Aurora Times
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East Aurora 131 nominates student board members
AURORA – East Aurora High School seniors Angel Chavez and Rita Oceguera have been nominated to be student members of the Board of Education for the 2013-2014 school year. Chavez is a section leader for the East Aurora Marching Band, as well as a member of the Tech Club, mathletes, German Honor Society and Science Honor Society. He has been a member of the Aurora American Legion Band for the past three years. He is ranked first in his class. In his application, Chavez said he wants to be a student board member so he can have a part in addressing issues that af? fect the student body. “I want to be directly involved in this positive change, and I believe I have the responsibility and credibility to help these students get their voices heard,” Chavez wrote. “I want to be part of something great just like everyone else, and I want that something great to be East Aurora School District 131.” Chavez’s teachers praised him as confi? dent and focused, with an infectious per? sonality. “Angel is a natural thinker and problem solver, which enables him to contribute to class in a positive manner,” said East Aurora social studies teacher Kelly Hills. As a sophomore, Oceguera was the cap? tain of the girls’ color guard team for the
ROTC. She plays on the varsity soccer and volleyball teams. She was a member of the student council, National Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society and Athletic Honors Society. She is ranked fifth in her class. “I want to be a representative of all the students who are too shy, as I once was, and allow them to speak their opinions concerning our school through my voice and with my voice,” Oceguera wrote in her application for the position. Oceguera’s teachers called her creative, articulate, imaginative. “The once-quiet girl has evolved into an amazing student with great capabilities to accomplish her goals,” wrote East Au? rora High School Spanish and literature teacher Guillermo Pedroni. “Rita will not let obstacles stand in the way of her aspirations.” Both students are expected to be seated at the next school board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013. The school board meets at the Thomas McKnight School Service Center, 417 Fifth Street, Aurora. Chavez and Oceguera will attend the twice-monthly board meetings. The stu? dents will serve as advisory, non-voting members of the school board for one year. They will give the board a student per? spective in discussions. They will report to the board about student activities, and report to the student council on behalf of the board. The student board members do not par? ticipate in executive sessions, unless di? rected by the board.
Racers will run, climb, slide, pull, crawl – whatever it takes – to escape the living dead (above) at the Zombie Invasion 5K on Sept. 21 at Blackberry Farm.
Blackberry Farm hosts Zombie Invasion 5K on Sept. 21
AURORA – The Zombie Invasion 5K will invade Blackberr y Farm on Saturday, Sept. 21, where a “race for sur? vival” will spread across the grounds as darkness descends. Beginning at 5 p.m., this running event is a whole different race. Participants will not only run a 5K, but will be forced to scurry through a sea of zombies and a minefield of obstacles. “You’re not just running… you’re run? ning to escape,” said race organizer Anna Kish of the Fox Valley Park District. “Zombies rise from everywhere like the living dead, and there are obstacles at ev? ery turn. It’s a race for survival.” Three different levels of participation are available – racers, zombies and specta? tors. Racers will wear a three-flagged belt, hoping to cover the 5K in the fastest time and finish “alive” with at least one flag. Or, participants can sign up as Stumbler zombies (slow movers who haunt and horrify racers) or Chaser zombies (predators whose aim is to snatch racers’ flags). Afterward, racers and zombies will come together to enjoy live entertainment, food, beer, wine and assorted beverages around a bonfire.
Registration ends Sept. 12. Sign up on? line at www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org or in person at any Park District communi? ty center. For groups of four or more, each entrant receives a $5 discount.