Student Achievements: Run, Play, Draw, Sing
1. Eligible to run in 12 years
FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: Nine-year-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.
5. Spell victory C-A-N-O-L-A 
1. Eligible to run in 12 years 
2. Best of the band
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 division; Caitlin Samson, science division; and Jake Wood, technology division.
4. In the medal hunt 
6. Education on education 
3. Covering up the numbers 
9. Art students win Gold Keys 
7. Glad scientists
8. A singing Scot repeats
Three Singing Scots made Texas All-State Choir, including Juliet Allan, who did so for the second time.
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.
