Justin Houchin Biography

EDUCATION

Justin began school at a small "one-room schoolhouse" in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles when he was 4 years old. (Originally called the Academy for Smart Kids [A.S.K.], the name has since been changed to The Los Feliz Academy.) At A.S.K. he received an excellent start to his education and was reading by the age of 5. He continued at the school for seven years.

In 1999, Justin's mother began home schooling Justin and his two brothers. During this time, they explored different avenues of education, particularly introducing them to more "hands-on" experiences and going on numerous field trips to locations throughout Southern California. They were very involved in the home schooling scene and attended conferences, park days and organized group classes with other home-schooled children.

In 2001, Justin was offered the opportunity to attend a private school in La Canada, California on a work-study program. Doug Hogg, then the owner/principal of Pinewood Academy of Literacy and the Arts, gave Justin the opportunity to work at the school in exchange for his tuition. He attended classes in the morning and worked for Doug in the afternoon. At 14, he learned to do basic accounting using "Quicken", was taught how to repair computers, do computer networking, and performed numerous other duties at the school.

In June, 2003, Justin had enough credits to graduate from Pinewood Academy of Literacy and the Arts with straight “A’s” at the age of 16. He is, however, still enrolled in high school so he can complete Algebra II and is taking robotics, film, photography, voice, acting and dance. The name of the high school has now changed to Los Angeles Academy of Literacy and the Arts.

BOY SCOUTS

In 1994, Justin's mother began a Cub Scout den and the whole family has been involved in the Boy Scout program ever since. As a Cub Scout, Justin received the "Arrow of Light Award" - the highest honor a Cub Scout can achieve. 1n 1998, at the age of 12, Justin joined Boy Scout Troop 8 in the Los Angeles Area Council. He has served as a Troop Leader for most of his years as a Scout and has participated in the Troop's High Adventure Program. At 14, he completed a 50-mile backpack trip and climbed the highest mountain in Southern California. He has attended Boy Scout Summer Camp every year since becoming a Scout and this year he earned his PADI Scuba certification at Summer Camp. In the summer of 2001, Justin and his brother Shane attended the Boy Scout National Jamboree. Prior to a week spent at the Jamboree with thousands of other Scouts, they went on a two-week tour of famous landmarks throughout the east, including Gettysburg, the White House, the Washington Monument, Liberty Island, Niagara Falls, The Baseball Hall of Fame and New York City, where they had their pictures taken on top of the World Trade Center - just 7 weeks before 9/11.

SCOUTING AWARDS

Life Scout (working toward Eagle) Order of the Arrow member (Scouting honorary society) CPR Trained Merit Badges: Swimming, Lifesaving, Camping, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Rifle, Canoe, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Aviation, Leatherwork, Metalwork, Shotgun, Archery, First Aid, Communications, Citizenship in the Community Arrow of Light (the highest award in Cub Scouts) 50 Mile Golden Bighorn Award River Rat Patch (built his own raft and drifted 20 miles down the Colorado River) Boy Scout Certificate of Merit (in recognition of Meritorious Action for swiftly applying first aid/emergency measures when his brother fell off an ATV and cut a six-inch gash on his skull and broke his collarbone.)

ROBOTICS

Justin has participated in the FIRST National Robotics Competition for the past two years. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded by famed American inventor Dean Kamen and MIT professor, Woodie Flowers as a program to get youth involved in engineering and science. In 2002, Justin was the Team Captain and robot driver for Team 980. His team won the "Rookie of the Year" Award for their unique robot design and for team spirit. That year Justin traveled, with other select Team members, to Orlando, FL for the 2002 Championships. In 2003, Justin worked on the team's Mechanical section and served as a Team Ambassador, explaining the competition and the rules of the game to VIP's attending the events. He participated in the Los Angeles Regionals and traveled with the team to the Phoenix Regionals and to Houston for the 2003 Championships. The FIRST program has given Justin a solid grounding in engineering, mechanics, physics and a tremendous amount of hands-on experience doing machine-shop work. His mentors include engineers from JPL, most notably, those who are currently working on the Mars Rover for NASA.

ROBOTICS TEAM 980 AWARDS

2002 - Rookie Team of the Year, Los Angeles Regionals 2003 - Motorola Quality Award, Phoenix Regionals 2003 - Xerox Creativity Award, Los Angeles Regionals.

SKILLS AND HOBBIES

Guitar (acoustic and electric) Filmmaking Didgeridoo Pennywhistle Canoeing Kayaking Martial Arts Gymnastics Trampoline Skateboarding Rollerblading Juggling Yo-yoing Swimming Years of Backpacking experience Survival Skills Poetry Writing

MISCELLANEOUS

In the summer of 2002, Justin's grandmother, Linda Svendsen, a professional photographer and world-traveler took him on a journey through Western Australia where she was photographing landscapes for a book she was working on. He traveled with her on a camping tour throughout Western Australia for 6 weeks. While there he enjoyed sand boarding, snorkeling, riding in a helicopter, boogie boarding, camel riding, and cliff diving. He climbed the famed 210-foot "Bicentennial Tree" in the Pemberton Karri forest, and learned "circular breathing" in order to play the didgeridoo (a very difficult Aboriginal instrument). He made friends with dozens of people from Australia, New Zealand, Germany, England and Japan and the welcome mat is out for him in countries all over the world. Currently, Justin's interests center around music and filmmaking. He is an accomplished guitarist and writes songs with his best friend, also an accomplished guitar and bass player. Justin has an eclectic taste in music, enjoying everything from Hank Williams Sr. to the Gypsy Kings to Radiohead. He has a broad knowledge of film history and has taken two years of filmmaking in high school. His most recent film, made with his friend and music partner, Chris Rolontz, was a hit at Pinewood Academy's first annual film festival in June 2003. Gymnastics is Justin's favorite sport. He attends 3-4 hours weekly at the open mat session at Gymnastics Olympica in Van Nuys.

STAGE

The Fantastiks Lead/Matt Dir: Erin Holt (Pinewood Academy, school play) The Snow Queen Gypsy (gymnast) Dir: Erin Holt (Dance Now Academy, yearly performance) Grease Actor/Dancer/Singer Dir: Gerri Williams (Steppin' Out, youth performance group) And in Time, We will Actor/Dancer/Singer Dir: Shelly Freeman All be Stars… (Steppin' Out, youth performance group) A Rock and Roll Story Actor/Dancer/Singer Dir: Shelly Freeman (Steppin' Out, youth performance group) Tom Sawyer, Musical Tom Sawyer Dir: Suzanne Seagrave (Los Feliz Academy, school play)

FEATURE FILM

Shelf Life (Paul Bartel's last film) Billy (supporting) Dir: Paul Bartel

COMMERCIALS & MUSIC VIDEOS

Pray For Peace (9/11 Tribute) Boy Scout Scott Miller & Co. Kohl's Department Store Principle Scott Miller Mercedes Benz (Art Center Project) Principle Hugo Carrillo

THEATRICAL TRAINING

Dance and Gymnastics: Erin Holt Dance Studio, Gymnastics Olympica Guitar: Jim Johnson Piano: Linda Wehrli, Tom Fair Singing: Christine Morrison Acting: George Randall, Helene Kress,