News
ENLARGE
Seventeen-year-old Victoria Jennett has toiled the last couple months over her Nevada Union High School senior project, one that hits very close to home in honoring her departed cousins.
Jennett is organizing the third annual “For Lovers Only” dinner and dance to benefit the Newman Memorial Foundation, formed in remembrance of brothers Ryan and Brett Newman, both NU students, who died in a head-on collision on Highway 20 in 2006.
“I'm really excited and put a lot of hard work into it,” Jennett said.
The Newman Foundation has awarded more than $20,000 in college scholarships issued annually during Nevada Union's Scholarship Night.
It was that same night on June 7, 2006, when messages pinged attending seniors' phones with news that Ryan Newman, their 18-year-old fellow classmate had crashed and died with his 15-year-old brother Brett.
“All of a sudden, you realize kids are really upset,” said English teacher Lynn McDaniel. “It was surreal. We knew something was wrong, but we had no idea what it was.”
The loss hit Nevada Union hard, said assistant principal Bruce Kinseth.
For days after, students mourned the loss with a memorial in the school's gymnasium and in front of the boys' lockers.
“I looked at those skid marks every day for weeks afterward,” Kinseth said.
A memorial garden for the Newman boys was grown at Pleasant Valley School.
Jennett said it was only right that she continue to work in her cousins' memories to continue the dance this year.
For class projects, seniors choose a task that is either community service, career exploration or shadow an expert in a field.
It requires at least 20 hours of work outside the classroom, a research paper and a presentation to a panel of adult community members, followed by questions.
Jennett has exceeded those requirements, she said.
“What (Jennett) is doing is a lot of work,” said McDaniel, who coordinates the senior projects. “But it is one of those projects that is going to be well received by the people that hear about it because it's very emotional.”
Jennett has been involved in other fundraisers, but this is the first one for which she's been in charge of the coordination.
“I'm getting really excited and nervous because we're lower in ticket sales than last year,” Jennett said, suggesting the economy might be the problem.
Jennett hopes to sell between 15 and 20 more tickets before Saturday.
Tickets are $100 per couple, which buys a gourmet dinner, four drinks and eligibility for raffle prizes. Music will be provided by Mt. Event Productions. Tickets are available at Relic 120 Affordable Collectibles at 120 Mill St. in Grass Valley or by calling Jennett's mother, Tina, at (530) 277-2312.
To contact Staff Writer Christopher Rosacker, e-mail crosacker@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4236.
Jennett is organizing the third annual “For Lovers Only” dinner and dance to benefit the Newman Memorial Foundation, formed in remembrance of brothers Ryan and Brett Newman, both NU students, who died in a head-on collision on Highway 20 in 2006.
“I'm really excited and put a lot of hard work into it,” Jennett said.
The Newman Foundation has awarded more than $20,000 in college scholarships issued annually during Nevada Union's Scholarship Night.
It was that same night on June 7, 2006, when messages pinged attending seniors' phones with news that Ryan Newman, their 18-year-old fellow classmate had crashed and died with his 15-year-old brother Brett.
“All of a sudden, you realize kids are really upset,” said English teacher Lynn McDaniel. “It was surreal. We knew something was wrong, but we had no idea what it was.”
The loss hit Nevada Union hard, said assistant principal Bruce Kinseth.
For days after, students mourned the loss with a memorial in the school's gymnasium and in front of the boys' lockers.
“I looked at those skid marks every day for weeks afterward,” Kinseth said.
A memorial garden for the Newman boys was grown at Pleasant Valley School.
Jennett said it was only right that she continue to work in her cousins' memories to continue the dance this year.
For class projects, seniors choose a task that is either community service, career exploration or shadow an expert in a field.
It requires at least 20 hours of work outside the classroom, a research paper and a presentation to a panel of adult community members, followed by questions.
Jennett has exceeded those requirements, she said.
“What (Jennett) is doing is a lot of work,” said McDaniel, who coordinates the senior projects. “But it is one of those projects that is going to be well received by the people that hear about it because it's very emotional.”
Jennett has been involved in other fundraisers, but this is the first one for which she's been in charge of the coordination.
“I'm getting really excited and nervous because we're lower in ticket sales than last year,” Jennett said, suggesting the economy might be the problem.
Jennett hopes to sell between 15 and 20 more tickets before Saturday.
Tickets are $100 per couple, which buys a gourmet dinner, four drinks and eligibility for raffle prizes. Music will be provided by Mt. Event Productions. Tickets are available at Relic 120 Affordable Collectibles at 120 Mill St. in Grass Valley or by calling Jennett's mother, Tina, at (530) 277-2312.
To contact Staff Writer Christopher Rosacker, e-mail crosacker@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4236.
