Katy Lifestyles and Homes magazine Jun 2009: Katy School News, Info and Sports News

Katy Young Pianists Win Top Honors at Sherman Clay Junior Piano Festival - Katy young pianists participated in the Sherman Clay Junior Piano Festival and won in their respective divisions. This competition was through invitation, based on high achievement at the Houston Music Teachers Association Piano Competition.

Clio Sun, a fourth-grader at Alexander Elementary, and Shehla Syed, a fifth-grader at Jo Ella Exley Elementary, won first place. Shirley Tang, a third-grader at Nottingham Country Elementary, won third place. Lucille Tang, a sixth-grader at Memorial Parkway Junior High, and Barbara Sun, a sixth-grader at Beckendorff Junior High, won fourth place. Their teacher is Anna Golka.

Taylor High School Choirs Earn Awards - The Taylor High School Men’s Choir competed in its first ever competition at Blinn College in Brenham, and received a sweepstakes award as well as straight ones from the judges.

In UIL competition at Tallowood Baptist Church, the Chorale and Cantilena choirs received a sweepstakes award, straight ones; the Camerata and Concert choirs also did an excellent job. The choir directors are Kevin Riehle and Kristin Taylor.

UIL OAP at Regionals - The Morton Ranch High School Theatre Company’s UIL One Act Play cast and crew of The Last Night of Ballyhoo walked away with alternate to State.

Along with receiving medals and a plaque for Alternate Play to UIL State, Dalton Hutto received All Star Cast; and Taylor Moessinger and Cheryl Cedillo received Honorable Mention medals.

Girl Scout Troops Participate in Light of Hope Ceremony - Girl Scout Troops 63812 and Troop 3802 participated in the Child Advocates of Fort Bend Light of Hope ceremony. The troops created quilt squares as part of a large quilt that brought attention to the problem of child abuse in the community. This year Child Advocates of Fort Bend had almost 1,000 squares with more than 400 done by Girl Scout troops.

Katy Naval Sea Cadets Graduate From Program, Enroll in Colleges and Join Armed Forces - Five Katy Naval Sea Cadets attended a graduation ceremony at VFW Post 9182 in Katy. Graduating Sea Cadets are David Szabo, Ryan Dowling, David Michalak, Joseph Littlefield and Patrick Fagan.

“This is a tremendous group of young men,” said Lt. Clifford Borgstedt, commanding officer of the Katy Division. “They all have received specialized training by the Navy and Coast Guard which will serve them well in the future, ” he continued.

Cadet Szabo, a Petty Officer 2nd Class, will attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. Cadet Dowling, whose Sea Cadet rank is an E-3, will attend Texas A &M and be a member of the corps.

Cadet Michalak, who also is an E-3, has already committed to join the Navy as an enlisted seaman through the Navy ’s delayed entry program. After completing boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill., Michalak will be ranked two grades higher than most other seaman due to his Sea Cadet training. The Navy will also pay him at the E3 rank backdated from the start of boot camp.

Cadet Littlefield, a Petty Officer 2nd Class, has been accepted at Texas A&M, Galveston, and plans to pursue a career in the United State Coast Guard as an attorney.

Cadet Fagan, a Petty Officer 1st Class, is still weighing his college options and considering many alternatives. He plans to continue active involvement with the Sea Cadets through August so he can attain a rank of Chief Petty Officer.

Competition winners are: (front row) Mav Idol hosts Ian Santibañez and Kimberly Tran; (second row) David Nguyen, Hao Nguyen; (third row) Alee Mekkaoui, Matthew Wirges, Viet Nguyen, Eddie Villareal, Tony Do; (fourth row) Brandon Benavides, Angel Arteaga, Phuc Nguyen; (back row) Clinton McCarver, Andrew Hole; Pierre Robinson, instrumental champion; Alec Ross, singing champion; and Tracy Patterson and Alicia Pederson, teacher talent champions.

Morton Ranch HS Holds Maverickan Idol Competition - Morton Ranch High School held its third annual Maverickan Idol competition. Contestants competed in four categories: singing, dancing, band and instrumental. This year, teachers were encouraged to compete as well.

In the teacher talent category, first place went to the duo of Tracy Patterson and Alicia Pederson, who sang For Good from the musical Wicked. In the student signing category, first place went to Alec Ross, who sang an original song, The Train to Blossom. Alec received free recording time at West Side Recording Studio for his performance. In the instrumental category, first place went to Pierre Robinson, who played an original composition on the piano entitled Eternal. Pierre received six free tickets to the Katy Visual and Performing Art Center’s musical Beauty and the Beast. First place in the dance category went to the group Extreme Impact, featuring dancers David Nguyen, Phuc Nguyen, Viet Nguyen, Hao Nguyen, Tony Do, Eddie Villareal and Tim Ferguson. The dancers received free hip hop lessons at Stephanie’s Dance Studio One and a chance to participate in the spring show at the studio. First place in band went to the band Kippz of the Mudd featuring Angel Arteaga, Matthew Wirges, Clinton McCarver, Brandon Venavides, Andrew Hole and Alee Mekkaoui. The band received free recording time at West Side Recording Studio.