Lodi New Sentinel Newspaper

Newsmakers

Thursday, Apr 06, 2006

Guitars not Guns students receive awards

Several students in Guitars not Guns, a nonprofit organization with a chapter in Lodi, received awards during their graduation ceremony in March.

Students met in Lodi to learn how to play the guitar during a free eight-week session. Following graduation, they were given the guitars they used.

"Star Student of the Class" was Gage Ferrier, 9, of Stockton. He received the award for diligence in studies and for giving a younger student his assigned guitar because it was small enough for her; he took her larger guitar instead, even though it would be more difficult for him to play.

Star community service awards were given to volunteer junior assistant teachers Sara Henry, of Lodi, Lino Alibani, of Stockton, and Jake Miller, of Galt. Sara had gone straight from the first GnG session to the second level (most students repeat the first level) and started volunteering to help first level students right away. Lino and Jake also were in the second level helping students in the first level.