Category: Education

Athens High School choir students made a strong showing at the Region 21 UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest Feb. 2 in Tyler. All 26 vocalists received strong marks from judges, with 10 qualifying for the State Solo and Ensemble Contest in May. “They worked outside of class time to prepare songs to perform from memory for the judges,” said Choir Director Bridget Scott. “I am so proud of the hard work they put in to earn excellent and superior ratings.” Pictured (back row, from left) are students who received a rating of “excellent.” They are Yahir Miranda, Ashley Moreno, Kaitlyn Pair, Hannah Barber, Elizabeth Harkins, Cooper Rolison and (middle row, far left) Irais Hernandez. Those students who received a rating of “superior” are (middle row, beginning second from far left) Jade Parker, Tristan Woods, Dakota Emanis, Genaro Cerrillo, Bengisu Cuneyit, Hali Davis, Ana Jimenez Ramirez, Ariel Hadnot and Naomi Payan. Those students who received a “superior” rating and will advance to the state-level contest are (front row, from left) Jackson Killgore, Edgar Pinedo, Jacob Moore, Torryn Traxson, Mackenzie Knotts, Sydney Harrod, Bethany Oglesby, Rachel Benson, Katelyn Hanson and J Brenden Wallace. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

Members of the Athens Middle School National Junior Honor Society celebrate acts of kindness this month. One of the ways they are doing that is by creating “rocks of kindness,” which they will be spreading throughout the community and asking for people to post on social media when found with the hashtag #RAK@AMS in order to spread the kindness. Pictured are some of the National Junior Honor Society members at AMS working on the project: (back row, from left) Ruben Leon, Valeria Soto, Caroline Moore, Kaitlin Prewitt, Madison Rhodes, Evelyn Flores Mota, Arleth Martinez, (middle row, from left) Nathaniel Hall, Christopher Short, Alizya Cephus and (front) Madelyn Rummel. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Coordinator

Jacob Moore just did something astonishing. The Athens High School Varsity Choir member earned a first chair in the Texas All-State Mixed Choir for the fourth year in a row — a feat his choir director is not shy about calling incredible.

“It was my goal to make the all-state choir for four years,” said Moore, “but I didn’t think it would actually ever happen.”

Not only did it happen, the bass singer did so this year and last while competing in the All-State Large School Mixed Choir, which is made up of 5A and 6A schools. 4A Athens High School falls into the Small School Mixed Choir category, but Moore wanted to challenge himself, as well as gain access to more scholarship opportunities.

Continue reading “AHS vocalist earns top seat for fourth year”

Athens High School debaters are aiming to be UIL champions for the fifth year in a row. During the District 18-4A meet held in Athens this week, two AHS teams qualified for state. Jose Sanchez and Alejandra Pedroza won first place in Cross Examination (CX), while Gavin Lott and Will Honea were runners-up in the same event. Both will compete in Austin March 16 and 17. In addition, Sanchez was awarded the honor of Top Speaker. Athens has won state in CX for the last four years. Pictured are (from left) Lott, Pedroza, Sanchez and Honea. The debate program is under the guidance of Nicole Cornish. (Courtesy photo)

Athens High School students captured first and second places in mathematic competitions at the Ennis High School UIL Academic Invitational Meet Feb. 3. The number sense team of Ideal Ademaj, Jacob Moore, Aryn Rodriguez and Sarah Campa won first place. The calculator applications and general math teams took second. The members of both teams are Ademaj, Moore, Rodriguez and Yuvia Leon. Members having personal bests for the day were Isabel Ramirez, Lizbeth Casio, Gabriel Wofford, Brenda Ruvalcaba and Flor Lopez. Pictured are (top row, from left) Casio, Wofford, Ruvalcaba, Adrian Givens, (middle row, from left) Ramirez, Lopez, Campa, Leon, Dylan Lindsey, (bottom row, from left) Ademaj, Moore, Rodriguez and UIL math coach and AHS teacher Ken Walker. (Courtesy Photo)