This is a slightly condensed version of a keynote speech delivered by Annette Murdaca to graduates of St. Anne’s School in Lodi a few years ago.

The latest news on local athletes who are continuing to play at the college or pro levels.

In her first showing on the world stage, Natalie Bowman left a strong impression. The 16-year-old Lodi resident recently placed 41st overall out of 71 girls at the Modern Pentathlon Youth World Championships in Tata, Hungary. The event, held from Sept. 18-24, featured competitors from 29 different countries.

Natalie Bowman laments the pentathlon's small American following, but after listening to her talk about the event, it's hard to think of a better-suited audience.

Scouts from Lodi, Galt and Valley Springs came together from June 18 to 20, to fun at the 2012 Cub Scout Olympics at the Lodi Lake Twilight Camp.

Morada Middle School had 26 students enter the Annual Regional Academic Pentathlon sponsored by the San Joaquin County Office of Education. The competition was held on May 5 at East Union High School in Manteca.

Liberty Oaks Pony Club held its annual sponsors meeting on a recent Sunday afternoon. New officers elected for 2012 are Steve Spears, district commisioner; Ann Fickert, Jt. DC; Janine Amario, secretary; and Sheryl Ravera, treasurer.

Lodi resident Aaron Sass has had a tendency to create and play quirky or unusual games all his life.

He even used his talent in college when he and his roommate would make up games and compete to pass the time.

Since he saw it as nothing more than a lifelong hobby, Sass had no idea that he would be able use his talents to compete for cash on the popular televised game show "Minute to Win It."

For most of her life, Lodi’s Natalie Bowman didn’t know what a pentathlon was. So there was no way of knowing she was a natural pentathlete.

Got donations? Lodi Unified School District's new community foundation may be able to help.

“The road to success is lined with many tempting parking places.”

The 17th annual San Joaquin County Academic Pentathlon will be held Saturday in Manteca. Morada Middle is the only Lodi Unified School District school competing.

A Lodi Unified School District student bested 1,000 science fair entrants to take one of the top spots in a countywide competition. The results of the 53rd annual fair were released late Thursday.

Mick Founts has served as the San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools for about seven months. But in that time, he has seen hundreds of teachers and other school staff lose their jobs due to budget cuts. He’s seen class sizes swell to out-of-compliant rates, and watched per-student funding from the state decline.

Elkhorn seventh-grader Julie Fukunaga took first place in her division in this week's 14th Annual San Joaquin County Spelling Bee Championship, making her eligible to compete at the state level in the spring.

Union Pacific Railroad's non-profit agency, Operation Lifesaver, will be one of two special guests this week for the Downtown Lodi Business Partnership's "Shop Sunday" campaign. From 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the post office plaza on School Street, Operation Lifesaver will be giving away prizes to children and hosting a computerized train simulator with levers and whistles for youths to play with.

The San Joaquin County Board of Education has elected Dave Sorgent as its president for the 2009-10 year. Jill Fritchen will serve as the board's vice president and County Superintendent of Schools and Fredrick A. Wentworth will serve as secretary.

The Morada Middle School pentathlon team was recently the only Lodi Unified school to compete against mostly private schools from the area. The team brought home more than 20 medals.

The latest news on local athletes who are continuing to play at the college or pro levels.