Valley student heads to youth leadership forum

A Wasilla High School student is in Phoenix this week, learning about what it takes to succeed in the medical field.

Chase Korsmo, a senior-to-be at Wasilla High School, is attending the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine. The forum started Sunday and goes through July 1, in both Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz. Korsmo is one of 350 students who will attend the forum, including at least one other student from the Valley, Rebecca Jeffers of Palmer.

Korsmo will be introduced to a variety of concepts in public health, medical ethics, research and general practice and other topics.

The 10-day forum is designed to introduce young students to national leaders in various fields. Korsmo will get to meet and talk to researchers, surgeons, scientists and medical educators.

Korsmo and his fellow students will even be presented a fictional patient's case history, and they must diagnose and develop a treatment plan.

There are youth leadership forums on a number of different topics, including medicine and law.

Two Valley students were recently awarded one a top scholarship.

Evelyn Adams, of Colony High School, and Calvin Kenley of Palmer High School were awarded the 2003 Warren N. Cuddy Memorial scholarships from the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation and the First National Bank.

The Alaska National Petite Pageant/Pre-Teen Talent program was held last weekend in Anchorage. It is the first nationwide pageant for young girls that stresses academics, personality, interview skills, poise/appearance with optional talent categories.

Petite finalists were Jessica Buckmeier and Taylor Buckmeier of Anchorage; Natasha Pitre and Katrina Stratton of Palmer; and Amanda Roberts of Valdez.

Finalists in the Pre-Teen division were Sydney Cain, Jessica Randolph and Kayli Thompson of Anchorage; Amber Carter, Gerriann Kruger and Sabrina Stratton of Palmer; Rose Hardman of Eagle River; and Angelina Klapperich, Seaira Reno and Lina Sharach of Wasilla.

A complete list of pageant winners will appear at a later date.

The 2003 titleholders will represent Alaska at the National Pageant, which will be held in Orlando, Fla., in November.

Top students

SARAH TEEL has been named to the Randolph-Macon Woman's College dean's list for the 2003 spring semester.

BENJAMIN DELMAS SCHARRER recently graduated from The Phelps School in Malvern, Pa. While attending The Phelps School, he participated in soccer, cross-country, varsity wrestling, fitness and gardening. He also received his Phelps "P" pin.

JULIE ANN JONES, of Palmer, was named to the Mary Baldwin College spring honors list, which requires students to maintain a grade-point average of between 3.75 and a perfect 4.0.

Jones is on track to graduate in 2006. She is the daughter of Norman Jones of Palmer.