Schools Notebook: Rogers senior awarded Gates scholarship
Rogers High School senior Mashalya Combs won a Gates Millennium Scholarship.
The scholarship, established with a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is awarded to 1,000 highly motivated minority students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico each year.
The program allows Combs to attend the university of her choice and pays for all of her college costs as she pursues a bachelor’s degree. The scholarship will also pay for graduate degrees in certain disciplines.
Combs has maintained a 4.0 GPA while taking 10 Advanced Placement courses and participating in cross country, track and field, and basketball.
Combs plans to study civil engineering at Seattle University.
Rogers Assistant Principal Mary Templeton said that Combs has proven herself to be of the highest character. “She’s always been a superstar,” she said.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ at Ferris
The Ferris High School Theatre Arts Department opens “Beauty and the Beast” tonight.
Shows are in the Ferris Auditorium at 7 p.m. today through Sunday and May 9-10. Matinees will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday and May 10.
The “tale as old as time” is a story about Belle, played by Molly Birch, who is unhappy with her life and is constantly dodging the unwanted affections from the conceited Gaston, played by Logan Birch. Belle trades places with her father, Maurice, played by Taylor Anzivino, to save him from the Beast, played by Caleb Heath. Forced to live with the Beast, Belle finds true love and her happily ever after.
The other cast members are Rhead Shirely as LaFou; Meghan Long as Madame de la Grande Bouche; David Dionne as Cogsworth; Karl Cranney as Lumiere; Colleen Cramer as Mrs. Potts; and Ryan Mansfield as Monsieur D’Arque. The ensemble includes students from Ferris, Chase Middle School, and local elementary schools.
Tickets are $10 purchased in advance or $12 at the door.
Before the Saturday matinees, visitors can have fun with some of the characters, beginning at 12:30 p.m. The fun will include arm wrestling and root beer with Gaston, story time with Mrs. Potts, and tea with Belle. Participants will also get a backstage tour and a special seat for the performance. The cost is $20 per person.
For information call Mary Cooper at (509) 354-6076 or email marycoo@spokaneschools.org.
Portfolio of School Options to be discussed
The Spokane Public Schools Department of Innovation will host community meetings to share changes taking place within the district.
The meetings will include information about current and proposed option schools, the charter authorization process, and Pride Prep, the district’s first charter school.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to ask questions about the Portfolio of School Options.
Meetings will be Monday at The Community School, 1300 W. Knox Ave.; May 19 at North Central High School, 1600 N. Howard St.; and June 9 at Sacajawea Middle School, 401 E. 33rd Ave. All meetings are from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
For more information call (509) 354-5966 or visit www.spokaneschools.org/innovation.