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Robotics team wins top honor at regional competition, qualifies for world championships in Atlanta

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Catlin Gabel's Upper School robotics Team 1540 won the prestigious Chairman's Award at the Oregon regional competition for their extensive support of other teams. Check out the three-minute Chairman’s Award video created by Tucker Gordon and Henry Gordon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxPocQQC5Cs.

The Chairman's Award qualifies Team 1540 (the Flaming Chickens) to compete at the world championships in Atlanta, April 14–18. This is the fourth consecutive year Catlin Gabel’s robotics team has qualified for the world championships, the most of any team in the Northwest.

Junior Henry Gordon ’11, marketing manager, fabrication co-manager, and Middle School FIRST LEGO league coach, was one of two finalists for the Oregon regional FIRST dean’s list for student leadership and commitment to the ideals of FIRST, as well as for contributions to his team and community. Henry is in the running for one of 10 FIRST dean’s list awards granted at the World Championships.

Congratulations, Flaming Chickens!

Viola Vaughn from Sénégal to speak at Catlin Gabel on April 7

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Vaughn, a CNN "Hero," is founder & director of 10,000 Girls, dedicated to the education of girls

Viola Vaughn, founder and executive director of the nonprofit 10,000 Girls (http://10000girls.org) in Kaolack, Sénégal, West Africa, will speak at Catlin Gabel on Wednesday, April 7, at 12:45 p.m. in the Middle School Commons during her tour of the United States.

Vaughn is an American with an Ed.D. from Columbia University who received a CNN “Hero” award in 2008. She is a social entrepreneur who has built 10,000 Girls from an idea to a vibrant program currently serving 2,567 girls in 10 towns and villages in rural Sénégal. She periodically tours the U.S., speaking and participating in conferences to raise awareness of her organization's success in helping West African girls succeed as students and entrepreneurs. During her time in Portland Vaughn will also speak at Portland State University.

YouTube video of Viola Vaughn #1                     YouTube video of Viola Vaughn #2

10,000 Girls has two primary programs: after-school education and skill-building, helping girls stay in school and complete their educations; and entrepreneurship, teaching a craft or trade and business basics to older girls who have already left school and need life skills to become self-reliant. The educational component provides tutoring and resources to help girls succeed in school. Older girls, who are no longer in school, learn sewing, baking, and other marketable skills, creating products such as dolls and table linens, which they sell locally and online. The girls also grow, harvest, and produce hibiscus, which they transform into tea and hope to export to the U.S. as Certified Organic. The girls in the entrepreneurial program have decided to donate nearly 50% of their earnings to the program, making 10,000 Girls entirely self-sustainable. In Sénégal – where 54% of the citizens live below poverty and 48% are unemployed  – 10,000 Girls transforms the lives of  participating girls and their families.

The dynamic Viola Vaughn, a long-time resident of Sénégal, dramatically describes the challenges and joys of running 10,000 Girls and speaks with passion about her organization's mission. She can relay fascinating stories, including how she convinced banks to open accounts for young girls, a first in Sénégal; why the girls chose to bake and sell cookies to raise money (like America's Girl Scouts); and the what poignant questions the girls pose at summer Democracy Camps in  Sénégal. 
 
In Portland, Violla Vaughn hopes to connect with individuals and organizations interested in the education of girls, as well as with businesses that might want to sell 10,000 Girls' products. She will also encourage individuals intending to volunteer for 10,000 Girls in Senegal.   
 

Mock trial team advances to state

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Both the blue and white mock trial teams had a great day at the 2010 regional trial. The Blue Team advances to state to compete against the best teams in Oregon. This year’s case, State v. Lane, is a criminal case where the defendant, a rap artist, is charged with inciting a riot and arson.

Congratulations to Catlin Blue team members Talbot Andrews, Conor Carlton, Becky Coulterpark, Eli Coon, Nina Greenebaum, Andrew Hungate, Grace McMurchie, Kate McMurchie, Megan Stater, and Leah Thompson.

Catlin White team members include Rohisha Adke, Amanda Cahn, Rachel Caron, Audrey Davis, Layla Entrikin, Brian Farci, James Furnary, Mira Hayward, Thalia Kelly, Jackson Morawski, Grant Phillips, Charlie Shoemaker, Henry Shulevitz, Curtis Stahl, Lynne Stracovsky, Terrance Sun, Karuna Tirumala, and Michael Zhu.
 

Students lead CG response to Haiti earthquake, community raises $28,000

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The world looked on in horror when the January 12 earthquake rocked Haiti. Immediately, Catlin Gabel students of all ages got to work organizing fundraisers to help the devastated island. Alumna Caitlin Carlson ’00, communications officer for Mercy Corps, came to campus to talk to about the essential need for cash in the coming months. We set up a web page aimed at inspiring students and consolidating our community efforts. Student-led bake sales and the Lower School read-a-thon raised $28,000 for Haitian earthquake relief. Our contributions will make a difference in Haiti: $16 provides a child’s "comfort kit” that includes a blanket, sketchpad, crayons and toys, $43 buys 110 pounds of rice, and $75 equips a Port-au-Prince resident for two weeks of recovery work.

Kevin Ellis and Yale Fan describe their award-winning projects

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Recorded at the upper school assembly of February 18, 2010.

Troupe from Beijing Dance Academy to perform at CGS Chinese New Year festival

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Excerpts of "The Butterfly Lovers," China's Romeo & Juliet, for our kids & families

Dancers from the Beijing Academy of Dance, the top dance school in China, will be coming to Catlin Gabel's Barn to be part of the school's Chinese New Year celebration, from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, February 23. The free, short performance of "The Butterfly Lovers" will be geared for our children. The troupe is performing February 23 & 24 at the Newmark Theatre. Other New Year's activities for children include calligraphy, puppet-making, paper cutting, and a yo-yo demonstration.

In the news: Larry Hurst and his lecture on green alternatives to burial

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Beaverton Valley Times article, January 2010

Larry Hurst will deliver the Esther Dayman Strong Lecture on this topic on Tuesday, Febraury 16, at 7 p.m. in the Cabell Center. Free and open to the public.

CGS team wins 2nd place in regional Science Bowl

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On Saturday Catlin Gabel’s Science Bowl team won 2nd place in the BPA Regional Science Bowl. Our team of Yale Fan (captain, senior), Brynmor Chapman (senior), Benjamin Streb (senior), Vighnesh Shiv (junior), and Terrance Sun (freshman) lost a closely fought final to the winner, Sunset High School, which will go on to the National Science Bowl. The Catlin Gabel team beat out 59 other teams from all over Oregon and Washington and pushed Sunset to three games before conceding. In addition, Yale Fan was one of seven students (out of more than 250) to be honored as an "All Star" for answering the most questions during the first four rounds of the contest. Congratulations to the team from Sunset, and congratulations to all our team members for excellent game play and grace under pressure!

Students raise more than $12,000 for Haiti relief

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Lower School readathon the latest success

On Friday, February 5, 200 Catlin Gabel Lower School students plus staff, faculty, and parents participated in a readathon for Haiti relief. They all read books in the Lower School library, and up and down the halls, from 2:15 to 3 p.m., unified in a student-led community effort to show we are trying to make a difference. Students collected pledges for reading a certain number of minutes or a certain number of pages, and the resulting pledges were added to the funds that Catlin Gabel students and community members have already raised for Haiti relief. As of February 8, more than $11,000 had been donated to Mercy Corps from student-led efforts all over the school, and that figure will continue to grow.

Thoughts from 8th graders: upcoming performance, Ptld. Center Stage

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Third Angle blog, February '10

A group of 8th graders, led by drama teacher Deirdre Atkinson, will be performing their interpretation of Mark Applebaum's graphic score, "Metaphysics of Notation," at Portland Center Stage at noon on Friday, February 5. All are invited! Deirdre collected her and her students' thoughts about the month-long process on the blog of Third Angle, a partner in the production. This was an amazing invitation for our students, and a rare chance to work with professional arts organizations on a deeply creative project.

Yale Fan & Kevin Ellis named Intel Science Talent Search finalists

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Seniors Kevin Ellis and Yale Fan were just surprised with the news that they are finalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search, out of 40 nationwide! It's only the second time that two students from the same Oregon school were named finalists. This morning they each received a check for $7,500 towards college tuition, and they will go on to Washington, DC, in March to compete for the top honors. More information is below. Congratulations, Yale and Kevin!

 

(photo courtesy of the Oregonian)

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2200 Mission College Blvd.
P.O. Box 58119
Santa Clara, CA 95052-8119
  
CONTACT:     Bill MacKenzie
                        Communications Manager
                        U.S. Corporate Affairs
                        Intel Corporation
                        503-264-1330
                        Bill.mackenzie@intel.com
 
 
 
                   Oregon and Washington Students Named Intel Science Talent Finalists
 
 
The Catlin Gabel students will be surprised with announcement Wednesday, Jan. 27
 
 
WHAT: Surprise announcement of Intel Science Talent Search Finalists
 
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, 8:45 AM.
 
WHERE: The Dant House, Catlin Gabel School, 8825 S.W. Barnes Rd., Portland, OR 97225 (ph): 503-297-1894 ext. 301
 
Background
 
HILLSBORO, OR, Jan. 26, 2010 – Vancouver, WA resident, Kevin Michael Ellis, and Beaverton resident, Yale Wang Fan, both students at Catlin Gabel School in Portland, will learn Wednesday that they have been named finalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS) and are on the road to becoming tomorrow’s elite scientists. As finalists, they will each be awarded scholarship checks for $7,500 and be in the running for larger scholarships They each were previously awarded a check for $1,000 when they were named semifinalists.
The Intel STS 2010, a program of Society for Science & the Public (SSP), is America’s oldest, most highly regarded pre-college science competition and heir to more than six decades of science excellence. SSP, a nonprofit organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education, has owned and administered the Science Talent Search since its inception in 1942. This year marks Intel’s twelfth year sponsoring the program.
            Ellis and Fan will be Catlin Gabel’s first Intel STS finalists and this will be only the second time an Oregon school has had two Intel STS finalists . “Kevin and Yale are both so talented and so humble, and we're delighted by their success,” said Michael Heath, Catlin Gabel’s high school principal. “We are proud of them and of Catlin Gabel's amazing science, computer science, and math teachers, who encouraged these two students to excel.”
            The Catlin Gabel students are two of 40 high school seniors from across the country who will be celebrating their selection as finalists. Finalists will gather in Washington, D.C., on March 11-16, to compete for $630,000 in awards. The top winner will receive $100,000 from the Intel Foundation.
Their week-long stay in D.C. will include an in-depth judging process, visits to historic sites and cultural institutions and meetings with leading scientists and engineers. Students will also have an opportunity to exchange ideas and insights with each other and prominent members of the scientific community.
The finale of the Science Talent Institute in Washington, D.C. will be a black-tie banquet honoring the 40 finalists, which will take place March 16. The evening will conclude with the announcement of the top 10 Intel scholarship winners of the Intel Science Talent Search, with the top winner receiving a $100,000 scholarship and the others scholarships of varying amounts.
            "At Intel we believe that a healthy future fueled by innovation requires investing in math and science education now," said Shelly Esque, vice president of Intel’s Corporate Affairs Group. "This year’s finalists are truly inspiring and they reaffirm our belief that programs like the Intel Science Talent Search foster a passion for math and science in today’s youth that is imperative to America’s future success as a leader in innovation."
            Ellis’ winning research project is titled, "Automatic parallelization through dynamic analysis.” Ellis explained that his research is into automatic methods of converting a computer program not designed to use more than one processor into an equivalent program that exploits multiple processors. In doing so, the program can distribute its work and run faster. His method analyzes the program as it executes to reveal parts of the program which can be distributed, while also showing when distribution programs across multiple processors would increase performance.
Fan’s winning research project is titled, "Adiabatic quantum algorithms for boolean satisfiability.” Fan explained that quantum computers are computers that rely on principles of quantum mechanics to accomplish certain tasks exponentially more efficiently than classical computers. He exhibited new numerical and theoretical results on the power of quantum computers for certain classes of NP-complete problems, which are the hardest computational problems whose solutions are easy to verify. This work implies that quantum computers could outperform classical computers for a class of hard problems and gives new insight into the capabilities of exciting prospective technology based on theoretical physics.
 “Intel is incredibly proud of these two highly accomplished students,” said Aubrey Clark, Intel’s Education Relations Manager in Oregon. “Their achievement is likely a predictor that they will one day be among America’s great scientists.”
STS alumni have received more than 100 of the world’s most coveted science and math honors including six Nobel Prizes, three National Medals of Science, 10 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, and two Fields Medals.
            Intel’s long-standing commitment to education is fueled by its mission to invest not only in its business and industry, but in the future of young people. Through education programs such as the Intel Science Talent Search, Intel works to inspire and educate children in communities around the world in the areas of science, mathematics and engineering.
      Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom. Intel is Oregon’s largest private employer and its Oregon site is a global center for semiconductor research and manufacturing. Additional information about Intel in Oregon is available at www.intel.com/community/oregon.
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Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. * Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.