News

Taken from www.azschoolsmakeadifference.org:

On May 7th, Presidio High School student Jesse Kolb will receive a Crystal Apple Award from the Metropolitan Education Commission. The award is a fitting tribute to a young man who has dedicated his life to volunteering on behalf of organ donation and improving the quality of life of individual organ transplant recipients.

Kolb was born with Cystic Fibrosis, a disease affecting the lungs and pancreas. He was given only a few weeks to live when he was diagnosed 14 weeks after his birth. Kolb was placed on the national transplant waiting list, and in August, 2002, he became the youngest recipient of a double lung transplant.

Kolb, who says he is happiest while comforting patients and their families awaiting organ transplant surgery, continues to face significant health struggles himself. His continuing health battles, and the time away from school spent addressing them, could have devastating academic consequences at most schools.

Kolb continues to keep pace academically, however, due to Presidio’s “Self Pacing School” curriculum and the attention he receives from his instructors. The Tucson charter school has a 16-to-1 teacher-student ratio, ensuring that all of its students get the individual attention they need.
“All the teachers know me and work with me,” Kolb explained. “They have all been really great and understanding of my unique situation.

“I still get sick sometimes and I miss a lot of school. I’ve had to be in the hospital for long periods of time…They give me the time I need to get my assignments in. They even give me extra time to do things like take tests.”

As part of Presidio’s Self Pacing School curriculum, Kolb and his high school classmates are released at 12:50 pm each day and attend an academic lab until 3:30 pm. There is a teacher available during the lab to assist the students with their assignments. There is also an Academic Lab all day on Saturday, eliminating the need for “home work.”

Kolb particularly credits teacher Joy Barr for helping excel academically despite his medical challenges.

“She has really worked with me and all of her students,” Kolb said. “She teaches Employability Skills which gives us skills for life and teaches us things that will help us get employment. …She makes sure that everyone really understands the material.”

With teachers like Barr and Presidio’s “Self Pacing School” curriculum ensuring Kolb’s academic success, he is free to focus on volunteering on behalf of the Transplant Team of Arizona, the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the Donor Network of Arizona.

The National Coalition on Donations recognized Kobe’s commitment to organ donation advocacy by selecting him to represent them in the 2008 Rose Bowl Parade on the “Donate Life” float.

Candace Loker and Ian Brown received awards for being the first high school students in Pima County to enroll and complete the Joint Technological Education District Pima Community College Program (JTED/PCC) successfully. Candace completed the JTED/PCC Introduction to Interior Design class and Ian Brown completed the Introduction to Business and Accounting course. Both students participated from 8/20/07 to 12/19/07. Additionally, an award was given to Presidio School for its commitment to excellence for being the first high school in Pima County to enroll students into the JTED/PCC program.

Candace Loker is the recipient for the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona Mrs. Rosa Louise Parks Scholarship for 2008-2009. This scholarship was established in 1990 by the City of Tucson Human Relations Commission in honor of Rosa Parks. This fund specifically provides the City of Tucson, high school graduates, scholarships for students planning to attend a two year college ($750 per year) or four year university ($2,000 per year). The Community Foundation of S.A website will be posting the scholarships winners in May.

Sharika Vales won the 2008-2009 YWCA Bright Futures Scholarship (1st year this scholarship was released in Tucson) for Pima Community College. The scholarship is for $2,000 and awarded to females who have demonstrated determination in overcoming an obstacle and who plan to enroll at Pima College the fall of 2008. Sharika has been an active participant of the YWCA Bright Futures program for which she was a facilitator for the “It’s Time To Talk Youth Forum on Racism” and as part of the Bright Futures program, Sharika had a mentor that taught her skills in to be an independent and self-reliant woman.

Jesse Kolb is a Presidio High School Student. Look for him in the Rose Bowl Parade on the AZ Donor Network Float. Also, he will be interviewed by Fox 11 and KVOA Channel 4. Visit this website to see more about this wonderful opportunity!

Sharika Vales (High School Student) is participating in the Arizona Daily Star Voices 100 Degrees Magazine.  This is a paid internship for approximately 9 months for which she is learning to be a writer, interviewer, and photographer for a topic of her choice.  Her article will be printed in June 2008. She is also participating in the YWCA Bright Futures Program for 2007-2008. She has been involved in the YWCA “It’s Time To Talk" Youth Forum.

Jesse Kolb is our state representative for the Arizona Donor Network. Jesse will also be representing the Arizona Donor Network in the 2008 Rose Bowl Parade. He will be on the Donate Life “Life Takes Flight” Float.

Zain Rivard, Nicole Smith, Linnea Zepeda, and Candace Loker successfully completed the Pima College Summer Career Academies Classes. Each student earned 3 college credits and a .5 credit transferred in to Presidio School. Some courses they participated included Aviation and Digital Arts.

Ashlea Cogswell, Gabrielle Cocio, Tina Peper, and Sergio Lespron successfully completed the Summer 2007 University of Arizona Summer Institute for Writing and Thinking Across the Curriculum.

Lance Bommersbach successfully completed the TPD Teen Citizens’ Police Academy. The Teen Citizens’ Police Academy takes place over seven consecutive Saturday’s from September 15 – October 27, 2007 from 8:00am – 4:00pm. It is held at the City of Tucson’s Public Safety Academy at 10,001 South Wilmot Road. The academy is designed to give young people the opportunity to learn about the Tucson Police Department, its operations, and the benefits of law enforcement in our community. Lance participated in classroom instruction, hands-on training, and went on tours and demonstrations. Upon completion, Lance earned Three Pima College credits in the course LEN 030 and a certificate of recognition.

Sharika Vales and Jesse Kolb were recipients of the Optimist Youth Appreciation Awards for overcoming a hardship in their life. These Presidio School students were honored at a Banquet on November 15, 2007 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. The purpose of the Optimist Youth Appreciation is to recognize young people’s talents and contributions; whether it is academically, within their school, community, family, or a personal goal.