The Austin High School Student Council, Youth Leadership, Music Students and National Honor Society have been busy planning events for the Five Days of Giving, Dec. 10-14.

In partnership with the Toys for Tots program, Austin High School Activities is holding a toy drive for teens. Those who donate a “toy” or book for a teen, will receive free admission to a sporting event of their choice. The following events are happening during the week of Dec. 10:

—Dec. 11, Austin Packers girls basketball home against Albert Lea. The girls dance team will perform at halftime of the junior varsity and varsity games

—Dec. 13 girls gymnastics home vs. Mankato East and girls hockey home vs. Rochester Mayo

—Dec. 14 boys basketball home vs. Rochester Mayo

—Dec. 15 boys hockey home vs. Mankato East

 

PTK hosts end-of-semester talk

The Phi Theta Kappa is hosting a gathering for students from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday called Dreamz R Realityz at the Riverland Community College Theater.

The main goal is to encourage college completion and to give students a boost as the semester wraps up. Main speaker Vern Swedin and college staff will talk about the importance of ending the semester on a good note.

“We want students to push all the way to the finish line,” said the Phi Theta Kappa president Heather Fast.

 

U of M conducts teen driver study

Austin and surrounding areas have been selected as recruitment locations for a teen driver study conducted by the University of Minnesota. The study, which is still seeking students, focuses on teen driver safety and behavior as well as parental involvement with teens during the learning phase of driving.

The university seeks to recruit 20 teen drivers from the Austin area who have their driver’s permit, will receive their provisional driver’s license between Jan. 15 and April 30, are age 16 at that time and are able to begin the study within one month of their licensure start date.

Teens will receive a free smartphone and monthly data, text and talk service plan for one year, plus a monthly $25 incentive at the end of the year-long study totaling $300. For more information, contact Nichole Morris at nlmorris@umn.edu or call 612-624-4614.