Davis High student, teacher earn national honors

Grace Davis High student Nooralhuda Witwit and reading teacher Victor Soria were named 2017 National 180 Award winners, which recognize 15 children and five educators across the United States each year. In its 11th year, the program honors students who, along with the help of their remarkable teachers, have learned to read and comprehend math skills.

The student award rewards youths for overcoming significant challenges and beating the odds to become thriving, successful learners. Witwit came to California in 2012 with her family after fleeing Iraq for safety in a refugee camp. She enrolled in the Language Institute at Grace M. Davis High School, and now is enrolled in college prep and advanced placement classes with plans to attend Sacramento State University in the fall.

Soria, an educator aware winner, teaches English learners who have been in the United States for less than four years and have flourished under his tutelage.

LearningQuest gets grant from Dollar General

LearningQuest received a $7,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and plans to use the funding to help people prepare to take the high school equivalency exam, LearningQuest Executive Director Karen Williams said. The grant is part of $7.5 million given to 900 schools, nonprofits and other organizations in 44 states where Dollar General stores exist. It has given more than $135 million that has assisted 8.6 million people since the foundation’s inception in 1993.

High school students get leadership scholarships

Thirty high school students received $500 scholarships for graduating from the Stanislaus County Office of Education’s Prevention Programs Department’s Leadership Academy.

Graduates included: Jaisen Albor of Riverbank; Emma Baily of Gregori; Annika Blom of Modesto High; Hailey Brown of Oakdale; Sydney Chiesa of Turlock High; Yulianna Cisneros of Enochs; Hollie Collins of Denair; Brandon Cologgi of Gregori; Rachel Day of Turlock High; Alexa Duarte of Waterford; Lexi Fontes of Central Catholic; Timea Friesen of Waterford; Joseph Gardella of Enochs; Amy Holliday of Ceres; Surajeep Jhutti, Pitman High in Turlock; Molly Layman of Big Valley Christian; Sarah Mak of Gregori; Nicholas Mendez of Downey High; Nick O’Brien of Central Catholic; Ignacio Ochoa of Ceres High; Emily Reynoso of Valley Charter; Grace Roseman of Beyer; Alyssa Sawyer of Hughson; Mandi Soria of Johansen; Emily Stubbert of Big Valley Christian; Tyler Tam of Enochs; Sarah Truxton of Central Catholic; Baely Urban of Big Valley Christian; Alexa Valladolid of Waterford; and Maya Villanueva of Modesto Christian.

Four locals at Delta Kappa Gamma convention

Susan Shewmake, Charlene Griffin, Gloria Bracco, and Kaye Osborn, recently returned from the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International California State Convention in Los Angeles. Shewmake exhibited her sewing items, Griffin was among the speakers, Bracco introduced the Distinguished Service to the State of California Award recipient and Osborn went as president of the local Epsilon Nu Chapter of which Jennifer James and Shannon Cato recently became members. Delta Kappa Gamma is a professional honor society of key woman educators and is found worldwide. For further information contact: dkgcalifornia.org

This story was originally published May 20, 2017 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Davis High student, teacher earn national honors."