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

Taylor High School Pacesetters dance team collect toys for Katy Christian Ministries.

Holiday Event Toy Drive Benefits Katy Christian Ministries - The award-winning Taylor High School Pacesetters dance team enjoyed their annual Holiday Event at Willow Fork Country Club. Each girl brought toys and/or games to the dinner as a way to give back to the community in the spirit of the holidays. Katy Christian Ministries received more than 100 toys from the team.

The Taylor Pacesetters are under the direction of Darby Boyd and Melissa Witwer.

Taylor High School’s Marching Band and Color Guard performed in the Holiday Bowl halftime show.

Taylor Band Goes to San Diego - Taylor High School’s Marching Band and Color Guard were selected to travel to San Diego, Calif., to participate in the Big Bay Balloon Parade as well as perform in the Holiday Bowl halftime show. The band received first-place awards for Best Marching Band Parade Performance, Best Music and Best Drum Line.

(Front row) Jessica Pisani, Alyse Goldsmith; (middle row) Meredith Ramsey, Amanda Bullwinkel, Kelsey Goenner, Jessica Broberg, Jessica Trotter, Hattie Butler, Mallory Ramsey; (back row) Maribeth Drake, Jackie Pool, Chris Sparks, Sasha Hubble, Kenna Johnson, Katie Lowe, Elizabeth Buchner, Casey Anderson, Lauren Muir, Hannah Owens, Elizabeth Lundahl and Danielle Chester.

National Charity League Inc., Star Chapter Honors Class of 2009 - National Charity League Inc., Star Chapter will honor the Class of 2009 at its annual Senior Presentation on March 8. Each student will be recognized for her involvement in community service, leadership development and cultural activities.

National Charity League Inc., a mother-daughter philanthropic organization, provides opportunities for mothers and daughters to volunteer in the community together while nurturing leadership skills and cultural awareness.

(L-R, back row) Coach David Bammel, Oswaldo Munoz, Christian Garza, Jose Pacas, Isaac Posada, Kevin Alvaranga, Omar Acosta, Fabrizio Gomez, Rolando Rivera, Jose Motta, Manny Parra, Coach Fredy Sanguinetti, Coach Mason Whitfield; (middle row) Richard Pizano, Eddy Reyes, senior captain Christian O ’Campo, senior captain Ricardo Arriaga, Allen Flores, Santiago Stiener, Alex Soto, Jesus Chavez; (front row) Christian Fallen, Eric Calderon, junior captain Alex Hoyt, Carlos Menjivar, Jose Martinez, Omar Lopez, Carlos Viveros and Hector Amaya.

Morton Ranch HS Varsity Soccer Team Wins Palacios Tournament - The Morton Ranch High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team won the Palacios Tournament by defeating Columbia 4-1, Bay City 4-2, Santa Fe 4-0 and Palacios in the final 6-0.

Tournament players were Kevin Alvarenga, Carlos Menjivar, Richard Pizano, Alex Hoyt, Christian Ocampo and Jose Motta.

(L-R, back row) Jesus De La Cruz, Andrew Hanson, Brandon Robinson; (middle row) Humberto Garcia, Rene Lara, Kaitlyn O ’Dell, Vanessa Palmer; (front row) Haley Davis, Ivette Marquez and Ambi Bobmanuel. Not pictured: junior alternates Rina Zepeda and Nik Zuniga.

Morton Ranch HS Academic Decathlon Team Goes to State - For the second year in a row, Morton Ranch High School’s Academic Decathlon team made it to state. At regional competition, Morton Ranch came in fifth out of 19 teams, securing them the 27th qualifying spot at state competition.

Awards and scoring information for team members included: Individual awards – first place varsity speech Humberto Garcia; third place varsity interview Kaitlyn O’Dell; first place superquiz relay Ivette Marquez; third place music Ivette Marquez; and fourth place economics Rene Lara.

Out of 57 students competing in the honors category, Haley Davis came in 13th, Ambi Bobmanuel came in 14th and Brandon Robinson came in 21st. Of the 57 students competing in the scholastic category, Rene Lara came in 14th, Vanessa Palmer came in 18th, and Andrew Hanson came in 19th. Of the 57 students competing in the varsity category, Ivette Marquez came in eighth, Kaitlyn O’Dell came in 10th, and Humberto Garcia came in 18th. Haley Davis, Rene Lara and Ivette Marquez won the individual awards in their respective categories for high scores. Ivette Marquez came in ninth overall in superquiz and 11th overall in music; Humberto Garcia came in eighth overall in speech; and Kaitlyn O ’Dell came in 13th overall in interview.

Morton Ranch ranked fifth of 19 in art, seventh in math, eighth in economics, sixth in essay, sixth in speech, fifth in interview, fourth in music, fourth in language and literature, fifth in social science, and fifth in superquiz. Morton Ranch won a medal for third-place overall in superquiz relay and fourth place in overall superquiz.

The Morton Ranch decathlon team coaches are Carrie McDaniel, Lauri Crestani and Mary Pyron. Event coordinators are MaryFrances Schmidt, Maria Rodriguez and Susan Hoyt.

The sixth-grade girls choir small ensemble received a Class 1 ranking at the Solo and Ensemble competition.

WoodCreek Jr. High Choir Members Medal at Solo & Ensemble - Members of the WoodCreek Jr. High Choir, along with Director Lauren Burris, attended a voluntary Solo and Ensemble competition.

As a result of their hard work, choir members performed well, receiving the following rankings:

Receiving a Class I ranking in Solo and Ensemble and medal for a solo – Mindy Keahey, Allison Hablinski, Sarah Andersen, Mikayla Pierce, Courtney Williams, Batchlor Johnson, Tony Lira, Mikayla Coyle, Pardis Jesudasen, Leanna Leal, Jaci Gutierrez, Jordan Garren, Katie Rudnik, Emilee Koshak, Kevin Kock, Michael Schwin and Stephen Unger. Piano – Michael Schwin. Receiving a Class II ranking and medal for a solo were Chloe Johnston and Kaitlyn Wright.

Receiving a Class I ranking and medal for a small ensemble were: Allison Hablinski, Mindy Keahey, Annie Hillstrom, Emily Johnson, Cassie Jones, Mikayla Pierce, Catherine Shen, Madison Tompkins, Mikayla Coyle, Edward Unger, Kevin Kock, Michael Schwin, Stephen Unger, Jordan Garren, Emilee Koshak, and Leanna Leal.

The WolfPack Singers competed as a large ensemble and received a Class I ranking and medal for their performance of the school song. The WolfPack Singers include: Holly Berckenhoff, Emilee Koshak, Carley Roseberry, Jordan Garren, Cullen Hubble, Michael Schwin, Stephen Unger, Kevin Kock, Jaci Gutierrez, Leanna Leal, Lauren Haines and Katie Rudnik.

Outstanding Performer Awards are given to outstanding soloists in each judge’s room throughout the day. Each judge selected four students from the 45-50 students heard that day. Receiving the Outstanding Performer Awards for their vocal solos were Emilee Koshak, Stephen Unger and Kevin Kock. Michael Schwin received the same award for his self-composed piano solo.

(L-R) Senior Rachel Calhoun and junior Anirudh Ajith; (kneeling) County Line co-editors, along with section editors, Taylor Wright, Scena Nayak, Taylor Moon, Ayla Syed and Farhana Rabbi accept the NSPA First Class Rating Award on behalf of the 2007-08 County Line newspaper staff.

Cinco Ranch HS Journalism Department Receives National Recognition - The Cinco Ranch High School Journalism department received national recognition from the National Scholastic Press Association based on ratings of the 2007-08 County Line student newspaper and 2008 Panorama yearbook. Both CRHS publications scored over 90 percent in point total categories, and NSPA awarded the County Line with a First Class rating, and Panorama earned a First Class rating with Two Marks of Distinction.

High School newspapers are professionally judged and rated in five categories by NSPA. County Line scored 3,672 points of a possible 4,000 points. Yearbooks are judged and rated in the following categories: Theme/Concept Development, Coverage, Design, Writing and Editing and Photography. Panorama scored 4,460 points of a possible 4,700 points.

Co-editors for the 2007-08 County Line were Jared Brimberry and Brittany Brown. Panorama co-editors were Kathryn Kay and Haleigh Land.

Both of the CRHS student publications have achieved this national distinction eight of the last nine years.