A family-friendly park tucked away in a corner of a cozy Sandy neighborhood will bear the name of a Canyons District employee and longtime Sandy City Councilman who has dedicated much of his life to the betterment of the place he calls home.

For his contributions to the city and its residents, the former Center Street Park, 8920 S. 150 East, has been re-named after Scott Cowdell, the District’s Custodial Coordinator and 23-year member of the Sandy City Council. The announcement was made during Sandy’s annual Appreciation Awards on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013.

CTEC students are making a name for themselves with IBM executives nationwide.

The students in Cody Henrichsen's IT Programming class placed 14th in IBM's 8th annual Master the Mainframe Contest, which included high school and college student contestants from across the United States and Canada. Additionally, CTEC student Sam Fuller was honored for being among the first students to complete, and without error, a set of extensive system programming and applications development tasks, ranking him in the top 60 contestants in the nation.

The Master the Mainframe Contest aims to equip students with skills to make them more competitive for jobs in the enterprise computing industry. The competition has two parts: "Breaking the Ice," and the more challenging "Practical Experience" categories. Fuller's win in the Practical Experience division was awarded with computer accessories and other prizes.

Canyons District is pleased to announce new leadership appointments.  
 
The following have accepted new administrative roles in Canyons District schools:
 

Spend part of your spring break on the slopes.  

Snowbird is offering $25 half-day lift passes to Canyons employees, students and their families on March 29, 2013. 
 
The pass is for 1-4:30 p.m. — but doesn't get the pass-holder access to the tram. The discount will be given to skiers who present a coupon at the ticket counter at the Creekside Snowbird Entry 1 ONLY.

Electric-blue lights will shine bright in the night sky when honors come raining down on the Corner Canyon Chargers. Thanks to a generous donation, a Victory Light will be installed in the new bell tower atop Canyons’ new high school, which opens this fall.
 
“You will be able to see it from all parts of Draper,” said Principal Mary Bailey. “It’s going to be quite special.”
 
The Chargers’ Victory Light was paid for with a donation from the community. John Martindale, a member of the Corner Canyon School  Community Council, whose children will attend the Draper school, provided the financial support through an account established by the  now-deceased Martin Elston. Martindale was asked to ensure that the money was used to help people and make the world a better place.

Martindale learned of the school's need for a donor at a Community Council meeting. He didn't hesitate to support the effort. 

"I was just in the right place at the right time," he said. He added that his family is excited to see the lights when they are turned on for the first time to note a Corner Canyon victory or achievement.  

"Every time that light shines, our family, and the people of Draper will know of Marvin. He spent time in this community and as a homeowner in Big Cottonwood Canyon, paid taxes to our schools. We feel honored to bestow this memory and living legacy of a man who continues to live through the greenbacks that represent a life of hard work and frugal living," Martindale says.

Bailey says that a plaque commemorating Elston’s support will be placed in the school’s rotunda.

The Victory Light will be set ablaze when the Chargers claim a victory, whether it be at the football stadium, in FBLA competitions or on the Sterling Scholar stage. The aim of the light is to unify the community behind the achievements of the school.

 “The idea behind it,” says Bailey, “is that it serves as an announcement to the world that great things are happening at Corner Canyon.”