Randolph students in School Honor Choir: Two Randolph Middle School students have been selected as members of the Region Middle School Honor Choir. Shown here with Randolph choir director Joyce Sullivan (center) are Tessa Luna (left) and Jalen Thomas. Luna was selected 10th chair in the treble choir (two-part girls), while Thomas was named 10th chair in the tenor baritone honor choir.

Texans are invited to recognize the individual educators who touched their lives by nominating them for a 2008 H-E-B Excellence in Education Award. Just one nomination could place an educator or a school district on the path toward winning a cash prize ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.

Since launching the Excellence in Education Awards seven years ago, H-E-B has awarded more than $3 million in cash and grants to educators and school districts across the state.

Nomination forms are available at neighborhood H-E-B stores or at www.heb.com and will be accepted through Dec. 19. Individual educators and school districts are strongly encouraged to self-nominate as well.

Forty finalists representing five Texas regions will be selected and invited to compete for larger cash prizes.

Wagner fitness team wins meet

The JROTC male physical fitness competition team from Wagner High School placed first Oct. 6 in the Edison High School Golden Bear Drill Meet. The Wagner squad tallied a score of 1,256 out of a possible 1,300 points.

The female color guard took fourth place in the event in which more than 50 Texas schools competed. Senior Army Instructor George Miranda oversees the Wagner JROTC program.

DATA teacher receives ExCEL Golden Apple

Sarah Erickson of the Roosevelt High School-based Design and Technology Academy is one of six San Antonio area educators to receive the ExCEL Golden Apple award.

The San Antonio Credit Union and KENS-TV have been honoring nominated public school teachers for the past eight years; each recipient receives a Golden Apple trophy and a $1,000 check recognizing their positive impact on the lives of local children.

Erickson wrote the curriculum for the pre-AP class she teaches at the Design and Technical Academy. She combines world geography with English, helping students understand the relationship that the world land forms have with the literature and culture of those who live there.

She uses a multimedia approach to this discipline, taking advantage of the technology focus for the academy. This unique mode of study attracts students who excel and love learning.

NLC announces first community education courses

The Northeast Lakeview College Division of Workforce and Community Education announced its initial course offerings in community education. The classes are designed for adult, lifelong learners.

The classes include interior design, golf for beginners, and what is being called Encore 50, a program will provide courses, lectures, and various activities for active, older adults. Educational pre-requisites do not apply here. For more information, call 590-5453.

Judson HOSA group taps new officers

The Health Occupations Students of America Chapter 1561 at Judson High School marked National HOSA Week Nov. 4-8 with the installation of officers for the 2007-08 academic year.

The following student officers are: Jessica Moreno, president; Trisha Rancour, vice president; Jasmine Coward, secretary; Alyssa Perusquia, historian; Jessica Faulkner, treasurer; Lisa Villegas, points officer; and Christine Ngo, competition assistant. The installation ceremony and dinner took place Nov. 8 at Papa Dante’s restaurant in Converse.

North East students win top marks in art contest

Fourteen area students from the North East School District were among those entrants receiving awards and honorable mention for the annual Christmas in San Antonio art contest. More than 1,500 students submitted artwork

Roosevelt’s Jonathan Hay won second place among North East high school students while Harris student Edwin Calderon placed first among NEISD middle schoolers.

Shannon O’Brien of Harris, and Kaitlin Lopez, Amanda Hill and Heather Pullen, all of Roosevelt, each received honorable mention among North East students.

First, second, and third place were awarded for each of the three categories: Elementary School (grades four and five), middle school (grades six through eight) and high school (grades nine-12).