Katy ISD to stage mock emergency incident drill June 7 at Tompkins High School

Katy ISD announced it will stage a mock, full-scale emergency incident exercise at Tompkins High campus, 4400 Falcon Landing Blvd.

Katy ISD will conduct the exercise with Fort Bend County Homeland Security and Emergency Management, local EMS, fire and law enforcement agencies.

The district said the goal of the exercise is to test local agencies and the district’s emergency response plans, as well as rehearse response operations for all participating entities.

In a letter to parents and Tompkins staff, the district said there was no need to be alarmed if there are road closures, emergency response vehicles or aircraft, en route to the Tompkins campus.

Also, please be aware, to create an exercise that appears and feels as realistic as possible, residents may hear special audio effects that sound like a weapon being discharged. Additionally, there will be a number of volunteers acting out various roles on site.

The district said volunteer actors may be seen in trauma makeup or situated near fake bodily fluids such as imitation blood. All volunteers will have received training and trauma support services prior to the event, and those services will also be available to volunteers and other onsite personnel during and after the exercise.

Those with questions are asked to call Katy ISD’s Office of Emergency Management at 281-237-9176.

Aristoi Classical Academy announces Class of 2023 valedictorian and salutatorian

Aristoi Classical Academy announced that Olivia Schurtz is the class of 2023 valedictorian and Nora Benton is the class of 2023 salutatorian.

Schurtz will attend Brigham Young University where she will major in finance. Schurtz won numerous academic awards as an Aristoi student in Humane Letters, mathematics, foreign language, the sciences, and fine arts. Additionally, Schurtz was recognized during her junior and senior years as winner of the “Head of School Award” for her commitment to virtuous leadership within the school community. She is a member of the National Honor Society and serves as an Aristoi Ambassador. Schurtz has attended Aristoi Classical Academy for the past four years.

Benton will attend the University of Houston where she will major in sociology. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a biology peer tutor, and a section leader in the advanced choir. She also served as a summer school volunteer and basketball team manager, and has won several academic awards in Humane Letters, Spanish, and Choir. Benton has attended Aristoi Classical Academy for the past six years.

Student from Katy awarded scholarship by Montserrat College of Art

Ziggy Smith of Katy was awarded the Fran Carreiro Scholarship by Montserrat College of Art this spring despite the postponement of the annual Student Showcase Ceremony until next fall.

Smith is a member of Montserrat’s class of 2024 concentrating in Sculpture.

Montserrat’s Student Showcase recognizes and honors the accomplishments of Montserrat students. Normally the event includes both visual and literary art forms for the enjoyment of the entire college community, the public, alumni, parents, and friends of Montserrat College of Art. Though the event itself has been rescheduled for the fall, the college’s academic departments wished to recognize and reward students for their accomplishments.

Montserrat College of Art, in Beverly, Mass., is a private, residential college of visual art educating the designers, artists, entrepreneurs for a rapidly changing world that requires creative solutions to new challenges.

Student from Katy earns degree at Wharton County Junior College

Alexandra Bella of Katy earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing from Wharton County Junior College. A pinning ceremony was held at the conclusion of the Spring 2023 semester on the Wharton campus.

The Associate Degree Nursing program begins in August at the Wharton campus and in January at the Sugar Land campus. A 12-month LVN-ADN transition program begins in May for students already licensed as vocational nurses. Median pay according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is around $75,000 annually.

Two students from Katy earn degrees at McNeese State University

Micah R. Chevannes of Katy earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance, General, and Christian C. Vega, also of Katy, earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at May 12 commencement ceremonies at McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, La.