Educators

Costa Mesa resident Lauren Melissa Thompson, 17, was selected as a semifinalist in the jazz/modern dance category of the Spotlight Awards program of the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County. Thompson, a senior at Orange County High School of the Arts, is now competing to become a finalist. The awards have six performance categories: ballet, jazz/modern dance, classical voice, nonclassical voice, classical instrumental music and jazz instrumental music.

Gay Geiser-Sandoval When I was 18 years old, teens couldn't vote. At that time, the Vietnam War was going on. There was fury among the young men, who were told that they were old enough to die for their country, but not old enough to vote for the elected representatives that were deciding to send them there. Ever since I turned 21, I have voted in every election. My chosen candidates and proposals have not always won, but I added my voice to the American process.

OCC's speech and debate team finished second out of 65 schools at the Sunset Cliffs Classic held Feb. 4-6 in San Diego County. "There were 65 schools from throughout the country at the competition," said OCC coach Georgie Monahan. "The large field included more than 800 individual entries and 160 debate teams. It'll be the biggest tournament in the country this year, next to the nationals." "It was big and busy and fun, and very much a learning experience for us," Monahan added.