Windcrest Optimists to salute contest winners

Three Roosevelt High School students won the Windcrest Optimist Club’s Optimist International Essay Contest. Hyun Kim, Robin Provorse and Sabrina Martinez were recognized at a breakfast and awards ceremony recently at the Windcrest Civic Center.

Judson teens are SkillsUSA winners

Judson High School students competed in the State SkillsUSA Skills Championships and brought home a host of honors, including blue ribbons and “Superior” ratings, by:

• Enrique Sanchez and Christopher Anders, for their automatic transmission rebuild project.

• The two-member teams of Alex Elizondo and Cameron Madani, and Christian Short and Joshua Sanchez, for their engine rebuild projects.

• Christopher Rodriguez, for his electrical component rebuild project.

• Juan Meza, for his cylinder head rebuild project.

The Judson automotive technology sponsor is Kent Lauderdale.

Four students headed for geographic bee

Four Metrocom area students qualified for the Texas Geographic Bee. They competed in Bedford, Texas along with 96 other students chosen from all over the state.

Local participants were: Taylor Romanowski of St. Monica Catholic School in Converse, Benjamin Dubuque of Selma-based Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Randall Young of Randolph Middle School and San Antonio Home Education’s Annie Salinas of the Windcrest area.

The Texas winner claimed a trip to Washington, D.C. to represent the state in the National Geographic Bee in May. The top prize is a 25,000 scholarship.

Steele band students get top honors at solo/ensemble contest

A total of 76 Steele High School Band students received Superior Ratings on their solos and 85 students received superior ratings on their ensembles. Out of these students, 30 advanced to the state level to be held in Austin in late May.

Soloists advancing to state: Patrick Miller, oboe; Alyssa Jones, horn; Doug Parker, tuba; D.J. Bryant and Kenny Mittelstadt, keyboard percussion; and Jessie Fisher, multiple percussion.

Ensemble members advancing to state: Stephany Akers, Acacia Callaway, Rebekah Freeman, Kendall Bailey, Ashley Bupp, Erika Sells, Amber Cook, Stephanie Garcia, Justin Jones, Kailey Wilson, Chris Beck, Chris Benson, Simone Kendle, Jonathan De los Santos, Alyssa Jones, Alex Parish, David Penshorn, Matt and Bryan Mittelstadt, Courtney Edmonds, Kim Johnson, Jordan Staggs and Michael Zapata

Roosevelt girl is ‘Next Big Star’

La Tandra Joyner of Roosevelt High School is one of three North East School District students who were named semi-finalists in Pocket’s Next Big Star 2008 competition.

The three students performed during the semi-finals March 6 at the Josephine Theater. Each will move on to compete against the semi-final winners from Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley in the finals May 4 in San Antonio.

Windcrest therapy dog crowned King Anbarkio

Josh, a service dog and frequent visitor to Windcrest Elementary School, received special recognition for Fiesta on March 13 at Sunset Station. King Antonio crowned Josh as the first-ever “King Anbarkio” to honor his years of service and volunteer work with Delta Society.

“Thanks to my principal Jeanie Weidenbach, Josh is allowed to come to Windcrest as a reward for the students in my class,” said Windcrest teacher Amy McQueen.

Delta Society is a nationwide non-profit organization serving as an international resource for the human-animal bond. The Delta Society works to validate the important role of animals for people’s health and well-being by promoting the results of research to the media and health and human services organizations.