Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Jul 2009: Fort Bend Campus News 2

Butterfly Project Gives Lamar CISD Girls Wings - The Butterfly Project, a grass root organization that supports girls through their high school years held its 13th annual end of the year program with junior Butterflies Cheryl Jackson and Kelly Thomas as Masters of Ceremony.

An inspirational dance by Armesha Giles and a special video presentation that showcased events and activities of the 2008-09 year were highlights of the evening. The senior Butterflies shared their memories of being a Butterfly and were honored during their “Senior Flight.”

The members and mentors of The Butterfly Project contributed more than 360 hours of community service to Fort Bend County nonprofits during the year. Community Service awards were presented to Danielle Clark, Donna Edwards, Felicia English, Armisha Giles, LaShae Haynes, Cheryl Jackson, Amber Jones, LaShaniqua King, Camryn Leonard, Chelsea Polk, Ashlyn Scales, Jalissa Scott, Alexis Specht, Jasmine Strong, Destiny Taylor and Kelly Thomas with top honors going to Danielle Mitchell and Ashley Blackmon.

Local Students Win Mathcounts National Championship - Bobby Shen, an eighth-grader at First Colony Middle School, was named the winner of the 2009 Raytheon Mathcounts National Competition. This year ’s winning Mathlete answered the math problem in less than 45 seconds to be crowned the national champion of this year ’s competition. Bobby competed against 227 other middle school students.

In the team competition, Texas captured the title of National Team Champions. Team members included Yury Aglyamov of Austin; Steven Chen of Austin; Bobby Shen, First Colony Middle School; Lilly Shen, First Colony Middle School and Coach Jeff Boyd from First Colony Middle School and Fort Settlement Middle School.

Paraprofessionals and Teachers of the Year Honored- The Lamar Classroom Teachers’ Association named its Teachers and Paraprofessionals of the Year at its annual banquet.

Wessendorff Middle School Life Skills teacher Martha Earnest was named Secondary Teacher of the Year. She has been with Lamar CISD since 1972. Dickinson Elementary counselor Kathryn Reaves is the Elementary Teacher of the Year. She’s been with LCISD since 2003.

Foster High’s Julie Snader, with seven years of experience, was the Secondary Paraprofessional of the Year. Eva Blase at Huggins is this year’s Elementary Paraprofessional of the year. She has six years of experience.

Other nominees were: Secondary Paraprofessional of the Year – Melissa Charles, Veronica Chavarria, Margaret Glodowski, Molissie Baines, Katie Clayton, Mary Ann Venghaus, Sonja Stephens, Sandy Guidry, Earlene Williams, Api Nanes; Elementary Paraprofessional of the Year – Faye Westwood, Kerri Gore, Missy Brannon, Patsy Watts, Bridget Wilson, Jacqueline Smith, Karen Jones, Cynthia Boone, Debra Bean, Norma Wilson, Diane Wood, Bobbie Williams, Trinidad Zamora, Tommie Tomchesson, Vilma Dominguez, Monica Arroyo, Ellen Graham, Brenda Neal; Elementary Teacher of the Year – Cheryl Gonzales, Brenda Hiatt, Lindsay Vasquez, Leah Morton, Rhonda Peyton, Lesley Marek, Nancy Spates, Lana Kettler, Kimberly Reyhons, Ora Parker, Linda Pochyla, Lekeitha Petitt, Carolyn Atkins, Elizabeth Flores, Ada Pomeroy, Rhonda Boepple, Velasquez, Ann Post, Jeanna Valenta; Secondary Teacher of the Year – Lisa Vargas, Reece Nagai, Elizabeth Myer, Lavern Collins, Roselle Reed, Karen Klobedans, Jose Pineda, Rhonda Klutts, Donna Allen and Roy Sanner.

Eagle Scout Awards from Troop 731 - Kevin Rakoski, Jeffrey Pacht and Ryan Lord became respectively, the 52nd, 53rd and 54th Scouts to earn the coveted rank of Eagle from Boy Scout Troop 731.

Kevin will be a senior at Dulles High School where he has focused on Engineering and Architectural Graphics. He has been continuously involved in Scouting since first grade when he joined Pack 1133 as a Tiger Cub. Kevin achieved his Arrow of Light prior to joining Troop 73. His Eagle project involved designing and building mobile book carts for Dulles Elementary School.

Kevin intends to pursue college studies in architecture and design after graduating from high school.

Jeffrey is a 2009 graduate of Clements High School, where he has served as NJROTC Supply Officer. He has been continuously involved in Scouts since first grade when he enrolled as a Tiger Scout. He qualified for the Eagle rank by earning 39 Merit badges. In addition, he designed and supervised the construction of a Sukkah (gazebo) for the Congregation Beth El Synagogue for his Eagle project. This structure is used for celebrating the Jewish Holiday of Sukkot. Jeffrey will be attending Wharton Junior College this summer.

Ryan completed his sophomore year at Strake Jesuit Preparatory School in Houston where he is a member of the National Honor Society. He was a member of Cub Scout Pack 1828 and earned his Arrow of Light award before joining Troop 731. His Eagle Scout project involved designing and supervising the construction of a lost and found box plus two bookshelves for Settlers Way Elementary. Ryan intends to pursue college studies towards a career in medicine after graduating from high school.

Dave Van Kleeck is the Scoutmaster for Troop 731.