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Yifan Li of Rockville, a senior in the Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, has been named one of 40 finalists in the 2010 Intel Science Talent Search.

Li was recognized for his research project, "Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells into Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells in Culture."

The national finalists in the talent search are high school seniors who entered papers on their independent research projects in science, engineering, mathematics and computer science. The finalists will compete for college scholarships from the Intel Foundation totaling more than $600,000, with a top prize of a $100,000 scholarship.

Li is one of 15 Montgomery County Public Schools semifinalists this year — 12 of them from Montgomery Blair and one each from Thomas S. Wootton, Richard Montgomery and Walt Whitman high schools.

Montgomery County Public Schools is tied with the New York City Department of Education for the school district having the largest number of semifinalists in the nation.

The finalists will be judged in Washington, D.C., March 11-16. The winners will be announced at a black-tie awards ceremony March 16 at the National Building Museum.

The Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education, has owned and administered the Science Talent Search since its inception in 1942. This year marks Intel's 12th year sponsoring the program.

Friends to ‘dream the impossible dream'

Sandy Spring Friends School will present its 2010 Community Play, "Man of La Mancha," Feb. 25, 26, 27 and 28.

Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes's 17th century masterpiece "Don Quixote," "Man of La Mancha" is a musical that centers on Cervantes' imaginative knight, Don Quixote, who fights imposing windmills, cares for the poor and down-trodden, and dares to dream the impossible dreams.

The Community Play is an annual event founded by Bruce Evans, head of the Arts Department and theater arts teacher at Sandy Spring, and features actors drawn from the student body and the community at large. Evans will direct.

The play will honor Head of School Ken Smith, who will retire in July.

The play will be presented in the new on-campus Performing Arts Center Theater at 16923 Norwood Road in Sandy Spring. Performances will take place at 7:15 p.m. Feb. 25, 26 and 27 and at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 28. As always, admission will be free; donations will be accepted at the door to benefit the school's arts programs.

St. Catherine to hold

open house Feb. 4

St. Catherine Laboure School will hold an open house 9-11 a.m. Thursday at its campus, 11811 Claridge Road in Wheaton.

Visitors will be able to meet parents, students and administrators and tour the school.

The school will begin to accept applications for the 2010-2011 school year that day and applications for assistance from the Archdiocese of Washington for newly enrolled families will also be available.

St. Catherine Laboure School offers classes for students in preschool through eighth grade. It is a Blue Ribbon Award-winning school with a culturally-diverse student body.

Those unable to attend are invited to call the school office at 301-946-1717.

Used car sale coming to DHS

The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation Inc. will hold a used car sale from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 20 at Damascus High School, 25921 Ridge Road.

All used vehicles are Maryland inspected and most come with a 30-day, 1,000-miles warranty. Vehicle sale prices start at $1,600. A $100 deposit (check or cash) is required for each vehicle purchased: tax, tags and fees are in addition to the price of the vehicle.

A lottery for the used cars will begin at 11 a.m. All proceeds from the sale are returned to the student training program.

A few remaining vehicles are still available from the December sale. Contact Rick Gangloff or Mike Snyder for details at 301-962-4810 or e- mail richard_gangloff@mcpsmd.org.

St. Jude to hold

open house Feb. 3

St. Jude Catholic School in Aspen Hill will hold an open house 9-11 a.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. today.

The open house, which will take place during Catholic Schools Week 2010, will provide an opportunity for prospective students, their families and the community to learn more about the school and its mission. Teachers will be available to speak to families at the evening open house. Admissions information will be available at both times.

For information on St. Jude, call the school office at 301-946-7888 or visit www.stjudesschool.org.

Free financial aid workshop

for students, parents

The Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus will hold College Goal Sunday 2010 2-4 p.m. Feb. 14.

The free one-day program will offer assistance to parents and students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — the form required by colleges, universities and private career schools to qualify for federal grants and loans, as well as many state and private scholarships.

Spanish interpreters will be available.

The event will be held in the Charlene R. Nunley Student Services Center on the school's campus at 7600 Takoma Ave. in Takoma Park. The snow date is Feb. 21.

At least one week before the event, parents and students should register for a PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp. Parents and students should bring the PIN numbers to the event, along with completed 2008 or 2009 IRS 1040 tax forms, a W-2 form and other 2009 income and benefits information.

For more information about College Goal Sunday, visit http://collegegoalsundaymd.org/index.htm. The program is sponsored by the Delaware-D.C.–Maryland Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Education Notebook is compiled by Staff Writer Melissa J. Brachfeld. Items appropriate for this column should be sent to mbrachfeld@gazette.net, by fax to 301-670-7183, or by mail to Education Notebook, The Rockville/Aspen Hill Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for consideration for the following week's paper. Items are used on a space-available basis.