GIRL SCOUTS HONOR MUSIC ADVOCATE.

Byline: DIANA PEYTON Community Columnist

Roland Armstorff was honored as Man of the Year by the Girl Scouts of the San Fernando Valley at the annual Recognition event Oct. 12.

Armstorff, who co-leads Burbank's Troop 1631 with his wife, Cherie, was singled out for his contributions to the youths in the community, and in particular, for bringing music back into the classroom.

He and Sheila Cavalluzzi voluntarily formed an instrumental music program for the Burbank elementary schools.

``I think that music is an important part of a child's life - it gives them another interpretation of the world,'' the writer and producer said.

Armstorff said he read study after study that confirmed for him that teaching music to children was ``the cheapest and easiest way to raise math scores,'' he said.

Armstorff was instrumental in encouraging the Burbank school district to create a music task force - rallying parents, teachers and principals, and gathering 800 signatures in support.

Armstorff also is an appointed member of the Burbank Education Roundtable, serves on the Bret Harte School site council, is president of the parent committee at the Horace Mann Children's Center and a member of the Child Care Committee of Burbank.

Benjamin Steele, one of America's 40 top young scientists, was an invited guest at the third annual Discovery Young Scientist Challenge, competing for America's Top Middle School Scientist of the Year in Washington D.C. last week.

The 13-year-old was selected for his project called ``Sunscreen! The Water Resistance of Ultraviolet Sunscreens,'' in which he found that ``the SPF rating for sunscreen UVB protection does not apply to UVA protection, and that water resistance varies greatly among brands of so-called ``waterproof'' sunscreens.''

His travel-associated expenses were paid by Science Service, Washington, D.C.

Two recent award winners both attend Viewpoint School in Calabasas.

Ninth grade student Robin Strumpf won first place in the California Nobel Prize Centennial Essay Contest, which includes a check for $5,000 and attendance at some of the events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize.

In April, she won third place in environmental science in the 51st annual Los Angeles County Science Fair.

The Northridge teen is the creator of the nonprofit Books and Blankies organization that gives kids free books and blankets.

She has also been awarded the Nestle Very Best in Youth Award 2001 and was honored with the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. She was also the recipient of the Northridge Chamber of Commerce fifth annual Lifesavers Award last year and previous winner of the Fox Kids Hero Award.

The subject of her winning essay was Willard Frank Libby, the 1960 Nobel Prize recipient honored for his radiocarbon dating of prehistoric objects.

The teen is interested in pursuing a career in forensics.

Another Viewpoint student, Jake Krall, a senior, has been awarded the 2001 National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Award in Writing.