Cassidy Elementary and Bryan Station Middle School topped the 2016 Battle of the Books reading incentive program, a series of competitions in Fayette County Public Schools. Cassidy’s final-round team, coached by librarian Melissa Adams, included Carter Cohron, Tanisha Garg, and Lucy Rogers. The alternates were Eva Blackman, Madeline Deep, Addison Kenny, and Lukas Tsappis. The winning group from Bryan Station, coached by librarian Melissa Brewer, was Grace Brown, Arden Ensor, and Zachary Henz. Alternates were Hannah Campbell and Erin Kendall.

In the elementary finals on April 28 in Norsworthy Auditorium at the district’s central office, Veterans Park was runner-up, Harrison came in third, and Maxwell placed fourth. In the middle school finals April 21, Leestown was runner-up, Beaumont placed third, and Tates Creek finished fourth. 

A total of 22 schools participated in this year’s Battle of the Books, which encourages students to read with particular attention to detail. Each spring, the coaches select the following year’s titles – aiming to cover various interests and reading levels. For more information, contact FCPS Media Services coordinator Joni Maloney.

Channel 13's videos: elementary | middle

Each spring, Fayette County Public Schools salutes a group of freshmen through the Ninth-Grade Improvement Awards, which encourage students to persevere through obstacles and give their best effort. The 2016 dinner and recognition ceremony, held May 3 at Northeast Christian Church, were sponsored by Fifth Third Bank and the 16^th District PTA.

“These students have proven themselves to be tough and hardworking, and we know they’ll show intrinsic motivation and courage throughout the rest of their high school career,” said emcee Jimmy Meadows, a district-level director of school improvement and innovation.

• List of 2016 honorees

Each school also selected one ninth-grader as its most improved in 2015-2016, and these students received Bluetooth speakers courtesy of Pomeroy and Dell:

• Bryan Station High – Leah Walker
• Henry Clay High – Hawah Massaquoi
• Lafayette High – Yolanda Morales
• Martin Luther King Jr. Academy – Sherry Hollan
• Paul Laurence Dunbar High – Sally Yessin
• STEAM Academy – Keziah Thomas
• Tates Creek High – Marilin Mazariegos
• The Learning Center at Linlee – Molly Orr

Jack Jackson, a senior at Henry Clay, recalled how he turned the corner after receiving this award three years ago. “I didn’t always take classes as seriously as I should have. Then I realized my education is just as important as my dedication and love for sports,” he told the crowd. Jack, who endured a season-ending injury, earned football and academic scholarship offers from smaller schools. But he has decided to study sports management and physical therapy at the University of Kentucky.

The Ninth-Grade Improvement Awards, which the 16th District PTA launched in 1998, salute the students’ effort, determination, and resiliency. The recipients didn’t let hurdles keep them from completing their freshman year, and they are expected to display that same courage through graduation. For questions, contact Heidi Reihing at (859) 381-4794.

Tates Creek High School’s track-and-field teams both took first place May 3 in the Fayette County Championships, hosted by Henry Clay. The Commodores are coached by Chris Hawboldt. The boys’ and girls’ finishes were identical: Bryan Station was runner-up, followed by Henry Clay, Lafayette, and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

• Complete results

Boys’ winners

• 4x800—Tates Creek ‘A’ 8:19.70
• 110 hurdles—Isaiah McCall, Bryan Station, 14.72
• 100—Langston Jackson, Henry Clay, 11.01
• 4x200 relay—Tates Creek ‘A’ 1:31.52
• 1,600—Alex Mortimer, Tates Creek, 4:27.65
• 4x100 relay—Bryan Station ‘A’ 44.28
• 400—Maliq Trigg, Bryan Station, 51.24
• 300 hurdles—Isaiah McCall, Bryan Station, 37.48
• 800—Thomas Hill, Lafayette, 2:03.08
• 200—Langston Jackson, Henry Clay, 22.26
• 3,200—Alex Mortimer, Tates Creek, 10:06.04
• 4x400 relay—Bryan Station ‘A’ 3:45.27
• Shot put—Landon Young, Lafayette, 59-10.5
• Discus—Landon Young, Lafayette, 178-3
• Long jump—Jaron Brooks, Henry Clay, 23-1.75
• Triple jump—Patrick Kelly, Tates Creek, 40-4
• High jump—Patrick Kelly, Tates Creek, 6-0
• Pole vault—Kyle Hopkins, Tates Creek, 13-6

Girls’ winners

• 4x800 relay—Tates Creek ‘A’ 10:00.77
• 100 hurdles—Kaleshia Harris, Bryan Station, 16.25
• 100—Tyanne Bentley, Tates Creek, 12.60
• 4x200 relay—Tates Creek ‘A’ 1:44.25
• 1,600—Maddy Jenkins, Dunbar, 5:43.94
• 4x100 relay—Tates Creek ‘A’ 48.61
• 400—Talor Wilkerson, Bryan Station, 57.91
• 300 hurdles—Kaleshia Harris, Bryan Station, 49.11
• 800—Shae Robertson, Tates Creek, 2:27.16
• 200—Tyanne Bentley, Tates Creek, 25.71
• 3,200—Emma Wells, Tates Creek, 12:54.50
• 4x400 relay—Tates Creek ‘A’ 4:03.38
• Shot put—Lauren Miller, Tates Creek, 32-5
• Discus—Tantalissia Champs, Bryan Station, 97-6
• Long jump—Kyrah Hardin, Bryan Station, 17-7
• Triple jump—Alexia Winn, Henry Clay, 34-7
• High jump—Osasya Taylor, Bryan Station, 5-0
• Pole vault—Kristina Leggas, Lafayette, 11-6

Sixteen students from Southside and 40 from Eastside technical centers attended the 2016 SkillsUSA state conference April 13-16 in Louisville, where they competed in various categories, conducted business for the Kentucky chapter, met with business and industry representatives, and heard from government officials. 

Southside contest results

• Gold medals: Mackenxzy Boateng, mobile robotics; Blake Dunn, cabinetmaking; Tara Keel, first aid/ CPR; Huston Martin, electronics technology; Arif Moula, mobile robotics; Axel Rincon, residential systems installation; and Breanna Thomas, commercial baking.
• Bronze medals: Nanya Bryant, commercial baking; and Elliot Stephens, carpentry.

Eastside contest results

• Gold medals: Abraham Mendoza, airbrush design; Andoni Munoz, photo art display; Matthew Murray and Khalil Thomas, audio/radio production; Jimmy Robinson, employment application process; and Tywana Webb, patriotic salute.
• Silver medals: Brandon Bradley, Zak Smiley, Dylan Wain, and Josh Woolridge, broadcast news production; Trent Brock, power equipment technology; Alexa Stilley and Madison Wells, digital cinema production; and Payton Todd, collision repair.
• Bronze medals: Paxton Barnett, Brandon Huff, and Rylan Toland, interactive application and video game design; Walker Deering, power equipment technology; Flemoh Dulleh and Daniel Elliott, digital cinema production; Teva Gilliam, firefighting; Kira Glasgow, Mary Malicote, and Kassondra Runyon, community service; Triston Keith, diesel equipment technology; Sergio Quezada, automotive technology I; and Alexa Stilley, pin design.

The National Leadership and Skills Conference is set for June 20-24 in Louisville. More than 16,000 students, teachers, and business partners are expected to participate in the weeklong event. For questions about SkillsUSA, call Southside at (859) 381-3603 or Eastside at (859) 381-3740.

For Earth Day 2016, Russell Cave Elementary and Morton Middle School received significant recognition for their sustainability initiatives. The U.S. Department of Education tapped Russell Cave as a National Green Ribbon School, and Kentucky Green & Healthy Schools dubbed Morton a model school for its program. 

Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate excellence in the three pillars of sustainability: environmental literacy, student wellness, and energy efficiency. This is the highest national award for sustainable schools, and four others in FCPS previously earned this honor: Bryan Station Middle (2015), Wellington Elementary (2014), Locust Trace AgriScience Center (2013), and Rosa Parks Elementary (2012). 

At Russell Cave, the Green Team leads efforts to reduce environmental impact and costs. Students audit energy usage at the beginning of the year and then implement initiatives to reduce usage. The school regularly recycles more than it throws away and has reduced copier usage by purchasing composition notebooks for all students. Originally built in 1926, Russell Cave is an “all-electric” building, but has decreased its energy use by nearly 50 percent since 2010 and its water use by about the same amount. In addition, a part-time school nurse works with teachers and families to encourage healthy choices, and the school’s health policy stipulates the amount of activity and types of food students receive. Also, the science lab provides environmental lessons to all students throughout the year and also brings in many community partners.

“Our Green Team monitors energy use and recycling, and our Student Health Committee monitors our school’s progress on wellness goals and promotes healthy lifestyles. These two teams have been responsible for educating our staff, students, and families and really pushing for RCE to be focused on our impact on the environment. I could not be more proud!” said Amber Catron, principal at Russell Cave. Science lab instructor Julie Jones agreed. “The staff and students have worked hard to be innovative agents of change,” Jones said. “We have been completely encouraged, supported, and informed by our district’s Energy and Sustainability curriculum coordinator, Tresine Logsdon, and our Energy and Sustainability manager, Logan Poteat. I feel confident that the students of Russell Cave Elementary, along with every other student in Fayette County, are poised to be global leaders in sustainability.” 

Spirits ran just as high at Morton Middle after Principal Ronda Runyon accepted the model school award in Frankfort. Model KGHS status is the highest state honor for sustainable schools. Morton is only the fifth school in Kentucky to earn this distinction, including Henry Clay High School. These designees must demonstrate a student-driven sustainability improvement project in the following eight categories and mentor a local elementary school: energy, green spaces, health and safety, indoor air quality, solid waste, water, transportation, and hazardous chemicals. 

“Morton has been focusing heavily on teaching the students, staff, and community how to create an environment that is healthy for our natural world,” said Carla Trisko, science teacher and sustainability coordinator. “Morton started the first No Idling campaign in the county, installed a water bottle refilling station, developed trout farms in the classrooms, constructed bird feeders for the schoolyard, and implemented a rain garden, just to name a few accomplishments.” The Green Team also reorganized the science department’s chemical closet, developed a butterfly garden, and designed an aquaponics farm to grow chard in the classroom. “Next year we will continue with mentoring other schools and work toward our goal of cutting down energy consumption,” Trisko said.

Resources

www.sustainability.fcps.net

Thursday May 26 will be the last day of classes in Fayette County Public Schools, as announced Monday night at the regular school board meeting. Marlene Helm, acting senior director of Academic Services, also released the schedule for the 2016 high school graduation ceremonies in Rupp Arena:

Thursday May 26

• 4 p.m. – Bryan Station High School
• 7 p.m. – Henry Clay High School

Friday May 27

• 1 p.m. – Lafayette High School
• 4 p.m. – Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
• 7 p.m. – Tates Creek High School

For more information, call the graduating senior’s school.

• Security guidelines from Rupp Arena

Each spring, FCPS waits until the threat of wintry weather is past and all make-up days are set before announcing graduation dates. State law requires school districts to make up every day missed so that the school year contains at least 170 days of teaching and learning and 1,062 instructional hours. There is no exception unless FCPS misses 20 consecutive days or a change is approved by the governor or General Assembly.

In 2015-2016, FCPS canceled classes four times: Jan. 20, 21, and 22, and Feb. 16.  The make-up dates were slated for March 18, April 8, May 25, and May 26.

Bookmark these handy shortcuts for future reference: www.fcps.net/calendars and www.fcps.net/weather. To offer feedback, please visit www.fcps.net/letstalk.

Zariah Embry, a senior in the MSTC program at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, is one of Kentucky’s four Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) in the Class of 2016. These 1,000 students across the country, who must demonstrate financial need, will be able to pursue a degree in any undergraduate major and selected graduate programs at accredited colleges and universities of their choosing. “I am going to Emory in Atlanta and have still yet to decide my major. I want to minor in Spanish and eventually go to PT school and become a doctor of physical therapy,” Zariah said. 

At Dunbar, Zariah has been active in the Student Council, Beta Club, National Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society, and she is president of Leaders in the Making. She also mentors youngsters at Booker T. Washington Intermediate Academy, works with a children’s group at her church, and served on the Mayor’s Youth Council. 

The GMS program, which is known for its recipients’ high graduation rates from top institutions, provides minority students with leadership development opportunities, mentoring, academic and social support, as well as financial aid. It aims to reduce barriers and provide seamless support from undergraduate through doctoral programs for students entering the target disciplines of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, and science.

The Class of 2016, selected from a pool of 53,000 applicants, will be the final cohort of Gates Millennium Scholars, as the program funded by a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation meets its goal of selecting 20,000 students from low-income backgrounds. Each year, the program has enabled more than 5,000 students who must be African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American/Pacific Islander or Hispanic American to attend and graduate from more than 1,100 of the most selective private and public schools in the country.

Class of 2016

Winburn Middle School and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School set the pace at the Kentucky Junior Historical Society’s 2016 state convention and the National History Day state competition, held April 29-30 at the University of Kentucky.

The KJHS contests' top placements included the following from Fayette County Public Schools. (Middle and high schools compete separately in the junior and senior divisions.)

• History Bowl: runner-up, Winburn Middle #1: Aneesh Kadambi, Ashwim Kamineni, Josh Harris, and Ryan Sperry; third place, Winburn #2: John Adkins, Reka Gal, Jada Meads, and Libby Weaver.
• Impromptu Exhibit: first place, Paul Laurence Dunbar High: Jin Cho, Karina Henson, Ivy Irihamye, Megan Slusarewicz, and Divya Sunderam; runner-up, Winburn Middle: Katie Biddle, Anna Bird-Pollan, Melissa Hanneman, and Charles Snoddy.
• History Test: first place, Libby Weaver of Winburn and Cici Mao of Dunbar; runner-up, Reka Gal of Winburn and Jin Cho of Dunbar; third, Ashwin Kamineni of Winburn and Karina Henson of Dunbar.
• Impromptu Essay: first place, Libby Weaver of Winburn and Joanna Slusarewicz of Dunbar; runner-up, Claire Qian of Winburn and Jin Cho of Dunbar; third, Reka Gal of Winburn and Megan Slusarewicz of Dunbar.
• Art: first place, Claire Qian of Winburn and Joanna Slusarewicz of Dunbar; runner-up, Cici Mao of Dunbar; third, Josh Harris of Winburn and Karina Henson of Dunbar.

In addition, the regional winners met in the National History Day state showdown, presenting the theme “Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History.” The top two places advance to the national NHD competition June 12-16 at the University of Maryland.

• Group Exhibit: first place, Winburn Middle: John Adkins, Ryan Sperry, and Evan Yang, “Commodore Matthew C. Perry and the Blackships: The Gateway to the East.”
• Individual Website: first place, Angus Maske of Dunbar, “Zheng He; Navigation and Exchange on the Indian Ocean”; first place, Lily Gardner of Winburn, “An Unrepentant Risk Taker: Paul Durand-Ruel Encountering Parisian Culture”; third, Ayush Kumar of Winburn, “Flying Wires, Lots of Buyers: Jack Kilby and Robert’s Exploration in Semiconductor Physics.”
• Group Website: first place, Dunbar: Ronit Kar and Ben Xie, “Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Exploration into the Human Heart”; first place, Winburn: Claire Qian and Rocco Wrentmore, “Qian Xuesen: Exchange of a Scientist of Two Worlds.”
• Paper: first place, Amir Abou-Jaoude of Henry Clay High, “A Pure Invention: Japan, Impressionism, and the West, 1853-1906”; runner-up, Austin Li of Dunbar, “The Voting Rights Act of 1965 – Encounter and Exchange”; third, David Ma of Dunbar, “Ashkenazi Diaspora: Western Cultural Exchange in the Post-Romanov Era”; third, Nicole Wong of Winburn, “De-inventing a Legacy: The Exchange that Prevented a Thermonuclear One.”
• Individual Documentary: runner-up, Sitara True of Winburn, “Freud’s Mind-Blowing Encounters: The Exploration of the Unconscious.”
• Group Documentary: first place, Dunbar: Joanna and Megan Slusarewicz, “Howling at Moloch: Explorations, Encounters and Exchanges with the Beat Generation.” 

Also, under special honors, Dylan Li of Winburn received the Kentucky Sports Authority Award for his documentary about the players association encountering the NFL to change views of sports law. 

For questions, email KJHS state coordinator Cheryl Caskey or call (502) 564-1792, ext. 4461. 

Five students from Edythe J. Hayes Middle School earned kudos in the 2016 Junior American Citizens Contest, sponsored by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The competition, which is open to grades K-12, includes art (poster, stamp design, photo essay, or banner), creative expression (short story or poem), and community service categories, and this year’s theme was “Celebrate America.”  

• Caden Rose, stamp design: first place at state, first in the East Central Division (five-state region), and third place nationally;
• Evan Strobel, short story: first place at state and first in East Central Division;
• Samuel Maison, poetry: first place at state and runner-up in East Central Division;
• Emily Jones, photo essay: first place at state; and
• Taeryn Mackie, poster: runner-up at state. 

DAR supports not only the JAC contest but also the American History Essay Contest (grades 5-8) and the Christopher Columbus Contest (grades 10-12).  Information is distributed to area schools in the fall, and entries are collected before winter break for judging. Students first compete at the DAR chapter level, with winners advancing to the state competition. First-place state winners next enter the divisional contests, and those first-place winners then advance for national judging. For questions, contact Donna Durbin with the DAR’s Bryan Station chapter.

Anna Sullinger of Beaumont Middle School has been named the Kentucky Association of Family & Consumer Sciences’ 2016 Teacher of the Year. She accepted the honor during the group’s annual state conference May 2-3. 

“This award was a complete surprise. I didn’t even know I was nominated,” said Sullinger, who will be in the running for the national AAFCS Teacher of the Year. “My family and consumer sciences colleagues are absolutely amazing individuals, and I feel blessed to work in this field every day. To be nominated by peers is the highest compliment any professional can receive,” she said. 

Sullinger has taught Family and Consumer Sciences for 10 years, including the past 1½ at Beaumont, where she is FCCLA adviser (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America). She has also written middle-school curriculum on behalf of the Kentucky Department of Education for Dietetics and Food Science Pathway and Intro to Life Essentials. Sullinger earned a B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky and an M.A. in secondary education from Eastern Kentucky University. She also has her Rank I in career and technical education from UK.

Fayette County Public Schools has received a 2016 Community Leadership Award from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. This honor goes to individuals or organizations that improve the lives of others within their community by providing or enhancing opportunities to engage in sports, physical activities, fitness, and nutrition-related programs. 

This year, in honor of its 60^th anniversary, the President’s Council presented the Community Leadership Award to 60 recipients across the country. “Together, we are all working to make our nation a healthier one by helping individuals live vibrant, vivacious, and productive lives,” said Shellie Pfohl, executive director of the council’s office. 

The President’s Council is composed of up to 25 volunteer citizens, including athletes, chefs, physicians, fitness and nutrition professionals, and physical educators, who are appointed by the president and serve in an advisory capacity through Health and Human Services. The group is co-chaired by NFL quarterback Drew Brees and Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes.

The nonprofit Duke University Talent Identification Program works with families and educators to identify, engage, and challenge academically gifted and talented students and help them reach their full potential. The 7^th Grade Talent Search identifies bright students based on their standardized test scores from elementary and middle school, and invites candidates to take the ACT or SAT college entrance exam, which provides greater insight into their abilities. Participants later have access to education consultants, the Duke TIP Gifted Forum, and other program benefits.  

Of the 246 seventh-graders from Fayette County Public Schools who tested through February of this academic year, 27 qualified for grand recognition honors and 147 for state accolades. The 2016 grand recognition ceremony, set for May 16 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C., is for seventh-graders who scored as well as or better than 90 percent of recent high school graduates on least one part of the ACT or SAT. Only about 3 percent qualify at this level. The statewide recognition ceremony, slated for May 25 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, is for youngsters who scored at or above the national average of recent high school graduates. (Note: Qualifying students received invitations in April. Those who tested after February do not attend the spring ceremonies; their awards are mailed in August.)

• Beaumont Middle – Grand recognition: Isabelle Lin, Fernando Macchiavello Cauvi, Walker Prather, and Erin Stratton. State recognition: Andrew Blakemore, Tatum Colvin, Clay Culbertson, Devyn Fleming, Kaitlin Hicks, Weston Holloman, Emma Jinright, Anna Keplinger, Rachel Kraus, Christina Lumpp, Emily Onan, Alison Otipoby, Preet Patel, Mark Porter, Khalid Rashad, Katherine Schweighardt, Madison Smith, Taylor Smith, Relmond Van Daniker, McKenna Walker, Brandon Wang, and Lindsay Willard.
• Bryan Station Middle – State recognition: Grace Brown, Sarah Jones, Benjamin Shapere, Acacia Smallwood, and Elena Verdecchia.
• Edythe J. Hayes Middle – Grand recognition: Sacha Wesley. State recognition: Haley Bennett, Charlotte Boyd, Madilyn Fields, Zen Kropp, Abby Nudd, Alexandria Troth, and Emily Wrede.
• Jessie Clark Middle – State recognition: Connor Arnold, Emma Bush, Demetrius Cherry, Haowen Chih, Sieun Lee, Brett Painter, John Palmisano, Christian Potter, Mariam Shofner, Sophie Sirlouis, and Brandon Taylor.
• Leestown Middle – State recognition: Hunter Abshire, Jacob Begley, and Richard Smith.
• Lexington Traditional Magnet – State recognition: Alexander Dimayuga, Sebastian Fonseca, and Jackson Gonzales.
• Morton Middle – State recognition: Jeb Brown, Micah Cowen, Franklin Will Cundiff, William Fain, Malina Gaworski, Peter Marino, Raidyn Morian, Richard Page, Emma Shadwick, Abigail Shadwick, and Luke Stone.
• SCAPA at Bluegrass – State recognition: Meaghan Haddix and Sarah Sajadi.
• Southern Middle – State recognition: Madison Arnett, Brandon Coupal, Alexander Milum, Katelin Shelton, Peyton Twerdi, and Andrew Waters.
• Tates Creek Middle – Grand recognition: Sarah Albrecht, Arik Baron, Jaden Basham, Nicholas Clevenger, Jonathan Dean, Elias Dyer, Annesha Edwards, Megan Ewing, Gabriel Gatsos, Benjamin Guan, Joseph Ilagan, Noah Katz, Catherine Lucier, Catlin Meora Mamaril, Simon Palmer, Gabriella Staykova, Angela Wang, and Hannah Whaley. State recognition: Hannah Botts, Claire Bryant, Liam Cercone, Sarah Clark, Brooke Cole, Kambry Davis, Campbell Deyoung, Tiyan Duan, Alexander Dyson, Kaedan Fleischer, Conor Kelley, Irene Kim, David Logsdon, Nyasha Musoni, Haley Noehren, Ellis Padgett, Joonwoo Park, Luke Ransom, Sofia Ricketts, Ryan Russell, Ethan Scot, Caroline Smith, and Justin Xu.
• Winburn Middle – Grand recognition: Sadie Bograd, Emma Falluji, Pedro Storch, and Lohith Tummala. State recognition: Sneha Amrit, Elizabeth Badgett, Anne Bohannon, Avagail Chen, Landon Dangelo, Sam Ederington, Connor Foley, Noah Ford, Katherine Henson, Tahsen Hossain, Joshua Howard, Juliann Hyatt, Zoe Jenkins, Jasmine Kirk, Matthew Klee, Daniel Mendoza, Mia Messerli, Elizabeth Moore, Dallas Rager, Kori Silence, Delaney Staley, Aditya Sundarrajan, Sitara True, Dominic Verry, Wendy Wei, Henry Worth, and Nancy Zhang.

In addition, Winburn’s Pedro Storch was one of 83 students nationwide selected for a new category of recognition called Talent Search Scholars of Distinction. This honor is for students who earned a perfect score in one or more subtest areas of the ACT or SAT, and Pedro scored a 36 on the science portion of the ACT.

4^th-6^th Grade Talent Search

Eighty-three students in FCPS enrolled this year in the 4^th-6^th Grade Talent Search based on their standardized test scores, and eligibility indicates exceptional academic ability. Participants receive stimulating opportunities through online lessons, publications, a writing contest, and the Duke TIP Book Club. Award ribbons were sent to each school for local recognition this spring. 

• Ashland Elementary – Alexander Stumbur, Max Ederington, and Isabella Galavotti.
• Athens-Chilesburg Elementary – Jamison Gordon.
• Beaumont Middle – Grant Clifford.
• Cassidy Elementary – Fatimah Alomar, Meryl Crandall, Maddox Ingram, Elizabeth Mattmiller, William Shrensker, Ellie Tucker, Lydia Van Metre, Katherine Hawse, Caroline Mitcham, Anna Palumbo, and Sophie Spielmann.
• Garden Springs Elementary – Mohit Patel.
• Leestown Middle – Alexandra McDowell, James Milburn, Abigail Peck, and Alyssa Yates.
• Meadowthorpe Elementary – Cerise Archer, Tanner Isaacs, Elizabeth Owen, Joseph Vulakh, Justin Wong, Zach Romero, and Hunter Williams.
• Rosa Parks Elementary – Keira Antoni, Megan Barrett, Samuel Feola, Casey Fleming, Chakrapani Gudlavalleti, John Jurjans, Daniyaal Karim, Kiran Koul, Allison Kronenberg, Naomi Male, Preston Maloney, Elena Moseley, Allison Neltner, Anthony Porter, Alexis Powell, Camden Richardson, Jackson Sharp, Shanel Skaggs, Emily Walsh, Emma White, and Christiana Zhou.
• SCAPA at Bluegrass – Samantha Miculinich, Marian Byrne, Claire Dacey, Emma English, Jeffery Li, Bryce Mayo, Ivana Stogsdill, Luise Wendroth, Sophia Zhou, and Karsten Vanmeter.
• Tates Creek Elementary – Amber Knight.
• Tates Creek Middle – Alexandra Bradbury, Dylan Childress, Piper Covert, Edward Donson, Ethan Fernandez, Angela Gao, Maggie Gentry, William Greenlee, Jessica Harrison, Avery Nelson, Caitlyn Smith, Arthur Sultanou, Albert Tang, Amelia Terry, Ava Thurman, Emily Wang, and Molly Wilcoxson.
• Wellington Elementary – Grayson Guilliom, Tehmina Manshad, and Abbott Renfro.
• Winburn Middle – Arrington Chen, James Chen, and Edward Lipsitz.

In addition, four youngsters in FCPS earned special recognition after achieving a composite score in the 99^th percentile or higher on the ACT EXPLORE test, an assessment designed for eighth-graders. Of the 8,353 students nationwide who took this test (33 in FCPS), 364 qualified for this recognition, including Ethan Fernandez of Tates Creek Middle, Zachary Rossi and James Winkler of Cassidy Elementary, and Ayush Kumar of Rosa Parks Elementary (perfect score).

Fayette County Public Schools congratulates six outstanding seniors who are among Kentucky’s 32 recipients of the 2016 National Merit $2,500 scholarships:

• Steven Armbruster of Lafayette High School, who plans to study chemical engineering;
• Jasmine Liu of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, environmental policy;
• Eliza Jane Schaeffer of Henry Clay High School, political science;
• Joanna Slusarewicz of Dunbar, computer science;
• Jamie Smith of Henry Clay, foreign service; and
• Runyang Zhang of Dunbar, business administration.

In the National Merit Scholarship Corp.’s annual program, 2,500 students were chosen for the $2,500 awards from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists. They were deemed to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

In addition, about 4,000 winners of college-sponsored merit scholarships will be announced June 1 and July 18, and the names of some 1,000 corporate scholarship recipients were released April 20 (none in FCPS). By the end of this year’s competition, about 7,500 seniors will have received scholarships worth $33 million.

About 1.5 million juniors in 22,000 high schools entered the competition when they took the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of seniors, included the highest-scoring entrants in each state. FCPS had 30 semifinalists as announced last fall.

Inspired by the theme “Let Your Imagination Fly,” nearly three dozen talented students in Fayette County Public Schools received state-level honors in the 2015-2016 Reflections contest. The Kentucky PTA will congratulate them May 14 at the Lexington Children’s Theatre.

In addition, four FCPS entries advanced for national judging, and Joanna Cholewo of Tates Creek Middle School received an Award of Excellence in the visual arts category for “Light as a Feather.” National PTA will recognize its honorees’ collective accomplishments on July 2 in Orlando, Fla., and the national art exhibit’s opening ceremony is Jan. 10 at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

Statewide honorees from Fayette County Public Schools

(primary = grades K-2; intermediate = grades 3-5)

Literature

• Overall winner: Laura Holsclaw, Beaumont Middle School (advanced to nationals);
• Awards of Excellence: Grace Michaels, Lafayette High School; and Jackson Gonzales, Lexington Traditional Magnet School;
• Awards of Merit: Christopher Revis, Bryan Station High School; Miyan Santalucia, Wellington Elementary (intermediate); Reese Lile, Glendover Elementary (intermediate); and Luke Majors, Maxwell Elementary (primary). 

Film Production

• Awards of Excellence: Elora Mukhopadhyay, Lafayette High; Jessica Mukhopadhyay, Picadome Elementary (intermediate); and Benjamin Augustus Moore, Wellington Elementary (primary);
• Award of Merit: Camille Harn, STEAM Academy.  

Dance Choreography

• Awards of Excellence: Elora Mukhopadhyay, Lafayette High; Carson Hardee, Lafayette High; and Katie Beth Skaggs, Stonewall Elementary (primary);
• Awards of Merit: Trinity Prather, Jesse Clark Middle; and Elise Trimble, Rosa Parks Elementary.  

Photography

• Overall winner: Karver Caswell, Stonewall Elementary (primary; advanced to nationals);
• Awards of Excellence: Christopher Revis, Bryan Station High; and Griffin Shively, Beaumont Middle;
• Awards of Merit: Elora Mukhopadhyay, Lafayette High; and Jenna Strange, STEAM Academy. 

Music Composition

• Awards of Excellence: Brenden Talbert, STEAM Academy; Hanna Lyons, STEAM Academy; Noah Katz, Tates Creek Middle; and Taylor McQuillen, Rosa Parks Elementary (primary). 

Visual Arts

• Overall state winner and national Award of Excellence: Joanna Cholewo, Tates Creek Middle;
• Overall winner: Iris Zhou, Veterans Park Elementary (primary; advanced to nationals);
• Award of Excellence: Ethan Tyler Martion, STEAM Academy;
• Awards of Merit: Elora Mukhopadhyay, Lafayette High; Kevin Lin, Jessie Clark Middle; and Ava Vono, Liberty Elementary (intermediate).

The National PTA established the annual Reflections contest in 1968, welcoming all grades and abilities to explore and get involved in the arts. Each year, thousands of students reflect on a common theme and create original works of art to compete in one of several categories. Last fall, FCPS students submitted about 4,000 entries at the school level; Millcreek and Tates Creek elementaries led the way with 100 percent participation. Each school picked its own winners and sent up to two entries from each age group and category for district-level judging (300 total). The 39 overall winners then advanced to this spring’s statewide competition, where 31 received recognition.

Next year’s theme is “What is your Story?” School entries (coordinated by art teachers) are due Nov. 4, and the district awards ceremony is set for Dec. 3. For general questions, contact 16^th District PTA Reflections chairwoman Julia Craven. 

Members of the 16^th District PTA and FCPS supporters gathered May 11 at Fasig-Tipton to celebrate the successes of 2015-2016, congratulate outstanding school chapters and volunteers, and encourage perseverance. “We have over 44,000 kids, and it’s up to you to help them reach their goals and dreams. Our schools are doing amazing things, and we can make a difference,” 16^th District President David Kidd reminded everyone. School board Chairwoman Melissa Bacon echoed his call. “Every single child deserves a champion,” she told the crowd. “We all share a passion for helping students, and you are a driving force for good.” 

The following PTA/PTSA awards were acknowledged during the annual luncheon.

$1,500 scholarship recipients: Brittnany Graham of Bryan Station High School, Myles Murray of Henry Clay/Opportunity Middle College, Sibley Miller of Lafayette, Harper Dawahare of Paul Laurence Dunbar, Ibrahem Abed of Tates Creek, and Christopher Revis of Bryan Station/The Stables (exceptional child category)

Outstanding programs: Glendover Elementary and STEAM Academy

New chapter recognition: Garrett Morgan Elementary (opening in August)

National PTA Schools of Excellence: Veterans Park Elementary and Lafayette High School

Reflections contest winners

Membership honors

• Judy Whitmer Award: Cassidy Elementary
• Harold L. Steele Award: Edythe J. Hayes Middle School
• Ronald Walton Award: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

Highest percentage of PTA membership, based on student enrollment: Veterans Park Elementary, Tates Creek Middle, and Lafayette High School

Chapters that increased their membership rolls: Ashland, Booker T. Washington Intermediate, Breckinridge, Bryan Station Middle, Bryan Station High, Cassidy, Edythe J. Hayes, Glendover, Harrison, James Lane Allen, Julius Marks, Lafayette, Lansdowne, Leestown, Lexington Traditional Magnet, Liberty, Mary Todd, Maxwell, Meadowthorpe, Millcreek, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Rosa Parks, Sandersville, Tates Creek Middle, Veterans Park, William Wells Brown, and Yates.

100 percent attendance at PTA roundtables: Glendover and Wellington elementaries, Jessie Clark Middle, Lexington Traditional Magnet, and STEAM Academy

Special honors

• John & Maggie Price Award, for courage and devotion through volunteerism: Jenna Jennings from Tates Creek Middle’s PTSA
• Judi Conrad Leadership Award: Shelley Ayoob from Rosa Parks Elementary’s PTA 

For the 2016 REIMAGINE project, 30 local artists – including senior Che’Ron Porter of Carter G. Woodson Academy – created pieces based on elementary students’ ideas. The young muses hailed from several elementary schools including Cardinal Valley, Glendover, James Lane Allen, Northern, Picadome, Rosa Parks, and Yates.

The artists each chose a child’s drawing that spoke to them and recreated it using their own style and medium. For instance, Che’Ron’s 30x22-inch entry titled “The Great Escape,” done in pencil on tea-stained paper, was inspired by Lincoln Westlund, a third-grader at Picadome. “I feel most comfortable drawing aliens and mythological creatures. My preferred tools are a large sheet of paper and a mechanical pencil with a good eraser,” Che’Ron says in the printed program.

The works are now exhibited together, and the collaborative originals will be auctioned to raise funds for public school arts programs. Previews and open bid week run May 13 through 20 at the Downtown Arts Center, 141 Main St. A student/artist reception is set for 4 p.m. May 20, followed by the Gallery Hop and final bidding from 5 to 8 p.m. The artwork will remain on display through June 5.

• REIMAGINE poster & program

Thus far, the Creative Alliance for Arts Education Inc. has distributed nearly $6,000 to local schools and also offered professional development for art teachers in Fayette County Public Schools. “We are working to build a stronger arts foundation for all students and believe the arts are essential to a comprehensive education,” said Lori Barnett, founder and president of the alliance.

For questions, email Barnett or call (859) 321-2559.

The boys’ tennis team from Henry Clay High School was runner-up in the KHSAA state team championships, falling 3-0 to powerhouse St. Xavier of Louisville on May 15. The Blue Devils were poised to win a doubles point, but all three singles matches finished before Henry Clay could score.

In the singles’ matches, Noah Tapp lost 6-2, 6-0; Alex Dubilier 6-0, 6-0; and Matt Castle 6-1, 6-0. In doubles’ play, Will Andrews/Matt Telfer trailed 2-6, 6-2, (9-6), and Keifer Mays/Philip Priest led 7-5, 3-1 when their matches were abandoned. The Blue Devils are coached by John Herring.

The boys’ and girls’ individual tournaments (singles and doubles) begin May 19 at various sites around Lexington, with the finals set for May 21. Several players from Fayette County schools qualified for the state competition.

• Boys’ singles: Matt Halpin and Bryce Shelton of Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Alex Dubilier of Henry Clay
• Girls’ singles: Rosie Halpin of Dunbar
• Boys’ doubles: Noah Tapp/Keifer Mays and Matt Telfer/Will Andrews of Henry Clay

All-Region teams

Boys: Henry Clay’s Alex Dubilier, Keifer Mays, Noah Tapp, Matt Telfer, Will Andrews, and Matt Castle; and Dunbar’s Ben Halpin and Bryce Shelton

Coach of the Year: Jonathan Thompson of Paul Laurence Dunbar

Girls: Dunbar’s Rosie Halpin and Anna Burch; and Henry Clay’s Madie Herring

Henry Clay High School defended its state title 7-6 in overtime against Lexington Catholic in the Kentucky Lacrosse Association’s high school championship, played May 14 at host Bryan Station’s stadium. After LexCath took a 6-5 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils’ Slone Warner took the ball down the left hash and scored unassisted with no time left. Then, in the four-minute sudden-death overtime, Ben Schaeffer scored on the second possession for the win. Riley Cunningham, Henry Clay’s goalie, was named MVP. 

Henry Clay closed the season on a nine-game win streak and posted a 16-5 record. The Blue Devils also won the state championship in 2013 and were runners-up in 2014. The team is led by head coach Taylor McCoun, assistant coaches John Downs, Nick Carozza, and Josh Solomon, and faculty sponsor Kevin Smith.

In lacrosse, 10 players compete on a field about the size of a soccer pitch. Players move the small hard ball by passing it with a stick topped by a small mesh basket. The object is to score a goal by sending the ball into the opponent’s net. Lacrosse is a club sport in the Commonwealth; it is not sanctioned by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

All-State selections

• Bryan Station: Preston Brooks and Dustin Soper
• Henry Clay: Walt Finch, Michael Fredlock, and Ben Schaeffer
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Shannon Brown, Kyle Draper, Joe Mulert, and Jesse Purdy
• Tates Creek: Mason Blackburn

Kentucky American Water has awarded Ripple Effect Scholarships to five high school seniors, including Kate Cox of Lafayette and Kathleen Sandford of Tates Creek. Each young woman received a $500 award for academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to the environment through such activities as eradicating invasive plant species at nature preserves, rerouting creek flows to reduce flooding, and creating or restoring rain gardens throughout their community.    

“As a utility that works with a precious natural resource every day, we are grateful for the solid example of environmental stewardship that these young people are setting for their fellow students and the larger community.  Their actions are truly making a difference,” said Nick Rowe, president of Kentucky American Water.    

High school seniors in the company’s 11-county service area are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Since 2002, KAW has awarded a total of $52,500 to 89 Kentucky students. KAW also sponsors the annual countywide science fair, which is coordinated by Fayette County Public Schools. For questions, contact Ellen Williams at (859) 268-6364.

A team from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School called the Killer Whales paced Region 6 in Kentucky’s spring edition of The Stock Market Game; they also placed fourth in the state out of 510 teams competing. Madeline Miller, Chris Natale, and Holly Yessin saw their $100,000 virtual portfolio increase more than $16,000 or 7.6 percent above the S&P 500 growth. The Dunbar group, guided by business teacher Greg O’Bryan, will receive medals and certificates at the June 21 awards ceremony in Louisville. 

“I have used this simulation several years with my EBCE seniors since it encompasses all of our financial literacy topics and enables students to play in the stock market without suffering any real consequences. They can test out investing strategies and learn about different investment products without losing money. It teaches them how to think critically, to assess the benefits of different interest-bearing accounts, demonstrates how the stock market is a tool to save money for retirement and college, and illustrates the time value of money,” O’Bryan said. “Chris, Madeline, and Holly checked their portfolio regularly to view their stocks, and it created a fun atmosphere in the class as their peers attempted to top them. Their group’s decision to focus on buying numerous shares of affordable stocks really paid off as well.” 

The Stock Market Game is an interactive, interdisciplinary program that teaches students in grades 4-12 about economics and finance as teams research companies and invest virtual money in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Teams are ranked on equity in portfolio.