LRSD Spotlight

Recent J.A. Fair graduate Chelsea Gillespie began the path toward academic excellence early in her school career and it has paid off in a big way.  Gillespie was not only the Valedictorian of her high school class; she was a recipient of the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship.  This honor allows her to attend any college or university in the U.S. at no cost.  Gillespie is the only senior in LRSD to receive the honor this year and among only five selected in the entire state for 2012. 

The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program selects 1,000 talented students each year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice.  Recipients are also provided with personal and professional development through GMS leadership programs along with academic support throughout the students’ college career.  The program, established in 1999, is funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Hall High School held a Reality Fair where students were able to visit booths to learn about careers that required only a high school diploma plus little training after high school. Among some of the 34 Colleges & Careers, there were cosmetologists, barbers, nail technicians, sports trainers, fitness trainers, chefs, child day care owners, adult day care owners, barber colleges, and hair schools just to name a few. Students and Parents received hair cuts, manicures, and massages from the Professionals. The Real World Experience didn’t stop there! Students were able to visit the Reality Shop where they were given a career and required to pay bills. Hall High Teachers worked the Bill Booths and interacted well with students to teach them the real value of a dollar. Many of them ran into unexpectancies along the way such as a medical bill or flat tire. Their last stop was Centennial Bank, where financial counselors advised them of where they went “wrong” or “right” in their budgeting. Students admitted they did not realize how fast money left when there are bills to be paid. Hall High Students are on the right track to moving forward.

The Kiwanis Club of Pulaski Heights awarded 3 LRSD Seniors with awards at its 8th Annual Tullio Jacuzzi Outstanding High School Seniors Awards Banquet. Each year the Kiwanis Club holds this event to recognize one senior from each of its traditional "neighborhood" parochial/public high schools. The criteria for this award is maintaining outstanding academic achievement while demonstrating exemplary citizenship and extraordinary commitment to community service. This year's honorees are Samuel Joseph Hoskins of Central High School, Cheyanne Nicole Hampton of Hall High School, and Mary Elizabeth Hoag of Parkview Magnet High School. Congratulations to these honorees.

Congratulations to the following debate students who participated at the 2011 Student Congress on November 6, 7, and 8. Captain Andrew Bartels, Ronak Chokani, Deepa Manjantha, Chirag Lala, Sana Khan, Alex Zhang, and page Cashae Louden. Congratulations to their coach Mrs. Kathy Holladay. The following awards were given to these exceptional students:

Best Overall House Delegation

Best House I Delegation

Best House II Delegation

Best Bill House I - Sana Khan

Republican Party Secretary - Chirag Lala

House II Clerk - Alex Zhang and Andrew Bartels

2nd Best Bill House II and Law of Congress - Andrew Bartels and Deepa Manjanatha

Superior Committee Caucus - Alex Zhang

Superior Committee - Andrew Bartels, Sana Khan, Chirag Lala, Ronak Chokani, Deepa Manjanatha, and Chirag Lala

Superior Floor Debate - Andrew Bartels, Sana Khan, Chirag Lala

Superior Parliamentary Procedure - Ronak Chokani and Alex Zhang

Little Rock Central High Debate Team has started this school year doing great things. Congratulations to Alex Zhang and Sarthark Garg who was the Novice Debate 1st place team. Alex Zhang was the Novice Debate 1st plave speaker at the Bentonville, AR competition. Ian Wren and Daniel Schexnayder were the top 31st team out of 200 teams at the Glenbrooks High School Tournament in Deerfield, Illinois. Ian and Daniel also received one bid to the National Tournament of Champions at the University of Kentucky. Ian and Daniel were the 13th seed out of 120 teams at the Longhorn Classic at the University of Texas at Austin. Melinda Lui placed 1st as a Varsity Debate Speaker at the North Little Rock Tournament. Ian Wren and Daniel Schexnayder made it to the Quarter finals at the Wake Forest University Tournament and to the octafinals at St. Marks School in Dallas, Texas.