A few news bites from USD 497:NASCAR drivers to speak to students at Kansas Speedway NASCAR drivers Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will be among several motorsports industry insiders speaking to high school students at the Kansas Speedway on Sept. 26. They’ll speak about the importance of staying in school and continuing education.Free State yearbook editor wins award Free State High School junior Drue Davis attended a weeklong yearbook workshop with the editors of FSHS’ Talon. She won the “Outstanding Designer” award from the Gloria Shields Publications Workshop in Dallas. About 800 other journalism students attended the workshop this summer.Online tutoring service helps students An online tutoring service called HomeworkKansas is in its third year of offering Web-based homework help. Students can log onto [www.homeworkkansas.org][1]and receive free, one-on-one help with math, science, social studies and English.Tutors are available from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Spanish-speaking tutors are available from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. The program is run by the State Library of Kansas.Free State hosts Academy Day Students interested in attending United States service academies can learn about the institutions and how to get the necessary Congressional nomination from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 28 at Free State High School.Local ROTC groups will be on hand to talk to high schoolers about a military career.Students interested in attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., must have a Congressional nomination to apply. Information about the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., will be available. The Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination.The event is hosted by the office of U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan.County looking for Spelling Bee coordinator Expiscatory. A verb meaning to find out by thorough and detailed investigation.Douglas County is looking for a coordinator for the 2009 Douglas County Spelling Bee, which takes place in February. The coordinator is in charge of communicating with school representatives and organizing the spelling bee.If you’re interested, contact Deborah Norwood at dnorwood@usd497.org.LVS students wins 2nd place in essay contest Evan Davis, a student at Lawrence Virtual School, placed second in _Texas Fish and Game_ magazine’s youth essay contest. Evan, 14, wrote an essay called “Whitetail Pond,” which will be published in the fall edition of the magazine.KU organization offering tutoring service KU’s Planning for College Success club is dispatching its members to help tutor elementary, junior high and high school students. The club offers its services at 12 elementary schools, three junior high schools and LHS and FSHS.Info on KU’s chapter can be found at [www.groups.ku/edu/~pfcs][2]. [1]: www.homeworkkansas.org [2]: www.groups.ku/edu/~pfcs