Student Who Makes a Difference Honored

Thousands of miles away from her own home in Northridge, Sarvenaz Zand helps other Johns Hopkins University students with homesickness as a peer counselor.

“Students stop by to just hang out, get a piece of candy and talk about their problems,” Zand, 21, said of her job as director of A Place to Talk on the Baltimore campus.

Now Zand, a biomedical engineering major, is one of 20 students selected from 828 undergraduates in the U.S. who were nominated by their schools for the All-USA College Academic First Team, sponsored by USA Today.

Zand was selectedboth for her 3.86 GPA and for making a difference in the lives of college students troubled with homesickness, roommate disputes, substance abuse--even thoughts of suicide. “This is the best way I can make a difference in people’s lives,” she said.

The All-Star students--11 men and nine women--received $2,500 and were recognized last month at a reception held at the newspaper’s headquarters in Arlington, Va.

“Being near these students was very humbling,” Zand said of the other selected students, many of whom are Rhodes scholars.

“I felt very touched and honored,” she said, adding that the group pulled an all-nighter talking and hopes to stay in touch through e-mail.

KUDOS

Future animators:Students from Northridge Middle School were recognized by animation and cartoon professionals for their anti-smoking cartoon, called “The Dance,” at a recent ceremony at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

The 30-second animated cartoon was created by seventh-graders from the school’s health class, with the help of AnimAction--a Hollywood-based animation workshop for children.

For a decade, AnimAction has worked with Los Angeles schools producing anti-smoking cartoons and judging them for competition. The program is funded by Proposition 99, the 25-cents-a-pack cigarette tax passed by California voters in 1988.

“The Dance” shows a boy getting passed over for a dance with a pretty girl because of his tobacco-stained teeth. Other student cartoons in the competition show the harmful effects of smoking on fetuses, how smoking can start fires and the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Five winning cartoons from the competition will be aired on national children’s networks--including the Kids’ WB Network and Cartoon Network--throughout the year, according to Clifford Cohen, AnimAction founder.

Double check: Imagine Antelope Valley College math professor Richard Sieger’s surprise when Christopher Taylor, 17, of Newhall’s Hart High School aced a math quiz that had some of Sieger’s colleagues stumped.

Though he earned a perfect score, Christopher says the test was no walk in the park for him, either. He concedes that the 1 1/2-hour test--a mix of algebra, geometry and trigonometry--was a real brain teaser.

“I really couldn’t think straight for the rest of the day,” he said.

Christopher beat out students from 13 area high schools to capture top honors in the 20th annual Mathematics Field Day competition, sponsored by the college. The last time a student scored perfectly on the test was in 1992.

EVENTS

Heart skipping:One girl summed it up this way: “It was the best day at school ever.”

The entire student body of Haynes Elementary School in West Hills were jumping, skipping and double-Dutch jump-roping recently to raise $2,000 for the American Heart Assn. About 375 kids joined in on the 45-minute jump marathon on the school’s blacktop. “Jump” by Van Halen blared in the background.

“We wanted to show people that jumping rope can help you not get heart disease,” said Spring Fischbeck, 9, whose specialty is fast jumping called “Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

“Scientists can either find a cure [for heart disease],” she said, “or people can just keep jumping rope.”

Summer music: The Kadima Conservatory of Music will host a music seminar for students ages 6 to 14, teaching string, wind, brass and percussion, from June 27 through July 27 at Valley College, 5800 Fulton Ave., Valley Glen. Space is limited to the first 40 applicants. Those interested may call (818) 780-9596.

END NOTE

The Agoura High School Co-Ed Cheer team placed sixth nationally in the Universal Cheerleader Assn.-ESPN competition held in Orlando, Fla.

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