SCHOOLS TO COMPETE IN ``TOTAL TRASHOUT'' ALUMINUM CAN DRIVE.

Byline: JOANNE PEPIAK

PALMDALE - About 30 local schools are taking part in an aluminum can drive sponsored by Antelope Valley Rubbish through May 9 to raise money for student programs and teach environmental responsibility.

For the sixth annual ``Total Trashout,'' kindergarten through sixth-grade pupils are asked to bring cans from home. The rubbish company has furnished each participating school with a large storage bin, A.V. Rubbish public relations director Betty Smith said.

The public is invited to participate by taking cans to Grace Lutheran School at 856 W. Newgrove in Lancaster or any school in the Lancaster, Palmdale, Eastside Union, Westside Union or Keppel Union school districts, Smith said.

Schools will be paid 90 cents a pound for the cans, and the winning school will be rewarded with a computer and a three-hour pizza party. The top class at the champion school will get a trip to Magic Mountain, Smith said.

The past five ``Total Trashout'' efforts have raised approximately $80,000 for local schools, and about 86,000 pounds of cans have been collected over the years, she said.

LANCASTER - Students interested in engineering are invited to attend one of two orientation sessions at Antelope Valley College, 3041 W. Ave. K.

The meetings will be held at noon Wednesday and 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 662, said AVC public relations director Steve Standerfer.

AVC engineering instructor Richard Donner will provide information about courses and discuss transfer requirements for Cal State Northridge.

For additional information, call 943-3241, Ext. 628 or Ext. 290.

LITTLEROCK - The Littlerock High School drama department hosted the Drama Teacher's Association of Southern California's 76th annual Shakespeare Festival on March 16.

About 900 students from about 36 schools as far away as Paso Robles High School, Yucaipa and Carlsbad competed in eight categories such as costume and monologue from ``Romeo and Juliet,'' drama coach and teacher Marilynn Montgomery said.

Littlerock High School junior Gilbert Mendoza won the first-place trophy for his portrayal of Benedict in ``Much Ado About Nothing,'' Montgomery said.

Mendoza, who won second place in last year's competition, has taken two years of drama under the direction of Montgomery, she said.

``He's an exceptional actor,'' Montgomery said. ``He is bright and intuitive and is a student of the human condition and relationships. He will be excellent at anything he chooses to do.''

Montgomery recently wrote a letter of recommendation for Mendoza to enter the Palmdale High School Medical Magnet Program and said he has shown as much potential for medicine as he has for acting.

``. . . Gilbert has managed to do well in both venues,'' Montgomery said. ``I am very proud of this young man.''

The purpose of the festival is to improve high school students' acting and performing skills, and to enable them to meet the writers, producers, directors and stars of tomorrow, she said.

Drama students also learn important life skills, such as discipline and time management skills, which can be seen in academic achievement test results, Montgomery said.

``Students who are in performing arts in high school - either drama, music or dance - score significantly higher on standardized tests,'' she said.

Montgomery, who organized the festival, said special thanks are in order to Littlerock Principal Jeffrey Foster, Assistant Principal Marcia Crooks, Vice Principals Bernice Smith and Michael Clark, Dean Tim Azevedo and the entire LRH faculty and staff.

Two festivals are held each year for high school students and two for middle school students at varying locations, Montgomery said.