May 30, 2006 > Students Celebrate Fremont

by Praveena Raman

The Celebrate Fremont Education Committee is conducting an oral history project featuring new immigrants as well as old Fremonters open to students of all ages.  The deadline for this project in the form of written essays, theatrical skits and video or audio recordings is June 7, 2006.

The education committee was formed in early 2005 with seed money by Celebrate Fremont, a non profit volunteer organization formed to commemorate Fremont's fiftieth anniversary.  Co-chairs Moina Shaiq and Ivy Wu with committee members, Gary Leatherman, Nina Moore, Kay Emmanuel, Mary Louise Bailey, Sherry Blake, Anne Crosby and David Makki, have been busy organizing various projects throughout the year.  They began with a drawing contest in the fall of 2005.  Students from various schools drew or painted historic buildings or interesting scenes around Fremont.  The entries were judged and students were awarded prizes.  These artworks have been exhibited at various locations such as Mission Coffee, Fremont Unified School District's main office and the Fremont Main Library.

In the winter of 2005, the committee conducted a writing contest consisting of essays, poems and stories.  All entrants received a participation certificate and winners were awarded cash prizes.  The most recent project is the spring oral history project during which students are invited to record experiences or impressions of a Fremont resident.  Subjects can be new immigrants or residents who have been in Fremont for a long time - neighbors, family members or friends.  Co-chair Moina Shaiq said that by encouraging students to interview neighbors from other cultures, the committee is hoping to stimulate cross-cultural education.

The education committee will be finishing their year long activities with a mural project organized by co-chair Ivy Wu.  High school students from both public and private schools across Fremont will be spending summer days painting murals about different areas of Fremont.  The murals will be painted on portable panels at participating school sites, assembled according area and displayed. 

The committee has also awarded grants to four Fremont teachers: Mary Doughty, Oliveira Elementary School, for a Fremont Quilt; Qiang Ma, Forest Park Elementary School, for Foreign Language Enrichment Program History Artwork; Maria Grazia Romeo, Montessori Middle School, for a Mission San Jose Painting, and Cindy Anderson, Holy Spirit School, for a History of Fremont Mixed Media Project.  High school bands will participate in the celebration by marching in Fremont 50th Celebration opening ceremonies in September.

Moina Shaiq says she would like "kids to take pride in their city and community by taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime project and the community to be proud of the children's work."  Art works, history projects and written works will be exhibited on September 9-10 at Central Park during the Celebrate Fremont at the Park Festival.

For more information and to participate in the oral history project, visit http://www.celebratefremont.org/education.html or call (510) 790-9352. Finished projects should be sent by June 7 to either Celebrate Fremont, Attn Education Team, 4589 Eggers Drive, Fremont, CA - 94536 or to Celebrate Fremont Education team, c/o FUSD Communications Director Gary Leatherman, 4210 Technology Drive, Fremont, CA 94538.