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GerberElementary School's 6th grade class is pictured during a camping trip to Whis- keytown Environmen- tal School. Students spent a week attending this camp from May 18-22. The camp is designed to introduce students to environ- mental science and to learn about the natural habitat around them. The class was able to attend thanks to many generous donations from the community. GERBER ENVIRONMENTAL CAMP COURTESYPHOTO COURTESY PHOTO Berrendos SERRF students Sierra and Savannah Hoover show off their leadership skills as they mentor the younger students from Berrendos State Preschool. BERRENDOS MENTOR LESSONS COURTESY PHOTO Mercy High School senior William Gentry is the recipient of the 2014-2015CIF Farmers Scholar Athlete of the Year. Only two students were recognized for this honor in the entire North Section. Gentry has a 4.25GPA, participated in four varsity sports at Mercy, was the lead in Phantom of the Opera and has performed more than 500hours of community service. He is an Eagle Scout. He was honored May 20at Butte Creek Country Club in Chico and received a $2,000scholarship. MERCY HIGH California State Univer- sity, Chico's summer ori- entation program begins Tuesday, June 9, with the first of 23 daylong sessions aimed at easing new stu- dents' transition to univer- sity life. During orientation, incoming freshmen and transfer students pair up with faculty in their ma- jor for help choosing and registering for courses. They are introduced to important facets of cam- pus life, including the Chico State Career Cen- ter, study abroad pro- grams, financial aid of- fices, service opportu- nities and the Student Learning Center. "It's a really valuable ex- perience and can help make the transition to university life that much easier," said coordinator and adviser Re- becca Berner. Distinct programs are offered for incom- ing freshman and trans- fer students, and sessions are distinguished by ma- jor. In addition to aca- demics, students explore campus values like civic engagement, sustainabil- ity and diversity through activities led by peer ad- visers. A separate program for parents and guests, of- fered concurrently, pro- vides information and resources to help them support their student throughout his or her years at CSU, Chico. Berner said for the third consecutive year the univer- sity will offer a session for Spanish-speaking parents and guests July 20. All stu- dent programs are offered in English. Orientation is not a re- quirement for new students but is recommended, Ber- ner said. Last year, about 90 percent of incoming freshmen and 75 percent of transfer students partic- ipated. Sessions run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday with check-in starting at 8 a.m. To learn more, visit http://ems. csuchico.edu/AAP/Sum- merOrientation/Informa- tion/home.html. CHICO STATE Summer orientation for new students starts June 9 Findusonline! Scott Alsteen from Red Bluff earned his Master of Science criminal justice, corrections, magna cum laude, and is a member of the National Criminal Jus- tice Honor Society, Alpha Phi Sigma, from Kaplan University, Chicago, Illi- nois. Alsteen graduated with a grade point average of 3.73. Alsteen acquired his Bachelor of Science degree in law enforcement, magna cum laude, from American Intercontinental Univer- sity in Chicago in July 2012, with a grade point average of 3.74. He was on the dean's list for the entire time that he was enrolled. Alsteen also has an Asso- ciate of Arts in business ad- ministration from AIU that he acquired in July 2010. He will be receiving his mas- ter's during a June 5 com- mencement. Kaplan is one of the lead- ing academic universities in the nation for law en- forcement, corrections and homeland security. GRADUATE Al st ee n ea rn s ma st er 's in criminal justice PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. TheAssociatedPress LOS ANGELES A coali- tion of political leaders, businesses and academ- ics is teaming up to build a roadmap for improving early education in Cali- fornia. The Right Start Commission will work to address health and learning gaps for chil- dren from birth to age 5. Early education is widely considered piv- otal for preparing chil- dren for success in school and helping re- duce long-standing achievement gaps. Work by the group, which includes former U.S. Rep. George Miller and Apple Vice President Lisa Jackson, will begin with an independent re- port expected this fall. It will list recommenda- tions to modernize Cal- ifornia's early childhood services. Miller says current piecemeal approaches to early education have resulted in "huge gaps" in physical and cogni- tive development oppor- tunities. A recent study says California's state-funded pre-K program serves just 18 percent of all 4-year-old children. CALIFORNIA Co al it io n se ek s to transform early education EDUCATION ยป redbluffdailynews.com Friday, May 29, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6