”

Dudley added that when he started coaching at Antioch six years ago, he could not beg anyone enough to click on a highlight tape, but now, he has college coaches and scouts in his inbox “night and day.”

When asked who they credit their success to, Campbell and Omari Harris were thankful for the same three things: God, family and Malu Fitness.

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University announced that Mikah Erin Nunley of Antioch has made the President’s Honor Roll for the 2015 Fall semester.

The President’s Honor Roll recognizes students who stand above the rest with excellent academic performance. To be eligible for the honor roll, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term at WSU and earn a grade point average of 3.75 or earn a 3.50 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work.

The data displayed in the President’s Honor Roll may be affected by students who restrict the release of some or all information about themselves.

For more information on WSU, visit https://wsu.edu.