LAUSD: New Environmental Study Center at L.A. River Opens, Micheltorena Video Wins [Video]

Silver Lake and Glassell Park were the sites of two notable events for the environment at local Los Angeles Unified School District campuses this week.

First, the Sally Ride Center for Environmental Science opened Monday at the Los Angeles River School in Glassell Park.

Named in honor of the "first woman in space," the center's purpose is to encourage students to pursue careers in math and science, especially girls.

See video of the official unveiling of the school's signage--which was preceded by a "lift-off" style countdown--above.

Less than a mile from the Los Angeles River, the center has three lab classrooms that include a PH water lab and a centrifuge.

When it is fully staffed, it will be open to all LAUSD students.

Ride, an Encino native who died this summer, spent the final years of her life heading Sally Ride Science, creating programs and publications for young people.

Her mother and sister, Bear Ride, a Pasadena minister attended the ceremony Monday.

LAUSD District 5 trustee Bennett Kayser, who taught for many years at the nearby Washington Irving Middle School, and 45th Assembly District representative Gil Cedillo were also on hand.

Kayser was also at the Micheltorena Elementary School in Silver Lake on Friday.

Raquel Vargas's sixth grade class was honored at a special assembly for their "Go Solar" video winner.

See the video in the gallery above.

The contest, sponsored by Environment California, offered cash prizes for short videos conveying why Los Angeles should become a global solar-power leader.

The students collaborated with local filmmakers Charles Herman-Wurmfeld and  Keith Fulton, who also spoke briefly at a school assembly Friday where the video was screened.

In the video, students visit the school's solar garden, and make toast and smoothies with solar power.

The Micheltorena sixth graders received a $750 prize from an Environment California representative at the assembly.

Ms. Vargas told us in an email that the students hope to use it to take a trip down the Los Angeles River some time soon.

Related

Winners Picked in L.A. Solar Video Contest (KCET)

LAUSD Unveils State-of-the-Art Science Center (KPCC)