After only four years, Seton Catholic College Preparatory High School has produced its first ever National Merit Scholarship finalist, and one of only seven finalists in the city of Vancouver.  Senior Ada Beale earned an impressive 4.58 G.P.A. She helped found the Seton Swim team and as team captain helped her team win the WIAA Academic State Championship. Along with placing 3rd in the Mayor’s Breakfast Essay competition, she is a gifted musician in three instruments and upon graduation will have completed over 100 hours of community service. The National Merit Scholarship begins with approximately 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools across the nation who take the PSAT/NMSQT tests. The pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. All National Merit Scholarship winners are selected from about 15,000 finalists based on their skills, accomplishment, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. For more information on Seton Catholic Prep, visit www.setonhigh.org.

Educational Service District 112 (ESD 112) will receive $100,000 in Federal Title II funding to address youth reentry into the community from detention. The grant was awarded by the Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice. ESD 112’s Education Advocate Program will work with youth reentering the community from confinement in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties. This research-based model, developed by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, provides comprehensive case management service to increase the success of youth in reentry to school, family and community. Education advocates help youth develop individualized “Student Success Plans,” link them to school and community resources, and monitor and support the achievement of their goals. The longer youth spend in confinement the more difficult reentry can be without proper preparation, transitional planning and the necessary services and resources. For more information on ESD 112, visit http://web3.esd112.org.

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, the PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation, and Hospice Southwest have announced the completion of a new awning over the entrance to the Ray Hickey Hospice House. Several local businesses contributed labor and materials to build a portico that was designed to match the architecture of the facility. The awning was needed to provide shelter from the elements for patients and family. The donation of labor and materials is estimated to be valued at approximately $65,000. Participating businesses include: Andersen Construction Company, B&B Masonry, Cherry City Electric, InstaFab Co., Patriot Fire Protection, PSI Special Inspections, Roggenkamp Engineering, Roof Toppers, Star Rentals, Streimer Sheetmetal, Vancouver Recycling Inc. For more information about the Ray Hickey Hospice House, visit www.swmedicalcenter.org/hospiceouse.

Thrive by Five, a statewide early learning nonprofit, has awarded a $76,178 grant for early learning in Clark County. Over the next year, Support for Early Learning and Families (SELF) and the Southwest Early Learning Regional Coalition will use the grant to support the coordination of services, increase awareness of early learning, prepare children for kindergarten, and provide resources to families. The regional coalition is building on a project to help strengthen the state’s early learning system and partner with families to help ensure that all children are healthy, capable and confident in school and in life. “The funding from Thrive is vital to advance early learning work in Southwest Washington,” says Debbie Ham, executive director of SELF. “The work conducted on the ground ensures that all children are ready for kindergarten and more importantly ready to learn on their first day of school.” For more information on SELF, visit www.selfwa.org/.