‘Chispas’ is the Spanish word for ‘sparks.’ Here are some things that have sparked us this week!
Dahlstrom MS students recognized for their artistic achievements
Dahlstrom Middle School art students recently collected more than two dozen medals during the 2022 Junior Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE) competition. VASE Jr. is a competition set up by the Texas Art Education Association that recognizes art works composed by students at the intermediate, middle school or junior high level.
Led by art educators Carla Brandy, Sarah Higdon and Jordan Reed, the DMS Art Department was the only Hays CISD middle school art department to compete at VASE Jr. this year, with 25 total Mustangs submitting art works for judging.
Students earned a total of 24 gold medals for their works. Six artists earned a platinum-level medal, which signified that their work was within the top 10% of submitted pieces in their respective grade level. In the 8th grade division, only nine platinum medals were awarded this year, with five going to DMS students. Leading the day was 8th grader Julianna Castellanos, who won two platinum medals.
More photos and a list of all participating students can be found here.
Johnson Winter Guard awarded
On May 17, Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright presented the Superintendent’s Coin of Excellence to 42 students and two educators that make up the award-winning Johnson Jaguar Winter Guard. In only their third full season of competition, the Jaguar Winter Guard, led by Directors David Duffy and Herbert Washington, have earned numerous high-level accolades both at the state and national level. They completed the season with a 6th place finish in the country in the Scholastic Open Class.
Lehman HS valedictorian and salutatorian named
The Lehman High School class of 2022 Valedictorian and Salutatorian were recently announced. The duo will lead the 15th graduating class from LHS.
Valedictorian Yoshi Nakachi will attend Stanford University in the fall and plans to major in computer science. After college, Yoshi envisions a career in software development or technology. Earlier this year, Yoshi was named a finalist in the prestigious Questbridge National College Match program, earning a four-year scholarship to Stanford with $309,472 that will cover his tuition, room, board, books, supplies and travel expenses to and from Palo Alto, CA. During his time at LHS, Yoshi was a four-year letter winner with the Lobo Tennis team, a member of the Hays CISD Superintendent and School Board Student Advisory Panel and a member of the Lehman High National Honor Society.
Salutatorian Esmeralda Roque will attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall and plans to major in astronomy. After college, Esmeralda sees a career in the research field. Esmeralda will enter into the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) during her freshman year, which helps incoming students dive into real-world scientific research paths with faculty and graduate students. Esmeralda is also a member of the Lehman Lobo National Honor Society where she serves as treasurer. She is also part of the Lehman High Future Farmers of America, where she was named treasurer, and a member of the Lobo Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program.
Eleven Eagle Scouts in Hays County
Including Hays High School senior Tate Kirschner, Hays County has 11 boys that secured the Eagle Scout rank: Aiden Schupach, Troop 128, Kyle; Jason Harmer, Troop 128, Kyle; Eduardo Jimenez, Troop 125, Kyle; Walter Bristol, Troop 101, Dripping Springs; Bryan Rioschagolla, Troop 1993, San Marcos; Nathan Lipinski, Troop 127, Wimberley; David Kadjar III, Troop 967, Kyle; Charles Price, Troop 127, Wimberley; Nathan Larsen, Troop 967, Kyle; and Logan Beyer, Troop 125, Kyle.
