VOTE FOR HBHA TODAY BEFORE 5 P.M. — The students at HBHA got word on Nov. 6, the day AFTER The Chronicle printed, that several of its third-graders are among the top 10 finalists in the “Battle of the Brains” competition sponsored by Burns & McDonnell engineering. Even more bad timing for Chronicle readers, voting ends at 5 p.m. today, Thursday, Nov. 14. Thirty percent of the points determining the winning team come from these individual votes. The winning school receives a $50,000 donation to the school as well as an exhibit at Science City! You can only vote once per 24-hour period, but you can vote separately on Facebook, Twitter and, if you have more than one computer you can double-dip! Go to http://battleofthebrainskc.com/vote/. The winner will be announced on Nov. 20, and we’ll report the results in the Nov. 28 issue. More than 193 schools with a combined total of 3,500 students submitted 500 proposals, so no matter what the outcome, HBHA has a lot to be proud of!

VSU CUM LAUDE — The honors keep rolling in for Village Shalom University. The annual week-long, intensive-learning environment that is taught and attended by Village Shalom residents, staff, volunteers and community members recently received two top awards, adding to the kudos already reaped in 2012 from LeadingAge Kansas.

The Kansas Activity Directors Association (KADA) awarded its 2013 “Outstanding Activity Program of the Year” to VSU for elevating the quality of senior-adult programming by encouraging personal growth, social interaction and sustained involvement in lifelong learning.

VSU also captured the 2013 MOMBA “Best Resident Events” Award. MOMBA (“Mature Online Marketing Business Achievement”) awards recognize the most creative and original programs used by senior-living communities worldwide. The competition is sponsored by RetirementHomes.com, North America’s largest online senior-living directory.

The awards were presented in late October at the KADA 2013 Conference in Wichita and the LeadingAge annual meeting in Dallas, respectively.

FASTTRAC KICKS OFF ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION — The Jewish community’s own Alana Muller will be leading the kick-off celebration for the 20th anniversary of Kauffman FastTrac, a leading entrepreneurial education program started in Kansas City by Ewing Kauffman. The festive morning event next Tuesday, Nov. 19, is Connect @ The Roasterie, part of FastTrac’s popular Connect @ series of “cash mob-style” networking events. It also coincides with Kansas City’s celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013. From 7:30-9:30 a.m. join Muller and meet FastTrac leaders, graduates, participants and fellow Kansas City entrepreneurs and support the business efforts of Roasterie founder and one of the first-ever FastTrac grads, Danny O’Neill. So toast FastTrac with a cup of Kansas City’s best java at the Roasterie Factory Café, 1204 W. 27th Street in Kansas City, Mo. — yes that’s the building with the airplane taking off from its roof! For more information, visit www.fasttrac.org.

17th annual Chanukah Art Contest

The deadline for the annual Chanukah Art Contest, sponsored by The Chronicle and Chabad House Center, is Monday, Nov. 18.

This year’s grand prize, provided by Chabad House, is an iPad mini.

The contest is open to all students in grades K-8. This year entrants will all be judged together in one level. One grand prize will be awarded. Two first prizes — gift cards to Target or Michael’s — will be awarded. The name of every child who enters the contest will be recognized in The Chronicle’s Chanukah edition.

Art projects must relate to the story or celebration of Chanukah. They may be either two- or three-dimensional (for example paint, drawing, craft or sculpture). Art must be original. Entries created from kits will be disqualified. A student is not eligible to win the grand prize two consecutive years.

For rules or more information, visit www.ChabadKC.org or contact the Chabad House, 913-649-4852 or . Entries may be dropped through Nov. 18 at Chabad House Center of Kansas City, 6201 Indian Creek Drive, Overland Park.