By Dr. Rickie R. Harris

In my last editorial, I highlighted a number of outstanding student accomplishments. I would like to continue sharing the achievements of our Mustangs and Stallions.

West Orange-Stark High School Career Center students enrolled in photography, graphic design, and precision machine competed in the State SkillsUSA State Contest recently. These students represented us so well! At State, all WOS Career Center students earned blue ribbons. Additionally, two earned State Best of Show!

Graphic design and photography students competed in various visual art categories: digital image manipulation, digital illustration, portrait photography, digital photography, and/or advertising design. Anahi Davila, Jazmin Rico, Carolina Arreola, Angel Gaitan, and Garret Birmingham earned blue/superior ribbons. Carolina Arreola also won State Best of Show in Digital Image Manipulation. In precision machine competition, Jonatan Ramirez earned State Best of Show in a project competition. Fellow WOS Career Center students Hailey Vasquez, Jacoven Hinson, Bruce White, and Simon Alonso also won blue ribbons. Simon is an Orangefield High School student who attends the WOS High School Career Center. We are very proud of all of our SkillsUSA students and their outstanding results!

We look forward to more state performances this year. Twelve members of the WOS High School choir have qualified to compete at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest in Austin in June. They are Jay’Den Miller, Raniyah Richardson, Nazingah Watson, Nikerria Smith, Roshni Lauji, Destiny Miles, Brittany Robles, Manuel Franklin, Skylar Fezia, Isaiah Chatman, Mycah Brown, and Rayne Keith.

The 2019 TAME (Texas Alliance of Minorities in Education) Golden Triangle STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Competition brought together competitors from across the region. Students from grades six through 12 competed. WOS Middle School eighth grade student Torri Culpepper placed sixth in science and sixth in math. She was also a member of the team that won first place in the Engineering Design Challenge. She now advances to the TAME State Meet later this month. WOS High School student Darian Hardin also competed in the TAME regional contest, placed sixth in ninth grade math, and was part of the team that won a Judges Choice award in the Engineering Design Challenge.  
In athletics, WOS High School’s Darby Jones competed in the UIL Boys State Powerlifting Meet finishing in the top 10. Nortazia McGhee also advanced to the Girls State Meet by placing second at the Regional Powerlifting Meet. We are proud of these two powerlifters!

Members of our Boys and Girls Track Teams are also working very hard to advance further into the season in individual events and with their respective relay teams. Many will compete at the Regional Meet for the opportunity to advance to state in May.

Our students continue to excel and achieve. At WOCCISD, our goal is to provide our students with multiple opportunities to have an exceptional educational experience.

We believe in John Maxwell’s philosophy that “One is too small a number to achieve greatness.”

Go Mustangs!

 

Dr. Rickie R. Harris is the Superintendent at West Orange-Cove CISD