Cash for Community-builders, Debaters rock East, and Briani and Nick tackle college

$EAC and DMHR grant update Student Entrepreneurs Activating Community (SEAC) and David Markus Human Relations (DMHR) grants, funded by the DA Parents Association and an anonymous donor, give Upper School students the opportunity to design, propose, fund, and carry out projects that build community on campus or build bridges to communities outside the school. You and your advisees/students can find out more by clicking here.

Eight individuals/groups made proposals in the first fall cycle, and six were funded. Please congratulate the following, and feel free to ask any member of the Student Life Committee for more information about the programs. Thanks in particular to Dennis, who leads the $EAC/DMHR process.

1. $850 for the SOCK Camp (Week-long summer camp for low income Durham kids.)
2. $70 for the Cavs Club (community service coordinators of drives, fundraisers, and projects).
3. $90 for the CAVS club (for DA students to collaborate with Hoop Dreams and take a group of 20 - 30 sick youngsters to a Duke women’s basketball game.
4. $100 for Science Olympiad DA Upper Schoolers teach/entertain DA Lower Schoolers
5. $400 (or less if we can find cheaper shipping) for Kate Taylor to send neck coolers made by DA students to U.S. Troops in Afghanistan
6. $250 for Amigos de Hope Valley and Lakewood, the revived version of the Spanish club that has resumed one-on-one tutoring of Latino children at the Upper School campus on Saturdays.

The committee has up to $2,250 for its spring granting cycle. If you have students or advisees with a good idea, please help them think about these micro-grants designed to build leadership and community.

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DA Debate Update: "We attended the ECHHS tournament this weekend. Results per our website: Nathaniel Donahue took first place in impromptu speaking. Grace Wallack and Dede Pless were second in varsity public forum, while Josh Zoffer and Robert Kindman took fourth in Robert's public forum debut. Josh Erb was fifth in varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate, and Tanner Caplan was 3-1 in novice L-D."

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From Gloria Woods-Weeks, Assistant Principal at East Chapel Hill High School and mother of Briani (DA '07): "Briani is doing great! She loves the campus at Temple University and her suite mates. She is still adjusting to the weather. I can't wait to see her. She's coming home for Thanksgiving. She loves cheering, most of her time is spent in class, at practice, and games. She feels really prepared for college and has stated that on many different occasions. We miss her over here. I miss her terribly. Thanks so much for asking about her."

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Nick Thomas ('06) recently began his second season on UNC's JV basketball team. To see Nick in action, go to the Smith Center before a varsity game. To see his profile on the web, click here.

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Food for thought (especially for those contemplating sub-par Q1 report cards)


In the game of life, it's a good idea to have a few early losses, which relieves you of the pressure of trying to maintain an undefeated season.
- Bill Vaughan

If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot.
- Dean Smith

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.
- Abraham Lincoln

There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win.
- Eliezer Wiesel