Patrick Clay, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School, was one of only 12 students to recently receive the prestigious Bezos scholarship award and an all-expense-paid trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado.
The annual scholarships are open to high school juniors at eligible public schools nationwide. Clay was selected based on academic merit, demonstrated leadership and community engagement.
Mark Marshall, principal of Thomas Jefferson, attended the festival with Clay.
Bezos scholars met with inventor Dean Kamen, physicist Brian Greene, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, among others, and they had breakfast with Sandra Day O’Connor. They attended plenary sessions, special events and hiked at Maroon Bells, a glacial lake valley surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks.
“We know that attendance at the Aspen Ideas Festival can be life changing for the individual,” explains Jackie Bezos of the Bezos Family Foundation. “It is our hope that these scholars – both students and educators – return home inspired.”
Garcia appointed
Auburn’s James Garcia was appointed to the Washington Council on Adult Education by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Garcia’s term is effective June 20, 2008, ending Oct. 9, 2010. Garcia is executive director of the Health Work Force Institute. He is currently a member of the Customer Advisory Committee of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
