NEWS BRIEFS

Stillo wins award for graduate paper

Stillo wins award for graduate paper

Western Washington University graduate student and Redmond resident Stephanie Stillo won a first-place award in the Best Graduate Paper category at last month’s 2008 Phi Alpha Theta Pacific Northwest Regional Student History Conference at Gonzaga University in Spokane.

Phi Alpha Theta, an honor society for history scholars, promotes the study of history through encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians.

Stillo, a graduate of Cedar Park High School, won for her original research paper “The Auto de Fé and the Visual Reconquest of Sixteenth Century Seville: A Case in Early Modern Spanish Identity Building.”

Her research explores the role of civic identity in popular art, architecture, religious processions and the auto de fé – a ritual of public punishment for condemned heretics during the Spanish Inquisition.

“My experience at the conference was both challenging and rewarding,” said Stillo. “Presenting research, answering questions and being critiqued is an extremely important part of the academic process.”

Stillo, who hopes to graduate next spring, is in her first year in WWU’s History graduate program. Her focuses are in early modern Europe, with a particular interest in Spain and England, and religious history. Currently, Stillo is studying the role of visual culture throughout the early modern world.

SoulFood Books featuring painter

The work of French painter Caroline Salembier will be featured June 1-15 at SoulFood Books, 15748 Redmond Way.

SoulFood presents the dreams, poems, music, art and stories of local talent. Organic coffee is available and you can browse in the gallery at the end of the shop, next to the fireplace.

To learn more about Salembier’s art and her style, visit www.caropint.over-blog.com.

Redmond students honored at ceremony

On May 18, several students from Redmond were honored at the University of Washington’s Search for Young Scholars ceremony. The Washington Search for Young Scholars is a regional talent search for students in grades 5-8. Students qualify by meeting score requirements on standardized tests usually taken at the high school level.

Grand Level recognition was given to Rachel Ainslie of Evergreen Junior High School, Albert Chu of Odle Middle School, Priya Ganesan of International Community School, Amanda Lin of International Community School and Kevin Parker of Redmond Junior High School.

To qualify for Grand Level recognition, seventh graders had to earn scores equal to or greater than 92 percent of 2006 college-bound high school seniors taking the ACT or SAT. Grand Level eighth graders had to earn scores equal to or greater than 96 percent of 2006 college-bound high school seniors taking the ACT or SAT.

Redmond students who received the State Level award included Dillon Baker of The Bear Creek School, Maya and Tara Balakrishnan of Redmond Junior High,

Alisa Billig of The Overlake School, Jeffrey Burge of The Bear Creek School, Jennifer Glerum of Lakeside School and Franklin Shih of Odle Middle School.

State Level recognition for seventh graders is earned by scores equal to or greater than 50 percent of 2006 college-bound high school seniors taking the ACT or SAT. State Level eighth graders had to earn scores equal to or greater than 65 percent of 2006 college-bound high school seniors taking the ACT or SAT.