European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 2, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Education to Ali m Blankenberge Belgium a amps a More than 100 educators from the department of defense dependents schools Are meeting this week at Blankenberge for the annual Atlantic Region administrators conference. The three Day conference begins today with a speech by Carolyn Becraft the new Deputy assistant Secretary of defense for personnel support families and education. One of the conference s biggest issues is the draw Down of the work Force in Europe. A officials from the Atlantic Region which is composed of Belgium the United kingdom and the Netherlands said the conference is taking on a new format this year. Following each of four sessions led by stateside consultants participants will meet in Small groups to discuss the educational topics and their application in schools. This Marks the last time that this group will meet As a Region. Dodds has accelerated by one year its plan to consolidate the three european regions. The system plans to merge the Germany Atlantic and a editor Ranegan regions by next school year. In nominees for teen award Heidelberg Germany a amps the . Army Europe will continue its teen recognition program established last year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of youth services. \ nominations Are being sought from army communities for the program called the cinch a commander in chiefs top 40. The program honors Usa eur teens for Community service personal achievement extracurricular activities leadership and self improve mint efforts. Adults with personal knowledge of an adolescent s accomplishments May i nominate the individual. \ nominations should include a one Page summary of the teens outstanding accomplishments. Those submitting nominations should include their name Tele phone number and signature. Nominations should be sent to the local youth services Center. The cinch Stop 40 will be recognized at a dinner and awards ceremony March 30 at the Heidelberg officers and civilians club. Local youth services centers have information on nomination deadlines and on submitting entries. Quot Aid boost to schools _ yields Little study says by the Washington Post Washington the amount of Money America spends on its Public schools has soared As much As health care costs and there is no sign that the investment has improved learning accords a to a study. Each household now spends an annual average of 52,348 in taxes to fund schools. A there is no systematic link Between spending and academic achievement Quot said Emily Feistritzer president of the National Center for education information and author of the study. Shy pc hand a amps Dave Didio poster collector Tony Ray Smith says his great loves Are the Tenor saxophone and Long ago sexy Star Marilyn Monroe. Tunes in on by Nancy l. Torner . Bureau Raf Alconbury England Tony Ray Smith has a thing for Marilyn Monroe and the Tenor sax. However aside from his Wall to Wall Posteri Zed love affair with the Silver screen legend it is Smith s Talent with the sax that helped thrust the senior at Raf Alconbury High school into the limelight when he was selected for who a who among american High school students. When 17-year-old Smith first read. The letter of his selection a i did t even know what it who s who was. It was like of another for letter Quot he said. A and then you see the Dollar signs and you really Start  As one of this years who s who students Smith is eligible to compete for one of 125 $1,000 scholarships that will be awarded by who s who. He has completed the necessary forms and is awaiting notification. Who s who will distribute announcements of Smith s award to colleges of his Choice. He will also appear in the 1993-94 edition of who a who among american High school students a Book that contains biographies of selected students. Only about 6 percent of american students Are selected to appear in each edition said Judy Casey a spokeswoman for educational communication inc. In Lake Forest 111. Educational communications publishes who s who. A overseas very few of our kids Are nominated so it is quite an accomplishment for Tony Quot said Lee Johnson Alconbury High school principal. A i think that he san excellent candidate and a great  Smiths parents Are Dianna Taylor base chief operator with the 10th communications so at Raf overseas very few of our kids Are nominated so it is quite an accomplishment for Tony i think that he s an excellent candidate Anda great kid. Great Lee Johnson Alconbury High school principal Alconbury and staff sgt. Ken Taylor noncommissioned officer in charge of radiology at the 10th air base Wing clinic at Raf Upwood. They said their son was a hard worker and always on the go. A a we re beside ourselves with this thing a said his Mother. Who a who is a recognition program for students who. Have demonstrated leadership in academics athletics or extracurricular activities Casey said. The program began in 1967. _ students Are nominated for the program by High school faculty members youth organizations churches scholarship agencies and civic and service groups Casey said. Smith was nominated by arts. Recognition and Talent search a scholarship Agency in Sarasota Fla. Smith auditioned for a Cash award from the arts organization last year via a cassette tape of him playing the Tenor sax. Although he did no to receive the Cash award the group nominated Smith for who a who. Music is Smiths chosen Field of study and he Hopes to attend new College a University of Southern Honda honors College next school  document from the school is hanging on Smiths Wall amid otherwise nearly Wall to Wall Memorabilia of Marilyn Monroe. The a Letl Quot Flora the school that acknowledges his recommendation for enrolment helps him focus on the school while he awaits acceptance he said. A this is what helps me a he said pointing to the document. _ a visualization. I Havro see it. I have to have it in front of me. So i keep things about new College  in College Smith said he wants to concentrate on performing and v composing. He a already done a Good bit of performing both in and outside of his High school concert and marching bands. Smith holds a first chair rating with the International honors band. The band is sponsored by american International schools a private organization not affiliated with Dodds. Students worldwide audition for positions in the band and spend several Days rehearsing for a gala performance. The program rotates to different International locations. _ Smith took his talents to the streets in 1992 when he and a Friend made a total of $80 in tips playing Christmas carols in front of the Alconbury base Exchange. Playing in Public was a giant step for Smith who was very shy until the family moved to England his Mother said. A i think i grew into it a Smith said of performing his Tenor sax in Public a because its special to me i now can share it his music with Esther