Local teachers were given a VIP Educator Tour of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Wednesday to kick off the school year.
Jan Dietrich, school service coordinator for the zoo, said the tour was designed to put in perspective how the zoo can enhance teachers' science, social studies and math curriculum.
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Hokyoung Kim (left) and Jackie Wofford, teachers at Garden Montessori in Anderson Township, examine an Eastern Indigo snake held by Kate Aug, an educator at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
(Craig Ruttle photo)
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"The tour targets certain areas, but the zoo can be used to teach anything," she said.
The tour also featured birds from the Great American Wings of Wonder Bird Show and North American mountain lion cubs.
The zoo's outreach program that brings animals to the classrooms impressed Miriam Kaeser, assistant superintendent of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
"This program is great at a time when schools don't have money to take kids to the zoo,'' she said.
Hoops overseas
Pierre Wooten, a Winton Woods High School basketball standout and the 2003 Big South Scholar-Athlete of year, is headed for Dombovar, Hungary, to play on that city's basketball team.
Wooten, 23, is the son of Elton and Sandra Wooten of Forest Park. He participated in the Denver Nuggets Rookie/Free Agent camp in July and played on the Nuggets' Summer Pro League in Long Beach, Cal., July 12-17.
"I am excited about going to Hungary," Wooten said. "This has been a blessing."
He was a point guard at Winton Woods and Winthrop University.
Parks get grant
A $25,000 grant from retailer Target to the Hamilton County Park District will be used to improve Halloween Nights in the parks, said Jim Breitenbach, park district special project manager.
ACADEMIC ALL-STARS
Makes dean's lists
Beth Coakley was named to the fall and spring semester dean's lists at Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky.
The graduate of Cincinnati Christian School is the daughter of Maggie Coakley of White Oak.
Society president
Jeremy Bridgman, a junior studying public relations and business administration at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, was elected the 2003-04 national president of the Public Relations Student Society of America.
He is a Lakota East High School graduate from West Chester Township.
Scholars' group
The following joined the National Society of Collegiate Scholars:
Jennifer Kodros, Indiana University, daughter of Lakme and Jim Kodros of Liberty Township; Elizabeth Miller, Ohio State University, daughter of Terry and Dick Miller of Maineville; Lauren Boudreau, of Clermont County, at College of William and Mary; Caroline Cochran, of Hamilton, at University of Dayton; Steven Rigdon, son of Marylis and Bob Rigdon of Mason, at Ohio State University; and Sarah Wade, of Anderson Township, at Boston University.
Submissions: Call 755-4165.
OUR KIDS
Indian Hill senior leads actor group
Thousands of high school students aspiring to be actors and actresses are led by an Indian High School senior.
Zack Stewart is chairman of the International Thespian Society which represents about 30,000 members across the country.
Zack said the group has about 700 members in Cincinnati.
"One of our biggest events each year is an AIDS benefit rally we sponsor," Zack said. "This year the benefit was held at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln."
Zack, 17, said he plans to major in theater, but doesn't know where he'll go from there.
"Right now I am really excited about our group celebrating our 75th anniversary next year," Zack said.
He is the son of Robert and Mary Stewart, Kenwood.
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