March 11, 2005

ESUHSD NEWS BRIEFS

EVHS student wins first place in Rotary Club’s annual youth speech contest

One Evergreen Valley High School student and two students from Piedmont Hills High School brought back certificates and monetary awards from the annual San Jose East Evergreen Rotary Club’s Youth Speech Contest held at the San Jose Country Club in February.

Jessica Nguyen recently won first place in the Annual San Jose East Evergreen Rotary Club’s Youth Speech Contest.

With a speech entitled, “Happy Birthday to You,” EVHS student Jessica Nguyen walked away with the first place certificate, a $100 prize and the opportunity to advance to the Rotary’s area speech contest. There she will compete against other Rotary local club contest winners for a first place prize of $200, a second place prize of $100 and the opportunity to compete in the Rotary’s regional competition in April.

Casey Dzuong, a student at Piedmont Hills High School, garnered the second place certificate and a $50 cash award with a speech entitled “Connect.” Justin Townsel, also from Piedmont Hills, won the third place certificate and $25 with a speech entitled, “The Gift of Life.”

Tiffany Jaya from Piedmont Hills was a co-runner up with a speech entitled, “We Must Help” along with Richmond Reyes, a student at Oak Grove High School with a speech entitled, “Pathway to the World.”

Each student chose a topic of interest for their 4.5 to 5.5-minute speech, based on the Rotary 2004-2005 theme, “Celebrate Rotary’s 100 years; Century Builders Building Bridges.” They also had to refer to at least one principle of the “Rotary International Four-Way Test.”

The four-way test asks these questions. “Of the things we think, say, or do, is it truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Nguyen said she was “Shocked, completely shocked,” when she was announced as the winner.

“I thought that it was a very exciting contest today. The students were enthusiastic. The Rotary Club members were enthusiastic. Each year, I am always amazed by the students, the quality of their speeches, the thought that they give to their speeches and the way that they present the theme for the current year,” said Ruth Ashford, chair for the Rotary Youth Speech Contest.

She concluded, “It is our hope that all the students who participated in the event felt that they grew personally from the experience of preparing their speeches and delivering them to us. I know that we benefited greatly from listening to these enthusiastic students, meeting them and having them share the luncheon with us.”

Nick Leon, chair for the Rotary Youth Services and a retired high school teacher and coach from the Eastside Union High School District, summed up the events of the day. “It was another example of how dynamic these young high school people are, and how the future with them is really in good hands.”

Save the date: May 19

Third annual EVHS Cougar Classic Golf Tournament

The Evergreen Valley High School Athletic Booster Club is sponsoring one of its major fundraisers of the year, the annual EVHS Cougar Classic Golf Tournament, on Thursday, May 19. It will be held at the Los Lagos Golf Course, 2995 Tuers Road, in San Jose.

The booster club is looking for players in foursomes, at $100 per player. In addition to a great round of golf including the cart, each player will receive a barbecue dinner and a free T-shirt. What a deal!

The booster club is also looking for event sponsors who would like to advertise their company on a tee as well as on a T-shirt for just a $125. All proceeds will go to the Girls and Boys Athletic programs at EVHS.  

Entry forms will soon be available via the Web site: http://www.evhscougars.com/

Just print out the entry form, fill it out and mail it in with your entry fee to Evergreen Valley High School, Attn: Dee Quinet, Golf Tournament Chair, 3300 Quimby Raod, San Jose, CA 95148.

For more information, you can contact Quinet at (408) 347-7166 or (408) 710-2618 (cell). Or contact Jane Brehmer at (408) 896-6570 or jane_brehmer@amat.com.

St. Paddy’s Day show

EVHS senior reels in nationally known comedians for second fundraiser

Evergreen Valley High School senior and up-and-coming stand-up comic Chris Sifflet has earned a reputation.

That reputation has enabled him to secure nationally known comedians to perform in the second EVHS Comedy Showcase fundraiser on Thursday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Evergreen Valley High School theatre.

Seven big-time comedians from TV and radio, as well as clubs and competitions across America, will join Sifflet to bring the house down with laughter. The comedy line-up includes Kevin Avery, W. Kamau Bell, Tony Dijamico, Conor Kellicut, Drennon Davis, Jason Downs, Justin McClure and Sifflet himself.

Tickets are $10, cash and checks only, and will be sold at the door one hour before the show and at the school bank on school days before the show. All profits from the show will support the Evergreen Valley High School drama department.

Evergreen Valley High School is located at 3300 Quimby Road (at Ruby) in San Jose.

For more information, call (408) 347-7000 or go to the Web at www.esuhsd.org and http://ev.ca.campusgrid.net/home.