Schools

WHITE, JEFFERSON, HILLCREST GRADUATES CELEBRATE RESILIENCY IN A HARD YEAR

After a challenging year for graduating seniors, the prevailing theme at commencement ceremonies for Hillcrest High School, Thomas Jefferson High School, and W.T. White High School was resilience.

– Compiled by Bethany Erickson

2021 GRADUATES

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Hillcrest graduates celebrate. Not pictured: valedictorian Ryan Prager; salutatorian Ryan Berman.

(PHOTOS: CHRIS MCGATHEY)

Last year at this time, the senior class did not have the opportunity to participate in their graduation in person. It is really special — and exciting — that we are all able to be here together in one physical space. Hillcrest Salutatorian Ryan Berman

Some of us have lost loved ones and struggle to move on from there. I personally wanted to quit countless times but found strength in the most unexpected places and people … It is the difficulties – the dragons, if you will – that we face that make the good moments and experiences worth living. Thomas Jefferson Salutatorian Alanis Gonzalez

Thomas Jefferson graduates celebrate: Not pictured: valedictorian Alejandro Malagon.

(PHOTOS: CHRIS MCGATHEY)

We are the class of 2021, who endured an entire year of school online. We can achieve anything as long as we work hard to get to that goal. WT White Valedictorian Fabian Perez

W.T. White graduates celebrate: Not pictured: salutatorian Ruby Rojas. (PHOTOS: KATHERINE DAVIDSON)

Valedictorian: Anagha V. Gouru Co-salutatorian: Preston A. Gerard Co-salutatorian: Jung Min Yean

Weather forced commencement inside the Phillips Family Gymnasium, where the Greenhill Class of 2021 gathered under the same roof one last time. (PHOTOS: COURTESY GREENHILL SCHOOL)

At Ursuline Academy, where the motto is “Serviam,” Latin for “I will serve,” it only makes sense that students would dedicate themselves to helping their community.

The biggest club at the school exemplifies this perfectly.

You’ve Got Mail, which has attracted over 200 members, supports teens with cancer through personalized notes of encouragement.

Class of 2019 graduates Marleigh Wood and Lucy Long founded the club when they were in school.

Long originally had the idea for You’ve Got Mail after noticing that teens with cancer often received less attention than younger children or adults with the disease.

“The main purpose of creating the club was just to support the teens who needed supporting because we learned they were getting left out,” Long said. “We wanted everyone to feel that they were valued.”

After discussing the idea, Wood and Long approached Annette Leslie, who co-founded the Carson Leslie Foundation after her son Carson died from cancer in 2010.

The foundation’s mission of raising funds for research toward a cure for pediatric cancer and supporting teens fighting the disease made it a logical choice for a partnership.

Together with CLF, one of You’ve Got Mail’s major projects is writing notes for the Jordan Spieth-sponsored Under Armour backpacks distributed across the entire globe. With each note, You’ve Got Mail includes a $2 bill, which Leslie describes as the perfect MADDIE STOUT encapsulation of both the foundation and club’s joint message. “It’s kind of like a little sign of good luck, which fits the theme of this unexpected joy,” Leslie said. “Our message is consistently that you are loved, which spreads across all areas of influence, no matter what.” Since Wood and Long’s graduation two years ago, the club has consistently grown and spread its influence. Incoming You’ve Got Mail president Natalie Marina is aiming for more involvement, projects, and expansion. “We’re trying to start the same club at Jesuit, which is really exciting,” she said. “And we were talking about doing a Students create themed cards for the holidays and patients’ birthdays to give them a personalized feel. (PHOTOS: COURTESY OF NATALIE MARINA) toy drive and bringing more people in since we have so many girls who are willing to help.” Members of the club have found that You’ve Got Mail helps themselves along with the cancer patients. “You’ve Got Mail means spreading all kinds of positivity,” Wood said. “It’s something that people can always come to if they are having a bad day and spread joy all around.” Summer intern Maddie Stout, co-editor of her campus newspaper, will begin her senior year at The Hockaday School in August.

Running on recycled parts.

Mike was an avid runner, but his severe liver issues prevented him from doing what he loved. The doctors at The Liver Institute at Methodist Dallas Medical Center diagnosed him with two chronic inflammatory diseases: autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), which can both lead to liver scarring. Mike was put on a liver transplant list, but when his health deteriorated, the specialists at The Liver Institute took immediate action. Today, Mike is proud to be “running on recycled parts” in honor of the organ donor who gave him a second chance at life.

Trust Methodist. Visit us at MethodistHealthSystem.org or call or 214-947-1800.

The Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas presented Gold Award pins to 143 girls, including several in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.

Girl Scouts’ most prestigious designation recognizes girls in grades nine through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through intensive, multi-year projects that have sustainable impact in the community and beyond.

Gracie Lane Neely Womble Victoria Chien Cate Goglia

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Gracie Lane, the daughter of Shannon and Lance Lane, is a rising senior at Highland Park High School. Her project: Unable during the pandemic to provide in-person art classes for West Dallas and Oak Cliff families served by Brother Bill’s, she and her volunteers created craft kits and instructional videos to provide children with fun learning activities to do at home.

Neely Womble the daughter of Bobby and Shannon Womble, is a rising senior at Highland Park. Her project: She and her volunteers built two weather-proofed mobile market tables so the Voice of Hope’s food bank serving West Dallas could display its fresh produce.

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Victoria Chien, the daughter of Jane and Larry Chien, is a rising senior at The Hockaday School. Her project: Partnering with United to Learn, she worked

Margot Meyer

with 17 schools, apartment complexes, and nonprofit agencies to deliver books to help children maintain literacy skills during the pandemic. Victoria also created and facilitated reading and craft activity sessions for the YMCA after school camp at Sierra Vista apartments.

Cate Goglia, the daughter of Carol and Mark Goglia, is a rising senior at The Hockaday School. Her project: She supported United to Learn’s mission to eliminate achievement gaps with a project

Erin Fleming

that produced more than 450 student-created videos as a resource for teachers and students during the pandemic. The YouTube videos – in English and Spanish – address topics such as reading, sports, arts, dance, and science.

Margot Meyer, daughter of Peggy and Dr. Dan Meyer, is a rising senior at Hockaday. Her project: She tapped telehealth options to allow at-risk students at Burnet Elementary access to quality healthcare without interrupting parent’s work schedules.

Christina Healy

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Erin Fleming, the daughter of Kelly Fleming, is a 2021 graduate of Highland Park High School. Her project: She designed and built eight workstations on wheels to provide teachers and students in the Voice of Hope Aspire after school program a more collaborative, 21st century learning environment.

Christina Healy, the daughter of Soo Mae Chu, is a 2021 graduate of Highland Park. Her project: She led a team of volunteers to re-

Kimaya Meherali (COURTESY PHOTOS)

design a meditation garden to provide those living at the St. Joseph’s Residence a quiet and shaded place to relax, move around, and enjoy the outdoors.

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Kimaya Meherali, the daughter of Sonita and Rafiq Meherali, is a rising junior at Ursuline Academy of Dallas. Her project: She created 100 blankets and recorded at-home workout videos for members of The Madison on Marsh skilled nursing home in Carrollton.