Portola High senior installed as student rep at school board meeting
By Roni Java
PSJHS Senior Owen Bowling is sworn in Oct. 14 to serve as a student representative to the school board. Photo by Roni JavaPortola Junior-Senior High School (PSJHS) student Owen Bowling was honored for his accomplishments and contributions to his school on Oct. 14 when he was installed as a student representative to the Plumas Unified School District’s Governing Board of Trustees.
School Board President Leslie Edlund and Trustees Dave Keller, Joleen Cline and Traci Holt welcomed Owen, who is a senior at Portola High, during the board’s regular online teleconference meeting held via Zoom. Trustee Cline was all smiles as she administered the oath of office to the top achiever.
Owen Bowling serves as Portola High’s student representative to the school board
PJSHS Principal Sara Sheridan introduced Owen to the trustees with pleasure and told them the 12th grader is a very active student at his high school.
“He maintains a 4.19 GPA with a rigorous class schedule,” Sheridan said. “He is also a three-sport athlete competing in football, basketball and golf. And if I had to guess, I think he might be our next Tiger Woods! He’s that good.”
The principal also said Owen has earned numerous awards in all three of his sports and that he is respectful, hardworking and “probably one of the nicest kids that we have on this campus.”
Sheridan concluded her praise by saying she and the Portola High teachers were very pleased to recommend Owen and glad that he has accepted the opportunity to represent his school this year. “This is such a win, thank you,” the principal said.
Events update and ball fields progress for Portola High
Following his teleconferenced swearing-in ceremony, Owen thanked Principal Sheridan for the opportunity to represent his high school on the governing board.
He gave a detailed update on events and activities happening at Portola High and outlined an annual tournament fundraiser sponsored by the booster club that was hosted Oct. 10 at the local Plumas Pines Golf Resort. Owen said the tournament was a great success, raising $9,000 for Portola’s academic and athletic programs.
The student also said the PJSHS baseball and softball complex, which was updated using Measure B bond monies, is continuing to take shape.
“With the dugouts that have recently been constructed, it looks amazing!” Owen told the trustees in appreciation. “The boys team room is currently experiencing a makeover that is expected to be fully complete in late November. Our concession unit that’s located within the gym is also being modified with new countertops, a new backsplash and a brand new flat-screen TV that will be mounted in the entrance to the gymnasium.”
He added that conditioning activities for volleyball and basketball have already begun. Students will also host their first corn hole ‘Tournament of Champions’ on the football field, an event they plan to offer annually. The tournament will feature two different divisions, one for senior high school students in grades nine through 12 and the other for junior high schoolers in seventh and eighth grades.
“All COVID-19 regulations will be followed during the time of the tournament,” Owen explained, saying, “I’d like to thank you all again for including me in this board meeting tonight.”
School Board President Leslie Edlund thanked Principal Sheridan and Owen for their presentations and said, “That sounds like a great fundraiser.”
