San Fran with honors...

Zac needed to take an honors class for one of his scholarships. 

The honors class that was highly recommended to him 

came complete with a field trip to San Francisco!

The class was called "The Beat Goes On" 

and the field trip was over spring break. 

Zac was awesome to send pictures each day!

Here are some of my favorites. =D

The Class Description says "From On the Road to the Summer of Love to Woodstock with several stops in between, this class explores the events, trends and personalities that illuminate this explosive time in America. Central to the class is a “field trip” to San Francisco where the students explore many of its neighborhoods that are on the forefront during these decades of change—places like North Beach, Berkeley and Haight-Ashbury. The class will also examine what of this revolution in thought and action has endured, as well as what has not, into Twenty-first Century America."

I believe one of the objectives of honors classes is 

to acquaint students with diversity of thoughts and actions. 

Some of the class experiences were a little too diverse 

for Zac's liking but he's an optimistic guy 

and found lots of things to love. 

This picture's for you, Hunter. <3

Zac found Alcatraz's audio tour quite interesting.

This is one of the two professors (taking a 360 photo) who led the field trip. Thanks men!

A memorable experience for sure.

Scholarships - wahoo!

NUAMES is a small High School 

but the 163 seniors graduating this year were awarded 2.4 million dollars 

in scholarships - wahoo!

As the twigs have approached graduation, 

they've been accepted and offered scholarships 

to multiple Universities. 

When Zac left on his mission he thought he'd be coming back to University A,

in the middle of his mission he decided University B was the one for him, 

and now that he's nearing the end of his mission the...

the winner winner chicken dinner 

is University C!

We'd never have guessed it two years ago

so we're super grateful for the whisperings of the spirit that told him 

to apply to multiple Universities. 

We're especially grateful for the scholarships

that were so generously offered to help the twigs!

Just like Zac, Hunter was awarded scholarships from multiple Universities, 

from the State of Utah, 

and from the American Legion. 

We love them!

There is another scholarship they've received.

It's given by a family

that is full of generosity and vision and love. 

It's the "Jim Hefner - spirit of NUAMES"

scholarship given by two of the wonderful women pictured below in 

honor and memory 

of their dear Husband and Father.

Deb (in peach) is the school's Director of Business Operations

and we adore her!

Her dear husband, Jim, passed away when Zac was at NUAMES

and it was heartbreaking. 

She courageously and optimistically

has carried on and influences more lives that can be counted. 

She and her daughter (on the left in the picture below) 

gave three scholarships in Jim's honor this year. 

Jenny and Hunter (pictured below) were two of the recipients. 

We love you Deb and Ash. 

Thank you for loving and supporting our twigs!

We'll all do our best to follow your examples.  <3

(Thanks, Jenny, for the great picture!)

Holding our breath in the name of science...

You might say we've been holding our breath, waiting for this day to arrive. If you love science and science fairs, our hats off to you!

 

Our youngest twig just finished her last science fair project!!! Wahoo!! If you see us dancing in the streets, that's why.    :)

It's not that we dislike science...it just not our passion.

The twigs did learn to follow their interests over the years and studied subjects ranging from fire starters...

 

...staying warm on freezing nights in a sleeping bag...

 

...the effect a bird feeder's color has on attract birds...

 

...the effect gum chewing has on a person's ability to focus...

...to the ultimate nail polish (Revlon)...

 

...and more, as our school has students do science fair projects through the 9th grade.

I do have to acknowledge science fairs have been good to us in return for our efforts. The twigs all got opportunities to participate in the Ritchey Science and Engineering Fairs at WSU and won small scholarships and even a cash prize (which she delightedly spent on more nail polish).        :)

There are no tears, however, in our saying goodbye to the science fair days.   :)
Wahoo!!!
...dancing...dancing...dancing.............