Foster & Homeless Youth Education Services has opened registration for its annual Education Summit. The event will be held on December 15 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Redwood Conference Center at 6200 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia.

This year, the summit will feature two prominent speakers, plus engaging audience activities. One of the featured presenters is Jessica Chandler, a nationally known children's advocate and inspirational speaker who spent her adolescence in Los Angeles group homes and the juvenile justice system. The other featured speaker is Christa Wiens, a former elementary school teacher who is the new interim executive director of the Central Valley Justice Center.

Read more in the News Gallery Week.

Her volleyball coach Kayla Swift wrote:

"Vianka Martinez is a student-athlete that exemplifies the definition of character. On the volleyball court there have been numerous times where she has displayed the six pillars of character. A true testament was during her team’s first round of league this season. Golden West was playing Monache in an intense back and forth set. The score, 23-23. A Monache attacker sent a ball out of bounds. The Trailblazers now had the game point. For most athletes, they would focus on the next point and not argue the call. Not for Vianka. She didn’t hesitate to inform the official that she touched the ball as she blocked at the net. The call was overturned and Monache received the point. Golden West ended up losing the set, but the fairness that Vianka exemplified is what was remembered from that night. The opposing coach even made it a point to recognize her integrity.