OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, June 2, 2022 • 29
SCHOOLS
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Jake Pratt, center, who also has Down syndrome and completed the postsecondary education program at ClemsonLIFE, handed out the scholarship awards to from left, Jackson Ray, Lindsay Davis, Grace Davis, Chandler Herrero. Not pictured, Hannah Baker.
Down Syndrome Alabama awarded five young adults with scholarships May 5 to go toward their post-secondary education. Among the recipients, Jackson Ray of Vinemont, Lindsay Davis of Mountain Brook and Grace Davis of Vestavia Hills are enrolled in the Eagles Program at Auburn University. Chandler Herrero of Birmingham is enrolled in CrossingPoints at the University of Alabama, and Hannah Baker of Trussville is enrolled in Mississippi State’s Access Program. Each applicant submitted applica-
tions, letters of recommendation, personal essays and photos in addition to being interviewed by a four-member scholarship committee. Jake Pratt, of Vestavia Hills, who also has Down syndrome and completed the post-secondary education program at ClemsonLIFE, handed out the awards. According to a press release from Down Syndrome Alabama, Pratt’s wish is to help other young adults with Down syndrome go to post-secondary education programs with scholarships. UPS granted Down Syndrome
Vestavia Students Compete in Robotics World Championship “The first day we went through inspection to make sure their robot qualified to compete,” Hickman said. “They had to meet certain dimensions and couldn’t be any larger than 18x18 inches, and each robot had to use VEX-certified parts.” After inspection, students spent time networking with other teams. During the competition, students heard from executives with Google, VEX Technologies and the REC
Foundation. While there were no awards won, each robotics coach was proud of her teams’ perseverance. “The students finished in the top 50 teams in their division,” Lushington said. “They did a great job and came home with lots of ideas for things to do differently next season.” “I am incredibly proud of this team,” Hickman said. “They persevered through the pandemic and stayed focused. These students reached their ultimate goal of competing in the Worlds Robotics Championship.” —Ally Morrison
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After competing in regional competitions held at area schools and qualifying for the state robotics competition in February, robotics teams at Vestavia Hills High School and Louis Pizitz Middle School advanced to the VEX Robotics World Championship. During the 3-day competition held in Dallas, students of both schools had the chance to work with robotics teams from around the globe. Haley Lushington, a science teacher at Louis Pizitz Middle School, traveled to Dallas with the team. “The students had a great week at the competition,” Lushington said. “They competed with and against over 3,000 teams from over 50 countries. Our students were given time to speak with other teams, learn about their culture and share with them about the culture in Vestavia Hills.” Lushington further explained that the Louis Pizitz teams were one of the youngest teams competing this year, with no eighth grade students participating. VHHS robotics coach Pam Hickman detailed the intensity of the competition, stating robot inspection was extensive.
Alabama $25,000 in honor of Pratt, who just recently celebrated his 1-year work anniversary with UPS. During the awards ceremony, Justin Heckel, with UPS public affairs and community relations, announced a second $25,000 grant to Down Syndrome Alabama to continue the Jake Pratt Scholarship Fund. “Down Syndrome Alabama is extremely excited to partner with UPS to give these outstanding young adults scholarships to help offset some of the costs of these programs,” Down Syndrome Alabama’s executive director, Kelly Peoples, said. “These programs, which prepare young men and women with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment and independent living, are a blessing, and we are grateful to have them so close. UPS is delivering what matters. We hope more companies follow their lead and give young adults with disabilities the opportunity to show off their abilities.” In partnership with The UPS Foundation and Down Syndrome Alabama, the Jake Pratt Scholarship fund was established in 2021. The scholarships are awarded exclusively to students with Down Syndrome seeking a collegiate experience at an accredited program for students who desire to enhance their life through employment, independent living and life skills.
Members of Vestavia Robotics teams, including those above, competed against over 3,000 teams from over 50 countries.
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Down Syndrome Alabama Awards Scholarships to 5 Young Adults With Down Syndrome
Skowronski is raising awareness about the needs of displaced Ukrainians through media interviews and special events at the Altamont School.
Altamont Students Draw Attention to Ukraine Refugee Crisis
The Altamont School is giving its students insight into the war in Ukraine and seeking ways for the community to show solidarity with those the war has displaced. Alexander Skowronski, a ninth grade student at The Altamont School, sparked communitywide engagement with the crisis after his family’s Fortuna Clinical Foundation launched an initiative to aid refugees from Ukraine. According to a press release from the school, the foundation is soliciting aid for the regional hospital in the Ukrainian town of Ivano-Frankivsk and the refugee center in Yazlovets as well as partnering with the Polish Universal Reading Foundation to buy Ukrainian language children’s books for distribution to refugees. Skowronski said his family were deeply moved by the humanitarian crisis after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan last year. That developed quickly, and the family regretted that they were not able to find a way to immediately provide help to Afghans. When Russia invaded Ukraine, they didn’t want to miss another opportunity to help, especially in a region of deep personal importance to their family. The Polish family has ties to Ivano-Frankivsk, where current dangers echo a troubled past. More than 3 million Ukrainians have fled to Poland since the start of the war, and the Skowronski family is providing direct personal relief by using a residential property they own there to shelter a mother and two children while their husband and father serves in the Ukrainian army in the Donbas region. The condition of such children – either living as refugees or still in a war zone is of special concern to Alexander Skowronski. “Today, they should be worrying about the math test they have next week,” Skowronski said. “Instead, they’re worrying about their friends and family. Will anybody be injured? For those who have fled, they’re worrying about those they’ve left behind.” As the war began, Skowronski was thinking of his own academic work and preparing a multi-year service project in conjunction with Altamont’s C. Kyser Miree Leadership Center. Center Director Beth Dille expedited his admission to the program when
Skowronski proposed Ukrainian refugee relief for his project. Dille explained that selected ninth grade students develop leadership projects through the center and commit to them for the remainder of their time in Altamont’s upper school. “The goal is always to be very conscious of sustainability or, if it isn’t going to continue, (have) a responsible exit plan,” she said. Skowronski might continue the work when he transitions to college, Dille said, or he might pass it along to another Altamont student who shares his passion for helping refugees. For now, Skowronski is raising awareness about the needs of displaced Ukrainians through media interviews and special events at the Altamont School. He organized an April 27 Zoom event featuring Ukrainian physician Katia Zahorodnia, psychology professor and police Lt. Col. Alexey Serdyuk, humanitarian aid workers Josh and Meg McClug, and Ukrainian teens Veronika Velichko and Nastya Kuchmiy, all of whom offered personal perspectives. Dille said she and Skowronski will work through the summer to find other ways to connect Altamont and other Birmingham-area students to their Ukrainian counterparts. A virtual pen pals initiative will provide socialization opportunities as well as service credits for local participants. Online gaming might bring students together, too, and without language barriers. Niko Tsivourakis, Altamont English teacher and director of the school’s Global Initiative, is developing related projects with the help of seventh grade student Ben Poczatek, whose cousin Pawel Galewicz will provide a recorded description of how his own community in Poland is serving refugees. Tsivourakis said students in grades five through seven also are working on a short story writing project to share with the refugees in that community. The work reflects The Altamont School’s globally conscious values and culturally diverse community. “Engaging our students in authentic ways is always our priority,” Tsivourakis said. “This is one of those wonderful opportunities in which school can extend beyond our classrooms, connect us with real people and become a catalyst for good.”
