Cancer patients can make their way to their off-island appointments easier, local women and girls have more access to education and training, Safe San Juans and the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center are given additional community support through Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor.
A night of facts, philanthropy and fun was had at this year’s Knowledge Bowl on March 5. Students, parents, educators and many other members of the community gathered in San Juan Community Theater to watch their peers compete for the trophy. Seven teams went head-to-head, representing Friday Harbor 8th graders, combined teams of 9th and 10th, and 11th and 12th graders from Friday Harbor High school, and teams from the Soroptimists, Lions, Kiwanis and the Rotary Club. EMCeed by Town Council member Mason Turnage, the teams competed in three rounds, answering a total of 31 questions ranging in topics from geography and science to history and pop culture, including some region-specific questions like, what is Washington’s state gemstone? The answer: petrified wood. Although no teams correctly guessed the answer, all teams did identify the only species of oak tree that is native to the Pacific Northwest: the Garry Oak.
On Jan. 23, NASA announced the 60 winning teams in their third annual Techrise Challenge, including four students from Friday Harbor High School. This year’s Techrise Challenge invited teams of sixth to 12th grade students from private, public and charter schools across the country to create their own project proposal to be launched on a high-altitude balloon or rocket-powered lander. Winning teams receive $1,500 to build their projects, mentorship from NASA engineer-advisors, and are tested on a NASA-sponsored commercial flight.
Oct. 13 was Homecoming at Friday Harbor High, and the community got into the school spirit cheering the high school classes on during the Homecoming Parade that went up Spring Street, ending at Friday Harbor High.