Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Jul 2009: Fort Bend Campus News 4

Lamar CISD’s Top Graduates - Raven McGuane was the valedictorian for the Class of 2009 at Lamar Consolidated High School. She was president of the National Honor Society, captain of the speech and debate squad, member of the Academic Decathlon team, UIL Speech and Academics competitor. She was also a Texas Forensics Association State Public Forum Top Speaker, four-time Texas Forensic Association State qualifier, a National Forensic League district champion and national tournament qualifier, and a two-time UIL regional qualifier, a National Forensic League Academic All-American and a National Merit Finalist.

Raven will attend the University of California at Berkeley.

Tyler McDonnell was the salutatorian at Lamar Consolidated High School. While at Lamar, he was a National Hispanic Scholar, National Merit Commended Student, Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, on the National Honor Roll, Academic All-District and Academic All-America in swimming. Tyler was a member of the Lamar Consolidated Varsity Swim team, Student Council, National Honor Society and member of the UIL Academic Team.

Tyler will study engineering at the University of Texas at Austin

Garrett Whittington was the valedictorian at Foster High School. He was an AP Scholar with Distinction and participated in football and track and field. Garrett was the 2009 Monochromatic Reserve Class Champion, the Monochromatic Class Champion in 2008 and made the auction in 2007 at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Student Art show, received a 2009 Gold Medal, earned Best of Show in 2008 and Special Merit in 2007 at the Lamar CISD Art Show.

Garrett will attend Texas A&M University and major in chemical engineering.

Michael Martin was the salutatorian at Foster High School. He was active in UIL Ready Writing, Math and Computer Science. He had the highest GPA in English III Honors, Computer Science A and Computer Science AB. He also participated in band and Interact Club. Michael made the State UIL Solo and Ensemble in 2007 and 2008 and State UIL in 2009 in Ready Writing. He has earned the Charles D. Tovar Scholarship and the Rotary International Scholarship.

Michael will attend Rice University and major in biology. He plans to become a neurologist.

Carrie Pottmeyer was the valedictorian for the Class of 2009 at Terry High School. While at Terry, she earned Distinguished Honor Roll for four years, was an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor, English I Pre-AP Student of the Year, Pre-Calculus Pre-AP Student of the Year, French II and III Student of the Year and the Anatomy & Physiology Student of the Year.

Carrie will attend Texas A&M University, majoring in biomedical engineering.

Catherine Seitz was the salutatorian at Terry High School. While at Terry, she was the Economics Student of the Year, earned Academic Honors in Geometry, Pre-AP Biology, Pre-AP English II, AP World History, AP English II, AP U.S. History, lettered in Academics and was named to the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals All-State Academic Excellence Team.

Catherine will attend the University of Houston’s Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Fort Bend ISD Student Leadership Group Learns Importance of Community Service - Members of Fort Bend ISD’s Student Leadership Program focused on community service during their final session of the program. Sponsored by Steve Smelley, Fort Bend ISD board vice president and Sugar Land Rotarian, the workshop gave students the opportunity to meet with members of service agencies and organizations that specialize in helping those in need and giving back to the community.

The students first visited the historic Lakeview Auditorium and met with Merle and Don Smithers, board members of the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation; Bruce Kelly, board member of the Sugar Heritage Foundation and Fort Bend Historical Commission; and Braden Morris and Dinetta Ireland, Fort Bend County literacy volunteers. Each stressed the importance of connecting with service organizations that can best utilize your talents and skills.

Following their visit to the Lakeview Auditorium, the students visited the Bethel Ministries facilities to meet with Becky Torres of Bethel Ministries and Carolyn Tarver of Project SMILE. Torres and Tarver spoke of how each organization was established. They also spoke of the need for ongoing volunteer support.

The student leaders then visited the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry. Courtney Howard, volunteer and event coordinator, welcomed students to the facility and gave them a brief history on the ministry, explaining its purpose.

Quail Valley Exchange Club Awards Scholarships - Every year, Quail Valley Exchange Club awards multiple scholarships to area High School seniors who are destined for college and are in need of assistance. The Exchange Club works with counselors in the high schools to identify students who are under-served, who do not qualify for other types of academic and athletic scholarships.

“The whole point of our scholarship program is to provide assistance to the average student, who normally doesn ’t qualify for any type of scholarship,” said President Bob Dimmitt. “This year, the Exchange Club provided $14,500 to students in need at Dulles, Elkins, Willowridge and Marshall high schools. ”

The students who apply have to write an essay as well as make a presentation to the Exchange Club members in order to be considered. This year ’s winners were Rahia Ebrahim and Vasiliki Thanos of Dulles High School, William Moore of Elkins High School, Ronald Johnson of Marshall High School and Michael Lewis of Willowridge High School.