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A Pleasant Grove girl has won a national competition aimed at encouraging people with epilepsy to express themselves through art.
Kaitlin Markle won for her artwork, "One of a Kind," which will be included in the Epilepsy Foundation's "Expressions of Courage" coffee table books available at physicians' offices and foundation offices nationwide.
Additional winning artwork will be featured in a 2008 calendar and all winning entries are at www.expressions ofcourage.com.
Markle's epilepsy initially was misdiagnosed as asthma. Right before she would have a seizure, she would experience a tightening feeling in her chest, which misled a doctor to believe she had asthma.
Eventually, Markle got an accurate diagnosis and was prescribed anti-epileptic medication. She went from having daily seizures to having a few each week. Today, she takes medication and has not had a seizure in approximately three years.
Her award-winning piece was created from cut wood blocks and ink. She said she enjoys working in a range of mediums and plans to pursue art at the college level.
Education board hopes to add more school counselors
Utah State School Board members are hoping to increase the number of counselors in Utah schools.
Board members passed a resolution Friday promising to give schools more money for counselors if the Legislature agrees to appropriate $9 million for guidance and counseling in 2008.
Mark Cluff was the lone board member to vote against the resolution, saying he supported the idea in concept but would rather let school districts decide how to use the money.
Several school board members weren't present.
Now, many Utah high schools have more than 500 students for each counselor. The goal is to lower that number to 350 students for each counselor.
According to the resolution, the national recommended ratio is 1 to 250.
More counselors are needed to work with students from low-income families, those learning English and growing numbers of students, according to the resolution.
Board member Teresa Theurer said the resolution is a good step, but more needs to be done.
"It's a help but it doesn't fix the problem," Theurer said.
The resolution also asks schools to free counselors up from having to perform tasks that are unrelated to counseling, such as administering tests.