Category: Education

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communiations Specialist

If you hear the name Logan Fuller around Athens, Texas, chances are good football is being discussed. People who follow Hornet athletics know Fuller broke a 50-year-old career rushing record in 2014 as a junior. As a sophomore, he broke the single-season touchdown record with 27 — and then bested himself in 2015 with 33. He’s got 83 career touchdowns, which, of course, is also a record. Less known, and more important than his athletic prowess, is his reputation off the playing field.

“He’s a joy to have in the classroom,” said Athens High School science teacher Jessica Hemann. Hemann has had Fuller in two of her classes and says he is strong academically and funny. “He cares about others,” she said. “He’ll move on from AHS to do great things.”

It’s that sense of caring — about others, about his grades, about his work ethic — that seems to make the greatest impression on people.

Continue reading “Fuller as impressive off the field as on”

Members of the Athens High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Student Organization attended the Regional Student Leadership Conference Thursday, Jan. 21, in Pittsburg, Texas. Out of the 22 AHS students in attendance, 18 are advancing to state.

Most of the students took an objective test for the content area of their choosing, while a few participating in group activities were required to take both the objective test and present a production for a panel of judges. Among the many students who who did well, Rafael Torres received the Who’s Who award for Athens FBLA. Athens’ FBLA is also proud to announce that Heriberto Campa is the Region 6 treasurer. Business teacher Judy Forgey is the team’s sponsor.

Students who attended the conference are:

• Dayana Castillo, Entrepreneurship, 1st Place
• Jose Davilla, Entrepreneurship, 1st Place
• Atziri Robles, Entrepreneurship, 1st Place
• Brenda Aguilar, Social Media Campaign, 2nd Place
• Jennifer Castillo, Social Media Campaign, 2nd Place
• Evan Conley, Computer Game & Simulation, 1st Place
• Brant Gollotte, Computer Game & Simulation, 1st Place
• Juan Aguilar, Networking Concepts, 2nd Place
• Luisa Arenas, Business Communications, 4th Place
• Anahi Campa, Word Processing, 2nd Place
• Heriberto Campa, Intro to Information Technology, 5th Place
• Elian Cordero, Computer Problem Solving, 1st Place
• Andy Garcia, Agri Business, Honorable Mention
• Cindy Garcia, Client Services, 1st Place
• Vanesa Gutierrez, Business Communications, Honorable Mention
• Osbaldo Juarez, Agri Business, Honorable Mention
• Brian Lookabaugh, Business Communications, 2nd Place
• Carlos Miranda, Computer Applications, 2nd Place
• Jessica Rodriguez, Public Speaking 2, 5th Place
• Bryan Rosales, Business Calculations, 1st Place
• Rafael Torres, Agri Business, 1st Place
• Kaylea Westover, Business Calculations, Honorable Mention
• Vanesa Gutierrez, Business Communications, Honorable Mention

Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

The Athens ISD board room looked a bit like a scene out of the Marvel Universe Thursday when the trustees gathered for their regular monthly meeting. January is school board appreciation month and the theme is “Superheroes for our Schools.” Banners, balloons and artwork were displayed featuring well-known comic heroes — many of them with board members’ heads superimposed on them.

“I don’t think there’s been a school board in decades that has accomplished what you have this past year with our facilities,” said Superintendent Blake Stiles in reference to the trustees’ unanimous decision to call for the successful $59.9 million bond election in November. “We appreciate all you do for this district.”

The board took action on two items related to the bond election. They accepted the winning bid from investment firm R.W. Baird & Co. to buy $59.9 million of unlimited tax school building bonds. R.W. Baird made the lowest of seven bids in a competitive sale for the bond package, offering an average interest rate of 3.07 percent.

Continue reading “AISD board accepts bid on bond sale, OK’s Gallagher Construction”

The Athens Math Team had a strong showing at the Palestine High School academic invitational meet on Saturday. The team won first place in all three math events: number sense, calculator applications and general math. The Hornets competed against 12 other 3A and 4A schools in the area.

The seven-member team also won nine individual medals. In number sense, Jonathan Bywaters won first place (with a personal-best score of 135 points); Walt Mahmoud was third; Mollie Davies was fifth; and Eli McCool was sixth. In calculator, Davies won third and Bywaters took fourth. In math, Bywaters was second, Davies fourth and McCool fifth. Jacob Moore, Ideal Ademaj and Rebecca Granillo also went and contributed to the winning effort.