SOCES JUNIOR HAS KNACK FOR DEBATE.

Byline: SIMONE SCHRAMM Community columnist

David Sherman, a junior at the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies in Reseda, won four awards in the ``I Have A Dream'' speech and debate tournament sponsored by the Tri-Valley Forensic League, the local division of the National Forensic League. The school's debate team also won the sweepstakes trophy.

David's most notable trophy was the top speaker award, given for the first time during the competition. Kathy Graber, the debate coach for Monroe High School where the event took place, established the award after witnessing David's success in the Fall Varsity Speech Tournament in November.

During that competition, he won first place in all three of the events he entered, a first in league history. David, who has 20 trophies as well as numerous plaques and medals, said he enjoys speech and debate because it gives him insight into myriad topics.

``It's just a way for you to really understand issues that are going on and to hear other interpretations and points of view and to understand them.''

But don't count on David becoming a politician - his main passion is English and he loves writing speeches.

``I actually don't want to go into politics, which is really funny,'' he said. ``I like English because it just gives me a chance to write speeches. Speech and debate really fall under that category.''

Four local residents were named to the dean's list of Northeastern University in Boston for their exemplary academic standing.

The honorees are:

Asheley Amoroso of Westlake Village, Meredith A. Lennox of Thousand Oaks, Christine Nguyen of Canoga Park and Chantelle Wells of Thousand Oaks.

Kelly Moran of Northridge completed three months of Peace Corps training in Uzbekistan. She will teach English to students ages 13 to 16 for the next two years in Ferghana Valley in southeastern Uzbekistan.

Twenty-seven students from John F. Kennedy High School's Architecture and Digital Arts Magnet in Granada Hills won gold and silver medals at the annual Region SkillsUSA-VICA Skill and Leadership Competition.

The competition tested the expertise in both skill and leadership of members throughout the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. Competition included areas such as job interview, prepared speech, architectural drafting and opening and closing ceremonies.

TeleTech Holdings, Inc. and the Universal City/North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce presented a $4,000 check to Colfax Elementary School in North Hollywood to help build a new playground for its students.

The Valley Cultural Center has applications available for its annual music competition, which is open to junior and senior high school students ages 12 to 18 and consists of three award categories.

A total of $5,700 will be given to students and their schools. Entries must be postmarked by March 8. For an application, call the VCC at [phone] or visit www.valleycultural.org on the Web.