The Alief ISD Special Olympic Superstars basketball team brought home a silver medal from the Special Olympics Summer Games held in Arlington. Martha Chang won a gold medal for her 50 meter walk and a seventh place ribbon for her softball throw. Jesus Patino won second place in the 50 meter run and a fourth place ribbon for his softball throw.

Taylor High School held a coin drive to raise money for our neighbors to the north. Taylor student organizations joined together with the Student Council to raise awareness of the devastation in Oklahoma. In one week, students and staff donated spare change and met their goal and raised $1,000.

Kerr High School senior Tiffany Thai received a renewing scholarship from international law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP and was selected to be one of four interns to assist the firm this summer.

Two Olle Middle School students won first and second place in the House of Blues art competition. Gregory Cantu won first place and a $300 award. His piece will advance to the national competition held in Los Angeles this summer. Christan Acevedo won second place and a $200 award.

Multiple Alief ISD schools gave out free books to students to add to their personal libraries. Hastings High School’s Think Through Summer program gave out more than 10,000 books to students. The school passed the left over books to the library or gave them to Horn and Youens Elementary. Olle Middle School gave away more than 1,300 books, and the leftover books will be given to teachers for their classrooms.

Elsik High School teacher Halehma Naseer was nominated for the Educator, Poet, and Ladies of Elegance Sponsor Award by Essence of a Lady, Inc., a group consisting of females coming together to empower other females to greatness through education, mentoring and networking. The award recipient will be announced at their conference.

The O’Donnell Middle School tennis team won the girls and co-team district titles. This marks the ninth year in a row that the ODMS team, headed by Coach Bryan Jones, has won the tennis title.

Crossroads students Juan Mercedo and Taliyah Lynch were named Soccer and Basketball MVP, respectively, during the 5th annual TAKS and STAAR Sports Tournament at the campus.

UIL State Competition Results:

* Hastings High School choir student junior Deji Fadahunsi earned a gold medal at the contest. He was judged by Dr. Suzanne Pence, the head of the choral music department at the University of Texas at Austin. Fadahunsi was also personally invited by Dr. Pence to attend the UT All-State Choir Camp this summer. Sophomore Laurel Rowe placed and earned a silver medal.
* Kerr High School orchestra student Omar Escobedo received a superior rating and a gold medal for his cello solo at the competition. Student Laura Vu received an excellent rating and a silver medal for her violin solo.