The Alief ISD Purchasing Department earned the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) Award of Merit with Recognized Status in Purchasing Operations for the fourth year in a row. Purchasing was recognized for its commitment to professional standards in the acquisition of goods and services. The application process is an in-depth review of staff training, policies, practices, written documentation, vendor communication and audit results. School districts receiving recognized status are considered the most innovative in Texas.

Alief Early College High School was ranked the seventh best high school in Houston by website Niche. The ranking was based on factors such as graduation statistics and student and parent reviews.

The Hastings High School 2015-16 yearbook was selected as one of this year’s Balfour Yearbooks National Samples. Sample yearbooks are used as journalism resources in workshops across the country. This select group makes up fewer than 3% of publications Balfour will produce this year, and books are selected based on the quality of the work.

Alief Early College High School students Daniela Melendez, Beverly Moreno and Elsy Moreno received funding from the International Management District. The students will be attending the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston, and the invitation was extended to them for being “America’s highest achieving high school students.” The event is hosted by the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists.

Cummings Elementary and Martin Elementary have been selected to participate in Young Audiences of Houston’s Full STEAM Ahead initiative (FSA) during the spring 2016 semester. As FSA participants, educators will be eligible to receive professional development credit for learning how to use arts-based strategies to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, an in-classroom partnership with a master teaching artist/mentor from one of Houston’s leading arts education organizations, admission to the 2016 Houston Arts Partners Conference to connect with more arts integration experts and online STEAM resources to showcase, share and develop lessons.

The Elsik High School Blue Cetane Team received funding from the Westchase District Community Fund. The organization is the charitable donations component of the Westchase District. The funds will be used by the Alief ISD Career & Technical Education students in the Auto Technology Class for the building of another vehicle.

Heflin Elementary teacher Laura Donaldson received funding from DonorsChoose.org for writing supplies for her classroom.

Alief ISD graduate Adaora Elonu will be representing Nigeria on the Nigerian Olympic Team in the 2016 FIBA – International Basketball Federation Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in June. Elonu, who is currently playing professional basketball in Spain, aims to compete in the Rio 2016 Olympics this summer. She previously attended Liestman, Kennedy, Mata and Holub and graduated from Elsik in 2008.