Tracy native Christina Jaques has arrived in the African country of Mozambique to begin pre-service training as an English-education Peace Corps volunteer.
Jaques, 31, is the daughter of Anthony and Nance Jaques of Tracy and is a 1997 graduate of Tracy High School.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Santa Clara University in 2001, she worked as an eighth-grade English and social science teacher in Watsonville.
In 2005, Jaques received a master’s degree in education from University of California, Santa Cruz.
In Mozambique, she will live for her first three months with a host family to become acquainted with the language and culture of a country that once was a colony of Portugal.
Following the first three months, she will be sworn into service and assigned to a community in Mozambique, where she will live and work for two years with local people.
Today, 8,655 Peace Corps volunteers work with local communities in 76 host countries.
FFA finalist from Tracy
Damon Pombo of Tracy is one of four people in the nation with a shot at a Proficiency Award in Specialty Animal Production.
The award, conferred by the national FFA, recognizes outstanding student achievement in agribusiness gained by establishing a new business, working for an existing one or other hands-on work experience.
A member of the Tracy High School FFA, Pombo qualified for the award by winning the state competition earlier in the year.
Young photographers recognized
West High School’s Bethany Gregonis won third place in the School Is Cool photography contest through the San Joaquin County Office of Education.
Shelby Watson of Millennium High School won an Award of Merit in the competition, which featured the theme “I love school.”
The contest was open to all high school students in San Joaquin County.
The Stockton Art League will display the photos in a gallery presentation in October and December at 1902 Pacific Ave., in Stockton.
Information about entering the 2011-12 contest is online at www.sjcoe.org/community/school.aspx.
Artist earns award
Tracy resident Kyle Simpson earned a juror award in photography and prints in the KVIE public television art auction in September.
Simpson’s photo, titled “Mechanic’s Garage,” was taken inside the garage of a hot rod builder in Sonora. It was Simpson’s first time participating in the KVIE auction. He has been a photographer for about a year.
The image can be seen online in the Saturday Gallery at www.kvie.org/events/artauction/2011/.
• Accolades runs in Our Town whenever we hear about someone who has done something extraordinary and deserves kudos for it. If you have news for Accolades, send it to tpourtown@tracypress.com, or drop off a note at the Tracy Press office.
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