THREE ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL STUDENTS HONORED WITH SPECIAL ACADEMIC AWARDS

Students go above and beyond through commitment to service and academics

(March 23, 2010) SAN ANTONIO – Three St. Luke’s Episcopal School eighth-grade students –Susannah Wright, Jake Fox and Steele Sessions – were recently recognized with scholarship awards for academic excellence from TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas. Each year, St. Luke’s works to identify ways to further its students’ private school education by partnering with schools to honor students who have gone above and beyond to achieve both academic and personal success.

“We are extremely honored and proud to work with TMI to identify students who continually go the extra mile to achieve not only academic success but also personal growth during this crucial time of their educational advancement, “ St. Luke’s Head of School Dr. Mark Reford said. “These three individuals have been an inspiration to our other students, and we look forward to seeing them succeed in their future endeavors.”

Wright was honored with the Margaret M. and Albert B. Alkek Scholarship for her excellent academic record and achievement within her extracurricular activities. With this, she receives a four-year, full-tuition scholarship. Alkek scholars are expected to embody the mission statement and core values of TMI by maintaining a high academic average; being actively involved in the life of the school through participation in athletics and extracurricular activities; modeling the highest character and integrity and upholding the Honor Code; and exercising strong, positive leadership inside and outside the classroom. Wright has been an A-honor roll student throughout her elementary and middle school years. Her poems have been published in the San Antonio Public Library's Young Pegasus magazine, and she has served as editor of St. Luke's literary publication. Wright has participated and placed 1st in a variety of academic competitions throughout her middle school years, participates on the school’s track and basketball teams and is an active member in the National Junior Honor Society, National Latin Honor Society and the St. Luke’s Student Council.

Fox was honored with the Frost Merit Scholarship for his scholastic achievements and dedication to his extracurricular activities and community service. This award recognizes students with strong academic achievement and great leadership potential. With this honor, he receives a $10,000 scholarship to go toward furthering his education at TMI. Fox is an honor roll student, and has been the recipient of several community service and academic awards including, the Hodge Foreign Language Scholarship, the Francis Finkbeiner Award and the SAT State Recognition for Achievement in Writing to name a few. He was a qualifier for the Duke Talent Identification program from 2006 – 2008, placed in the bronze level for the National Mythology Exam during his eighth grade year and is a past participant in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference. He currently serves St. Luke’s as Student Council President and is an active member of the National Junior Honor Society and the National Latin Honor Society. He participates on the school’s soccer and basketball teams, and also enjoys his time as a Boy Scout.

Sessions was honored as a Lieutenant General William H. Schneider Memorial Scholarship recipient for demonstrating academic excellence and leadership potential as well as his intention to enter the 9th grade as a member of TMI’s Junior ROTC program. With this honor, he received a $3,000 scholarship to TMI. Sessions is an A-honor roll student, and has successfully participated in a variety of academic competitions. For his strong spirit and dedication to service, he has received numerous recognitions including, the Tim Duncan Character Award, the President’s Education Award, winner of the D.A.R.E. essay contest and others. He has participated in the St. Luke’s Science Fair since 2007 and placed first last year in the Physics and Engineering category. He is an active member in the National Junior Honor Society and National Latin Honor Society, serves the Boy Scouts of America in Troop 285 and is currently co-captain of the St. Luke’s basketball A-team. He has also participated on the school’s soccer and track teams.

“Dedicated and committed are two words to describe individuals who receive these recognitions each year, and this year’s recipients are no exception. At TMI, we know the importance of an education and seek to honor and award those students who hold that same standard as they go through their middle and high school years,” TMI Headmaster Dr. Jim Freeman said. “Susannah, Jake and Steele have shown a passion for their studies as well as their involvement in extracurricular and service-oriented activities, and we are pleased to recognize each of them for their hard work and commitment to bettering themselves academically and personally.”

Seventh graders win 2009 Hodge Foreign Language Scholarships
St. Luke’s Episcopal School recognizes students’ academic excellence, linguistic proficiency and leadership skills

(June 12, 2009) – A 2004 study by researchers from University College London (http://bit.ly/oLU1T) revealed that learning a second language boosts the brain by altering gray matter, the area that processes information, and that people who learn at a younger age are more likely to have more advanced gray matter than those who learn later. St. Luke’s Episcopal School has long recognized foreign languages as an integral part of the academic curriculum that enhances the students’ education.

”Our foreign language courses and programs prepare students for life outside the school’s walls.” St. Luke’s associate head of school Cindy Cabello said. “Studying other languages can help them think outside familiar contexts and can help them understand how other worlds and cultures intertwine and connect.”

Since 2005, St. Luke’s has awarded the Hodge Foreign Language Scholarships to students chosen from among the very best in the seventh-grade class who demonstrate a mastery of Latin and Spanish, exhibit academic excellence, and have the potential to be exemplary and inspiring leaders in the school. This year, Jake Fox and Anjali Khatri were named Latin and Spanish Hodge Scholars respectively by the Selection Committee. Each winner received $2,500 applicable to the cost of tuition in the 2009-10 academic year and all finalists were recognized during Graduation Exercises on June 3, 2009.

“Our finalists are all outstanding scholars and gifted linguists, hence, the principal interest of the Selection Committee was to focus on the students’ characters and their potential to serve as leaders who embody the school’s mission of achieving academic and personal excellence, lifelong learning and service to others,” Hodge Scholars Selection Committee chairman The Reverend Walter L. Prehn III said.

The six finalists of the Hodge Foreign Language Scholarships
Spanish: Anjali Khatri, Ana Kuri and Christopher Perez
Latin: Jake Fox, Jacob Medina and Susannah Wright

The Hodge Foreign Language Scholarships were established by Mr. Edward Hodge III and his sons, Ned and Chris, to honor their wife and mother, Almeda Doughty Hodge, and her desire for all students to experience and master the study of foreign languages as part of their academic plan. The Hodges are members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Mrs. Hodge attended St. Luke’s School as a child. Both of her sons are alumni. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees and has served the School in many capacities, including as Chair of the Board.

High schools recruit outstanding talent from St. Luke’s Episcopal School
High School Signing Day attracts representatives from top schools,
offers a chance to acknowledge the hard work of the graduating middle school class

(June 12, 2009) – Graduating students at St. Luke’s Episcopal School are in high demand. In a ceremony that resembles that of the NFL National Draft, St. Luke’s celebrates the recruitment of its eighth grade talent into the high school big leagues. The morning of May 20, 2009 St. Luke’s Episcopal School hosted the third Annual High School Signing Day at the school chapel. Representatives of all the high schools the eighth grade graduating class will be attending next fall were present to recognize their new students and present them with their new school T-shirts and other welcome gifts. This tradition was established three years ago and is unique to St. Luke’s. It is one of the year’s most important events as it brings parents, educators and peers together to celebrate the accomplishments and exciting futures that await the members of the graduating class.

Educators gather to recognize outstanding students
After a short worship ceremony, each receiving school takes the stage to address the audience and welcome its incoming students. Representatives from 11 schools were in attendance. Guests included the heads of school from St. Mary’s Hall and TMI, the Principal of Alamo Heights High School and representatives from Antonian, Churchill, The DATA School at Roosevelt, Health Careers, Incarnate Word, International School of the Americas, North East School of Arts and SAISD Performing Arts.

“We are proud and impressed to see the breadth of schools our graduates head off to,” vice chair of the Board of Trustees Jill Vassar said. “These school leaders welcome the opportunity to have a presence on our campus and their involvement is a testament of the exceptional caliber of our students who are eager to take on new challenges and prepared to succeed.”

A rite of passage
The idea for High School Signing Day came from two St. Luke’s parents – Alison and Derrick Fox, Spurs Sports & Entertainment vice president of communications and Alamo Bowl president – who suggested the idea of having eighth graders “sign in” with their future high schools the way athletes sign when they commit to play for a university or professional sports team. Lisa Brunsvold, director of development for St. Luke’s, helped implement the idea and, only three years later, the St. Luke’s community now celebrates and looks forward to the event as the kick-off for Graduation Day festivities.

“It’s truly a rite of passage. The kids look like they age right before your eyes. When their names are called they walk to the stage with poise, shake hands firmly, turn around to look at the audience and receive complements with admirable humility.” Brunsvold said. ”It is a proud moment for their parents, teachers and younger peers – an opportunity to acknowledge just how remarkable our students are.”

For high-resolution pictures of High School Signing Day visit:
http://picasaweb.google.com/KGBTexasPhotos/SLESHighschoolSigningDay2009#

St. Luke’s Episcopal School teacher wins
Toyota TAPESTRY science grant

Chuck Kremer’s project, “The Science and Sound of Electric Guitars,” was awarded $8,000 to be developed and implemented in the 2009-10 school year

April 2, 2009 – Chuck Kremer, seventh-grade physics and chemistry teacher at St. Luke’s Episcopal School, was named the recipient of a 2009 Toyota TAPESTRY Grant Award for his project “The Science and Sound of Electric Guitars.” The project will be a one-semester elective course taught by an interdisciplinary team of faculty members that will teach students about the application of physical science in acoustics and one-string guitars. Kremer’s award is among 50 one-year grants of up to $10,000 that were awarded in this year’s competition. In addition, “mini grants” of up to $2,500 were awarded to 32 teachers for a total of $550,000 awarded overall.

Since 1990, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and the National Science Teachers Association have partnered to offer grants to K–12 science teachers in the United States who submit proposals for innovative projects that enhance students’ science education. The competition categories include physical science application, environmental science education and integrating literacy and science. Grants are awarded to the most creative, risk-taking and visionary proposals.
“When I was in high school I took an electronics course and learned that one of the most important things is to engage kids in interesting ways and to let them become the experts in the subject matter,” Kremer said. “Middle school students are naturally excited about music so I took it as an opportunity to introduce science in the classroom in an innovative way.”

In September of 2009, twelve middle school students at St. Luke’s Episcopal School will participate in Mr. Kremer’s project. The course will be taught by a team of faculty members including science, technology, and music teachers. Students will study basic electronic circuits, publish an online library of electronic components, build one-string electric guitars, learn to play them as a group and teach the fundamental concepts of sound to younger students in fifth and sixth grade. Students will then perform as an ensemble at a school pep-rally.

Kremer worked on the proposal for over a month with a team that included Cindy Cabello, assistant head of school, Phillip Anaya, St. Luke’s technology teacher, and Scott Rippetoe, Kremer’s old high school teacher. The team will regroup over the summer to finalize the class curriculum.

About St. Luke’s Episcopal School: St. Luke’s Episcopal School is a faith-based co-educational PK-8 school that attracts students from far across the area. It is a Christian community dedicated to academic and personal excellence, lifelong learning and service to others.