Donations cover conference cost for Carson Highs student

Kaileen Bachman, 15, will be going to the National Youth Leadership Conference on Medicine this summer.

After enough donations poured in to cover the cost of the conference, Kaileen got online and submitted her application, beating the April 17 deadline.

"She can't believe she's going," said her mother Shawneen.

Students are accepted into the program by nomination only and Kaileen described it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Kaileen is now waiting to hear about the location she'll be headed - most likely Chicago or Atlanta, since her first choice of Boston was full.

The Bachmans needed $2,200 for Kaileen to go, which covers nearly everything. Someone has volunteered to pay airfare.

Donations totaling $1,100 came from several members of The Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada, where Kaileen is a member and on the leadership team; $400 from Carson Surgical Group, where Shawneen works; $300 from owner Robert Stewart of Ponderosa Plumbing; $100 from Shannon Kemp of Alabama, who read the story online; $200 from Mickey Clapp and Teri Fontaine, a couple from Southern California; $100 from family friends Chrissy and Randy Miller from Highland, Calif.; and $100 each from Carson City residents Joan Drake and Pamela Fisher.

"Joan said she decided to give money because her son is in sports medicine," Shawneen said. "And Pam said when she read the story online she wanted to donate, and said if there was anything else needed to write to her."

Mariah Archer called from Boston to say she would donate, too. She identified herself as a Douglas High School graduate who had once attended the same conference.

Chance to win $75 in CHS contest

This month, Carson High School's Stand Tall Don't Fall Club, a group of students with a focus on preventing underage drinking, is sponsoring an essay, photo and visual-arts contest for Alcohol Awareness Month, which is this month.

Awards of $75, donated by the high school's parent-teacher-student association, will be given to the winners of each category.

The topic is "How alcohol use/abuse has affected my life."

Students in grades 9-12 should submit a two-page essay, a photograph or a visual-arts project depicting the theme.

Entries are due April 28 and can be submitted to Michelle Quintero, Room 305 in the Tech Center at Carson High School. Contact Linda Lang at 882-6674 or dlhlang@pyramid.net for more information.

Book collection

The Ormsby County Education Association is seeking donations of books for its annual book drive.

The books will be placed in doctors' offices, youth service agencies and even restaurants. Donations can be dropped off at the Gleason Building at 604 W. Musser St. or any school and should be appropriate for kindergarten through 12th-grade.

Undergraduate symposium this week at UNR

The first Nevada Undergraduate Research Symposium is scheduled April 12-13 at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Some 40 outstanding undergraduates from across the state will represent their findings, which range in various areas of study.

One such research project is from computer science student Fares Qeadean, who is working students Jim Motta and Siraj Malik on Project "goSmart," a computer interface program allowing future users to wirelessly control, schedule, customize, and maintain many of the appliances in their home.

"'Project 'goSmart' will simplify your lifestyle, fulfilling the growing interest in Smarthomes," Qeadan said. "Going wireless and controlling devices within a house using your home computer will provide a sense of security, making home management easier. This project is both an academic accomplishment and a commercial promise."

The symposium features 42 oral and poster presentations, 14 of which will be by UNLV students. A book of the abstracts and a CD/ROM of accepted articles will be distributed to attendees.

-- Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.