Originally published on 5/23/22
The Alvin ISD Education Foundation hosted the 21st Celebration of Academic Excellence on May 17 in Liberty Alumni Hall at the Alvin ISD Heritage Complex. “It was exciting to be together to honor these amazing students and educators,” said Melba Ervin, 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 Kali Lewis, chose Kim Durkin who was her Gifted and Talented teacher at Walt Disney Elementary as her most influential teacher and said about Mrs. Durkin, “Our confidence and self-worth increased after each class. It was life-altering to be afforded the level of patience, attention, and unconditional support I received”.
“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 Ervin. “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 Kali Lewis, Salutatorian Riley Mager, Amber Matula, Abby Goolsby, Alejandra Acosta, Susan Henderson, Silvana Galicia, Anna Wilson, Alexia Logan, Alexander Borgfield, Char Barron, Madeleine Geiman, Keith Carle, Victoria Caughman, Kearstyn Vail, Tanner Marek, Gricell Garcia, Katelyn Reynolds, Jacob Amerson and Eric Blanco.
Valedictorian at Manvel High School, Amelie Satterwhite, said about her teacher Lisa Staup, “She’s always encouraging my learning and taught me to trust in myself and my own skills”. Other students recognized were Salutatorian AJ Brooks, Jr., Hang Nguyen, Jordan Pho, Larissa Aspiras, Joey Allender, Cyril Mencias, Jaaziel Sandoval, Jasmine Cabusao, Aleena Prasad, Carter Pahl, Madison Coward, Louan Dang, Benjamin Mooney, Kassandra Serrano, Russel Ogbor, Mario Medeles, Joseph Onwukwe, Marisol Morales and Monserrat Rios.
The RISE Academy students honored were Valedictorian Elizabeth Bennett who said that her most influential educator, Principal Brandy Johanson, “has been there for me at my worst and she’s been there for me at my best.” Salutatorian is Dakota Rhyne.
The Shadow Creek High School Valedictorian is Abigail Garcia, who said that Adam Hopson, who taught her AP Macroeconomics at Shadow Creek High School, is a teacher who would provide guidance and resources as well as taught her that making mistakes was natural. Other students honored were Salutatorian Jerry Liao, Samah Haidar, Nimah Haidar, Ananya Udaygiri, Owen Cai, Julia Luhrsen, Ahmed Alcassab, Aditya Udaygiri, Jayadityasinh Vaghela, Ammar Sethi, Aidan Ngo, Nikhil Surapaneni, Ella Hestand, Emily Tieu, Rishan Nandi, Abel Thomas, Rishi Vangala, Riley Dou and Hooriya Azhar.
The Celebration of Academic Excellence was generously sponsored by numerous businesses, organizations and individuals. The student gift sponsor was Stantec and the teacher gift sponsor was MDL Enterprise, Inc. The Celebration Level sponsors were Challenge Office Products-John & Debbie Barbosa, Community Health Network, Consolidated Property Advisors, Frost Bank, GAMMA Construction, GPD Group, PBK Architects and Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott, Alvin Community College, ASCEND Performance Materials, EMA Engineering, HomeTown Bank of Alvin, Huckabee Architects, Imagine Learning, Memorial Hermann and State Senator Larry Taylor.
Table Sponsors were AHI Supply, Alvin Sunrise Rotary Club, AMOCO Federal Credit Union, The Becker Group, Chocolate Bayou Federal Credit Union, Equitable, Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union, Larry & Beth Nelson, RiceTec, Rogers Morris & Grover, LLP, State Representative Ed Thompson, Terracon, Texas Advantage Community Bank, Raul & Jennifer Valdez, and wEw Educational Consulting & Assoc., LLC.
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 Ervin.
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.