Schools

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS: RUN, PLAY, DRAW, SING 1 2

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1. Eligible to run in 12 years

FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: Nineyear-old Bradfield Elementary School fourth-graders Sloane and Taylor Stephens presided at the Feb. 15 Highland Park Town Council meeting as “Mayors for a Day.” The daughters of Brad and Rachel Stephens read from the agenda as instructed by Mayor Margo Goodwin. BACK ROW: Craig Penfold, Lydia Novakov, Jimmy Grisham, Goodwin, David Dowler, and Marc Myers.

2. Best of the band

The Highland Park High School band program set a school record with nine students making the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Band. FROM LEFT: Spencer Dalton, French horn; Andrew Liao, percussion; Merrick Ellison, trumpet; Olivia Kight, flute; Reuben Obel, alto saxophone; Ava Mitchell, piccolo; Brandon Luk, trumpet; Amy Xu, oboe; and Vincenzo Guandolo, bassoon.

3. Covering up the numbers

Before wading through the numbers and fine print in HPISD’s 2021 Annual Comprehensive Finance Report, enjoy the cover art by University Park Elementary School student Douglas Cooper. He used colored pencils, a tempera paint print, and a Gelli plate to create his Texas-themed piece.

4. In the medal hunt

Add 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate to the impressive resume of senior Christopher Ryan Carmack, pictured with principal Jeremy Gilbert. Of 5,000 candidates nationwide, 161 will receive a Presidential Medal. Other Carmack accomplishments: a perfect 1600 SAT score, 4.69 GPA, National Academic Decathlon Silver Medalist, National Merit Semi-Finalist, Boys State Supreme Court Justice, and several medals in Computer Science, Math, Science, and Academic Decathlon.

5. Spell victory C-A-N-O-L-A

After 11 competitive rounds pitting 32 MIS/HPMS students in grades five through eight, seventh-grader Amelia Ghosh became “HPISD’s Champion Speller” by spelling “canola” correctly. BACK ROW, FROM LEFT: Educators Meg Bassett, Shannon Taliaferro, David Mires, Jill Bellomy, and Sandy Cruz stand behind Amelia Ghosh.

6. Education on education

Armstrong Elementary School first-grader Brooke Pridham [center], serving as “principal for a day,” met with HPISD Superintendent Tom Trigg and principal Betsy Cummins.

7. Glad scientists

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: With his project “Restoring and Cataloging a Native Texas Ecosystem using DNA Barcoding,” GB Stalnaker emerged as the overall winner of the HP Science and Technology Festival.

Other winners: Brian Fowler, engineering

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(PHOTOS: WILLIAM TAYLOR AND COURTESY HPISD)

division; Caitlin Samson, science division; and Jake Wood, technology division.

8. A singing Scot repeats

Three Singing Scots made Texas All-State Choir, including Juliet Allan, who did so for the second time. FROM LEFT: Callie Seabolt, seventh chair, alto 2; Allan, first chair, alto 1; and Dylan Woodward, third chair, tenor 2.

9. Art students win Gold Keys

Four HPHS students won Gold Keys at the Southwest Region Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition: Joyce Jiang, for Corn, [pictured] drawing and illustration; Anthony Ngo, for CHAOS, CHAOS #2, and Programmed, (pictured) digital art; and Yincheng Qian, one for Crack, comic art; and Xinke Wang, for Totoro Inspired Chess Set, ceramics/ glass, and Vase of Flowers in a Niche, painting.

Brewing Up Opportunities Student-run Scottie Joe’s coffee shop opens at Highland Park High School

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

After months of brewing up business plans and sourcing java, the student-run Scottie Joe’s coffee bar is open on the third floor of Highland Park High School.

Junior and senior students from the Moody Advanced Professional Studies (MAPS) program manage the business operations and marketing, and young adults from the school’s 18+ transition program staff the coffee shop. The shop was made possible through a partnership with Credit Union of Texas. “This is really what it’s all about – real-world experiences for kids,” said HPISD Superintendent Tom Trigg. “And kids, it’s great to have a grand opening, but you know what? The hard work really starts now, because you guys are going to be working together, you’re going to be collaborating, you’re going to have to have schedules, you’re going to have to follow the profits … on and on and on, things that are really going to prepare you for real-world experience.”

District officials, students, and staff celebrated the shop’s grand opening on March 7.

Students in the business design and leadership program have worked on mission statements, done market research via surveys among students and teachers to learn about the types of coffee and price points that would do best, and learned about supply chain issues.

Credit Union of Texas vice president of community engagement Desmond Bibbs said the project aligns with the type of projects the credit union supports, and he’s excited to see it come to fruition.

“I’ve had an opportunity to come into the classroom settings, and these students are way smarter than me,” Bibbs said. “The ideals, the level of creativity is overwhelming, and so we couldn’t be more proud of this partnership, and we’re looking forward to seeing how we can continue to build on this foundation.”

Brooke Benedict of the district’s Moody Innovation Institute said, “It’s really fun, and (the students) are some of the best salespeople I’ve ever met.”

Junior Paul Flowers said he’s excited.

“We find ourselves amazed at how Scottie Joe’s gives and keeps on giving – a treasure trove of opportunities,” said Flow-

This is really ers. “The 18+ students have from what it’s all this business accuabout – mulated real-time job experience. real-world This experience … experiences became the seed for another fruit for kids. – increased social Tom Trigg interaction. This blessing has boosted their confidence and has produced results sweeter than the ice caramel latte (I had).”

Young adults from Highland Park High School’s 18+ program serve up drinks during the grand opening celebration for Scottie Joe’s coffee

shop. (PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER)

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: Laboratory prototypes use infrared light to illuminate hidden objects. (PHOTO:

FLORIAN WILLOMITZER/NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY) Elizabeth G. Loboa, Zhong Lu, and R. Gerald Turner; Kelvin and Jessica Beachum’s art collection includes The Night is Our Friend, oil on canvas by Dominic

Chambers. (PHOTOS: COURTESY SMU)

Researchers at SMU and Northwestern University are working on Synthetic Wavelength Holography, a technology that uses cameras to record high-resolution images and holograms of objects beyond standard lines of sight.

Imagine seeing around a corner without having to go over and look.

It works by computationally transforming real-world surfaces into imaging portals to then indirectly illuminate hidden objects and intercept the tiny fraction of light scattered by them.

“Our current sensor prototypes use visible (or invisible) infrared light, but the principle is universal and could be extended to other wavelengths,” said Northwestern’s Florian Willomitzer, who’s working with SMU’s Prasanna Rangarajan on the research. “For example, the same method could be applied to radio waves for space exploration or underwater acoustic imaging.”

They hope to develop NonLine of Site (NLoS) cameras that are compact, fast, and easy to use.

Such cameras could allow users to get images through fog and use facial identification around corners and barriers. Applications could include early-warning navigation systems for vehicles and industrial inspection in tightly confined and potentially dangerous spaces and medical imaging.

We’re the team to navigate this exciting market of possibilities. We search, we sell, we fi nd your perfect space.

Kelvin and Jessica Beachum lent 10 paintings to SMU’s Hamon Arts Library for an exhibit open through May 22 in Mildred Hawn Gallery.

“We are sharing these pieces from our collection to bring recognition to the artists,” said SMU graduate Kelvin Beachum, an offensive tackle for the Arizona Cardinals. “We believe that their brilliant work and shared insights will start a conversation and bring people together in a new way.”

“Narrative as Reality: A World Reimagined/ Selections from the Jessica and Kelvin Beachum Family Collection” showcases work from several artists, including Dominic Chambers, Ryan Cosbert, and Robert Hodge, who also are engaging with students in studio art and U.S. civil rights history classes.

“A glimpse into the Jessica and Kelvin Beachum Family Collection reveals an artistic world of hope, Black joy, reality, and aspiration,” curator Valerie Gillespie said.

Champions of science

Elizabeth G. Loboa, SMU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Zhong Lu, the Shuler-Foscue Chair in SMU’s Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

“The AAAS recognition from their peers is well deserved, and SMU is fortunate to benefit from their expertise and commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scientific discovery,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said.

The AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, is recognizing the scientific and social achievements of 564 individuals across 24 scientific disciplines.

Honored by King of Spain

SMU President R. Gerald Turner received the Encomienda de la Orden de Isabel la Católica, a decoration granted by King Felipe VI of Spain in recognition of extraordinary civil character and accomplishments benefiting Spain.

Santiago Cabanas, ambassador of Spain to the United States, and Julia Olmo y Romero, consul general of Spain, presented the honor on Feb. 18 at SMU’s Meadows Museum.

“Dr. Turner’s unwavering support of the Meadows Museum and steadfast support of Spain through his backing of numerous Spanish programs has enabled SMU to become a beacon for the promotion of Spanish culture in America,” said Janet Kafka, honorary consul for Dallas-Fort Worth.

– Compiled by Greg Nielsen

Stephen Pryor

469.387.0272 | stephen.pryor@alliebeth.com

Carol Ann Zelley

214.668.0503 | carolann.zelley@alliebeth.com