Fifth-grade Merriman Park student Will Walters won the grand prize for his age division at the third annual North Dallas Regional Elementary Science Fair on March 10-11.

Walters’ project, entitled “Magnetic Fields, Are They Harmful?” was one of 400 science projects judged at the fair. Walters also placed first in his age division in the physical science category.

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“I started this project to find out if the power easement where I play football with my friends is safe from electro-magnetic fields (EMFs),” Walters says.

To find the answers, Walters surveyed 200 people in the Lake Highlands area, 100 of whom live within 100 feet of high power electrical transmission lines.

With assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency, Walters measured magnetic fields within the surveyed homes.

According to Walters’ survey, those homes located within 100 feet of the transmission lines all recorded EMF levels above 5 milligrams. The homes outside the 110-foot boundary had EMF levels below 2 milligrams. Two milligrams and below is considered non-hazardous by the EPA.

Walters also surveyed health problems and sleeping patterns in both groups. His findings revealed that seven out of the 100 people living near the transmission lines had skin cancer. Six of those had melonomas. The national average for melonomas is one in 130, Walters says.

“I am ecstatic, but not surprised,” says Walters’ science teacher, Kathy Tedder. “Will spent more than 100 hours on this project. He deserved to win.”

The school districts represented at the fair included Allen, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Garland, Mesquite, Plano and Richardson.

Illustrator Scott Cook Visits Stults Elementary

Well-known children’s book illustrator Scott Cook recently visited the fourth-grade classes at Stults Elementary School.

Cook’s visit is part of a year-long program that brings various artists, authors and storytellers to the elementary schools in the Richardson Independent School District. The program’s goals are to emphasize reading for pleasure and to introduce the opportunities that exist for those interested in art and writing.

Cook has illustrated three significant books: “Nettie Jo’s Friends and the revised editions of “A Christmas Carol” and “The Gingerbread Man.”

During his program, Cook entertained the fourth graders with magic tricks and jokes. He also explained his illustrations and his inspirations for his work.

Northlake and Terrace Checkerboard Dancers Perform at TMEA Convention

The students who make up the folk dance team Checkerboard recently received a standing ovation after their performance at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio.

Checkerboard consists of 14 students from Northlake Elementary School and 14 students from Terrace Elementary School. They’re called Checkerboard because of the red-and-black costumes they wear during performances.

“The purpose of Checkerboard is to provide the students with additional dance experience, give them an opportunity to work with students from another school and to develop understanding and cooperation outside of school,” says Northlake Checkerboard director Susan Elliott.

“The folk dances allow students to experience different cultures from around the world,” Elliott says. “Through the similarities and the differences in the dances, the students begin to understand other people in new ways.”

While in San Antonio, the Checkerboard dancers visited the Alamo, ate lunch at the revolving restaurant at the Tower of Americas and toured the San Antonio River by boat.

Other Checkerboard performances include the Red Ribbon Rally, Northlake PTA meetings and Lake Highlands Junior High’s Highland Fling.

Scofield Student Wins State DAR Essay Contest

Alisha Lybrand, a fifth-grade student at Scofield Christian School, recently won first place in the state American History Essay contest of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Lybrand entered the contest with two other students through the James Campbell Chapter of DAR in Dallas.

Lybrand received a $50 savings bond and was honored at DAR’s General State Conference in Houston last month.

Lybrand’s essay has been entered in DAR’s Southern Division Essay Contest. Winners from that contest will compete in the National DAR essay contest to be held later this year.

Northlake School Adoptor

Northlake Elementary School recently announced its adoption by American Federal Bank at 8608 Skillman Road. As a school adoptor, American Federal will assist the elementary school with a variety of activities. American Federal employees will be volunteering in the classroom and aiding the school with its annual carnival.

Skyview Elementary Student’s Holograph Exhibited at DMA

A black-and-white holograph print by Skyview Elementary School fourth-grader Justin Thomas is being exhibited at the Dallas Museum of Art. Thomas was honored for his work at a reception March 15.

Thomas’ print was one of many pieces of artwork displayed at the Richardson Independent School District Administration Building. His holograph was selected to be displayed at DMA as part of Imagination Celebration, a national program that recognizes outstanding art among school-age children.

Moss Haven Elementary Announces Good Citizens

Moss Haven Elementary School good citizens from Feb. 16-March 1 include:

Evan Alterman, Brett Atchley, Matthews Chao, Adam Cross, Chrissy Edwards, Megan Gover, Marla McWilliams, Tonya Talcott, Adriane Whitman and Ashley Wohlgemuth.

Also: Barney Aronoff, Julie Bone, Ben Bowman, Ashley Bradford, Blake Bushong, Ian Fletcher, Alysha Lalji, Jonathan Lerner, Jackson Reap and Lauren Sims.

And: Collin Anderson, Tara Barsanti, Sarah Boulden, Victoria Carpenter, Jermey Estes, Emily George, Laura Hogan, Christopher Hulme, Daniel Sepulveda and Hunter Swindell.

In other Moss Haven news, student Jennifer Hervey won the District 2 Cultural Arts Award in photography. Hervey’s photograph has been entered in state competition.

And Moss Haven speech and language specialist Valerie Briscoe has been selected by the Richardson Learning Disabilities Association as a Teacher Appreciation Award recipient for 1993. Briscoe was honored at a LDS awards ceremony last month.

Highlander-Carden Student 2nd in County-wide Bee

Christy Edson, a sixth-grade student at Highlander-Carden School, placed second in a countywide spelling bee for private schools. Ted Skinner of Tyler Street Christian Academy placed first.

In all, 24 students representing private schools throughout Dallas County participated in the bee, which was the qualifying event for the 35th Annual Dallas Morning News Regional Spelling Bee scheduled April 3.

Skinner will participate in the regional spelling bee, with Edson as alternate. The winner of the regional spelling bee will advance to national competition to be held May 30 in Washington, D.C.

White Rock Student Council Aids Network Ministries

The student council from White Rock Elementary School has been active this year in aiding the Lake Highlands Network of Community Ministries. The council organized a schoolwide clothing and food drive for Network Ministries.

In addition, the council donated $150 in proceeds from a recent bake sale.

The students plan to hold another fund-raiser to help pay for a new playground.

In other White Rock news, the school has announced recent educators of the month awards. The January educator of the month is music teacher Judy Dobbins. Dobbins also directs the fifth- and sixth-grade choir and the recorder ensemble.

The February educator of the month is Melissa Garvin, a third-grade teacher and the school’s site-based leadership facilitator.

White Rock Announces Outstanding Citizens

The following sixth-grade students from White Rock Elementary school were recently rewarded for their outstanding citizenship during the fall semester:

Erin Brunson, Adepeju Okubanjo, Alxia Herrington, Russell Williams, Robert Johnson, Stuart Williams, Adam McCane, Lindsay Isenberg, Brenda Marr, Kristi Willis, Meredith Allred, Holly Scurry, Casey Diebold.

Also: Kelly Meinert, Erin Causey, Greg Rinehart, Nicole Debenport, Toinette Mayes, Brittney Boone, Collette Coats, Molly Mitchell, Alix Porembsky and Amber Seely.

Skyview Announces Pace Winners

Skyview Elementary School’s pace winners for the week of Feb. 15 are:

Ashlea Reed, Leigh Stagner, Chelsea Dilworth, Paul Lee, Ashley Hannon, Amanda Opoku, Jeffrey Pittman, Terell Strowbridge, Kelvin Martin, Marquita Weaver, Meredith Colgin, Marisa Serna and Jean Lee.

For the week of Feb. 22: Tristan Menda, Caleb Mooty, Derrick Catleberry, Tysha Hughes, Danny Sayachack, Wes Bomar, Cory Davis, Guy Jacks, Deon Williams, Aja Boyd, Jimmy Busch, Justin Redman, Taylor Russell, Catrina Beasley and Marcus Brewer.

For the week of March 1: Dekendrick Ganison, Ernesto Santamaria, Chris Conwell, Jason Pittman, Amanda Ku, Jermaine Matthis, Jeffrey Oyeneye, Sherry Thommason, Julie Kappler, Robert Reynolds, Jason Foster, Marcus Williams, Ashley Gray and Janice Moon.