COMMUNITY NEWS 250 BACKPACKS OF GIFTS DONATED TO RESERVATION.

Members of the Pierce College Pre-Veterinary Club delivered 250 backpacks stuffed with toys, clothes and other gifts recently to children on Indian reservations in North Dakota as part of efforts by the nonprofit Walking Shield American Indian Society.

As part of the society's efforts, children who promise to stay in school from September through Christmas earn the gifts, said Leland Shapiro, director of Pierce's Pre-Veterinary Science Program and club adviser.

Students in Pierce's Child Development Center, Dance Club, Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society and others also contributed to this year's donations.

Walking Shield has been helping American Indians on reservations with housing, infrastructure development, health care and humanitarian aid since 1986.

Assemblywoman Cindy Montaez and the CSUN Center for Community Service-Learning gave 45 CSUN students, faculty members and community partners certificates honoring their participation in Project S.H.I.N.E. (Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders).

The nationwide program helps older immigrants and refugees learn English and the U.S. citizenship process, partnering with community colleges, universities and community-based organizations.

CSUN students have tutored the elderly across the San Fernando Valley for the past two years.

Free citizenship and English as a Second Language classes will be offered by the project at more than 20 locations throughout the San Fernando Valley beginning in the spring. For information, call [phone].

Twelve eighth-graders from Sierra Canyon Middle School in Chatsworth won the recent city championship in the Los Angeles County Mock Trial competition. They are: Jordan Cohen, Samantha D'Ambola, Robert Daniluk, Bridget Golob, Henry Grunzweig, A.J. Howard, Kyle Lam, Paige Negoro, Daphne Pariser, Maxx Rifkin, Warren Sayles and Aeriel Scott.