Three weeks ago Steve Boden – overseer of three non-profit foundations that support students in the automotive, construction, and IT programs – noted that most 4 year college students graduate with high debt and are under employed in their first job; while motivated H S automotive students (half time in their junior and senior years) that get certified and take 2 years of automotive classes at Montgomery College can be making more than $100k in a few years.  There is a work/study programs where they work in an auto dealership 4 days a week attend M C on the fifth day.  Steve’s challenge is that students must make a trade career decision in the 8th,9th, or 10th grade.  Dave will explore encouraging high school students to evaluate these and additional careers with a Rotary/PTA partnership.

Dr. Pham’s position at The French Embassy is to promote French science activities.  She obtained her PhD in neuroscience in 1983 at Pierre & Marie Curie  University.  She is a board member of Paris Institute of Technology, and was in charge of recruiting international students to attend Paris Tech.  Dr Pham showed a slide presentation of French landscapes, cultural heritage, social life, quality of life, church & state, and scientific contributions.  She described the organizations that support the sciences and education.  France has 2 universities – Government and Engineering – that are very selective and competitive to get  in and graduate.  The rest of the universities are free with minimal entrance requirements.

Last week our own past president, Lasse V. Syversen, President of Flagship Trade Net, Inc. made a few reflections after last week’s terrible terror attack in Europe. On the morning of 22 March 2016, three coordinated nail bombings occurred in Belgium: two at Brussels Airport in Zaventem, and one at Maalbeek metro station in Brussels. In these attacks, 35 victims and three suicide bombers were killed, among them 4 Americans, and over 300 people were injured. The bombings were the deadliest act of terrorism in Belgium’s history. Mr Syversen talked about Terrorist cells in Europe and the risk for similar action being carried out. He also reflected on lack of resources and leadership in fighting the war against terror. He stated that we can never forget these attacks and to honor the victims we need to take actions.