Originally published on 5/14/21
The Alvin ISD Education Foundation hosted the 20th Annual Celebration of Academic Excellence on May 12 in the Liberty Alumni Hall at the Alvin ISD Heritage Complex in Iowa Colony.
“It was exciting to be together to honor these amazing students and educators,” said David Becker, president of the Alvin ISD Education Foundation board of directors.
The celebration recognizes the academic accomplishments of the top twenty seniors at Alvin High School, Manvel High School, Shadow Creek High School and the top two seniors at RISE Academy. Also recognized were the educators that the students chose as the one who had the most significant influence on their educational career thus far. Videos of the students sharing the reason they chose the educator were a special part of the evening. The students shared what a difference the educators had made in their lives with their support and encouragement.
Alvin High School Valedictorian Trenton Parker, chose First Sergeant Stephen Garcia as his most influential teacher and said about First Sergeant Garcia, “It was a personal connection that was forged through respect and admiration.”
“The Celebration of Academic Excellence is always a memorable evening that gives the Foundation the opportunity to recognize some of the most outstanding students and educators in Alvin ISD,” said Sheila Olson, executive director of the Alvin ISD Education Foundation.
“This is one of our favorite events,” said Becker. “This year it was even more special to actually be able to honor these amazing individuals in person,” he added.
The students honored from Alvin High School were Valedictorian Trenton Parker, Salutatorian Wyatt Rayhill, Loralei Miller, Kaitlyn Field, Anni Shewmake, Trinity Hulen, Sheridan Schmidt, Daniel Gajic, Jose Armando Contreras Cruz, Adrian Aguilar, Gabriela Dantzman, Cody Smith, Alyssa Hayden, Ruth Turner, Brayden Wright, Samuel Woodward, Lindsay Parthum, Jordan Curtner, Jennifer Lou Torres, and Monce Ramos.
The RISE Academy students honored were Valedictorian Naomi Dempsey who said that her teacher, Rachel Napoli, helped her find solutions to problems she was facing and helped her get ready for her future. Salutatorian is Nicholas Hiatt.
Valedictorian at Manvel High School, Anna Chau, said that her teacher Ranjani Sheshadri, “envisioned my potential from the start of my sophomore year, even when I didn’t believe it”. Other students recognized were Salutatorian Anhkien Nguyen, Ysabella Domingo, Kylan Duncan, Cameron Flores, Kindsey Creel, Fei Hampton, Adam Mason, Isaiah Walker, Braden Cook, Sofia Castro, Tala Gbamgbola, Elle Petru, Annabelle Garcia, Alina Flores, Claire Read, Jordon Vaughn, David Silva, Zion Johnkins and Chinwe Ozumba.
The Shadow Creek High School Valedictorian is Jenna Zamil, who said that Melissa Brubaker, who taught Jenna, 7th Grade MAP Humanities at Nolan Ryan Jr. High and was her 11th-12th grade Advanced Academics Specialist at Shadow Creek High School, is a teacher who expressed confidence in her and gave her courage. Other students honored were Salutatorian Nikil Vijayan, Viren Mitesh Govin, Leo Aruj, Ariq Rabee, Tanish Gadde, James Laase, Alana Abraham, Nathaneal Mathew, Nathan Gannon, Amy Brown, Jessica Liu, Isha Patel, Sneha Abraham, Lisha Shrestha, Juliana Nicolle Sierra, Natalie Ta, Abdullah Cheema, Brianna Phan-Tram, and Gilan Chocair.
The Celebration of Academic Excellence was generously sponsored by numerous businesses, organizations and individuals. The student gift sponsor was Stantec and the teacher gift sponsorwas MDL Enterprise, Inc. The Celebration Level sponsors were Frost Bank, GAMMA Construction, Gallagher, Huckabee, Perdue Brandon, Imagine Learning, GPD Group, Senator Larry Taylor, Alvin Community College, HomeTown Bank. Table Sponsors were ACU of Texas, Alvin ATPE, AMOCO Federal Credit Union, EMA Engineering, Equitable, Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union, Judge Roy Castillo, Rogers Morris & Grover, K3-BMI, Kelsey Seybold, Larry & Beth Nelson, Memorial Hermann, Raul & Jennifer Valdez, Representative Ed Thompson, Scott Bolton-RBC Wealth, Shell Oil, Terracon, Tim & Katie Laza, Susan and Michael Hoover and wEw Educational Consulting & Associates Warner & Melba Ervin. Event donors were First Chair Formal Wear, Dr. Jim & Mary Jane Crumm and Strawbridge Studios who donated their photography skills for the program photos.
“The Foundation truly appreciates all the generous sponsors for making the event possible,” said Becker.
The Alvin ISD Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the programs, students and staff of Alvin ISD. For more information please contact Sheila Olson at 281-245-2053.