Katy ISD announces 2022-23 valedictorians and salutatorians

Katy ISD has announced the top two students from each high school who have ranked highest academically in their respective graduating classes. Many of them are now moving on to renowned colleges and universities throughout the nation. The 2022-23 valedictorians and salutatorians are:

• Cinco Ranch High School: Haley Lucy Saxman is the valedictorian and expects to major in business at the University of Pennsylvania. Saxman has a 4.8852 GPA. Juliana Yili Zhou is the salutatorian and expects to major in computer science at Rice University. Zhou has a 4.8615 GPA.
• Jordan High School: Piyush Ankush Hole is the valedictorian and expects to major in computer science at Texas A&M University. Hole has a 4.8657 GPA. Evan Jin is the salutatorian and expects to major in the computer science honors and business honors program at the University of Texas at Austin. Jin has a 4.8636 GPA.
• Katy High School: Hudson Andrew Rhodes is the valedictorian and expects to major in biology at the University of Texas at Austin. Rhodes has a 4.7925 GPA. Rohan Bala Srinivas is the salutatorian and expects to major in biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Srinivas has a 4.7692 GPA.
• Mayde Creek High School: Sodais Kader Ghulam is the valedictorian and expects to major in computer science at the University of Texas at Austin. Ghulam has a 4.8361 GPA. Jasmine Vishun Benau is the salutatorian and expects to major in finance at the University of Texas at Austin. Benau has a 4.8281 GPA.
• Morton Ranch High School: Logan John Pedersen is the valedictorian and expects to major in chemical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin after serving a two-year mission. Pedersen has a 4.8302 GPA. Alex Faith Heiliger is the salutatorian and expects to major in psychology at the University of Houston. Heiliger has a 4.7143 GPA.
• Paetow High School: Mohammad Mutaz Yaghi is the valedictorian and expects to pursue a dual degree in business and international studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Yaghi has a 4.7069 GPA. Fatima Noor Shaikh is the salutatorian and expects to major in biology at the University of Texas at Austin. Shaikh has a 4.7031 GPA.
• Seven Lakes High School: Akash Joseph is the valedictorian and expects to major in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Joseph has a 4.8955 GPA. Aayushi Ajay Gandhi is the salutatorian and expects to major in human biology at Stanford University. Gandhi has a 4.8889 GPA.
• Taylor High School: Melissa Deng Huang is the valedictorian and expects to major in computer science at the University of Texas at Austin. Huang has a 4.8615 GPA. Minkyu “Mike” Lim is the salutatorian and expects to major in business at the University of Texas at Austin. Lim has a 4.8333 GPA.
• Tompkins High School: Sanjana Perungulam is the valedictorian and expects to major in medical studies at the Rochester Early Scholars Program with a concentration in cell and developmental biology at the University of Rochester. Perungulam has a 4.8857 GPA. Alex Hai Shi is the salutatorian and expects to major in economics and sociology at Cornell University. Shi has a 4.8676 GPA.

Royal ISD announces 2022-23 valedictorian and salutatorian

Royal ISD has announced its top two students Royal High School.

Skyler Bartels is the valedictorian and expects to major in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University.

Vladimir Moreno is the salutatorian and expects to major in chemical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

Other students finishing in the top 10% are, by class rank, Luis Diaz and Leonardo Robles (tied for third), Stephanie De La Rosa, Jorge Aguinaga, Zunaira Noman, Litzie Gonzalez, Jonathan Kosmalski Olivar, Ian Arteaga, Raychel Mayes, Salma Reyes, Isabell Bishop, Jesus Martinez, Jesus Rico and Cynthia Rivera. David Guerrero and Demarys Torres tied for 17^th.

Katy ISD provides free summer meals for all children

Katy ISD continues its commitment to ensuring all children in the Katy area have access to healthy, well-balanced meals through its Summer Meals Program. From May 30-Aug. 3, designated Katy ISD schools will begin offering breakfast and/or lunch at no cost for kids 18 and younger. Summer meal sites include:

• Opportunity Awareness Center (OAC)/Raines High School: Breakfast, 7:30-8:15 a.m.; lunch, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 30-Aug. 4, closed week of July 4.
• Memorial Parkway Elementary: Breakfast, 7:30 a.m.-8:20 a.m.; lunch, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 5-29.
• Rhoads Elementary: Breakfast, 7:30 a.m.-8:20 a.m.; lunch, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 5-29.
• King Elementary: Breakfast, 7:30 a.m.-8:20 a.m.; lunch, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 5-29.
• Morton Ranch High School – Ninth Grade Center: No breakfast; lunch, 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. June 5 - July 21, closed on July 4 and 17 only.
• Paetow High School: No breakfast; lunch, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. June 5-July 21, closed the week of July 4 and on July 17-18.
• Mayde Creek High School – Ninth Grade Center: No breakfast; lunch 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. June 5-July 27, closed the week of July 4 and on July 17-18.

“Summer meals will consist of a hot breakfast and/or lunch, which will be served in the school cafeteria area,” Donna Pittenger, nutrition & food service executive director, said. “Any child under the age of 18 can obtain a free meal. They do not need to be a Katy ISD student. All meals must be eaten on the campus and parents are welcome to purchase a meal to enjoy with their children.”

Children must be present to receive a meal and identification is not required.

Non-profit organization seeking local families for hosting high school exchange students

World Heritage Student Exchange Programs, in cooperation with local high schools, is looking for local families to host boys and girls ages 15–18 for the next academic year. Students from all over the world—places like Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Ukraine, to name a few—are excited to study in the United States.

Loving and caring host families are the cornerstone of its program and vital to its mission of bridging the gap between people, cultures, and nations. By generously opening a home to a young person from overseas, a family helps continue the commitment to increasing international peace, understanding and unity.

Preparations are well underway for the 2023-24 program year and the arrival of new future leaders this fall. World Heritage students come with an enthusiasm to practice their English and experience American culture—food, sports, shopping and more. They also love to share their own culture with their host families—who welcome them not as guests, but as family members—giving both the students and families a rich cultural experience.

In addition, World Heritage students have pocket money for personal expenses, along with health, accident and liability insurance. World Heritage students are selected for participation based on academics and good citizenship. Host families can choose their students from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries and personal interests.

To become a host family, or to find out how to become involved with World Heritage in your community, call 800-888-9040 or visit the website at host.world-heritage.org.

Baylor University School of Education honors Katy student with outstanding student award for middle grades education

The Baylor University School of Education has honored Savannah Webster, a 2018 graduate of Faith West Academy, with the 2023 Award for Outstanding Student in Middle Grades Education from Baylor School of Education.

Webster graduated from Baylor University with a BSEd in middle grades mathematics and a minor in recreational ministry. She is the daughter of Laney Webster and Jason Webster of Katy.

During her senior year at Baylor, she was a student teaching intern in the seventh-grade mathematics classroom of Austin McClinton, Baylor BSEd SOE graduate of 2016 and current Baylor student in the MA in School Leadership, at Midway Middle School in Midway ISD.

This fall Webster will be teaching algebra and coaching varsity basketball and junior varsity volleyball at Vail Christian High School in Vail, Colo., while serving as a full-time staff member of Young Life.

Webster said she chose education because students need someone they can go to when they need encouragement, support, and care.

“God has totally given me a passion for teaching and coaching,” Webster said. “I had so many great teachers and mentors in high school, and I hope to be someone that my own students look up to one day. I want to create an environment where my students feel safe and loved so that they are put in the best position to learn and grow.”

Mentor teacher Austin McClinton said, “Mentoring Savannah has been the most rewarding experience of my career. She is never afraid to step out and try something new, continuously looks for ways to improve, and naturally takes on leadership responsibilities. Savannah has a huge heart and pours into her students each and every day. It’s obvious watching her that she’s living out her purpose and making a tremendous impact on kids' lives that are fortunate enough to be under her care.”

Webster’s Baylor intern supervisor, clinical professor Dr. Rachelle Rogers, said Webster shows “pure joy” and excitement when learning instructional strategies that will help engage and challenge her students.

“Savannah is not satisfied until each student experiences success,” Rogers said. “She has often talked with me about struggling students and sought out new strategies to support their learning. While Savannah is an outstanding educator, her desire and ability to form relationships with her students are also exceptional. She has spent countless hours coaching and attending students’ extra-curricular events. Savannah has and will continue to impact many lives.”

While a student at Baylor, Webster was a member of Chi Omega and served as the intramural chair. In addition to teaching at Midway Middle School, she also coached volleyball and basketball there.

Student from Katy earns Honor Roll spot at McPherson College

Kassidy Weaver, a student from Katy, has made the spring 2023 Honor Roll at McPherson College, a four-year private college located in central Kansas.

Students must be enrolled full-time and earn a grade point average of 3.55 or higher during the last term to qualify for the honor roll. Students earning a grade point average of 3.25 to 3.54 are named to the honorable mention.

McPherson College offers more than 20 bachelor and pre-professional programs with a curriculum emphasizing entrepreneurship and career-focused education. It was ranked this year by U.S. News & World Report on its “Best Colleges” list and recognized for the eighth year in a row as a “Great College to Work For” in the Chronicle of Higher Education.