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Class of 2016 Valedictorians and Salutatorians

May 23, 2016, 9:43 am
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Spring Branch ISD’s five high schools have announced valedictorians and salutatorians for the graduating Class of 2016.


Four SBISD campuses will host graduation ceremonies on Saturday, May 28, and one high school will conduct its graduation ceremony in the early evening on Tuesday, May 31.


Memorial High names 17 co-valedictorians and eight co-salutatorians


Memorial High School has named 17 co-valedictorians and eight co-salutatorians to represent the Class of 2016.

Graduating Memorial High seniors will receive their diplomas at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, at Don Coleman Coliseum.

The Class of 2016’s co-valedictorians are Matthew Charles Andersen, Arabella Inés Benavides, Rosalie Miranda Caplan, Nicholas Antonio Cumberland, Robert Connor Donnan, Sarah Lorena Duncan, Allison Renee Eggert, Annett Philipson Gawerc, Jordan Ann Hammond, Andrea Jiang, Caroline Appling Jones, Noah James Kenner, Dong Eun Lee, Parker Lynn Posell, Zachary Morgan Powell, Rachel Taylor Read and Taylor Slater Rubbo.

This year’s co-salutatorians at Memorial High are Meredith Anne Aucock, Ky Duyen Vu Cao, Angela Ann-Ning Chin, Aniston Marie Hill, Audrey Lydia Hur, Kirby Alayne Rachel Peterman, Paige Margaret Reed and Edwin Daniel Wyatt.



Spring Woods High School names a valedictorian and three co-salutatorians


Spring Woods High School has named a valedictorian and three co-salutatorians to represent the Class of 2016.

Graduating seniors at this SBISD campus will receive their diplomas at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, at Don Coleman Coliseum.

The Class of 2016’s valedictorian is Christine Vo. Co-salutatorians this year at Spring Woods High are Dana Thuy Duong, Nhi Thuy Ho and Angel Eduardo Ramirez.


Stratford High names 41 co-valedictorians and nine co-salutatorians


Stratford High School has named 41 co-valedictorians and nine co-salutatorians to represent the Class of 2016.

Graduating Stratford High seniors will receive diplomas at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, at Don Coleman Coliseum.

The Class of 2016’s co-valedictorians are Caroline Marie Addison, Timothy Randall Angeles, Kiana Ashley Banafshay, Henry Wallace Baring, Parker Thomas Barrett, Jessica Lynn Bernstein, Jennifer Michelle Brann, Lawrence Clay Collins Jr., Emily Ann Gex, Julia Ann Gex, Danielle Kathleen Greene, Steven Blake Grooms, Christian Taylor Hachtman, Nicholas Joseph Hasou, William Kelle Henderson, Abigail Rena Hirst, Jackson David Holland II, Charles Sewall Howell, Emma Marie Jackson, Scott Mathes Kennedy and Charles James Kight.

Also named co-valedictorians are Claire Elizabeth Koenig, MaKenzie Mae Kooken, Mary Kathryn Kopatic, Hee Won Lee, Alan Thomas MacIvor, Taylor Alexandra Meyer, David Alan Mogilevsky, Alexander Joseph Plant, Alyssa Maria Plant, David Michael Quinlan, John Fischer Robinson, Alexandre Rubinstein, Filipe Rubinstein, Yoolim Seo, Jamie Song, Diane Samantha Sosa, Nicolas Jesus Terrazas, John Kelley Whelen, Haley Grey Wilson and Jake Isaac Wright.
This year’s co-salutatorians at Stratford High are Katelyn Elizabeth Balevic, Justin Paul Carlin, Julia Alicia Corteguera, Christopher Thomas Elston, William Watson Fowler, Suzannah Jean Frazelle, Andrew Ryan Kelly, Reilly Ellis Lawrence and Katherine Gaile Thomas.



Northbrook High School names 2 co-valedictorians and a salutatorian


Northbrook High School has named two co-valedictorians and a salutatorian to represent the Class of 2016.

Graduating Northbrook High seniors will receive their diplomas at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, at Don Coleman Coliseum.

The Class of 2016’s co-valedictorians are Allan Oniel Caniz and Daisy Paola Castillo. Salutatorian this year is Danielle Garcia.



Westchester Academy names a valedictorian and 2 co-salutatorians


Westchester Academy for International Studies has named a valedictorian and two co-salutatorians to represent the Class of 2016.

Graduating seniors at Westchester Academy will receive their diplomas at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, at Don Coleman Coliseum.

The Class of 2016’s valedictorian is Termeh Ahi. Co-salutatorians are Joshua Tyler McCune and Daniel Villagomez.



Don Coleman Coliseum safety and security notice


For the safety and security of our graduates and families, no backpacks or oversized bags will be allowed in Don Coleman Coliseum. Bags will be checked at all Coliseum entrances.
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Cedar Brook Elementary Wins Principal’s Prize from Local Food Group

May 26, 2016, 9:26 am
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Cedar Brook Elementary staff members and leadership earned Recipe for Success Foundation’s coveted Principal’s Prize recently for participation and involvement in the fourth annual VegOut! Challenge.

The SBISD elementary school will share the prize this year with the Annunciation Orthodox School in Houston’s Museum District. Principal Jeffrey Post and school staff received the award for the 30-day healthy diet challenge during a special Earth Day groundbreaking event held at Hope Farms in Houston on April 22.

Winning schools had to encourage students, teachers and staff to eat 30 vegetables in as many days. The two winning schools were each rewarded with a shared meal from a VegOut! 2016 sponsor – SNAP Kitchen or Chipotle.


The seven-acre Hope Farms, located in the Sunnyside city neighborhood, is a new Recipe for Success project, an organic farm situated in an area with little access to neighborhood grocery stores, also known as a food desert.

The farm project is designed to teach military veterans to be successful agricultural entrepreneurs, a foundation press release reports.

More than 100 people attended the Hope Farms event, including local City Council Member at Large Jack Christie, a well-known Memorial resident and former school district leader.

Cedar Brook Elementary students, staff and teachers eagerly took part again in this year’s VegOut! Challenge, which asks participants to try 30 different vegetables in just 30 days. Or in other words, eat a new type of vegetable each and every day.

The SBISD elementary campus has been an active and engaged partner in the past few years with the Recipe for Success Foundation. The foundation has won award recognition for its work in recent years.

“The Cedar Brook team has taken a lead nationally in engaging students and staff to eat their veggies! They offered samples of the “Veggie of the Day” to 900-plus students, faculty and staff – among other activities – to make eating veggies fun,” Recipe for Success reports.

More than 150 students, teachers and staff took part during the March challenge, a turnout that translated into 4,500 separate vegetables consumed. Proclaims Recipe for Success on their prize award: “That’s a lot of green!”

The Principal’s Prize is awarded to the school with the most teachers, leaders and staff participating. We congratulate the work that the teachers, administration and staff have done at Cedar Brook Elementary to make healthy eating a quite normal activity,” Recipe for Success also states.

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Navy Jr. ROTC Student News and Updates

May 26, 2016, 10:31 am
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Pictured are graduating senior cadets Steven Caballero of Westchester Academy, Luis Pineda of Memorial High, and Jacqueline Bustamante and Gillian Arroyo, both of Spring Woods High School. (Photo courtesy Guthrie-Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC)

These recent Navy Jr. ROTC program updates from The Guthrie Center include news about cadet graduations, orienteering team awards, and a recent tour of the Texas A&M University campus. Read more below:

Senior Cadets prepare for graduation and future

Thirteen senior cadets enrolled in Spring Branch ISD’s Navy Jr. ROTC program at The Guthrie Center will receive their diplomas during graduation ceremonies being held Saturday or next Tuesday, May 31.

Eight graduating cadets intend to enroll in college or universities, four are planning on enlisting in the U.S. military services, and one senior plans to work for one year and then begin college studies.

Graduating cadets include Steven Caballero of Westchester Academy, Luis Pineda of Memorial High, and Jacqueline Bustamante and Gillian Arroyo, both of Spring Woods High School. 

Steven Caballero and Luis Pineda plan on enrolling at the University of Houston. Jacqueline Bustamante intends to enroll at Prairie View A&M University, and Gillian Arroyo will attend Texas A&M University at Kingsville this fall. 

The Guthrie-Spring Branch ISD Navy Jr. ROTC program teaches self-discipline, self-confidence, personal responsibility and leadership skills that help all students successfully meet life’s challenges.

This elective course is open to all SBISD high school students.

Student Cadet Orienteering Team wins first place
Orienteering Team members, left to right, are Megan Olvera, Daisy Baltazar, Dennis Lopez and Pedro Quiroz. (Photo courtesy Guthrie-Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC)


Twenty-five student cadets with SBISD’s Navy Jr. ROTC program at The Guthrie Center competed recently in the fifth annual Magnolia Navy Jr. ROTC Deep Sea Meet, hosted by the ROTC program at Magnolia High School.

SBISD’s cadet orienteering team placed first in team orienteering. Team members from Northbrook High School included Pedro Quiroz, junior; Megan Olvera, sophomore; and Daisy Baltazar, freshman. Dennis Lopez, a Spring Woods High School freshman, was also a team member.

Pedro Quiroz also earned an individual first-place medal at this event.

Orienteering is a competitive sport in which participants use an accurate, detailed map and a compass to find points in the landscape in the quickest amount of time.

Fifteen cadets tour Texas A&M University and ROTC related programs
Top row, left to right: Mirna Cardenas (Northbrook High Class of 2014); Amber Evans, sophomore, Anthon Condon, junior, Chase Smesmy, sophomore, and Elijah Rodel, Justin Mendoza, and Joseph Castelli, juniors, all of Spring Woods High; Jonathan Rodriguez, sophomore, Northbrook High; and Cynthia Guiterrez, junior, also Spring Woods High; Center: Azucena Gonzalez, sophomore, Spring Woods High; Bottom, kneeling: Austin Muckridge, sophomore, Stratford High; Chris Barron, sophomore, Westchester Academy; Lauren Rodela, sophomore, Spring Woods High; Pedro Quiroz, junior, Northbrook High; Devon Williams, sophomore, Spring Woods High; and Elba DeLaRosa, junior, Northbrook High. (Photo courtesy Guthrie-Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC)


Fifteen student cadets from Spring Woods, Northbrook and Stratford high schools and Westchester Academy for International Studies toured Texas A&M University during a May 12 campus visit.

The university tour was led by former Guthrie-Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC Cadet Commanding Officer Mirna Cardenas, a 2014 Northbrook High graduate who has completed her sophomore year. She is majoring in education and health.

The cadets toured the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, received a briefing on the Navy ROTC scholarship available at Texas A&M and toured Rudder Tower, the Memorial Student Center and the Evans Library during the recent visit.

The district’s Navy Jr. ROTC program is led by Commander Jerry Coufal and Master Chief Mark Heuser.
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Northbrook High Grads Motivated by Great Teachers

May 26, 2016, 12:24 pm
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Pictured are (left to right) Jennifer Garcia,Bryan Turtius, Amy Rodriguez and Elvira Campos.

A fifth-grade teacher with high expectations. Two middle school choir directors. A coach with positive words. These are a few of the inspiring educators who have led four seniors at Northbrook High School to graduation with clear purpose and goals.

These four – Jennifer Garcia, Elvira Campos, Bryan Turtius and Amy Rodriguez --  are now headed to top Texas colleges and universities, the U.S. Marine Corps, and even to an elite liberal arts college in woodsy central Maine.

For one of them, a traumatic skateboarding accident resulted in months of physical rehabilitation and neurological retraining exercises during the past two years.

“Four years ago when I first met the Class of 2016, I challenged them to leave a legacy behind after they graduated,” 12th grade Principal Stacy Sanchez says. “I wanted everyone to say, ‘Hey, that Class of 2016 was outstanding!’”

“The day has come and the Class of 2016 has met my challenge and surpassed my expectations. I couldn’t be happier to have Bryan, Elvira, Amy and Jennifer showcased for their awesomeness. They’re just a glimpse of what Northbrook High School’s Class of 2016 has accomplished.”  

Two Raiders Ready for Texas A&M

Jennifer Garcia and Elvira Campos are headed this fall to Texas A&M University at College Station, a favored destination for many Raider high achievers.

For Jennifer, walking across the stage at Don Coleman Coliseum on Saturday will be a testament to an incredible comeback story. In August 2014, just weeks before her junior year, Jennifer was struck by a car on the street outside Landrum Middle and hospitalized with serious head and pelvis injuries. She was on her skateboard.

A month or so later, she left the hospital and began the journey back to health and high school coursework. She came back to Northbrook High by attending athletic training class, and then was homeschooled in English. She returned to a full set of classes in February 2015, and has pushed herself this year to meet both junior and senior-year requirements.

“School was hard, and it still is. I still sometimes have trouble speaking words. I’ll know the word I’m looking for, but it doesn’t come out. For senior year, it was the two years smashed into one,” she says.

This year, she ran morning cross country practice, followed athletic training after school, and then found time for outside work. “Every day, I was exhausted. I had days I wanted to give up, but I never did. Everything has now paid off with being able to graduate and to go on to college!”   

In addition to Northbrook High, Jennifer attended The Lion Lane School for Early Learning, Treasure Forest Elementary and Landrum Middle.

A Treasure Forest fifth-grade teacher, Mirith Ballestas, an intervention specialist at the school today, inspired her.

“She was always a little bit hard on me, and that pushed me. She noticed I could do more. She made me take my tests in English, and she recommended me for Pre-AP Math. I tried harder because of Ms. Ballestas,” Jennifer says.

Elvira Campos found her voice and emotional footing in Jaime Trigo’s Landrum Middle choir room. “He was a parent figure for me,” says Elvira, who did not have a dad living at home. “Mr. Trigo taught me right from wrong. He taught me to take risks and to believe in myself above all.”

She is also a graduate of Lion Lane PreK, but attended Ridgecrest Elementary and then Landrum Middle and Northbrook High.

Jennifer is planning a career in accounting, starting with a small company and then working her way up. She’s won three scholarships so far, including a $2,000 award from the Assistance League and $500 athletic training award through the Memorial Hermann Hospital system.

Elvira’s college goal is a teaching degree. Her English III teacher helped her think about how family income may predict student educational attainment, opportunity and future success.

“I want to teach others that money should not make such a difference. If I can make it, then others like me can make it, too,” she says.

Texas A&M University has named her a recipient of both the Regent and Century four-year scholarships, valued at up to $160,000, and Leadership Houston alumni with Landrum Middle ties have awarded her a $1,000 Flight XXV Scholarship. A $750 Delta Kappa Gamma scholarship has been awarded to her, too.  

This Marine Thinks About Digital Security

In a few months, Bryan Turtius will trade summer heat here for the Pacific Ocean breezes and rigorous training associated with the Camp Pendleton Marine base in California.

According to Bryan, Coach Andre Brooks at Landrum Middle said a few words to him in eighth grade and turned him away from a troubled school history. 

“He said, ‘I heard you haven’t been in trouble. I’m proud of you. Keep it up.’ That made a real impression on me,” he recalls. Bryan has huge plans for his future, and he is already thinking about his goals after four years in the U.S. Marines.

“I want to study computer science and cybersecurity,” says Bryan, who enrolled in basic computer classes at The Guthrie Center. “I have made it a goal to learn some computer languages myself. I find it really fascinating to see how easily corporate systems and programs can be compromised and manipulated.”

During Marine service up to 100 percent of education expenses may be paid by the federal government through programs like tuition assistance, the Post 9-11 G.I. Bill and the Marine Corps College Fund. Selected Marines may earn degrees through a college degree program with two- and four-year degree options.

Posse Scholar Preps for Maine’s Colby College

If Amy Rodriguez hadn’t been moved from her first choice of orchestra to choir during sixth grade, she might not have discovered a passion so early nor learned how to sing under Spring Oaks Middle choir teacher Greg Morgan.

“I want to be a choir teacher. I plan to major in theater, dance and music thanks to Colby’s dual theater and dance major,” says Amy, a Posse Scholar group member who will attend Colby College in Waterville, Maine, this fall.

Colby is a small, liberal arts college consistently ranked among the top colleges in the nation. Waterville, Maine. Posse Scholars like Amy are chosen by a nonprofit organization, the Posse Foundation, to be part of small student teams prepared for top-tier universities and colleges with special, senior-year group training.

Posse focuses on team success through college academics while improving cross-cultural awareness. The Posse Foundation, founded in 1989, identifies public high school students with high academic and leadership potential who might be passed over in the traditional college selection process.

Posse students are placed in supportive, multicultural teams – or posses – of about 10 students. Partner colleges and universities award these students four-year, fully paid tuition leadership scholarships.

Amy has attended The Tiger Trail School for Early Learning, both Spring Branch and Spring Oaks elementaries, Spring Oaks Middle, and Northbrook High School after spending her freshman year at Spring Woods High.

Spring Oaks Middle’s Greg Morgan is the teacher who first inspired her. “I had no singing experience, except what I sang in the shower. But I did feel so comfortable with him, and when everything came together, it was beautiful. He has inspired me to be and become a choir teacher,” she says.

A National Honor Society member, Amy won high honors in UIL Science early as a sophomore. Her Advanced Placement courses included English and government, in addition to senior calculus.

She was a varsity choir member, performed this year in the all-district musical, In The Heights, and played Annie in the same musical last year at Northbrook High. If not busy enough, Amy’s also a new mom to Sophia Elizabeth, born in January.

“I’d like to be a high school theater director and be involved in community theater to help rekindle interest in all the fine arts,” she says. “But who knows? I could be on Broadway in my future, too!”

As a Posse Scholar, she attends required meetings downtown with other students. She was attracted to Colby College in Maine after spending time in Montana as a Woods Project summer program student.

“The orientation for freshmen at Colby is a hiking trip. That really attracted me,” she says. She picked a good week to visit the Maine campus – during the recent flooding here – but she admits her first frosty winter is still ahead.

Amy’s advice to her earlier self might well apply to the future: “Life will slowly work itself out. Don’t stress too much!”
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Memorial Graduate ‘Blessed’ After Journey From Syria

May 26, 2016, 1:16 pm
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Abdul Kalo has had enough risk. Just getting to Memorial High School a couple of years ago involved more risk than most assume in a lifetime.

Kalo will graduate Saturday and go on to study biomedical engineering at UT-San Antonio. Even his choice of major indicates a certain weariness with risk.

He had planned to major in petroleum engineering, he said, but watching the ups and downs – and particularly the latest downs – of the oil industry convinced him to try another discipline.

“My family and I have already taken risks,” he said. “I want more stability.”

Kalo immigrated to the United States from Syria by way of Qatar, escaping civil war and violence in his hometown of Homs.

Life once was good in Homs. Kalo attended an American private school where he enjoyed his studies and he was active in sports. His family operated a water treatment business and had for generations. Abdul Kalo shares a name with his father and grandfather and looked forward to becoming a mechanical engineer and one day taking over the family business.

All that changed during the spring of 2011, when protests in Damascus and elsewhere were met with violent crackdowns by Prime Minister Bashar al-Assad’s troops.

Kalso and his family watched as demonstrations took place in other small cities but not in Homs. But it wasn’t long before the protests reached Homs, at first peaceful but eventually turning violent as the army started cracking down.

Through the violence, Kalo’s family’s life was pretty much the same although devastation lay all around them. He kept going to school, some 30 miles away, which was unsafe, he said, but he went anyway. It wasn’t long before he switched to a school closer to his home.

Even that wasn’t safe enough. Within a couple of months a school bus carrying students from Kalo’s school was shot up, killing a classmate and injuring seven, including a friend of his brother.

Kalo’s mother said “no more.”

The family moved to Damascus, the Syrian capital about a couple of hours south of Homs and close to the border with Lebanon, to live with his grandparents. He went to school there, a good school, he said, and life was again somewhat ordinary.

Soon, though, the violence reached Damascus. Kalo’s father went ahead to Qatar where he started a new water treatment company. The family business in Homs was gone – literally and physically, Kalo said. “The building, everything was gone,” he said. “We couldn’t get parts and supplies.”

The family was living in the back part of their house, away from the street and away from the gunfire, when Kalo and his family had one of their more harrowing experiences. They were traveling on a highway and got caught in crossfire between rebels and army troops, then went the wrong way trying to escape. Soldiers stopped their vehicle and tried to make the family go back the direction they’d come.

When his family refused, the soldiers made a call and reported that the area from where they’d just come – the crossfire area – was safe. The family disagreed but turned around then exited the highway at the first opportunity. It was at a hotel where Kalo’s mother made yet another decree.

We need out, she said.

The family moved to Qatar, joining Kalo’s father. Kalo went back to school, a private school in Qatar that he says was not as good as his former school.

“Qatar was really different for us,” he said. “There are many races – it’s a very mixed place.”

And expensive. Kalo stayed in Qatar for a year while his family worked on getting U.S. visas.

“We’d lost our home, our cars, our company,” he said. “We started from zero in Qatar. But it’s too expensive there … it’s like sucking on blood.”

After a month in Egypt they came to Texas. Kalo’s mother had friends here, in Houston, and the family chose a home because of Memorial High School. His mother wanted Abdul to go to a public school because the family had already “spent so much” on private school, he said.

And while making up schoolwork has been difficult, and finding the college acceptance/financing process especially challenging for a non-U.S. resident, Kalo is happy with life at Memorial High School.

He plays soccer competitively for Memorial and for club soccer team the Albion Hurricanes, and swims and plays tennis for fun. Besides his mother, Abdul Kalo has a sister in college, a younger brother at Memorial High School and a younger sister at Memorial Middle School.

Academically, he’s had to make up a lot of ground for all the time he missed as the family fled Syria.

He took exams to make up some credits but had to take courses such as U.S. History for the first time. And his English, he said, has gotten “way better” in the two years he’s been at Memorial. “It wasn’t good when I got here,” he said.

He likes Houston and Memorial High School and says that people here are similar to Syrians, that culture and life here is much like it is in Syria, at least pre-revolution Syria.

One difference? The college application process. In Syria, he said, students take a test and the score largely determines where you go to college.

Here, he said, students deal with standardized tests, paperwork, looking for scholarships.

“It’s really stressful to get into college, I’ll just tell you,” he said. But looking back on his journey to the United States and Houston, and even now worrying about resident status and college, Abdul Kalo puts it all in perspective.

“I’m blessed to be here,” he said.

Rusty Graham
russell.graham@springbranchisd.com

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Mother the Picture of Sacrifice for WAIS Graduate

May 26, 2016, 1:35 pm
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Daniel Villagomez knows sacrifice. He even knows what it looks like.

“Sacrifice. I’ve gotten to know it so well,” Villagomez said. “My mother – this is what sacrifice is.”

His mother – a single mom with four kids – put three of those kids through private school St. Mark’s Lutheran for elementary and middle school, then sent Villagomez’s older siblings through another private school for high school.

And it was his mother who found Westchester Academy of International Studies and knew that it, not the other private high school, was the right fit for Villagomez – it was public and had rigorous academics and other opportunities.

Those opportunities didn’t include sports, something of an initial issue for Villagomez who had been active in athletics at St. Mark’s. “I missed sports but I’ve managed,” he said.

How? By completing an International Baccalaureate (IB) Career certificate, becoming certified in 3D animation at the Guthrie Center -- and by finishing high school as a salutatorian after narrowly missing valedictorian.

Doing the IB Career diploma allowed Villagomez to go to the Guthrie Center to study 3D animation for four years.

“It’s not 100 percent what an IB diploma is, but I do have the career piece,” he said. “And if the certificate doesn’t do what I think it will, I still have the 3D animation (certificate).”

With no legacy to follow into WAIS, Villagomez waited out the lottery system and waiting list, being notified in the summer before he started ninth grade that he’d been accepted.
“I knew one person (at WAIS),” he said. “But even if I hadn’t known anybody I would have been fine. That’s why I love Westchester.” Noting his recent election as prom king he added, “I guess that shows I’ve met a few people here (at WAIS).”

He plans to study mechanical engineering at Texas A&M – “I’ve always liked machines,” he said – and is sure about venturing into Aggieland as an undergraduate. Once again, he’s breaking family tradition – his older brother recently graduated from Concordia University in Austin and his sister currently attends the same school.

Still, he said his brother and sister and their college careers are big influences in his life.

His mom, a surgical scrub technician with a technical degree, is working on her bachelor’s degree to become a registered nurse but put those plans on hold while her kids are in college.

“My mom is constantly moving up the ladder for us,” said Villagomez. “I have no problem saying that she’s an incredible woman.”

Rusty Graham
russell.graham@springbranchisd.com
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First to Graduate, First to College for WAIS Senior

May 26, 2016, 1:51 pm
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You might forgive Nancy Uroza if she hadn’t finished high school, or if she wasn’t going on to college to study business.

After all, the Westchester Academy of International Studies senior is the oldest of seven children, a caregiver who helps her landscaper father and stay-at-home mother – neither of whom finished high school – with her younger siblings.

And like many immigrant families, Uroza moved around quite a bit in her early years, when her family lived in Cy-Fair ISD.

But that would be selling Nancy Uroza short – way short. Nancy Uroza will be the first in her family to graduate from high school and the first to go to college. And not only graduate from high school, but to graduate with a bilingual International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. Twelfth grade counselor Beverly Martin puts that piece into perspective – “It’s the hardest one,” she said. “The language piece is like taking it in that country.”

Uroza, 18, said that coming to WAIS in sixth grade gave her stability that she hadn’t had before.

“I like it here,” she said. “We moved around a lot in Cy-Fair and staying here was stable for me.”

She said that WAIS, one of Spring Branch ISD’s choice schools, was a ‘calm’ school. “I don’t see any bullying or drugs or anything like that,” Uroza said. “And even though we don’t have sports we do have school spirit,” noting pep rallies around things like teacher appreciation.

She said that she’s been more involved in school activities during her Upper School years than in Middle School. She’s led both the Spanish Honor Society and the French Honor Society and is a member of the National Honor Society.

And she’s proud of her IB diploma as well.

“I like it – I think,” she said, laughing. “I definitely got an idea of what college classes are like.”

Uroza and two sisters who are close to her in age and who also attend WAIS help out with younger siblings – a seventh-grader at KIPP Courage, a fourth-grader and second-grader at Edgewood Elementary, and a one-year-old at home.

She plans to first attend the University of Houston-Downtown then transfer to Houston Baptist University and study business administration. She’s not exactly sure what she wants to do after that.

“Maybe I’ll open a family company, something horticultural, in honor of my dad,” she said. Or maybe a shoe company – “I love shoes,” she said – and donate some of the profits to a service organization.

“I love helping people,” she said. “Maybe I’ll form a non-profit.”

Rusty Graham
russell.graham@springbranchisd.com

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Debate Opens Eyes to World for Spring Woods Senior

May 26, 2016, 2:18 pm
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Christine Vo has seen the world, and she’s seen it from Spring Branch.

The Spring Woods High School senior and valedictorian credits her exposure to international relations to her participation in debate, where she is a three-time competitor on the national level.

“I want to help alleviate people out of poverty,” Vo said. “I’ve seen how disadvantaged our community is compared to others … I want to help people get an opportunity in life to help themselves.

“That interest has manifested itself from debate,” she said. “When I graduate (from college) I want to make change and help people.”

Vo, 18, grew up in Spring Branch ISD, and attended Terrace Elementary, Spring Oaks Middle School and Spring Woods High School. And while she’s on her way to the University of Texas at Austin to study international relations, she’s also rooted in the area.

“I love it here,” she said. “It’s a great community.”

Her parents came to Houston from Vietnam in the 1970s, part of the wave of Vietnamese immigrants known as “boat people” – refugees desperate to escape South Vietnam as the United States withdrew after a decade of war.

Vo said her parents made a life here, and perhaps she learned service from her mother, who works with a local non-profit helping Vietnamese immigrants get visas. Her father, with whom Vo shares a birthday, died just 10 days short of that birthday during her junior year.

“It’s been difficult but I’ve persevered,” said Vo. “Most of the stuff I do in school I do for him.”

Besides debate, Vo has participated in orchestra, playing cello for seven years, and helped out with several local political campaigns.

But its debate that’s really exposed her to a bigger world.

“Debate has opened my eyes to a lot of people,” she said. “I’ve met kids from across the country,” she said, students from all kinds of backgrounds. It’s that diversity, particularly economic diversity, that she hopes to tackle one day.

“I want to battle income inequality, either here or abroad,” said Vo.

Rusty Graham
russell.graham@springbranchisd.com

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Before or Behind Camera, Memorial Senior Likes the Action

May 27, 2016, 7:13 am
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Here’s a name to watch for when the credits are rolling – Michael Kim.

The Memorial High School senior is on his way to Harvard to pursue visual and environmental studies – which is “pretty much just film,” Kim said.

And that suits Kim just fine. By his own admission, he’s all about video and has been since a relatively simple project at Memorial Middle School piqued his interest.

“We had to do a book trailer (a short film summarizing/promoting a book),” Kim said. “I got a bad grade but I liked doing the video.”

He’d discovered his creative side and from that point forward, all his projects were video-based. He’d also discovered that he wanted to become something other than a doctor, like his father, an oral surgeon.

He invests himself into the entire video process – scripting or rewriting a music video, recording sound, filming relevant footage then editing the package.

While Kim enjoys making videos and intends to study film at Harvard, he ultimately wants to be in front of the camera.

“I’d like to break out on YouTube,” he said, “and be something of a celebrity. But I don’t know what YouTube will look like in a few years.

“I’m kind of a goofball, really,” Kim said. “But personality-wise, people expect me to be serious.” Besides filmmaking, he’s a fencer, a cellist in orchestra, on student council and active in Memorial Mustang Outreach Bunch (MMOB), a student service organization.

Always on the college track, Kim said he had to satisfy his father’s requirements of good grades and a good school to earn the freedom to study film.

His grades were good enough to secure an early admission to Harvard.

“I’m not sure why (I was admitted early),” he says, with genuine modesty. “I think they must like me because I’m different.” Still, he’d met his father’s criteria.

Kim moved to Spring Branch ISD from Fort Bend ISD while in middle school, attending Memorial Middle and Memorial High School. He said that he’s enjoyed his time at Memorial.

“I think Spring Branch did well,” he said. “Memorial (High School) is competitive but not cutthroat competitive. Spring Branch did a good job of working together.”

Rusty Graham
russell.graham@springbranchisd.com
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Spring Branch Education Foundation Awards 127 Scholarships

May 27, 2016, 9:26 am
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Pictured are Lissa Schwartz (left) and Superintendent Dr. Scott Muri (right) with Spring Branch Education Foundation Scholarship recipients.
Spring Branch ISD graduates receive $135,000

A record number of Spring Branch Independent School District seniors - 127 - received a total of $135,000 in scholarships at the Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) 2016 Bright Stars of SBISD, Celebrating Academic Excellence awards program on May 19 at The Westin Houston, Memorial City.

The event, hosted by SBEF, honored scholarship recipients as well as Teachers and Principals of the Year for 2015-16. “These seniors and educators are stand-outs who represent so many bright stars in Spring Branch ISD,” SBEF Executive Director Cece Thompson said. “It’s a privilege to recognize them.”

“The evening is not just another opportunity to award higher education scholarships,” Warren Matthews, SBEF Scholarship Committee chair, said. “We publicly pay tribute to our seniors for their achievements, to the educators who have prepared our honorees for the next stage of their lives and to our community leaders and volunteers for their support and involvement in educating our youth.”


Pictured are CITGO STEM Scholarship recipients.


Throughout the school year, Spring Branch ISD staff members contribute to the SBEF Employee Campaign, funding scholarships for SBISD graduates who are children of district employees. When employees were asked in August 2015 to contribute to SBEF’s 2015-16 Employee Campaign scholarship fund, they eagerly responded.


Pictured are Employee Campaign Scholarship recipients.


“The response was so great that we awarded a $1,000 scholarship to every applicant - 47 graduates. We are thrilled!” Thompson said.

View more photos >>

Employee Campaign Scholarship, $1,000
Academy of Choice – Luis Funes, Katelynn Hollister
Memorial High School – Carol Ann Iler, Victoria Lioliou, Omar Olivares-Cordero, Regan Reese, Rachel Robertson, Courtney Slattery, Kelsey Slattery, Teresa Vergult
Northbrook High School – Daisy Castillo, Oscar Herrera, Ashley Oliva
Spring Woods High School – Jacquelyn Andrade, Clarissa Cano, Jessenia Covarrubias, Brittany Garcia, Kevin Lucas, Andrew Martinez, Kendall Neal
Stratford High School – Kelcy Allen, Thomas Birdsong, Ryan Brown, Marianna Davis, William Fowler, Andre Frederick, Megan Gardner, Emily Gex, Sawyer Greenhill, Melanie Hastings, Helen Hemphill, Addison Johnson, Isobel Makin, Taylor Meyer, Nicholas Phucas, Natalya Pomeroy, Mary-Kate Scurlock, Hugh Sharp, Jared Willis
Westchester Academy for International Studies – Zeynep Dikmen, Clinton Dougher, Marie Drosche, Jon Lim, Joshua McCune, Jesid Post, Emily Ripkowski, Diana Villareal

Other scholarships were presented to SBISD graduates by individuals or organizations, funded through SBEF.

Advocates of Education Scholarship, $1,000
Wade Borrer, Melissa Cisneros, Milton Rico Hernandez, Janeth Lopez, Marvin Melgar, Tuan Le Q, Ramon Vargas, Maryuri Ventura, Northbrook High School

Warren Barfield Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
Henry Baring, Andrew Kelly, James Lewis, Benjamin Moak, Sydney Slack, Stratford High School

Andres Bautista Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
Sarah Garcia, Jose Gonzalez Valles, Nhi Ho, Ruth Lopez, Enrique Urdiales Sosa, Spring Woods High School

Benjamin Cuellar Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
Kiana Banafshay, Stratford High School

Chris Gilbert Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
Sophia Park, Spring Woods High School

CITGO STEM Scholarship, $1,000
Fredy Corrales, Northbrook High School
Ashton Bates, Danielle Greene, Steven Grooms, Abigail Hirst, Mariam Khaldoon, David Mogilevsky, Alexander Plant, Alyssa Plant, John Strong, Nicolas Terrazas, Stratford High School
Anthony Gonzalez, Kevin Le, Emily Navejar, Daniel Villagomez, Westchester Academy for International Studies

Council of PTAs Scholarship, $1,000
Sarah Stephenson, Memorial High School
Jasmin Rodriguez, Northbrook High School
Shane Promsaka, Spring Woods High School
Lawrence Collins Jr., Emily Joseph, Stratford High School
Sara Farrokhi, Westchester Academy for International Studies

Friends of SBEF Scholarship, $1,000
Charles Sewall Howell, Stratford High School

Frostwood Elementary PTA Scholarship, $1,000
Emma Lay, Memorial High School

Goldstein Altman Scholarship, $2,000
Allison Eggert, Madha Faisal, Uma Jacobs, Jonathan Keith, Matthew Stephenson, Memorial High School

Dr. Hal Guthrie Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
Judith Chan, Northbrook High School

Hunters Creek Elementary PTA Scholarship, $1,000
Madeleine Batiz, Stratford High School

Meadow Wood Elementary PTA Scholarship, $1,000
Sean Hurst, Stratford High School

Memorial Middle PTA Scholarship, $1,000
Jackson Holland II, Yuna Kim, Stratford High School

Nabors Industries Scholarship, $1,000
Sung Kim, Stratford High School

Monica Neubauer Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
Bahareh Sharafi, Kaiwen Shen, Memorial High School

Rachel Pendray Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
Dana Duong, Melisa Lopez Emiliano, Matthew Rodgers, Spring Woods High School

Prosperity Bank Scholarship, $1,000
Karenza Shepherd, Northbrook High School

Rummel Creek Elementary Scholarship, $1,000
Katherine Thomas, Stratford High School

Shadow Oaks Elementary PTA Scholarship, funded by Valley Oaks Elementary PTA, $1,000
Esteban Gomez, Spring Woods High School

Spring Branch Education Foundation Scholarship, $1,000
Mario Sidonio, Northbrook High School
Olivia Brady, Justin Carlin, Darian Julun, Molly Murphy, Collins Rush, Stratford High School
Sam Farrokhi, Westchester Academy for International Studies

Spring Branch Lions Club Scholarship, $1,000
Xinyu Liu, Stratford High School

Spring Forest Middle School PTA Scholarship, $1,000
Claire Koenig, Stratford High School

Stratford High School PTSA Sister School Scholarship, $1,000
Elvira Campos, Amy Castillo, Magdalena Delgado, Northbrook High School

Valley Oaks Elementary PTA Scholarship, $1,000
Kennedy Conlee, Spring Woods High School

Judy Weisend Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
Kayla Smith, Stratford High School

Wells Fargo & Company Scholarship, $1,000
Sarah Calhoun, Stratford High School
  
Wilchester Elementary PTA Scholarship, $1,000
Julia Gex, Stratford High School

Wilchester Men’s Club Scholarship, $2,500
Jennifer Brann, Reilly Lawrence, Stratford High School

Community members who wish to support scholarship programs are invited to make tax-deductible donations to the Foundation and earmark it for scholarships. Call 713-251-2381 or visit the Spring Branch Education Foundation website for more information.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation:
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $9 million to the district. In 2015, dewey & associates ranked SBEF 17th in the nation among K-12 education foundations and number one in its division of foundations with $1 million to $1,999,999 in revenues. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.
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SBEF Honors Teachers and Principals of the Year at Bright Stars Event

May 27, 2016, 9:51 am
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Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) honored Teachers and Principals of the Year for the 2015-2016 school year at its annual Bright Stars of SBISD, Celebrating Academic Excellence, on Thursday, May 19, at the Westin Memorial City.

“Our teachers and principals are indeed SBISD’s Bright Stars,” said Cece Thompson, SBEF executive director.

Principals of the Year are nominated by their peers and demonstrate a concern for all students and staff. They work cooperatively with staff, administrators and diverse community groups. Teachers of the Year are selected for similar characteristics, including creativity in their teaching careers.

View more photos >>

2016 Spring Branch ISD Teachers of the Year
Academy of Choice, Lucia Guillen
Bear Blvd., Lindsay Duke
Bendwood Campus, Mary Walker
Buffalo Creek Elementary, Cassie Salas
Bunker Hill Elementary, Allison Wright
Cedar Brook Elementary, Maria Jaimes
Cornerstone Academy, Amanda Leger
District Alternative Education Program, Tracie Mouton
Edgewood Elementary, Teresa Dolan
Frostwood Elementary, Ross Attleson
Guthrie Center, Michael Ortiz
Hollibrook Elementary, Alma Rodriguez
Housman Elementary, Maria Garza
Hunters Creek Elementary, Ashley Johnson
Landrum Middle, Sofia Guerrero
Lion Lane, Lindsey Copp
Meadow Wood Elementary, Sara Morphey
Memorial Drive Elementary, Deborah Guelzow
Memorial High, Jyusef Larry
Memorial Middle, Patricia Aucock
Northbrook High, Amanda Tysor
Northbrook Middle, Gretchen Nyberg
Nottingham Elementary, Stacey Zubair
Panda Path, Sarah Morris
Pine Shadows Elementary, Sara Hernandez
Ridgecrest Elementary, Steven Turner
Rummel Creek Elementary, Kimberly Coolidge
Shadow Oaks Elementary, Natalie McGinness
Sherwood Elementary, Sara Robertson
Spring Branch Elementary, Rachel Dupree
Spring Branch Middle, Jonathan Cook
Spring Forest Elementary, Kelly Harkins
Spring Oaks Elementary, Durst Cage
Spring Shadows Elementary, Amanda Badrak
Spring Woods High, Lora Clay
Spring Woods Middle, Lawrence Anglin
Stratford High, Elaine Sorsby
Terrace Elementary, Virginia Boughter
Thornwood Elementary, Aileen Coyne
Thornwood Elementary, Selma Prewitt
Tiger Trail, Tuoi Robichaux
Treasure Forest, Vivian Urrutia
Valley Oaks Elementary, Courtney Post
Westchester Academy High, Shivani Agrawal
Westchester Academy Middle, Christina Canney
Westwood Elementary, Irene Herrera
Wilchester Elementary, Stephanie Walton
Wildcat Way, Diana Ahmad
Woodview Elementary, Angela Harris

2016 Principals of the Year
Edgewood Elementary, Vivian Pratts
Spring Woods High School, Jennifer Parker

About Spring Branch Education Foundation:
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $9 million to the district. In 2015, dewey & associates ranked SBEF 17th in the nation among K-12 education foundations and number one in its division of foundations with $1 million to $1,999,999 in revenues. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.
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University of Chicago Here She Comes!

May 27, 2016, 10:26 am
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There’s something awesome and affirming about an outstanding student like Diane Sosa being able to attend an elite institution of higher education like the University of Chicago.

And here’s the unusual name that helped change her future – QuestBridge.

Now one of Stratford High’s 523 graduates, Diane stumbled across the nonprofit QuestBridge program last year. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based national organization connects outstanding youth from low-income families with highly ranked college and university scholarships and other National College Match opportunities.

Annually, QuestBridge estimates that up to 30,000 talented lower-income students in the United States who are academically qualified to attend the nation’s very best colleges and universities never apply to even one selective college.

Diane’s successful application process included a review of financial need, school grades and transcripts, personal essays and an array of interviews.

Her full-ride, four-year scholarship to Chicago is valued at almost $300,000. This private research university is one of the nation’s top ranked scholarly destinations and has an extensive record of producing business leaders and billionaires. Rating groups like U.S. News rank it among the top 10 universities in the world.

Her career dream is to be an emergency trauma surgeon. Accepted by Chicago as a program Early Admit, Diane found a perfect match in the university’s comparative human development major, with premed studies in anatomy, physiology, sociology and psychology. Medical school will be her next goal, she says.

Should she be admitted, University of Chicago’s Medical School ranks among the Top 10 medical schools in the nation.

“I want to be a doctor who helps people. I love anatomy and physiology, and I love a fast-paced environment and an area in which I could make a real difference,” she says.

At Stratford High, she was a student athletic trainer and active for many years with the Health Occupations Students of America group, or HOSA.

The oldest of four children, she attended Westwood Elementary and Cornerstone Academy.

Her mom, a native of Mexico, never went to college, but has encouraged her oldest daughter. Diane will be the first family member living in the United States to go to college. Her dad is a quiet, but strong pillar of support for her, too.

“I’m the oldest,” she says. “I’ve always had the role of being the one to do things. My mom always told me that I was smart and that I would do really great things.”

“I have met a lot of students in my career as an educator,” says her counselor, Vanessa Croix. “Some of them have been challenged with immense obstacles, and I sadly see them accept defeat instead of confronting the hardship.”

“However, Diane Sosa has an enormous willpower to succeed, to move past the obstacles and prove she is a survivor. She is truly one of a kind,” Croix says.

Among other accomplishments, Diane was Key Club president for two years. The student club volunteered for the Super Hero Run at CityCentre to benefit the Child Advocates nonprofit group, among other volunteer events.

Diane views the benefit run as one high point for her as a student leader, bringing together a community with young people in need.
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Stratford Twins Share Top Ranking

May 27, 2016, 10:34 am
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Pictured are (left to right) Alex Plant, Alyssa Plant, Filipe Rubinstein and Alex Rubinstein.

They rave about a school counselor who cares.

When a record 41 co-valedictorians from Stratford High’s Class of 2016 parade across the stage at Don Coleman Coliseum on Saturday, May 28, observers will note another interesting fact – two sets of twins are co-valedictorians and others earning this top academic spot have close family connections.

Stratford’s two sets of twin valedictorians won’t solve the puzzle over genes vs. environment in high achievers. They split over twin status helping them earn an honor like valedictorian – one set says it helped a lot, another says not so much.

But separately or together, these four co-valedictorians believe that senior class counselor Vanessa Croix deserves public credit for inspiring them to reach and stretch for top grades and colleges. “She is committed to all students,” one said.

“A parent once told me that to describe a student in the Stratford High School Class of 2016 as outstanding is the norm.  I couldn’t agree more,” the flattered senior counselor said in response during Graduation Week.

“All of my 523 seniors are absolutely amazing.  From our 41 co-valedictorians – which is a school record – to our talented athletes and future Broadway Stars and to every remarkable student in between, this is such an incredible group of young people,” she adds.

“I’m so proud of them and so excited that I got to be a part of their success!”

Alex and Alyssa Plant

Co-valedictorians Alex and Alyssa Plant attended Nottingham Elementary and Spring Forest Middle before they arrived at Stratford High.

Alex is headed this fall to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he’s interested in studying mechanical engineering and finance. He has earned three SMU-related scholarships, including the Discover and Dean’s scholarships.  

Alyssa will study biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University at College Station, where she has earned the College Board Recognition Award. Alyssa is also a recipient of a Spring Branch Education Foundation and the Citgo STEM scholarships. She’s thinking about a career in medicine.

Alex says there was neither competition nor great collaboration in winning two valedictorian spots. Alyssa agrees. “We never studied together. We both had an interest in different classes and I don’t think we competed. It was on our own, I think,” she says.

Both agree that Counselor Croix inspired them to achieve. “She wants to help all students, and also likes to individualize for each student. She’s the counselor who calls you in and then tells you everything you should be doing. She made us send in extra stuff – and it helped,” Alyssa says.

“She helped me so much with career choices, and she’d take the time to discuss pros and cons about choices, too,” Alex adds.

Filipe and Alex Rubinstein

Filipe and Alex Rubinstein attended Houston ISD’s Barbara Bush Elementary and West Briar Middle School before finding a Stratford home in ninth grade.

Filipe heads this fall to the University of Texas at Austin, where he will study both electrical and computer engineering. For graduate degrees, it’s either finance or an MBA for this young man.

A seventh-grade math teacher, Mrs. Mukta Khurana, pushed him forward when Filipe was chosen for an Algebra I pilot program. “She taught good study habits, and showed me the rigor that is expected in high school and college,” he says.

His brother, Alex, plans to major in bioengineering at Rice University, then go on to medical school, and later work with innovative technologies related to genetics and bioengineering.

His heroes are the many middle and high school science teachers interested in how science and technology evolves, and who discuss new proven theories and facts.

“I always was interested in reading science and technology articles, and my science teachers helped me see that I was truly interested in science and technology,” Alex says.

Born in Scotland with parental roots in Brazil, the Rubinstein brothers stuck together at Stratford High to study and review shared courses. Their mom encouraged them often to be the best they could be, too.

“We used to compete with each other in middle school, but at Stratford we began to study together,” Filipe says. He enrolled in BC Calculus first so Alex was able to get help at home from his twin brother, he notes.

Ms. Croix has been the counselor who was always there for them. “She took out time out during the summer to help us with college applications, and she always was a help with SATs and ACTs, and all that,” Filipe says.

As U.S. permanent residents, the twins are pursuing merit and other scholarships they may qualify for. They are currently applying for U.S. citizenship.

Softball Sisters and Related Valedictorians

Co-valedictorian Jennifer Brann and her sister, Elizabeth, who isn’t a valedictorian, leave behind a legacy of accomplishments in the Stratford community. They were each extraordinary athletes on two varsity teams, basketball and softball.

Elizabeth, a centerfielder, has committed to the University of Texas at Dallas as a softball player. She plans to work towards being a veterinarian. Jennifer, a pitcher for the softball team, signed with the University of Pennsylvania. She is interested in business.

Jennifer says that statistics teacher Karl Poetzl impacted her the most. “He taught me so many lessons in high school that I will take with me forever,” she says.

Her sister, Elizabeth, won’t forget basketball coach Buffie Matthews. “She taught me to work hard and push through things when they get difficult,” Elizabeth says.

Among other interesting graduation notes, co-valedictorians Emily Ann Gex and Julia Ann Gex are cousins.

Stratford High School student and SBISD Communications Dept. intern Ellie Herrmann contributed to this report.
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Spring Woods Salutatorians Want to Give Back

May 27, 2016, 3:40 pm
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Dana Duong
Angel Ramirez
Nhi Ho

When Spring Woods High School salutatorians Dana Duong, Nhi Ho and Angel Ramirez talk about giving back, you tend to pay attention.

The three are each second-generation Americans, children of parents who came to Houston and Spring Branch seeking a better life for themselves and their children. Duong, Ho and Ramirez not only anticipate a better life but are looking to help others as well.

For example, Ramirez, who moved here when he was 2-years-old and learned English at school, will be heading to Trinity University to study mechanical engineering. Besides loving to tinker with machines, Ramirez, 18, more specifically hopes to develop an app for high schoolers that makes it easier to adapt and move into new technology.

Or Ho, 18, who will study biology at the University of Texas at Austin then plans to attend pharmacy school. Why? To go into research and development to help find ways to make medicine more affordable.

Then there’s Duong, 18, who will study economics and business at UT-Austin and wants to become a CPA, and maybe help people with their personal finances.

Ramirez said there’s nothing in the Spring Woods curriculum addressing public service but speculates there’s something about Spring Woods that promotes it.

“I think it comes from being at Spring Woods – it’s a very diverse school,” he said. “Maybe it’s from seeing even poorer students be successful.”

All three grew up and attended school in Spring Branch ISD. Ho, for instance, has never been to school anywhere besides the “super block” at Gessner and Hammerly of Tiger Trail PreK Center, the former Westwood Elementary, Spring Oaks Middle School and Spring Woods High School.

Duong attended Terrace Elementary, Spring Oaks Middle and Spring Woods High School, while Ramirez went to Shadow Oaks Elementary, Spring Oaks Middle and Spring Woods High School. Duong’s father, who came to the United States when he was 14, also attended Spring Woods High School.

Their extracurricular activities all include music – Duong playing violin in orchestra; Ramirez playing viola in orchestra; and Ho playing flute in the band. Duong and Ramirez both worked at the school’s newspaper, while Ramirez is also part of the school’s championship debate team.

Rusty Graham
russell.graham@springbranchisd.com

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Stratford Playhouse Wins Seven Tommy Tune Awards

June 1, 2016, 8:31 am
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Stratford High School's Anything Goes cast

Stratford High School’s award-winning theater department just might need a new trophy display case after bringing home an incredible seven top recognitions from the 14th annual Tommy Tune Awards.

The student musical awards are sponsored by Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS).

This year’s awards ceremony to recognize excellence in the production of musical theater by high school students and their teachers was cancelled due to regional flooding on April 19, the award event’s planned date.

Awards were announced on Facebook, and the Stratford Playhouse had one of its biggest nights ever, winning almost half (seven out of 15) of all awards. The best-in-class showing was based on a high energy production of Anything Goes.

Stratford High was nominated in almost all categories, an incredible showing. The school’s Tommy Tune Awards include:

  • Best Musical– Anything Goes
  • Best Ensemble– Anything Goes
  • Best Featured Performer– Kirby Morris as Chastity (Angel #2) in Anything Goes
  • Best Lead Actress– Noelle Flores as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes
  • Best Crew and Technical Execution– Anything Goes
  • Best Costumes– Anything Goes
  • Best Direction– Anything Goes
As Best Leading Actress, Noelle will go on to compete at the national level for the JimmyTM Award at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards being held in New York City on June 27.

While in New York, Noelle will also have the opportunity to take part in rehearsals and master classes, receive one-on-one coaching from theater professionals, meet casting agents and Broadway actors, and compete for scholarships and other prizes.

Cece Prudhomme directs the Stratford Playhouse. School Fine Arts Director is Michael Fahey.

The Tommy Tune Awards are named for a Houston native, Tommy Tune, who is a performer, director and choreographer with more than 50 years of stage history. He has won nine separate Tony awards. In 2003, Tune received the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush.

Read the full TUTS news release >>
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Six students named Texas Music Scholars

June 1, 2016, 8:40 am
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Six students from two Spring Branch ISD high schools have won recognition as Texas Music Scholars, one of the highest possible state fine arts honors.

The Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), which sponsors the Texas All-State Bands, Orchestras and Choirs, awards this student recognition. Only 2,300 students earned Texas Music Scholars honors last year. SBISD students include:

Memorial High School

  • Kristine Chin, 10th Grade, violin
  • Joie Jamison, 9th Grade, violin
  • Serena Kim, 9th Grade, violin
Stratford High School

  • John Eyre, 12th grade, cornet/trumpet
  • Sydney Simmons, 10th Grade, cornet/trumpet
  • Valeria Robayo, 9th Grade, clarinet
These students are honored for a variety of outstanding qualities including high scholastic achievement (overall A grade average), musicianship (All-Region or All-State and 1st Division UIL solo), and school and community citizenship.

In addition, one Stratford High student was recognized for his selection to the TMEA 5A All-State Band, which performed at the group’s annual convention.Zachary Barnett, a cornet and trumpet player, won this honor through audition. Recognition at this level ranks Zachary in the top 1 percent of all Texas music students.

Stratford High band directors are Richard Graham and Robert Littlefield. The school’s orchestra directors are Michael Fahey and Peter Jagdeo.

Lead director of the Memorial High School Orchestra program is Bingiee Shiu and orchestra conductor is Danielle Prontka.

The Austin-based TMEA represents 12,000 music teachers and has a group goal of supporting music education, providing professional growth opportunities for music educators, fostering public support for music in the schools, and offering high level musical experiences to students.

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UIL Results: 33 Sweepstakes Awards and More!

June 1, 2016, 8:48 am
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Spring Branch ISD student music groups completed UIL assessments recently with terrific results at the middle and high school level. Dozens of district music groups earned Sweepstakes awards, the top prize in the University Interscholastic League, or UIL.

Thirty-three groups earned the Sweepstakes ranking by earning a Division 1 rating in both concert performance and sight-reading. A decade ago, a third or less of this year’s total district number earned the Sweepstakes award.

This year’s results include 58 separate 1st Division Superior rating evaluations and 38 Sight-Reading awards.

“Superior teaching and learning brings superior results. Congratulations once again to all these fine teachers and student,” said Rusty Hess, director of performing and fine arts.

UIL governs and manages competitions in Texas public schools in the fine arts and other competitive fields.

Sweepstakes (Reflects Concert and Sight-Reading Awards):

Landrum Middle School– Choir Varsity Treble
Memorial Middle School– Band Varsity, Orchestra Non-Varsity. Orchestra Varsity
Spring Forest Middle School– Choir Non-Varsity Tenor/Bass, Choir Non-Varsity Treble, Choir Varsity Treble, Band Varsity, Orchestra Non-Varsity, Orchestra Varsity
Spring Oaks Middle School– Choir Varsity Mixed
Spring Woods Middle School– Choir Varsity Treble
Memorial High School– Choir Non-Varsity Treble, Choir Varsity Treble, Band Non-Varsity, Orchestra Non-Varsity A, Orchestra Non-Varsity B, Orchestra Non-Varsity C, Orchestra Varsity
Northbrook High School– Choir Varsity Treble
Spring Woods High School– Choir Non-Varsity Treble, Choir Varsity Treble, Choir Varsity Treble/Bass, Choir Varsity Mixed, Band Non-Varsity
Stratford High School– Choir Non-Varsity Treble, Choir Varsity Treble, Band Non-Varsity, Band Varsity, Orchestra Sub Non-Varsity, Orchestra Non-Varsity, Orchestra Varsity, Full Orchestra (Orchestra and Band)
Concert Stage Award
Landrum Middle School– Choir Non-Varsity Treble, Choir Varsity Tenor/Bass, Band Varsity
Memorial Middle School– Band Non-Varsity
Spring Branch Middle School– Band Varsity, Orchestra Varsity
Spring Forest Middle School– Band Non-Varsity
Spring Woods Middle School– Band Varsity
Memorial High School– Choir Varsity Mixed
Northbrook High School– Choir Sub Non-Varsity Tenor/Bass, Non-Varsity Tenor Bass, Non-Varsity Treble, Orchestra Non-Varsity, Orchestra Varsity
Spring Woods High School– Band Varsity, Orchestra Sub Non-Varsity, Orchestra Non-Varsity, Orchestra Varsity
Sight-Reading Award
Landrum Middle School– Choir Varsity Mixed
Memorial High School– Band Varsity
Northbrook High School– Choir Non-Varsity Tenor/Bass
Stratford High School– Choir Non-Varsity Tenor Bass, Choir Varsity Mixed
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Eight Teams Invited to Odyssey of the Mind World Finals

June 1, 2016, 9:25 am
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Westchester Academy team, left to right, Stephan Haci, Zeke Coleman, Arshi Ali, Jackie Nix, Paloma June and Isabella Boone. Not pictured, Coach Katie Coolidge.
Eight student teams from Spring Branch ISD campuses competed at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals held May 25-28 at Iowa State University.

The student teams earned the privilege of attending the Ames, Iowa, competition after 23 separate campus teams competed April 16 in state competition. Odyssey participants work in teams to test their skills in time management, creativity and innovation to solve five different problems or challenges.

Left to right, Ashanti Juarez, Nikolai Ross, Charlie Moreno, Kathy Menchaca, Arianna Flores, Stephanie Villarino, Alan Mendez and Cielo, Perdomo, Ridgecrest Elementary teacher and coach
At Iowa State, the campus teams met and competed with students from across the world, including teams from Eastern Europe and Germany, Japan, Russia and the city-state of Singapore in Asia.

At the state finals in April, the Cornerstone Academy student team was awarded the special Renatra Fusca Award for outstanding creativity and risk taking. This award led to an automatic invitation to World Finals for Cornerstone students.

“We had a phenomenal number of teachers who stepped up this year and served as coaches. It’s been wonderful to see so many parents and teachers involved in these Odyssey of the Mind teams,” said Iris Story, who helped found Odyssey programs across the district many years ago.
Left to right, Johnathan Ramos, Jose Rodriguez, Makayla Daniels, Daniella Covarrubias, Esmeralda Enriquez and Yalitza Hernandez, all Ridgecrest Elementary




World Finals qualifying teams included:

Problem 1: No-Cycle Recycle
Division 1 (Elementary)
First Place, Ridgecrest Elementary
Students: Yalitza Hernandez, Ariah Moreno, Jose Rodriguez, Makayla Daniels, Esmeralda Enriquez, Johnathan Ramos, Daniella Covarrubias
Coaches: Ryan Ferrugia, Rita Davidek, Cielo Perdomo

Division 2 (Middle School)
First Place, Cornerstone Academy
Students: Lauren Dumesnil, Sarah Garcia, Daniel Nipper, Gautam Krishnamurthy, Jaron Shelby, Halliday Magrige, Preston Ramsey
Coaches: Laura Shelby, Linda Dumesnil

Problem 3: Classics . . . Aesop Gone Viral
Division 1 (Elementary)
Second Place, Ridgecrest Elementary
Students: Arianna Flores, Stephanie Villarino, Nikolai Ross, Ashanti Juarez, Alan Mendez, Katherine Menchaca, Charlie Moreno
Coaches: Ryan Ferrugia, Rita Davidek, Cielo Perdomo

Division 3 (High School)
Second Place, Stratford High
Students: Madeleine Wylie, Max Schein, Sofia Jarrad, Drew Chan, Natalie Lee, Jacinda Isbell, Cameron Chan
Coaches: Karen Wylie, Althea Lee, Andy Chan

Problem 4: Stack Attack!
Division 2 (Cornerstone Academy)
Students: Adam Shugart Holly Kiker, Alex Rushing, Devon Schwartz, Avery Cooper, Jayden Gunsolley
Coach: Dena Shugart

Division 3 (High School)

First Place, Stratford High
Students: Andrew Dawson, Randall Royall, Caroline Crawford,  Joshua Chan, Riley Timmreck, Nestor Mejia
Coach: Katherine Dawson

Second Place, Memorial High
Students: Max Wolff, Josephine Lim, Luis Kim, Connie Lee, Finn Haddon, Jun Kim
Coach: Marilyn Wolff

Problem 5: Furs, Fins, Feathers & Friends
Division 3 (High School)
Second Place, Westchester Academy for International Studies
Students: Stephan Haci, Zeke Coleman, Arshi Ali, Jackie Nix, Isabella Boone, Katie Coolidge, Paloma June
Coach: Kim Coolidge

For more information about Odyssey of the Mind, contact SBISD Council of PTAs Odyssey Coordinator Iris Story at omers5@aol.com. Or visit the group website at www.odysseyofthemind.com.
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Spring Branch Middle Students Earn Chamber Certificates

June 1, 2016, 9:44 am
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Twenty-five students at Spring Branch Middle School earned special certificates from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently after completing a semester-long computer coding elective offered to students in Texas, Michigan and Tennessee.

The Achieving Tomorrow STEM Scholars Program certificates were awarded on May 4 during a special ceremony at the middle School.

The U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Carolyn Cawley and Cheryl Oldham were joined by school and educational technology officials at the special afternoon ceremony.

The Chamber certification award is given to certify completion of a computer program coding elective offered at selected middle and high schools nationwide.


The 25 Spring Branch Middle seventh- and eighth-graders began the coding course in January as part of a Code.org initiative to expand access to computer science for more groups of students, especially young women and minority students.

Spring Branch Middle librarian Brandee Smith, who is a STEM teacher, partnered with district volunteer and education advocate Karen North on computer science and coding lessons.

Education technology business partner Everfi partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to start up the Achieving Tomorrow STEM Scholars initiative.

In addition to the Chamber’s Cawley and Oldham, Tammy Wincup of Everfi was present at the May 4 ceremony at Spring Branch Middle.

Eighth-graders Payton Hill and John Iler spoke at the award ceremony about what they had learned during the coding course.

Spring Branch Middle students who received Chamber awards included:

Seventh Grade: April Anaya, Kenny Avila, Luke Bailey, Alexander Garcia, Seth Garcia, Mason Guzman, Reddrick Heard, Benjamin Ison, Alexander Lincoln, Kenna Lucas, Jahy Luu, Stiven Maldonado, Yesni Morales, Arian Nassiriavanaki, Joey Perez-Lopez, Emily Pocevic, Carlos Solis, Ester Soto, Raviar Sulaiman and Ro’mel White

Eighth Grade: Payton Hill, John Iller II, Conner McFadden, Adrian Pena, Syed Rehman

For more information:

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    Join AYAM in Supporting the AYAM 2020 Campaign

    June 1, 2016, 10:21 am
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    Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum (AYAM) invites you to be a part of something exciting!

    Join AYAM in supporting the AYAM 2020 Campaign. AYAM's goal is to raise $50,000 over the next five years to support programing and double memberships.  This campaign is designed to enrich the already outstanding services offer by the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum.

    Donate today >>


    Your dollars will support all of the programming currently offered and will assist with goals to bring additional quality art programs, interactive technology and community events to West Houston.  Donations are managed by the Spring Branch Education Foundation.

    Events scheduled for 2016-2017 season:

    • Fall art auction and open house
    • 1st Saturday free family art events
    • Adult workshops
    • And more!
    How far does AYAM have to go?  The goal is $10,000 each year for the next 5 years. Let's start with you!

    Visit AYAM >>
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