Sale to help Bohn student

Students at Bohn Elementary School are banding together this weekend to raise money for Airiyahna Cole, a fifth-grader who is battling lupus, a disease in which the body is attacked by its own immune system.

However, Bohn Principal Tammy Christensen said the illness hadn’t stopped Airiyahna from working hard in school.

“Her illness and treatment sessions have greatly impacted her ability to attend school on a regular basis,” Christensen wrote in a letter nominating Airiyahna for the annual Every Student Succeeding honor. “These issues would challenge any person, and most certainly are a challenge for this bright and charming 10-year-old girl.

“Despite these challenges, Airiyahna maintains a positive attitude and works hard to keep up on her school work.”

To help her family, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education classes at Bohn are putting on a baked goods and book sale Saturday, March 24, at the Tracy Transit Station, 50 E. Sixth St. Items are sought for sale, and people are invited to the event between 8 a.m. and noon.

For information: Steve Abercrombie, officerabs@yahoo.com.

West student pursues conference

Michaela Manyvanh, a junior at West High School, has been invited to a youth leadership conference this summer at University of California, Berkeley.

Manyvanh, however, said she needs about $2,225 beyond her own contributions to attend the conference, which stretches from July 22 to 29 and focuses on preparing young students for careers in health care.

Manyvanh, who had scoliosis surgery in 2007, said she was inspired to help others when she experienced the compassion of the professionals who saw her through her hospital visit.

For information: mmanyvanh@yahoo.com.