Category: Education

Athens Debaters Headed to State

Athens High School sophomores Matthew Hernandez (left) and True Head took first place in UIL District 4A Cross-Examination Debate competition. They will compete in the state tournament March 20 and 21 in Austin.
Athens High School sophomores Matthew Hernandez (left) and True Head took first place in UIL District 4A Cross-Examination Debate competition. They will compete in the state tournament March 20 and 21 in Austin.

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

It’s not too often that debate tournament victories are described as nail-biters, but that was exactly the case for Athens High School during the Feb. 5 UIL District 4A Competition for CX debate. (For the uninitiated, that’s cross-examination debate.)

Debate tournaments advance through a series of rounds. Both of Athens’ cross-examination teams — composed of sophomores True Head and Matthew Hernandez, and freshmen Jordan Ramirez and Jose Sanchez — lost in an early round to Mabank. Going into the quarterfinals, the sophomore team was in fifth place, and the freshman team in seventh. Three rounds later, when the dust settled, Head and Hernandez had clinched first place and qualified for state. Ramirez and Sanchez took third place and are state alternates. Continue reading “Athens Debaters Headed to State”

Malakoff Band Students Headed to State

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Press release

The Pride of Malakoff sent 17 students to participate in the UIL Region 3 Music Solo and Ensemble contest this weekend in Mesquite.

There are varying difficulties of musical selections for soloists and for small ensembles. Class two and three musical literature are generally used for 9th through 11th grade musicians, while Class one literature is catered more toward seniors and college level players. Continue reading “Malakoff Band Students Headed to State”

APEF Honors Original Members

APEF2The Athens Public Education Foundation recently honored its original members during a Founders Luncheon. Founders present were (from left) Tere Lawyer, Charlie Tidmore, BJ Davies, Erv Jenkins, Sarah Grey and Colin Barrett. Other founders honored were Conor Bateman, Joe Warren, Judy Rutledge, Pat Basher, Lee Bush, Kenneth McGee, Chris Molina and Jerry Don Vaught. Since 2010, APEF has given over $100,000 in grants to support Athens ISD student programs, projects and initiatives that do not receive tax-based funding. To learn more and donate, visit athenspef.org. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

Athens Band Rocks UIL Contest

IMG_5996Press release

Forty-six members of Athens High School’s Pride of the Hornets Band earned first-division ratings and a total of 54 medals at the Feb. 7 UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest in Lindale. Of those, 32 qualified for the state UIL Solo & Ensemble competition.

Those students who earned first-division ratings are: Juan Aguilar, Luisa Arenas, Hanna Baker, Kelsey Baldwin, Karina Barrientos, Bryce Bowman, Jonathan Bywaters, Michelle Bywaters, Candace Clemmons, Ian Collins, Richard Craig, Mollie Davies, Kolemann Dooley, Logan Dooley, Jessica Dubose, Pedro Fraire, Cindy Garcia, Gerardo Godinez, Cesar Gonzalez, Matthew Hernandez, Jacob Ickes, Russell Ingram, Breonna Jackson, Darien Lambert, Robert Lenington, Dakota Lindsey, Brian Lookabaugh, Arianna Lopez, Mariela Martinez, Eli McCool, Patrick Moore, Caity Pace, Eloisa Peredia, Alan Platt, Paden Quade, Billy Risner, Kimberly Romero, Jennifer Salazar, Mason Senyckyj, Jakob Smith, Kay Solomon, Shawntae Teague, Rafael Torres, Emily Werner, Kaylea Westover, and Jessica Yancey. Continue reading “Athens Band Rocks UIL Contest”