Student Achievement News Archive

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The Class of 2018 chose "The Dream Team" as their motto, and indeed their graduation weekend was marvelous—in spite of record-breaking temperatures and Sunday's sudden thunderstorms.

Graduation weekend began with the traditional Leaving Tree ceremony in Trinity Courtyard, where seniors added personalized metal leaves to the tree wall sculpture under the breezeway. Friends and family joined them at the ceremony for a delicious catered lunch prepared by EHS Food Service.

Saturday brought the Baccalaureate service to Benitez Chapel. Performing Arts Chair Garmon Ashby, Instrumental Director Charles Estes, Pianist Holly Butler, and the EHS Chorale and String Ensemble provided the celebrants with glorious music throughout the ceremony. Baccalaureate speaker The Rev. Eileen O'Brien, campus missioner for Houston Canterbury at the University of Houston, emphasized the potential rewards and opportunities available to the graduates in the years ahead. Rev. O'Brien encouraged the students to serve others and be wise as they stand "on the threshold of promise."

Senior Awards were announced afterwards at the Senior Banquet:

Valedictorian – Blake Ogle

Salutatorian – Sophie Allan

Outstanding Male Student – Ryan Fulghum

Outstanding Female Student – Hanna Nyberg

Citizenship – Jillian Branch

Head of School Award – Anna St. Denis and Antonio Cruz

Spirit Award – Kelsey Womack

Jess Borg Award – Calvin Zipper

On Sunday, rain resulted in moving Commencement indoors to the new Alkek Gym in the Hildebrand Athletic Center. Jillian Branch gave the Commencement Speech, mixing facts with humor to remark on the class's record-breaking year of SPC championships, service hours, academic achievements, arts accomplishments—and lifelong friendships.

The full house of family members and supporters cheered for graduates as they walked across the stage to receive diplomas from Board of Trustees Executive Chair Randa Duncan Williams as well as warm wishes from Head of School Ned Smith, Assistant Head of School Nancy Eisenberg, Dean of Students Kim Randolph and Senior Class Dean Jessica Adams.

The festivities closed with a benediction from Dean of Spiritual Life The Rev. Beth Holden, a presentation of the Class of 2018 from Ned Smith, and a traditional tossing of the caps by the 174 enthusiastic graduates.

Last February, 12 students in Visual Art earned top scores at the Texas Art Education Association Regional Visual Arts Scholastic Event, known as VASE. More than 30,000 students competed at the regional level statewide. Out of 30,000 thousand entries, 3,400 advanced to the State VASE competition on April 28.
Four EHS students qualified to attend the state competition: Teagan Ashworth '19, Madeleine Berckley '21, Nora Lawless '21, and Ryan Rassoli '21. The Visual Arts department is proud to announce that again all four students earned top scores at the event, and three students--Ashworth, Lawless, and Rassoli-- received the highest, superior, rating of 4 to earn state medals.
(Pictured, L to R: Nora Lawless, Madeleine Berckley, Photo J instructor Jaime Collier, Ryan Rassoli, and Visual Arts instructor Sharon Willcutts.)

For the fifth straight year, EHS Student Council was recognized as a Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC) Sweepstakes School. To earn this recognition, officers complete "State Reports" which document projects, events, and initiatives in the following areas: pride and patriotism, energy and environment, community service, outstanding council achievements, and DASH (Drugs, Alcohol, Safety, and Health). In addition, and for the third year in a row, Student Council received the National Gold Council of Excellence Award from the National Association of Student Councils. To meet the requirements for this award, a council must meet a variety of criteria that demonstrate the highest levels of leadership. Student Council commends the efforts of all our Senate members and officers, who each contributed to our successful year.

Faculty sponsor Courtney Goldberg also received good news when the TASC curriculum guide, "Student Leadership Curriculum Supplement," that she helped write and edit was published.

The EHS softball dynasty continues as the Knights defeated Kinkaid 5-0 Saturday night in Ft. Worth and earned yet another SPC title. The Knights earned wins over Houston Christian (5-3) and Ft. Worth Country Day (12-2) in the first two rounds of the tournament in Dallas before driving to Ft. Worth for the championship game. The Knights finished a season for the ages with a record of 35-1-1 and are currently ranked in both state and national polls.

The EHS baseball team overcame two early deficits to defeat Kinkaid in dramatic fashion Monday night at Schroeder Park at the University of Houston. Tanner Witt and Peter Geib combined to limit the Falcon offense to five runs in their seven innings of work on the mound. Tied at five entering the bottom of the seventh, Jack Grams' one-out single started the drama. Peter Geib was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Witt then drilled a sharp single to left and the throw home eluded the Falcon catcher, allowing Grams to score the winning run.

In other SPC action, the girls and boys track and field teams turned in outstanding performances as the girls placed 6th and the boys 7th. Jamie Tatum and Bryana Bazile placed 1st and 2nd in the girls discus and the boys 4x100 relay team set a new school record in finishing a close 2nd to St. John's.

Girls tennis overcame a tough opening-round loss to Greenhill and earned an impressive 3-0 win over Ft. Worth Country Day in the consolation bracket. Rain would not allow the Knights to complete the consolation bracket.

Girls lacrosse rebounded from opening losses to ESD (16-4) and St. Stephen's (12-11) and defeated St. Andrew's 16-4 to finish 7th in the SPC.