Midshipman Nicholas Sanders, the grandson of Bob and Wilma Ferrario of Los Gatos, recently participated in Acceptance Day ceremonies at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. His mother is Sheila Robinson, a 1977 graduate of Los Gatos High School.

The colorful annual event marks the official "acceptance" of the freshman, or plebe, class into the rank of the academy's regiment of midshipmen.

Sanders is a graduate of Anderson County High School of Garnett, Kan., and was nominated to attend the academy by Congressman Jim Ryun of Kansas. The academy is operated by the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

LGHS marching band places at competitions

The Los Gatos High School Wildcat Marching Band and Color Guard placed third overall at the Golden State Tournament of Bands on Nov. 1 in Clovis and second at the 27th annual Emerald Regime Invitational on Nov. 8 in San Jose.

The band placed second in a competition of 10 bands at the Nov. 8 competition, and at the Nov. 1 competition the band placed third.

The band and color guard is a group of 70 students who rehearse daily, nightly and on weekends to prepare for performances at football games, community events and statewide field competitions. Due to recent budget cuts, the band and color-guard activities are solely supported by student fees and fundraising and are entirely managed by the band boosters—parents who support the band.