Win the chance to light the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree

One Idaho student will be selected by Sen. Mike Crapo to assist in turning on the power to light the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree this year. Idaho’s Payette National Forest will provide this year’s tree which will be placed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and will be lit the week of December 5.

Tradition holds that a student from the state providing the tree serve as a tree lighting helper during a ceremony to formally illuminate it along with the Speaker of the House and other officials. 

Idaho students in grades 1-6 can enter a statewide contest to be selected as the tree lighting helper. Entries will be accepted through Sept. 30.

How it works

Submit an original piece that captures the essence of “An Idaho Mountain Gem” and the importance of national forests.

Samples include:

• Essay or Poem (up to 100 words)
• Song (up to two minutes)
• Video (up to two minutes)
• Artwork, such as drawing, painting, or photograph, or physical structures such as an ornament, sculpture, or 3-D object.

For more information, click here.

Meridian Yea! program accepting applications

The Meridian Chamber is accepting applications for students in grades 6-12 for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). The program is hosted during the school year and guides middle and high school students through launching and running their own business or social movement.

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy teaches students to turn their passions, skills and talents into ideas, and provides instruction on how to pitch that idea, earn funding and launch a real business. Students graduate from the YEA! program as the CEO of their own business.

Meenah Sukasem, CEO of Bkrafts, was the winner of the 2016 Investor Panel event and competed in Rochester, NY in May at the regional semi-finals.

Two information sessions will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 9-10 a.m., and Tuesday, Oct. 4 at New Ventures Lab in downtown Meridian, 33 E Idaho Ave. from 6:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, click here.

Panel discussion: Idaho’s hispanic parents speak out

Bluum, in partnership with Idaho Leadership Institute and Idaho Commission On Hispanic Affairs, is hosting a panel discussion on Monday, Sept. 26 to discuss research about Hispanic families in Idaho. The panel will discuss how parents get information about schools, who they trust for information and how they make learning and school choices for their children.

Panelists

Rebecca DeLeon – Board President, Idaho Leadership Institute
Jason Bransford – Director, Gem Innovation Schools
Mike Vuittonet – Trustee, West Ada School Board
Jim Reed – Superintendent, Catholic Schools of Idaho

The event is 6-8p.m. at Northwest Nazarene University, Helstrom Business Center, Harter Lecture Hall. For more information, click here.

Blumm, is a non-profit organization committed to ensuring Idaho’s children reach their fullest potential by cultivating great leaders and innovative schools.