EDUCATION BRIEFS

GRADUATE STUDENTS WIN SCHOLARSHIPS

Winners of the 2008-09 Addictions Studies Scholarships from the Foundation for Recovery include UNLV graduate students Cheri Quijano, Melissa Depa, Lindsey Harrison and Kristen Dahlke.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER RECEIVES SAM'S CLUB AWARD

Miller Middle School teacher Kenneth Stedman was named Sam's Club Teacher of the Year. The business donated $1,000 to Miller Middle School, 2400 Cozy Hill Circle, and presented Stedman with a plaque and a $100 gift card to be used for classroom supplies.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION HONORS YEARBOOK STAFF

Greenspun Junior High School yearbook adviser Jeff Wollard, along with the yearbook staff, received the All-American Award with five marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association for the school's 2007-08 yearbook.

UNLV professors receive Education grant

Three College of Education professors at UNLV were awarded grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to improve the quality of special education programs and increase the number of special education teachers.

Special education professors Tom Pierce and Kyle Higgins received a four-year grant worth nearly $800,000 to start an accredited training program for new special education teachers. Two-thirds of the funding will be used for tuition assistance. The program will be open to people with a bachelor's degree who want to become full-time special education instructors specifically trained to help people with autism or intellectual disabilities. The grant is expected to result in 60 new teachers.

Kristin Sayeski, also a special education professor, received a five-year, $500,000 grant to enhance the special education emphasis of the Master of Education program.

MCCALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GETS A FACE-LIFT

Volunteers from MGM Mirage helped beautify McCall Elementary School, 800 E. Carey Ave., in connection with National Make a Difference Day.

CSN HOSTS EL DORADO AWARDS

The College of Southern Nevada hosted the El Dorado Awards earlier this month to recognize the accomplishments of those who have made a difference in the Latino community. Merlinda Gallegos, vice president of corporate philanthropy of MGM-Mirage; Aracelica Paredes, chief executive officer of Super Mercado Del Pueblo; and Cipriano Chavez, dean of CSN student affairs, received awards.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY OFFERED FOR YOUNG WOMEN

The Miss Greater Las Vegas and Miss Clark County Dual Scholarship Program will host its second annual pageant at 2 p.m. on Feb. 1 at the Clark County Library theater, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

Contestants will compete for scholarship assistance to support college or graduate school education. Other scholarships will be granted to runner-ups and special award winners. For more information about competing, volunteering or sponsoring the Miss Greater Las Vegas and Miss Clark County Dual Scholarship Program, visit missgreaterlasvegas.com.

VEGAS PBS PROVIDES CAPTIONED EDUCATIONAL MEDIA

Vegas PBS Educational Media Services provides described and captioned educational media for teachers, parents and caregivers of students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing. For more information, call 799-1010.

NEW WEB SITE AVAILABLE FOR COLLEGE INFORMATION

The U.S. Department of Education launched a Web site, www.college.gov, which provides information about college and other postsecondary education programs.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING HELD SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS

The Clark County School District Board of Trustees holds a regular meeting at 4 p.m. every second and fourth Thursday of the month in the Edward Greer Education Center Board Room, 2832 E. Flamingo Road. For those who can't make the meetings, they are Web cast live on www.ccsd.net.