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Students Recognized In National Scholarship Program

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KINGSPORT ‚¬ Four Dobyns-Bennett High School students have been named as semi-finalists for the 2010 National Merit Scholarship program.
Those named as National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists are Matthew Tate Dougan, son of Todd and Jennifer Dougan; Allison Elizabeth Jack, daughter of Bob and Laura Jack; Eric Chase Lyons, son of Steve and Lisa Lyons; and Aditya Suresh, son of Arun and Raji Suresh. These four students will compete with the top high school students in the nation for some 7,000 Merit Scholarship awards worth more than $33 million.

In September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically able young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools.‚  To be considered for a Merit Scholarship Award, semi-finalists must advance to the finalist level of the competition by fulfilling several requirements. About 90 percent of the semi-finalists are expected to attain finalist standing and approximately half of the finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners.

The nationwide pool of semi-finalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. More than 1.5 million juniors in nearly 21,000 high schools entered the 2010 National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) which serves as an initial screening of program entrants.

In addition, 10 Dobyns-Bennett students were named 2010 National Merit Commended Students for their outstanding performance on the PSAT. Those students include Candace Dale Ballard, daughter of Joseph Falardeau and Georgette Ballard; Elizabeth Camille Browning, daughter of Jerry and Christine Browning; Julie Madsen Gilmer, daughter of John and Karen Gilmer; Katherine Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Bob and Beth Jones; Timothy Brett Mallinak, son of Timothy and Debra Mallinak; Jason Alexander Michael, son of Gary and Jule Michael; Gabriella Marie Provenzano, daughter of Daniel and Martha Provenzano; Wilson Taylor Raines, son of Chris and Allyson Raines; Jiten Solanki, son of Chandra and Bharti Solanki; and Elizabeth Marie Tennant, daughter of Brent and Mary Tennant.

For more information on the National Merit Scholarship, please contact the Dobyns-Bennett High School Counseling Office at (423) 378-8409.

-KCS-

Leadership Kingsport News

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KINGSPORT ‚¬ Each year, Leadership Kingsport continues to be successful in providing opportunities for selected class participants to improve and enhance the community of which they live. Were asking for your help once again to make this years experience the most rewarding ever for the 2009-2010 class.

An important part of Leadership Kingsport is each participants involvement in a Community Impact Project. These projects require class members to work with a select number of community organizations in an effort to address specific needs. Through collaborative study, recommendations are developed and presented to the community organizations during the last class day of the yearlong training program.

This years class is actively seeking projects, which will be beneficial to the selected organization and the community at large.

Deadline to submit application is November 18, 2009.

Approximately four to five projects will be selected for this years study, with the selection being based on the potential positive impact to the organization and community.‚  To receive an application contact Vickie Snodgrass, Director of Leadership, Kingsport Chamber, 392-8816, vsnodgrass@kingsportchamber.org.

Are you ready for Trunk or Treat?

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Halloween is here and that means it is time for this years Trunk or Treat
family gathering, where kids are encouraged to stroll downtown in
search of goodies and fun. Parents are asked to decorate the trunks of
their cars and park on Broad Street to show their Halloween spirit. There will be bard specials and special
events occurring throughout the downtown area before and after Trunk or
Treat, so come ready to enjoy yourselves!

We need some help with getting bodies for the "trunk or treat"‚  There is no charge to participate. There is a cash prize for the best trunk. Event is from 5:30 till 7:30. Times News and go-tricities is working to make this Halloween the best in the Tri Cities. We need your help to promote Halloween in Kingsport. Please send this out to your respective lists. Thanks for your support. For
more information on the Trunk or Treat extravaganza, go to GoTriCities.tv
and register to be involved

To sign up for this event click here.

Public invited to add input to proposed Library expansion project

Library-News

KINGSPORT – Schematic design studies are underway for a proposed Public Library renovation and expansion, and as part of that work, project architects will host a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2009 to gather local input on how the project should shape up.

Despite the electronic revolution, traditional printed materials are here to stay, Library Manager Helen Whittaker said Monday. It is true that our highest demand area is for computers, and we are seeing a real surge in downloadable audio books and electronic books (eBooks).

But the printed word is not going away, and we do struggle with cramped shelf space. As a full service library, we also have titles in other formats that require shelf space, like compact discs and DVDs, and we are seeing a boom in the use of performance and study areas.

Library Planning Associates consultant Anders Dahlgren has already completed a thorough examination of library needs after four visits involving more than 60 members of the community and library staff.

Based on that review, Dahlgren found need for a larger collection space for books and materials, more archive space, a separate childrens story time room, separate teen area, a 40-person computer lab suitable for public classes, a quiet study room, an expanded auditorium to accommodate up to 200 persons, and a cafĩ and Friends gift store.

Now, Kingsport has retained PSA-Dewberry and Cain Rash West Architects of Kingsport to do a feasibility study and schematic design, evaluating facility options that make sense on a tight budget.

We have a great team in place, with PSA-Dewberry having designed 250 libraries with a dedicated architectural team focusing solely on libraries, Whittaker said. They are adept in adaptive reuse of historic buildings, including renovations and additions, as well as new green-field construction, all within a framework of energy efficiency to save on long-term energy costs. We look forward to hearing from our customers about what features we need to include as we put together a 3-D model of what this project could look like.

Kingsport City Schools To Offer Tutoring Training Session

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KINGSPORT ‚¬ Kingsport City Schools will offer a volunteer/tutor training session designed to help volunteers and tutors who work with elementary children in either literacy or math.

The training session will be held Tuesday, October 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Elementary School library. Participants will learn strategies to assist students as they complete homework assignments and to encourage students to do their best work.

Pre-registration is requested by Monday, October 26. For more information or to register for the training session, contact Kingsport City Schools Math Coordinator Pam Stidham at (423) 378-2143 or Kingsport City Schools Literacy Coordinator Holly Flora at (423) 378-2150.

KOSBE wins Award to provide technical services to rural businesses

KOSBE wins $30,000 award to provide technical services to rural
businesses in and around the Kingsport area. For more information
contact KOSBE at the Kingsport Chamber 423-392-8800.

KCS 2010-11 School Calendar Survey Now Available

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KINGSPORT – Kingsport City Schools is offering staff, parents and students the opportunity to express their preferences for the 2010-2011 school calendar through an online survey.

The survey allows parents, staff and students the opportunity to submit
input regarding the start of school, length of fall break and other
issues related to the school year. Additional questions have been added
this year to gauge interest in alternative school calendars, including
non-traditional calendars, extended school days and a lengthened school
year.

The survey, featured on the Kingsport City Schools website at www.k12k.com, allows parents, staff and students the opportunity to submit input regarding the start of school, length of fall break and other issues related to the school year. Additional questions have been added this year to gauge interest in alternative school calendars, including non-traditional calendars, extended school days and a lengthened school year.

The Kingsport Board of Education will consider the results of the survey during their November 19, 2009 work session. The Board is expected to make a decision on the final school calendar during their December 3, 2009 school board meeting. Survey results will be collected until Friday, November 13. A computer will be made available at each school for parents to fill out the survey if they do not have access to a home computer.

For more information on the school calendar survey, please contact the Kingsport City Schools Community Relations Office at (423) 378-2123.

To take the survey click here.

Support the Sullivan County Animal Shelter! Vote for Lucy!

Sullivan County Animal Shelter has entered Lucy into the Cutest
Dog Competition. The grand prize is $1 Million dollars of which all the
proceeds will go towards helping the animal shelter continue its
mission. We need your help, please click the picture on the right of
Lucy to vote. You can vote once per DAY, so try and click the link
everyday. The content will last 12 weeks starting August 1st. Thanks
for your support.
Stay informed on this, follow us on Twitter @DiscoverKPT.

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee