PNG at Beardstown Fall Fun Festival Parade

On September 27, 2008; the PNG group were involve in the Fall Fun Festival Parade in Beardstown, Illinois. We met in our library at 9:00 am, we were all wearing a blue shirt that had our PNG logo, blue jeans, and tennis shoes .We were number 54 in the parade, so we were far from the beginning. We also had two banners; one that represented our library, Beardstown Houston Memorial Library and the second one banner was on PNG (Project Next Generation). The following students were in the parade; Gaby, Diatou, Miriam, Rose, Melisa. We were all throwing candies to the people as we walked and as they watched the parade, and the guys were carrying the banners. The entire students in PNG enjoyed participating in this activity and with the community, because we were proud to represent the library and Project Next Generation in Beardstown, Illinois.

Organization of Latin American members from UIS visit P.N.G

April 11th the OLAS organization from UIS visited PNG. Before we started the session we began by introducing ourselfs to them and vice versa. The O.L.A.S. organization explained that we should all continue our education outside of high school either by attending a university/college or a technical school. The O.L.A.S. explained what to do during high school; such as being involved in extracurricular activities, community service, and school clubs in order to have a better resume towards college applications. We also talked about admissions at UIS, and financial aid available to all applicants whether the applicant is a US citizen or not. They each asked us what our career interests are, we all one by one said what our interests were. We enjoyed having them as our speakers for the day. We were all motivated to finish high school and attending a school to further our education.

PNG at UIS for International Day

April 18th the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS), took us to UIS University at Springfield because they had an International Day of ethnic groups, the tour started with the gym, because most of the girls from PNG are involved in track and they wanted to see the track field, and the guys liked the weight lifting so we went to see the weight room. Every body was hungry at that time, so we went to eat diverse types of foods from different countries like, Mexico, India, China, Jamaica, Italy, etc. and the food was fascinating. During that time in the basketball gym where we were eating, there was a guy from Puerto Rico teaching people to dance salsa and different types of Latino music, so after the PNG group finished eating we went to dance, and every body was enjoying their time. After that, the OLAS group gave us a tour around the university, and we went to the library, the cafeteria, the theater, and then they showed us the tunnels that they take when the weather is bad. Before we left an OLAS member gave us a quick tour at the Lincoln hall dorms, which houses only freshmen’s. And finally Ricardo Montoya, PNG mentor, took us on a quick tour of his town house.

P.N.G Visits W.I.U

On April 25, 2008 PNG visited the Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. Our mentor picked us up around noon, we went to pick our other mentor Marisela, and then we took of to Western. After and hour later we arrived at the University, we took a while to find a parking place, but we ended out finding one. When we got there the first building we when into was Olsen Hall. Some nice lady, named Adrienne, took us upstairs were we met the presidents’ of L.A.S.O.S and TRADICION and we talked to the members of the clubs. When we were done talking to the members of the clubs Adrienne took us downstairs to met our tour guy.
The tour guy took us into a tour of the school were we saw many buildings such as the Science, English, Physical, Fitness and much more.
While taking the tour we saw a protest going on over how the U.S. should outlaw homosexuality. After we past the protest the tour guy took us to the library was 6 floors tall. Then the guy took us to the freshman dorms and we when in there cafeteria were we saw their silverware witch was all organic. Later we went around and saw the physical fitness, there we saw the track field which really impress us. We also went inside the gym which had an indoor track. After we finish the tour of that building the tour guy had to go so he left us in the admissions building, were we got information about the college.
After dying of hunger Ricardo finally took us out to eat, to Ponderosa Restaurant witch the food was great. At 7:30 we went back the campus to watch the play of “Mans’ and Arms”, at one of the theaters of W.I.U. It took about and hour and a-half to see the play. It was an exciting cite to observe. Then we headed back home.

PNG at UIS for International Day

April 18th the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS), took us to UIS University at Springfield because they had an International Day of ethnic groups, the tour started with the gym, because most of the girls from PNG are involved in track and they wanted to see the track field, and the guys liked the weight lifting so we went to see the weight room. Everybody was hungry at that time, so we went to eat diverse types of foods from different countries like, Mexico, India, China, Jamaica, Italy, etc. and the food was fascinating. During that time in the basketball gym, where we were eating, there was a guy from Puerto Rico teaching people how to dance salsa and different types of Latino music. After the PNG group finished eating we went to dance, and everybody was enjoying their time. After that, the OLAS group gave us a tour around the universit, we went to the library, the cafeteria, the theater, and then they showed us the tunnels that they take when the weather is bad. Before we left an OLAS member gave us a quick tour at the Lincoln Hall dorms, which houses only freshmen. Finally Ricardo Montoya, PNG mentor, took us on a quick tour of his town house.

O.L.A.S Visits P.N.G

April 11th the OLAS organization from UIS visited PNG. Before we started the session we began by introducing ourselfs to them and vice versa. The O.L.A.S. organization explained that we should all continue our education outside of high school either by attending a university/college or a technical school. The O.L.A.S. explained what to do during high school; such as being involved in extracurricular activities, community service, and school clubs in order to have a better resume towards college applications. We also talked about admissions at UIS, and financial aid available to all applicants whether the applicant is a US citizen or not. They each asked us what our career interests are, we all one by one said what our interests were. We enjoyed having them as our speakers for the day. We were all motivated to finish high school and attending a school to further our education.

International Day In Beardstown High School Gym

The PNG crew participated in the International Day, celebrated in Beardstown High School Gym. They had a lot of stuff from different people that have different cultures that live in Beardstown (Mexico, Africa, Asia, Guatemala, Philippines, China, Native Indians). There we help blow balloons and give them to the children that pass by the table were PNG was located, we also help kids to color some books that had different flags from all around the world. In the international day they had food, songs and dances from different countries and at the very end they had a show for the Chinese Acrobats.

PNG learns food safety

Food safety, kitchen safety and bacteria awareness were taught to Beardstown Houston Memorial Library P.N.G. (Project Next Generation) students. They were being taught at the University of Illinois Extension office in Rushville during the month of February. Each Friday they learn healthy recipes by Janet Detrick. Project Next Generation is funded by Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White.