[Alvin Independent School District has named Monica Garcia, of Walt Disney Elementary School, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin Independent School District has named Lucy Flores, of Passmore Elementary School, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin Independent School District has named Kelly Hudson, of Nolan Ryan Junior High School, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin Independent School District has named Jeremy Kitchens, of Fairview Junior High School, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin Independent School District has named Jennifer Matute, of Don Jeter Elementary School, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin Independent School District has named Amanda Cottle, of York Elementary School, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin Independent School District has named Chris Bargas, of RISE Academy, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin Independent School District has named Jonathan Thomas, of McNair Junior High School, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin Independent School District has named Benjamin Shively, of Rodeo Palms Junior High School, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin Independent School District has named Courtney Breitenbach, of Brothers Elementary School, a Teacher of the Year finalist.
Alvin High School manufacturing team members and instructors gather with their award-winning entry in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s industrial crafts competition. The spec-built skid earned Best Overall Safety, Best Presentation and Best of Show.
Friendswood Independent School District Education Foundation 2022 gala committee members gather for a “Voyage on the High Seas” Feb. 12 at the San Luis Resort.
Former Alvin Community College board Chair Mike Pyburn, right, takes the oath of office March 24 to serve the remaining term of regent Andy Tacquard, who resigned in February. Yvette Reyes-Hall is running unopposed for the seat in the May 7 election.
University of Houston-Clear Lake graduate Hardik Jani played a key role in finalizing Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Alvin Museum Society COO Tom Stansel, left, Alvin Independent School District curriculum director Shandar Hobbs, social studies curriculum specialist Virginia Lively and Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Director Sam Tanksley stand with documents featured in a new exhibit created for students.
Alvin Community College student Christopher Scott Smith is working toward an associate degree in human services.
Alvin Independent School District recently announced its elementary and secondary teacher of the year finalists for 2021-2022.
Honorees in the elementary category are: Courtney Breitenbach, Brothers Elementary School; Amanda Cottle, York Elementary School; Lucy Flores, Passmore Elementary School; Monica Garcia, Walt Disney Elementary School; and Jennifer Matute, Don Jeter Elementary School.
Secondary finalists are: Chris Bargas, RISE Academy; Kelly Hudson, Nolan Ryan Junior High School; Jeremy Kitchens, Fairview Junior High School; Benjamin Shively, Rodeo Palms Junior High School; and Jonathan Thomas, McNair Junior High School.
Winners, including the paraprofessional of the year and rookie teacher of the year, will be announced during the district’s employee recognition ceremony May 12.
Alvin High School’s manufacturing team may need to fabricate a shelf to hold the awards received this year at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s industrial crafts competition.
Competing against 12 other teams, the students received Best Overall Safety, Best Presentation and Best of Show for their spec-built skid. The project required the students to cut, weld and thread pipe, bend conduit, run electrical wires and piping, work with structural steel and steel grating, clean and paint the skid, and then assemble the finished project.
Team members included: Shane Brandon, Antonio Esquivel, Maison Garcia, Alex Hammond, Daniel Mata, C.J. McDonald, Rolando Rangel, Daniel Rivera, Caleb Shaner and Thor Weatherholt. Instructors are Doug Olson and Cliff McDonald.
Alvin ISD students will have the opportunity to analyze letters from astronauts, original patent applications and works by famous Americans this spring.
The Alvin branch of Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums will bring “A View Into History” — featuring reproductions of rare original documents from its archives — to the district’s elementary, junior and high schools.
Inmate Christopher Scott Smith was just shy of earning an associate degree in human services from Alvin Community College when a sudden transfer to another unit within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice interrupted his plan.
Unable to find the same courses at the new unit, he enrolled in different program and later was released with just three courses remaining. He said he hopes to use his degree to help those struggling with addiction.
“Since release my goals have centered around finishing both degree programs,” Smith said. “This was challenging because (the) degree plans themselves did not fall in line with current curriculum requirements.”
A program designed to help reduce recidivism and provide job opportunities for incarcerated students, however, is helping Smith complete his education. Funded by the Texas Talent Connection Grant, New Beginnings provides training and education to students recently or soon-to-be released from incarceration, said Sara Bouse, ACC grant manager.
“I have no doubt Scott will be successful in supporting those who struggle with addiction. He will be a tremendous asset to others who want a better life for themselves and their families.”
New Beginnings helped Smith through the college registration process and applying for financial aid.’
Smith said he plans to return to TDCJ to intern and work with inmates. He also intends to earn a bachelor’s degree and become a licensed professional counselor.
“In addition to working with offenders, offering my hopes, strengths and experiences, I will be volunteering in my community, advocating for mental health treatment and substance-use disorders among the youth and homeless,” he said.
Alvin Community College’s recently renovated student center soon will be filled with new furniture.
Regents unanimously approved a $148,715 purchase from Gateway Printing & Office Supply during the March 24 board meeting. Funds will come from student activity and general service fees.
In other action, former ACC board Chair Mike Pyburn was sworn in as regent. Pyburn will finish the remaining term of Andy Tacquard, who resigned from the Position 8 seat in February. The seat is up for vote in the May 7 elections. Yvette Reyes-Hall is running unopposed for the seat in the May 7 election.
Friendswood Independent School District Education Foundation’s cruise-themed gala Feb. 12 at the Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort netted a record-breaking $275,000.
The pre-event and silent auctions generated $53,000, FEF Executive Director Ashley Adair said.
“By holding the auction 100 percent online this year we were able to generate a lot of pre-event excitement and bidding,” Adair said. “The format also allowed the entire community to participate, and nine of our 75 auction packages were actually won by remote bidders not attending the event.”
The live auction raised more $71,000 and was followed by the paddle raise, in which guests pledged more $51,000 to the foundation’s Adopt-A-Grant campaign.
“I am continuously in awe of the outpouring of support from our community,” event chair Tracy Hopkins said. “I can’t wait to see the impact this night will have on our students and educators for years to come.”
Hardik Jani said he always knew he wanted to work in public health and help make lifesaving medicines. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 gave him the opportunity to do so.
After graduating from University of Houston-Clear Lake in 2012 with his Master of Science in Biotechnology, Jani began a career that ultimately led him to Moderna, developer of one of the earliest COVID-19 vaccines.
“I came to UH-Clear Lake directly from India, where I had already received a master’s degree,” Jani said. “I was interested in molecular biology, and I wanted to further increase my hands-on work experience. UHCL offered great lab-related courses, and that’s what I was looking for.”
Jani began working at Moderna in 2017 as a senior research associate. “After 2 years, I moved to my current position on the biological science team as a principal research associate.”
His work provided critical data about the vaccines in the preclinical research phase, which is vital for evaluating the drug performance and understanding the underlying science, he said.
“When COVID happened, we found that we had a lot of studies that were taking too much time to complete,” he said. “To cope with the numerous high-demand assays and studies, we had to expand into the automation and digitalization area. My job was to find automated solutions for improving assay turnaround time, directly accommodating the increase in demand, while continuing to achieve the highest data quality.”
Every month brought a new virus strain and new mutations, Jani said. “We tested as many as possible, requiring me to get results as soon as possible.”
Ultimately, Moderna was able to deliver a successful vaccine to the public. “I’m very happy I had something to do with that,” he said. “During this time, I was also able to publish some research papers. I was an integral part of the studies that helped support finalizing the vaccine design.”
For information about UHCL’s Master of Biotechnology program, visit www.uhcl.edu/science-engineering/departments/biology-biotechnology/biotechnology/.
Twenty-seven competitors managed to get in five races despite heavy winds during the J/105 Midwinter Championship Regatta March 17-20 at Lakewood Yacht Club.
Fort Worth Boat Club’s Glen Darden sailed into first place. From Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club, James Freedman claimed second. Casey Lambert, of Lakewood Yacht Club, finished third. Find full results at www.lakewoodyachtclub.com.
Sanger ISD Challenge Program kids are the so-called worst of the worst behaved. And it's here that they find a home. A place where they are listened to and respected.