Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 129, Number 18, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 4 May 2006 — Page 6

Page A6

Advance News • Thursday, May 4, 2006

DeLaFuente is the state Youth of the Year

By Anthony Godson Editor Regina DeLaFuente's involvement in the Bovs & Girls Club of Nappanee was never about monev, but on April 22, she received a little. DeLaFuente was named Indiana's Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of America, at a banquet held at the Boys & Girls Club in Crawfordsville. In being named the Youth of the Year, DeLaFuente received a SSOO savings bond, as well as a SI,OOO scholarship from the Reader's Digest Foundation. "I didn't know what to expect," the North Wood High School senior said about the competition. Prior to being named the state's Youth of the Year, DeLaFuente was first named the top youth at the Boys & Girls Club of Nappanee. "We have a. Youth of the Month here for every month of the year," she said about winning the local competition. "Out of those 12 youths, a guv and a girl are usually chosen to represent Nappanee." After winning at the local level, DeLaFuente went on to win the Youth of the Year contest for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Goshen, which led to her involvement in the state

Nappanee Civic Theatre

The Nappanee Civic Theatre announces auditions for its annual summer youth production "How the West Was Dun." Area youths, who would like to spend a portion of their summer vacation performing in a plav, should plan to attend one of the auditions. They are open to anv child between the ages of 5 and 15, and no acting experience is required. Auditions will consist of improvisationa! games, and reading from the script.

SUEMUSS fR&MI CH'R&NIjE; MANNEQUINISM TAKES A TOLL ON MILLIONS OF AMERICANS!!!

it

Symptoms include: PLASTIFICATION OF SKIN, LACK OF MOTIVATION, A CONSTANT FEELING OF BEING UNINFORMED, AND A GENERAL LACK OF AWARENESS

Symptoms can worsen if not corrected, and early detection is key. Possible treatments can include, but are not limited to, registering to vote, volunteering, and staying informed. Do not let Mannequinism go untreated! You ARE at risk! Don’t let Mannequinism happen to YOU. ■■■H To find out how to reduce your risk, log on to BttM FightMannequlnlsm.org or text message 47922.*

competition. At the competition, DeLaFuente went against 19 other youths. The competitors first read a speech to a threejudge panel, who then selected seven of the youths to move on to the interview stage. In her speech, DeLaFuente wrote about how the Boys & Girls Club has helped her avoid the darker side of life. "I definitely lived a life that most do not want," she said. "I grew up in Texas, where gang and drug-related activity rates are high." DeLaFuente moved to the Nappanee area when she was in third grade, and only a few years later, the Boys & Girls Club of Nappanee was established. "This club opened in 1998, and I was in, fifth grade," she said. "The people were so nice. I was able to interact with others, and was able to make a lot of new friends." In her speech, DeLaFuente mentioned that if not for the club, her life may have gone a different way. "The programs here gave me a life outside of drugs and alcohol," she said. After reading her speech, DeLaFuente then had to sit and hope that her name would be called to become one of the

Auditions will be held on Tuesday, May 9 at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 11 at 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. Auditions will be held at the Nappanee West Park Pavilion. There are parts for 11 males and 10 females, plus extras for townspeople. "How the West Was Dun" is a fun western show with cowboys and villains, and is loaded with great character parts for the actor and actress. It will be a fun addition to your summer break.

■ - -f M ' %

Community

lucky seven to move on. After a long wait, her wish was fulfilled. "I was the last to be called," she said. "Talk about a way to put someone through torture." As a member of the final seven contestants, she then had the luxury of answering tions from the judges. The questions centered around the Boys & Girls Club, asking if after college, she would come back to the club in some sort of ty"l answered to the best of my ability," she said. The best of her ability must have been good enough for the judges, as she went on to win the competition. "I was shocked," she said about winning the state competition. "There were so many people that were there. They did well in their speeches, and were very charismatic." DeLaFuente says she was "shocked" at winning, but for those at the Boys & Girls Club of Nappanee, the announcement may not have been so shocking. "The first time I met her, she was quiet and kept to herself," Lindsay London, a two-year Program Director at the club said. "Now that I've gotten to know her, she's much more mature and involved. She's just flourished."

Rehearsals will start out at two per week, increasing to three in late June. The performance dates for this production are July 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. The Nappanee Civic Theatre began its summer youth program in 1964, and since then hundreds (if area youths have had fun, while learning how to put together a stage production. Besides acting techniques, they are also instructed on make-up, set building, voice projection and character development.

Perhaps it's that attitude, which propelled the club to hire DeLaFuente as its Junior Games Coordinator. "I'm going to be working here for the summer, and going to get ready, for (college)," the 17year old said. Following graduation, DeLaFuente hopes to attend St. Francis College in Ft. Wayne, where she plans to study art education. She already has a SI,OOO scholarship from the state competition, but has a chance to earn another SIO,OOO scholarship if she can win the Midwest Region this summer. If she's lucky enough to advance beyond that, she'd be eligible for the National Youth of the Year, which gives a $15,000 scholarship, and is installed by President George W. Bush during a ceremony in the White House's Oval Office. But for now, DeLaFuente is going to keep making her daily trips to the club she's been visiting for the past eight years. "A lot of people just think of the club as a baby sitting service," she said. "But we're here to help underprivileged kids do things they may not be able to do otherwise. I know what it did for me, and it can happen for others."

PTO Art Winner Each year the WoodvieW Elementary PTO purchases a piece of student artwork to be framed and displayed in the Art Gallery, which is located in the hallway between the cafeteria and the gymnasium. This year, the PTO chose a chalk drawing of a flower by third grade student, Steven Miller. Woodview art teacher, Megan Jones, had the students study the work of Georgia O'Keeffe. Students began by learning about her and then chose a flower that they were interested in recreating. They spent a class session drawing their flowers and then outlined them with glue. Once the glue dried, they used colored chalk to fill in the flower. Steven chose all of his own colors for his flower.

HERITAGE, Continued from Front

home by $6. "That would generate more than enough to keep both

BeedT I ($&&&' NEW ROOF? OBROOnWGWORKPONE? Instalkd & (.uaranteed hv Michiana's Oldest Roofing Company ' Specializing In rooting since 1906 12990 McKinley Hwy., Mish. Your 11-800-734-3344 CWif I\B I VMI 259-3544 I f{| I|J S| Hclf] for a GET THE CHECKERED FLOG! Race Into Chiphone for the New NASCAR Certificate! us your favorite driver. * yffVifT v The terms/months you choose will he your f drivers ’ number. availabe are: l«ny Stewart #2O ■ (In henur or ) Dale Earn hart #3 David Stremme #4O Mark Martin #0 Jimmy Johnson #4B Dale Eamhart Jr. #8 Mike Waltrip #55 Ryan Newman #l2 Jeff (iordon #24 Bring new money into Chiphone and we will add a !/4 c /< to the current APR. Minimum certificate deposit is SSOO. Call today for current rates or go to Rates on our website at WWW.CMphOHS. org Offer through May St St. Htß Chiphone ! I CraStUrtonXCor* - mt 166 SV. BearOstey 294-3606 4 Sit CH 61. 206-2151

m m yS® HUSK 4 m&wk B

PHOTO PROVIDED Regina DeLaFuente displays the plaque she won for being named Indiana’s Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of America.

vp ' v ' H I BHoEi-iJSHHIHSLf -— A —.a-k .-JBBB

PHOTO PROVIDED Left to right: Megan Jones, art teacher, Steven Miller and Kathleen Peterson, Miller’s classroom teacher, pose with the winning piece of artwork.

town's heritage centers running for ail ot our lifetimes," Thompson said.

With Thompson being the cousin of the Wakarusa museum's director, Helen Klein, he knows the tax would have to be beneficial to both. "They would really have to see an advantage to this," he said about Wakarusa's participation. With so many financial concerns right now, Thompson said that the city may have to already cut back on some discretionary items. Among those items may be no longer paying to be a part of the U.S. 31 Coalition, which has been working to upgrade the highway. No matter, the mayor is looking for a decision, as Pletcher may sell the building at any time. "We need to make a decision soon," he said. "We need to give Dick some sort of an answer." Although the council did approve to have the Nappanee Board of Works seek two appraisals on the building, there was still some apprehension. "I'm really having trouble with this," Nappanee Deputy Mayor Tom Lehman said. Lehman referred to the historic Madison Street, which needs to be upgraded. "If we can't fix a street in our town, how can we buy a building?" he asked. "It's a great feasibility, but do we have the money?," he added. Along with the Heritage Center, the building would also house the chamber of commerce and Nappanee Redevelopment Commission. Because of this, Nappanee Public Library Executive Director Linda Yoder feels it's a good idea. "It's one of those projects with so many things that come together, that it makes sense," she said.