TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Votes needed in attempt to win nationwide technology contest

Truman High School needs your votes!

This year, Big Lots is giving away thousands of dollars in technology prizes to schools participating in the company's "Lots2Give" contest.

Each school participating created and submitted a video highlighting their school's technology needs. 

Truman entered its video, asking to be awarded new technology because it is in need of repair. Despite problems and cuts in funding, Truman students "are working hard" and have managed to raise its state ranking 205 spots over the past two years. The school would like to continue to improve and the technology grant would be a great benefit.

Truman's video can be found by going to the contest page involving Michigan entries and scrolling down to find the Truman High School entry. To go to the online page, click here.

Anyone can can three times from each device that you have every day of the voting period. The video with the most votes wins, so it's important to bookmark and visit the site daily. In fact, because you can vote three times from EACH DEVICE, you can vote from your home computer, work computer, smartphone and iPad, etc. -- as many devices as you have, three times daily.

Vote early and vote often. Share the video on your social networking Web sites like Facebook and Twitter. Email your friends and remind them to get behind the effort.

Thank you for your support in advance!

WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: Help foil 'Captain Obsolete' by voting in the Big Lots' technology contest!

West Middle School needs your votes!

This year, Big Lots is giving away thousands of dollars in technology prizes to schools participating in the company's "Lots2Give" contest.

Each school participating created and submitted a video highlighting their school's technology needs. 

West entered "Technology Troubles," a black-and-white "silent" film with an original musical score. The video stars "Captain Obsolete," who steals steals keys, causes computers to explode and foils all who try to stop him.

The hilarious video can be found by going to the contest page involving Michigan entries and scrolling down to find the West Middle School entry. To go to the online page, click here.

Anyone can can three times from each device that you have every day of the voting period. The video with the most votes wins, so it's important to bookmark and visit the site daily. In fact, because you can vote three times from EACH DEVICE, you can vote from your home computer, work computer, smartphone and iPad, etc. -- as many devices as you have, three times daily.

West Middle School teachers, staff and students want you to vote early and vote often. Please share the video on your social networking Web sites like Facebook and Twitter. Email your friends and remind them to get behind the effort.

And, from everyone at West, thank you for your support in advance!

RANDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: BETA club finishes successful year

The BETA Club at Randall Elementary School recently finished another year of successful fundraising.

The club aims at aiding its community and those who need help around the world. The National BETA Club is an organization for fifth- through 12th-graders in the United States, recognizing academic achievement, leadership and character. It was founded in 1934 by Dr. John W. Harris, a Wofford College professor, with the motto of "Let Us Lead By Serving Others."

Some of the highlights of this year's Randall BETA efforts included raising money for UNICEF, The Ronald McDonald House and the Taylor Reading Corps.

UNICEF is an agency of the United Nations established in 1946 to help governments improve the health and education of children and their mothers. It was formerly known as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is an independent 501(c)3 organization with the mission to create, find and support programs directly improving the health and well-being of children. The emphasis is on providing places to stay for families with hospitalized children. RMHC has a global network of chapters in 52 countries under the core programs of Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care.

The Taylor Reading Corps is an award-winning local 501(c)3 with the mission of enhancing the learning opportunities for Taylor School District students in the preschool and lower-elementary levels through the recruitment, training and sustainment of a network of volunteers.

Randall's teachers and staff were very proud of the dedicated group of fifth-grade BETA members who made this year a success. 

Way to go, Randall BETA!

KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL: Softball field dedicated to teacher/coach Mike Baum, who retired after 40 years with district

NOTE: Freelance writer Dave Gorgon recently wrote an outstanding feature story on former Taylor teacher and coach Mike Baum. On May 21, Mike Baum Softball Field was dedicated for the man who taught for 40 years in the Taylor School District. A copy of the story and photo follow. To view the story in The News-Herald Newspapers, just click here.

The softball field at Kennedy High School has been named for one of the school’s longtime varsity coaches.

The Mike Baum Softball Field was dedicated May 21 during a ceremony that featured dozens of Baum’s former players, fellow coaches, former co-workers from the Taylor School District, friends and family.

The softball and baseball fields had been named for former Major League baseball pitcher Steve Avery, a Kennedy standout athlete who played for Baum and endorsed renaming the softball field for the veteran coach.

Baum taught 40 years in the Taylor schools, including Kennedy, West, Truman and Hoover junior high schools and Federal and Treadwell elementary schools. He retired last summer.

Baum said he started coaching varsity softball and boys basketball at Kennedy the same year, 1983.

He coached Eagles’ softball teams to 585 victories – which places him among the top 10 for career wins in the state of Michigan. One of his teams was 35-5 in the 1990s. In the next decade, another won the Madonna tournament against some of the best teams in the state.

“It was a nice day,” Baum said. “It was great to see all the girls. I saw some girls who were on my first team. That’s what made it a great day.”

He said the softball players deserve the credit for his success. He said the field named in his honor “means a lot of work by the girls. My name may be on it, but the girls did all the work. They believed what I was selling, they practiced hard and they played tough schedules. It was a culmination of lot of things coming together, but mostly it was the girls doing the work.”

Baum also had 325 career wins in boys basketball at the high school, coaching 24 years at the varsity level and five years at the junior varsity.

He was head coach of the Kennedy junior varsity football team as well, leading the Eagles to three straight 9-0 seasons. He also had coaching stints in junior varsity girls basketball and middle school football and baseball.

A member of the City of Taylor Sports and Recreation Hall of Fame, Baum was a three-time winner of the Mellus/News-Herald newspapers “coach of the year” award. His basketball teams won six league championships and four district titles.

In 1999, the Eagles lost to eventual state champion Ann Arbor Pioneer by one point. Kennedy finished 23-3 that year with all three losses being to state championship teams (including twice to River Rouge) and each loss was by one point.

Baum is the son of the late Edward and Naomi Baum. His father was a teacher, coach and athletic director at Romulus High School.

Baum graduated in 1967 from Taylor Center High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He went on to become a four-time letter winner in baseball at Lewis and Clark State College.

In summers, Baum worked for more than 30 years for the Taylor Parks and Recreation Department. He also coached the Taylor fast-pitch travel softball team for more than 15 years. The team was known as one of the best in the Midwest.

Baum also has a reputation for mentoring future head coaches, including John Mackson, who is now the men’s basketball coach at the University of Michigan-Deaborn; Ron Kochan, one of Baum’s best players, who serves as Mackson’s assistant; and son Jeff Baum, who won 75 games as the coach of Lincoln Park High School’s girls’ basketball team and has returned to Kennedy to coach junior varsity boys and soon varsity girls basketball; and former pitcher Samantha Cain, who succeeded Baum as varsity softball coach.

Baum’s wife Patricia Cizewski-Baum was among those in attendance at the festivities, along with his sons, Kennedy graduates Todd (1991), Jason (1992) and Jeff (1994). Baum has three grandchildren: Aaron, Evan and Chase.

“To me, it’s amazing that he stayed at Kennedy for all these years and never ventured off anywhere else,” Jeff Baum said. “That’s very rare nowadays. It’s also unbelievable that all of these athletes he coached as far back as 35 years ago keep in contact with him and they talk regularly. My dad developed relationships with them. That shows he was more than a coach.”

Mike Baum, who still coaches fast-pitch softball in the summer, said he misses coaching high school ball “all the time.”

“The hardest thing I had to do was walk away from high school softball,” he said. “The girls did a great job my last year. They did what they were supposed to do. They worked hard and beat teams. If you coach a long time, you look for teams to work hard and get better. That’s what they did.

“I always enjoyed softball in the spring time. I guess I felt most comfortable with softball. We were in the Mega Red Conference for awhile, which is one of the top softball leagues in the state. Every day, somebody is coming at you.”

Baum said he was “flattered” that Mike Baum Softball Field was named for him.

“It’s a nice honor,” he said. “I’m a Taylor boy and I love Taylor, so it’s all good.”

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Senior Honors Convocation recognizes outstanding achievements

Note: The Little Paper Newspaper recently published an article on Truman High School's annual Senior Honors Convocation, which was held May 15. A copy of the article follows. The original presentation can be viewed by clicking here.

Harry S. Truman High School's annual Senior Honors Convocation, held on May 15, recog­nized Class of 2013 members with outstanding achievements in academics, voca­tional subjects, music, and athletics, along with recipients of various scholarships.

Among the honorees were the 10 students who maintained the highest grade point average during their four-year high-school ­careers (in order of rank): co-valedictorians Adam Greene (4.2790); Patrick Murray (4.2680), Zachary Bloss (4.1196), David Alvarez III (4.0879), Jalen Bodrie (4.0851), Ashley Lucier (4.0646), Morelia Adrianzen (4.0342), and Ikeoluwapo Ibrahim (4.0004), as well as Jessica Johnsen (3.998) and Emily Theisen (3.9945). Also recognized were those who received departmental and other awards*.

Award recipients included:

• Morelia Adrianzen – Summa Cum Laude (4.0342); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society

• Chidera Agodu – Cum Laude (3.46); Two-Year Academic Award; English, Health Sciences, Science, and Social Studies

• Abraham Alazazi – Cum Laude (3.4787); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English and Physical Education

• James Allen – Magna Cum Laude (3.5944); Two-Year Academic Award; Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Sarah Alley – Summa Cum Laude (3.7642); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Drama, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society

• David Alvarez III (Class President) – Summa Cum Laude (4.0879); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society

• Nicole Ashby – Cum Laude (3.2204); Foreign Language, Science, and Social Studies; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Samantha Blausett – Magna Cum Laude (3.6016); One-Year Academic Award; Foreign Language, Mathematics, and Social Studies

• Zachary Bloss (Class Treasurer) – Summa Cum Laude (4.1196); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Jalen Bodrie – Summa Cum Laude (4.0851); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Krystal Bourne – Summa Cum Laude (3.7898); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society

• Lorenac Browner – Cum Laude (3.1642); Business and Social Studies

• Courtney Christian – Summa Cum Laude (3.7524); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Health Science, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society

• Damar Clements – Summa Cum Laude (3.8425); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies

• James Coffman – Cum Laude (3.0615); Physical Education

• Bradley Cossins – Cum Laude (3.3036); JROTC

• Elexa Craig – Cum Laude (3.4491); Two-Year Academic Award; Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies

• Tyler Crosthwaite – Cum Laude (3.0006)

• Marissa Culley – Cum Laude (3.4058); One-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English and Mathematics

• Amanda Davis (Student Government Vice-President) – Summa Cum Laude (3.8673); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree

• Samantha Denby – Summa Cum Laude (3.8187); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Toan Dinh – Magna Cum Laude (3.6733); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies

• Jack Dobek – Cum Laude (3.4513); Three-Year Academic Award; Band, Foreign Language, Physical Education, and Social Studies

• Wilfred Dobessi-Bossombo – Magna Cum Laude (3.6613); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies

• Stephanie Drewno – Magna Cum Laude (3.7417); Four-Year Academic Award; Band, English, Science, and Social Studies; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Blayne Dyda – Cum Laude (3.4069); Four-Year Academic Award; Band, Science, and Social Studies

• Victoria Fisher – Summa Cum Laude (3.8688); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Adam Greene – Summa Cum Laude (4.2790); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society (Social Chairman); Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Hunter Hanson – Magna Cum Laude (3.7218); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Foreign Language, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Ralph Hartzog III – Cum Laude (3.1764); Physical Education

• Nick Helis – Cum Laude (3.0676); Mathematics and Science

• Robert Helton III – Cum Laude (3.2973); Business, Physical Education, and Social Studies

• Ashley Henderson – Magna Cum Laude (3.5317); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Home Economics, Science, and Social Studies

• Shanteal Hicks – Cum Laude (3.0494); Home Economics

• Shalonda Hill – Cum Laude (3.0414); Home Economics

• Mackenzie Hoffman – Cum Laude (3.3094); Honor Roll; Home Economics

• Sydney Honaker (Class Vice-President) – Summa Cum Laude (3.7945); Three-Year Academic Award; Band, English, Science, and Social Studies; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Krystal Howard – Cum Laude (3.2885); Band

• Kevin Hoxha – Summa Cum Laude (3.8367); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies

• Ciara Hughes – Cum Laude (3.0005); Social Studies

• Katelyn Hunter – Summa Cum Laude (3.9265); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Art, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society

• Ikeoluwapo Ibrahim – Summa Cum Laude (4.0004); Two-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Tyra Isom – Cum Laude (3.3274); Business and Mathematics

• Jessica Johnsen – Summa Cum Laude (3.998); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Drama, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Alexis Johnson – Cum Laude (3.2735); Business, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies

• Megan Kaminski – Magna Cum Laude (3.6545); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Business, Science, and Social Studies

• David Kennedy – Cum Laude (3.4511); Three-Year Academic Award; Physical Education and Social Studies

• Deon Kennedy – Cum Laude (3.2611); Physical Education

• Ariel King – Summa Cum Laude (3.8661); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Jacob Kirkland – Cum Laude (3.0879); Physical Education and Social Studies

• Juliana Kovacs – Cum Laude (3.2549); JROTC

• Tara Kraft – Summa Cum Laude (3.8007); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Zachary Lewis – Cum Laude (3.0414); Band

• Andrew Lopez – Summa Cum Laude (3.9340); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Ashley Lucier – Summa Cum Laude (4.0646); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Luis Machado – Magna Cum Laude (3.5000); One-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Science and Social Studies

• Alexandra Mack – Magna Cum Laude (3.5584); Three-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies

• Emily Martin – Magna Cum Laude (3.6184); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Art, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies

• Maritza Martinez – Magna Cum Laude (3.7463); One-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English and Social Studies

• Robert McCloud – Cum Laude (3.4406); Two-Year Academic Award; Physical Education and Science

• Jim McCune – Cum Laude (3.3026); Construction Technology

• Terry Milan III – Cum Laude (3.1367); Physical Education

• Caitlin Moore – Magna Cum Laude (3.5031); Three-Year Academic Award; English, Home Economics, and Social Studies

• Emily Murphy – Magna Cum Laude (3.5870); Three-Year Academic Award; Band, English, Science, and Social Studies; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Patrick Murray – Summa Cum Laude (4.2680); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society; Youth in Government; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Mariah Nibarger – Cum Laude (3.2551)

• Krista Olsson – Cum Laude (3.4304); Two-Year Academic Award; Art and Band

• Brittany Oren – Summa Cum Laude (3.9712); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Sarah Ouellette – Cum Laude (3.2671); Foreign Language and Social Studies; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Kojo Owusu – Cum Laude (3.1258); Physical Education

• Taylor Relitz – Cum Laude (3.0993)

• Crystal Roberts – Cum Laude (3.0673); Business

• Scott Salmoni – Magna Cum Laude (3.6426); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Business, English, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society

• Stacey Salmoni – Magna Cum Laude (3.6487); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Home Economics, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies

• Marisol Sauceda – Magna Cum Laude (3.6915); Three-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Home Economics, Science, and Social Studies

• Ryan Sawyer – Cum Laude (3.4696); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Science and Social Studies; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Ryan Scarcliff – Cum Laude (3.0002); JROTC

• Cheyenne Schink – Magna Cum Laude (3.5698); Three-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Art, English, Home Economics, and Mathematics; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Gina Schmelzer – Magna Cum Laude (3.5061); Two-Year Academic Award; English, Mathematics, and Science

• Kevin Schmitt – Cum Laude (3.2458); Mathematics

• Aaron Schultz – Cum Laude (3.2090); Band and Drama; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Holly Shook – Magna Cum Laude (3.7340); Three-Year Academic Award; English, Science, and Social Studies

• Lauren Shufeldt – Magna Cum Laude (3.6309); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Art, Science, and Social Studies

• Mykayla Smith – Magna Cum Laude (3.7344); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, Drama, English, and Social Studies; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Osiris Smith – Cum Laude (3.1760); Physical Education and Science

• Re’Shae Sneed – Cum Laude (3.1213); Science

• Raquel Sobecki – Summa Cum Laude (3.9395); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Foreign Language, Home Economics, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Francois Springer – Cum Laude (3.3868); One-Year Academic Award; Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies

• Daniel Stamp – Cum Laude (3.1412); Band

• David Taylor – Cum Laude (3.1029)

• Destiny Terry – Cum Laude (3.2976); Art, Foreign Language, and Social Studies

• Andrew Theeck – Magna Cum Laude (3.7155); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society

• Emily Theisen – Summa Cum Laude (3.9945); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Band, English, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society

• Shawntez Turner – Cum Laude (3.0789); Drama and Social Studies; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Erin Waller (Class Secretary) – Summa Cum Laude (3.9988); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies; Phi Beta Kappa Honoree; National Honor Society; Michigan Merit Exam Honoree; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Jesse Warden – Cum Laude (3.2495); Physical Education; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Sarah Warner – Cum Laude (3.2185); Band and Mathematics; Community Awareness

• Jacob Watson – Cum Laude (3.1607); Band

• Kayla Wheeler – Cum Laude (3.0133); Foreign Language; Youth in Government

• Alicia Wood – Magna Cum Laude (3.6729); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; Health Science, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society

• Autumn Wurts (Student Government President) – Summa Cum Laude (3.9031); Four-Year Academic Award; Honor Roll; English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; National Honor Society; Honorary State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• Allyson Wyman – Cum Laude (3.2539); Foreign Language and Science

*Academic Award recipients maintained a minimum GPA of 3.33 for the number of years specified; those who received the Honor Roll award made the list for all 11 trimesters.

'IMAGINATION IN BLOOM': Students' poetry, artwork on display at Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens throughout summer and early next fall

The Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, in partnership with the Taylor School District, will be displaying artwork created by students throughout the summer months.

The program, called "Imagination in Bloom," focuses on art and poetry. The winners are scheduled to be displayed on the grounds of the conservatory and gardens, and the woodlands area also located there. The entire facility is located along Northline Road near the Petting Farm at Heritage Park.

Those to be displayed between June 15-29 in the conservatory include:

• Third-grader Fransicsco Ascencio (art, "Fish," Eureka Heights Elementary)
• Third-grader Shannon Sosa (art, "Rainbow," Eureka Heights)
• Third-grader KayAnna Brown (art, "Butterflies," Eureka Heights)
• Fourth-grader Tyra Edison (art, "Flower," Myers Elementary School)
• Third-grader Lauren Davidson (Poetry, "Growing," Blair Moody Elementary School)
• Fifth-grader Ajanae Finley (poetry, "Spring," Holland Elementary School)

Edison's and Davidson's work were considered "Best in Show" during the judging.

Those to be displayed June 30-July 13 in the conservatory include:

• Ashley Ruiz (poetry, "Bodice of Blues")
• Fourth-grader Cameron Carrabello (art, "Blue Flowers," Eureka Heights)
• Seventh-grader Selena Ponder (art, "Blue Jay," West Middle School)
• Sixth-grader Lucas Mullins (art, "Blue Bug")

Ruiz, Carrabello, Ponder and Mullins were all "Best of Show" winners.

Those to be displayed July 14-27 in the conservatory include:

• Third-grader Davon Alexander (art, "Ocean Fish," Blair Moody)
• Third-grader Chineme Ezekoli (art, "Ocean Seahorse," Blair Moody)
• Third-grader Dylan Nitz (art, "Ocean," Blair Moody)
• Fifth-grader Ajanea Finley (poetry, "The Ocean," Holland)

Alexander, Ezekoi, Nitz and Finley were all "Best of Show" winners.

Those to be displayed July 28-August 10 in the conservatory include:

• Fifth-grader Estrella Arevala (art, "Thunder," Eureka Heights)
• Fifth-grader Jasmin Jordan (poetry, "Thunder," Eureka Heights)
• Fifth-grader Saniya Owens (poetry, "Wind," Holland)
• Third-grader Kaitlyn Horner (poetry, "Weather," Blair Moody)

Jordan and Owens were "Best of Show" winners.

Those to be displayed August 11-24 in the conservatory include:

• Sixth-grader Briana King (art, "Orange Lizard")
• Sixth-grader James Cunningham (art, "Watercolor Frog")
• Fourth-grader Amiyah Griffin (art, "Lion and Leaves," Myers)
• Fifth-grader Dakota Levesque (poetry, "Vegetation," Eureka Heights)

Cunningham was named "Best of Show."

Those to be displayed Aug. 25-Sept. 7 in the conservatory include:

• Third-grader Richard Nelson (poetry, "Time," Blair Moody)
• Third-grader Jaclyn Jackson (poetry, "4 Seasons," Eureka Heights)
• Third-grader Gia Cook (art, "4 Seasons," Eureka Heights)
• Fourth-grader Rachel H. (art and poetry, "Earth is our Home," McDowell Elementary School)

Between Sept. 8-14, fourth-grader Dovion Servin's "Woman in Yellow" (art) along with all the "Best of Show" winners will be on display in both the conservatory and the woodlands.

On display between June 15-July 13 in the Woodlands will be:

• Alexandra Welch (poetry, "Tree of My Life")
• Ashley Stahl (art, "Girl and Tree," West)
• Fifth-grader Isaisah Mizell (art, "Tree and Snake," Taylor Parks Elementary School)
• Sixth-grade Kyle Busch (poetry, "Trees")

Busch is a "Best of Show" winner.

On display July 14-Aug. 10 in the Woodlands are:

• Sixth-grader Kyle Busch (poetry, "Trees")
• Eighth-grader Kejsi Caka (art, "Trees and Houses," West)

And displayed Aug. 11-Sept. 7 at the Woodlands are:

• Eighth-grader Clara Barnhart (poetry, "My Home," West)
• Fifth-grader Megan Stokasa (art, "Wolf-Bear and Tree," Eureka Heights)
• Third-grader Ellie Kwaske (art, "Giraffe and Tree," Eureka Heights)
• Third-grader Alex Bean (art, "Lion and Tree," Eureka Heights)

TOMMIE SAYLOR: Graduation is the saddest, happiest time of the year!

“Some of life’s strongest bonds are the ones we forge when everything around us seems broken... We are stronger together than we are alone”

President Barack Obama

By Tommie Saylor

Truman High School Principal

Last week we graduated some 280 students from Harry S Truman High School, Titan and the Career Center, and the Taylor Virtual Learning Academy. Though the ceremony was joyous, rewarding, and rather solemn, it brought a tear to the eye of every educator in the building. If it didn’t, they ought to get out of the business.  

Graduation is the goal, the epitome of our profession, the great reward we as educators all seek. To see those who you have placed so much effort, so many tears, so much sweat and agony, to see those who you have worried over, fought over, and even prayed over, to see those who you have pushed, prodded, and pulled through good times and bad finally achieve the ultimate educational goal is very emotional, to say the least.

Some of us handle this swelling of emotion by crying, others by laughing, and those like myself, try very hard to suppress the flood while fighting back the tears.

Graduation is a joyous occasion, but it is also sad. For educators it is like Christmas, the Fourth of July and a birthday all rolled up in one.

You are losing students with whom you have spent years forging a relationship; it’s like losing one of your own kids with no guarantee that you will ever see them again. So you put on a brave face, give them a hug and send them out into the world hoping that you prepared them well. Once in a while one or two may return for a short visit, but most of the time they are lost to memory.

Graduation is the saddest, happiest event of the school year, and of an educator’s career.

To the new graduates I say good luck, and Godspeed.

I hope and pray that we did our job well in preparing you for the “real world.”  For those of us in the educational trenches, I say it is time to dry our eyes, wipe our noses, close out the rest of this school year and begin to prepare for the next.  

Before we know it, another graduation will be upon us.

Remember, their future is in our hands. Improving one week at a time. The New Truman High School….