Soundings (1/24/06)

Student of the Month - George Bowen
Kathy Beaty, from NW Youth Services and volunteer coordinator for Teen Court, introduced our SOM Tiffany Walter, daughter of our own Chuck Walters. Tiffany joined Teen Court as a freshman, and is now a senior at Squalicum HS. She put in countless volunteer hours over the last 4 years. She now has aspirations to become an attorney. Her experience at Teen Court taught her self-confidence and public speaking skills. Teen Court was a wonderful opportunity to see how the court system works. Tiffany is also a volunteer at The Firs (a Christian camp). George presented her a certificate and a check for $100.

Program - Orphalee Smith
Naomi Bann shared her experiences in Nazi-occupied Europe and Auschwitz during the WWII.  She feels impelled to tell her story, to show the results when bigotry and hatred go unchecked, and to refute those who say the Holocaust never happen. Ms. Bann grew up in Budapest, Hungary. Her family first heard of Hitler in 1933 when he came to power. In 1939, Germany invaded Hungary. She was 19 years old. Ms. Bann told the story of how her father was first taken away, then she and her mother and sisters were shipped to Auschwitz in Poland by cattle car. She lost her mother and sisters there, and told of the unspeakable treatment at the hands of the Nazis. Eventually she was shipped to Germany in 1944 with some other Hungarian girls. The Allies soon invaded and liberated them. Thank you, Ms. Bann, for sharing this dark but important piece of history.

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot