BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

‘No Suits Allowed’ celebrates 20 years

The Laguna Beach High School Class of 2008 is hosting the 20th Annual “No Suits Allowed” Concert with math teacher Gary Shapiro at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Artists’ Theatre.

The evening featuring students singing and playing musical instruments beside their favorite teachers and staff.

There will also be a pre-show dinner and celebration on Feb. 8 at Romeo Cucina. General tickets for the concert go on sale at 4:30 p.m. before the concert. Tickets are $10 for students and $20 for adults. The event sells out quickly, and there is a six-ticket maximum per person.

To guarantee a seat in the reserved section, purchase advance tickets by contacting Betsy Gosselin at elizabethgosselin@mac.com or by calling (949) 497-9425 by Feb. 3. Tickets are $65 per person, and include the buffet dinner at Romeo Cucina. Patrons may also attend the dinner only for $50 per person.

All proceeds from the show and dinner will benefit the Laguna Beach High School Class of 2008 Safe and Sober Grad Night.

Students may compete for $5,000 scholarship

Junior Achievement and Deloitte have announced the launch of their fourth annual “Excellence through Ethics” essay contest.

To enter, high school seniors must compose an original essay of 500 words or less in response to an ethical dilemma posted on Junior Achievement’s Web site, located at www.ja.org. Entries must be submitted online and will be accepted until March 28.

Youth musical theater workshop scheduled

The Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre is hosting the second annual “Accentuate the Positive” Johnny Mercer Foundation Musical Theatre and Songwriting Workshop on Feb. 9 and 10.

The workshop is open to 8- to 18-year-old students from third to 12th grade for two full days of work with the professional team of teachers in Songwriting, Visual Arts, Musical Direction and Choreography from the Johnny Mercer Foundation.

The cost is $35 per student, payable by cash or check to Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre. The workshop will meet at The Laguna Playhouse Production Center, 23401 South Pointe Dr., Laguna Hills, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Students must commit to participating on both days. A showcase for parents will be held at 4 p.m. Feb. 10.

To register, call Donna Inglima at (949) 497-2787, ext. 202, or e-mail donna@lagunaplayhouse.com.

Scholarship sponsors sought at high school

The Laguna Beach High School Scholarship Foundation is seeking sponsors for scholarships for deserving students.

The foundation has provided financial assistance to countless students. It is composed of more than 30 LBHS staff, parents, and community members, and has developed and grown from the initial 34 scholarships to more than 241 awards presented to 96 seniors in the 2007 graduating class.

The scholarships totaled an impressive $197,000, and were made possible through generous gifts from 123 businesses, community organizations, service clubs, educational organizations, individuals, families, and memorial funds.

In 1988, the foundation became a nonprofit affiliate chapter of Dollars for Scholars, which is a program of the Citizen’s Scholarship Foundation of America.

Scholarship donations can be for one year, an annual giving, or an endowed scholarship, which continues in perpetuity.

The 2008 Laguna Beach High School scholarship awards will be announced at the June 4 Honors Convocation.

For more information on becoming a scholarship sponsor or recipient, call program coordinator Jeannie Harrell at (949) 497-7750 x 212, or foundation president Marge Earl at (949) 494-4132.

College names new board members

Laguna College of Art & Design has announced the election of six new members to its Board of Trustees this year.

Geoffrey LePlastrier is President of the Le Plastrier Development Consulting Group in Irvine, specializing in development, investment advising, and real estate and construction management consulting. LePlastrier is a Newport Beach resident who has served as chairman of the Pacific Art Foundation, board member of the Laguna Art Museum, advisory council member of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, director of the Tri-County Chapter of the Leukemia Society of America, and chairman of Art Spaces Irvine.

Richard Schwarzstein is the founder of a Newport Beach law firm specializing in corporate, securities and international law. He has been an Orange County Philharmonic Society board member since 1978, and has served as its president and chairman.

Gerard Basil Stripling is a Laguna Beach artist who has worked in bronze. Stripling has exhibited at the Festival of Arts. His sculptures are included in many significant collections, both public and private.

Stevan Gromet is the principal of Gromet & Associates, a law firm located in Irvine.

Gromet has been practicing real estate law since 1980, and has been a resident of Laguna Beach since 1986. He has served local organizations, including providing pro-bono work and serving as a member of the board of directors for Laguna Beach Live!.

Marla Noel is president and board member of Fairhaven Memorial Park.

She has served on various boards, including ARC, an organization for the developmentally disabled in Orange County, and the Santa Ana Rotary Club.

Lisa Dallendorfer has nearly 20 years of experience with The Walt Disney Company.

She had a career as an art educator and administrator with the Capistrano Unified School District and also taught at El Camino College and Saddleback College.

She lives in Laguna Beach