Peninsula People
Helping patients
Chuck Smalley, left, presents $5,000 from the Kenai Elks Lodge No. 2425 to Central Peninsula General Hospital Chief Executive Officer David Gilbreath and Lucie Stanton, CPGH social worker, for the hospital's patient assistance fund. The donation was made from proceeds raised at the Elks' benefit concert in December and will help provide medication and travel assistance to patients in need.
Vadla finalist in Spirit of Youth
Kaitlin Vadla of Soldotna been chosen as a 2003 finalist in the environmental category of the Spirit of Youth awards.
Finalists were selected by the Spirit of Youth Teen Action Council, from 159 nominations received from locations throughout the state. Vadla was chosen by her peers for designing a Web site about the Kenai flood plain intended to increase awareness among property owners about the hazards of developing in a flood plain area.
Spirit of Youth recognizes youth for doing good things in their communities. Anyone can nominate a teen who inspires them. For more information or to nominate a teen, visit www.spiritofyouth. org. Nominations for the 2004 awards are now being accepted.
Patriotic Art Program winners announced
Winners for the National American Creative Patriotic Art Program recently were announced. Soldotna High School students Kaitlin Vadla, Brandi Denra and Tess Caswell were first, second and third, respectively.
Vadla's entry will be submitted to the statewide competition, which will be held in April.
Students from three area high schools participated this year with first-, second- and third-place winners receiving $100, $75 and $50, respectively. The following students received awards: for Kenai Central High School, Kaitlin R. Walker, first place, and April Nyquist, second place; for Skyview High School, Karlee Martin, first place, Gabby Merry, second place, and Emily Berezin, third place; for SoHi, Vadla, first, Denra, second, and Caswell, third.
All entries are on display at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center through January.