WNC News & Notes: ‘Dancing With the Stars’ ready to take the stage

Dance floors around Carson are heating up as the contestants for “Dancing with the Stars: Carson Edition” polish up their footwork and routines. The event takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Carson High School gymnasium. Proceeds from the event benefit the WNC chapter of the National Student Nurses Association. Local stars expected to compete include Sheriff Ken Furlong, District Attorney Neil Rombardo, Supervisor and Adele’s co-owner Karen Abowd, Miss Carson City Vannesa Macias, and several others. They are teamed up with experienced dancers as they vie for the mirror ball trophy. After weeks of practice, Abowd, who’s training with dancer Mark Johnson, said she finally feels like the practice is catching on. “At first it was just learning the steps, but now I’m actually dancing,” she said. “I just have to stop looking at my feet. Now it’s also about shoes and costumes and learning what to do with my arms.”Sheriff Ken Furlong had to restart training with a new partner, Madeline Ferdman, after his first dance partner was forced to drop out because of an injury. “She’s killing me,” he joked. “I have pain in muscles I never knew I had.”The dancers aren’t the only celebrities taking part. Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi is the emcee, and Mayor Bob Crowell and former mayor Marv Teixeira are the event commentators.General admission tickets are $10 and may be purchased at Coldwell Banker, Thurman’s Ranch House, The Purple Avocado, Yaple’s Ballroom, and at WNC in the Joe Dini Library and Student Center, room 105A. A limited number of VIP tables still are available at $300 and can be purchased by calling 775-445-3334. College Reaching Out to Latino Residents WNC is reaching out to the Carson City area’s Latino residents with a bilingual college information session on March 3. The free event will take place at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Carson City, immediately following the 1 p.m. mass. Latino Outreach Coordinator Lupe Ramirez and Dean of Student Services John Kinkella will talk with parents and their children about the importance of attending college after graduating from high school. Current WNC Latino students will be available to share their experiences. To assist incoming students, WNC created the Latino Cohort program, which is made up of new students, their parents and supportive faculty and staff. The program encourages first generation Latino college students to stay in school, get good grades and graduate. Kinkella said the program is one of the reasons that many Latino students are succeeding at WNC.“These cohorts are a partnership between the college, the students, and their parents. As a result of this approach, the 62 current students who are currently in the cohorts are making great progress toward their associate degrees,” he said. The college also offers free Leadership for Life workshops for parents. The workshops educate parents about how to be supportive of their children's educational goals. For more information, call 775-445-3344. St. Teresa of Avila Church is located at 3000 N. Lompa Lane. Prepare to Succeed: Complete a GEDWNC is helping adults who lack a high school diploma prepare for the GED test this spring by offering free preparation and registration sessions. The sessions take place on the second and fourth Mondays in February and March at 9 a.m., and on the second and fourth Fridays at 6 p.m. All sessions take place in room 340 of the Bristlecone Building. Attendees should plan on arriving 10 minutes early to sign up and staying for up to three hours. Adult Literacy and Language Interim Director Angela Andrade encourages any adult who hasn’t graduated from high school to obtain a GED. “In today’s economy, a GED is a necessity for getting a job,” she said. “Also, if students wish to attend college, they will need a GED in order to qualify for federal financial aid.” During the registration process, students take the required assessment and locator tests, and also schedule a GED practice exam. Andrade says she can’t imagine students taking the test without doing the preparation. “Taking the GED test without preparation is like driving a car without insurance,” she said. “Preparation insures that students have the skills necessary to pass the test, and boosts confidence and success.”Students age 16 or 17 must bring a letter of withdrawal from the last high school attended and have parental permission before signing up. GED testing is offered at WNC several times a month. Call 775-445-4451 for additional information and testing dates or go to www.wnc.edu and click on Student Services.