Points of Pride

Eleven Alief ISD high school students were welcomed into the Dell Scholars Program Class of 2013. The following students will each receive a $20,000 scholarship to be used over six years, as well as resources and support, including technology, a private scholar networking community, and mentoring to ensure they have the support needed to achieve their college degrees:

* Taylor High School: Han Dinh, Reina Olivas, Chelsea Vaughn
* Alief Early College High School: Bella Escot, Ikram Hersi, Alexis Leonard, Tracy Nwalie, Alejandro Sanchez, Taiye Shittu, Kehinde Shittu, Tina Tiec

Kennedy Elementary was presented a $1,500 check by Recyclebank for its Green Plan project. This sustainability project was funded through the Green School grant award. The campus will use the award to purchase and plant bushes, plants, flowers, trees and select fruit and vegetables, to create new garden and landscape areas for each grade level and to turn these gardens into outdoor science classrooms.

Alief ISD Superintendent of Schools HD Chambers was recognized on the court at halftime by the Houston Rockets on Sunday, April 14, as part of the festivities celebrating Educator Appreciation Night.

Miller Intermediate teacher Larry Ponder is a published author. His book, “Elementary School Structures,” studied the student achievement of third and fourth grade students in the areas of math and science.

Landis Elementary was named the winner of the “Read Nation” School Book Drive sponsored by the Houston Rockets and the UPS Store. Landis collected 1,893 books, and the winning class, led by teacher Teisha Lacour, collected 295 books and received 40 tickets to a Rockets game. Landis will receive a school rally with the Rockets mascot, Clutch the Bear, and other prizes. Hearne Elementary, who also participated in the contest, will receive prizes for its contribution, and Mazie Hamilton’s class will win prizes for being the top class at that school.

Taylor High School student Nicholas Alejandre, a HCC Dual Credit Economics student, has been nominated for the Student Leadership Award in Economics, a prestigious student award presented by the Houston Community College’s Northwest Campus. Alejandre competed with HCC students in a challenging sophomore-level college course for the honor and will be recognized in an awards banquet in May.

Athletics Results:

* Elsik High School’s boys soccer team advanced to the state tournament by defeating Deer Park 1-0 over the weekend. Elsik will play Brownsville Hanna on Friday, April 19, at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown at 6 p.m.

* Alief ISD swept the top spots in the recent district tennis tournament. Elsik took first place for varsity girls, varsity boys, JV girls and JV boys. Hastings placed second in varsity girls and JV boys and third in varsity boys, JV girls and freshman girls. Taylor’s JV girls won second place and the freshman boys took first place. The Elsik boys and girls teams were both named 18-5A Varsity and Junior Varsity Spring District Champs for the third year in a row.

* Alief ISD students medaled at the recent District 18-5A Golf Tournament. The Elsik varsity girls golf team was named District 18-5A Girls Team Champions. Hastings High School students Olubukoa Are and Lehi Cordova and Taylor High School’s Rene Sanchez Jr. also advanced to the regional tournament.

* Alief ISD’s track teams were well represented at the recent District 18-5A Championship at Bill Smith Stadium. Elsik High School’s varsity boys track team was named District Champions. Elsik’s varsity girls placed second. Hastings High School’s JV girls took the top spot, while the freshman boys placed second. Taylor’s freshman boys placed first, varsity boys placed second and the JV boys took third.