This morning National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) named two Kent and one Covington high school students as semifinalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program:

- Kyle A. Woo, Kentlake High School

- Patricia Galvez, Kentridge High School

- Caleb Eades, Tahoma High School

These students are among 16,000 semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. From this pool of high school seniors, 8,300 scholarships worth more than $34 million will be awarded next spring. Congratulations to these local students on their incredible achievement!

In this weekend’s issue of the Kent Reporter, journalist Steve Hunter reports that Darren Motamedy, a popular Kent-based jazz musician and elementary school band teacher, is moving to Las Vegas. He started searching for a job 18 months ago when it seemed imminent that the Kent School District would soon be cutting school band programs from the budget. Although KSD offered him a teaching position at the middle and high school levels here, Motamedy and his family had already made the decision to move to Las Vegas where Motamedy had accepted a teaching position.

A Kentridge High School graduate, the 51-year-old Motamedy is a community favorite. He has won a Golden Apple award in 2009 for his teaching in Kent schools and was named Teacher of the Year by the Kent School District in 2008.  He has also won awards for his work as a composer and jazz musician. Though he plays a number of instruments, he is best known locally as a saxophonist and jazz musician.

One of Motamedy’s final performances in Kent will take place this Thursday, June 24 at the free Evening of Jazz and Art event at Kent Senior Center.

Having interviewed Motamedy several times along with his music students, I anticipate that his move out of the community will be a big loss to our cultural arts programs as well as to his students. There is no doubt, however, that he will be a success wherever he travels. Best of luck to you, Darren, and to your family! You will be missed!

File photo by Dana Neuts, February 2009

Congratulations to all of Kent’s graduating seniors! Here are a few of the local ceremonies planned.

June 10:

Kent Phoenix Academy (7 pm)
11000 SE 264th St., Kent

June 11:

Kent Mountain View Academy (6 pm)
Kent-Meridian HS East Wing Auditorium

June 12:

ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St.

Kentlake High School (9:30 am)
Kentridge High School (12:30 pm)
Kent Meridian High School (4 pm)
Kentwood High School (7:30 pm)

On Tuesday, May 11 (6 to 8 p.m.), the City of Kent will host an open house at the Kentridge High School Library, 12430 SE 208th St., Kent. This will be the city’s final open house before annexation takes place July 1, 2010. The annexation will add approximately five square miles and 24,000 residents to the City of Kent, making it the sixth largest city in the state of Washington.

For more information, visit the City’s Annexation Web page, email the city, or call the annexation message line at 253-856-5777.

The Kentridge High School Drama Department is putting on the Broadway musical “Little Women” this month at the Kentridge Performing Arts Center.

Show times:

November 11-14 & 18-21 – 7:00 pm
November 14 & 21 – 1:30 pm

Purchase tickets online:

http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/KSD/KR/CLUBS/Drama/Tickets.htm

Contact Jennifer Grajewski at 253-373-4332 for more info.