COMMUNITY
The Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society will meet Monday, June 7, at 1 p.m. at University Park United Methodist Church, 4024 Caruth. The free event features speaker Sharon Rabb, a clinical nutritionist. For information, call the DAPS office at 972.620.7600.
EDUCATION
Hillcrest music teacher Brian Smith is a finalist for DISD’s Teacher of the Year award. Smith has been at the school for three years, building the band from 19 members to more than 130 in that time.
Hillcrest science teacher Ward Coats won a $10,000 grant from Toyota and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) for excellence and innovation in science education. Coats, who was one of 79 teachers selected from more than 500 applicants, will use the grant to improve his biology curriculum, and students will be able to use the laboratory at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.
Ursuline Academy of Dallas has expanded its campus to include the French Family Science, Math & Technology Center, a state-of-the-art facility designed to prepare young women for careers in the sciences, math and world languages. The 70,000-square-foot building was funded in part by a $5 million grant in 2006 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — followed by a second grant of $2 million in 2007. This is the first school building in the Southwest to receive the LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
W.T. White High School’s varsity and mixed choirs recently performed a UIL concert, during which they earned top ratings. White was the only DISD 5-A comprehensive high school to achieve that honor. Several White students also recently qualified to compete in the state UIL choir competition. These students, coached by Michael Parker and Larissa Kiefer, include: Paola Arreola, Katie Barnett, Andie Barrera, Hugo Campos, Griselda Cortez, Evadney Duncan, Caryssa Hawkins, Lindsay Matteis, Jasmine McCellan, Randi Mireles, Julie Negussie, Nia Newton, Dustin Nicholls, Tempestt Phillips, Anna Plunkett, Sevin Rosa, Brittany Sewell, Megan Sosebee, Demetrio Teniente, Deidre Thornell, Astoria Walton and Jade Watkins.
