National Merit Semifinalist
Two EPISD students named National Merit Semifinalists Two EPISD students were named among the 16,000 National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) Semifinalists today in the 58th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
September 12, 2012 — EPISD News
Silva Health Magnet’s Katherine Stone and Transmountain Early College High School’s Kyra Neal are among the academically talented high school seniors that have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.
Lauren Glover who took the test last year as a Coronado High School student also is a semifinalist. She no longer attends Coronado.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
September 12, 2012 — EPISD News
Silva Health Magnet’s Katherine Stone and Transmountain Early College High School’s Kyra Neal are among the academically talented high school seniors that have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.
Lauren Glover who took the test last year as a Coronado High School student also is a semifinalist. She no longer attends Coronado.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
Silva Magnet student to compete in JEOPARDY!
Teen Tournament Katie Stone, a 17-year-old Silva Health Magnet senior, will travel to Los Angeles next week to compete in the upcoming JEOPARDY! Teen Tournament.
November 12, 2012 — EPISD News
Of the nearly 10,000 teens who took the online test, only 15 will face off in an intense academic showdown in the hopes of claiming the $75,000 grand prize and the coveted title of JEOPARDY!champion.
“The Teen Tournament is my favorite event of the year,” said JEOPARDY! host Alex Trebek. “Our teen contestants bring a burst of energy to the set and their unique mix of candor and intelligence makes me excited to see what this year’s group has in store for us.”
In order to qualify for the tournament, prospective contestants were randomly selected from those who passed the 50-question online test. These teens were then invited to attend regional in-person auditions consisting of a second 50-question test, an interview and mock game play.
The JEOPARDY! Teen Tournament will air starting January 30, 2013.
Stone is a 2013 National Merit Semifinalist. She also was the regional representative at the Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition in Washington D.C. in 2009.
November 12, 2012 — EPISD News
Of the nearly 10,000 teens who took the online test, only 15 will face off in an intense academic showdown in the hopes of claiming the $75,000 grand prize and the coveted title of JEOPARDY!champion.
“The Teen Tournament is my favorite event of the year,” said JEOPARDY! host Alex Trebek. “Our teen contestants bring a burst of energy to the set and their unique mix of candor and intelligence makes me excited to see what this year’s group has in store for us.”
In order to qualify for the tournament, prospective contestants were randomly selected from those who passed the 50-question online test. These teens were then invited to attend regional in-person auditions consisting of a second 50-question test, an interview and mock game play.
The JEOPARDY! Teen Tournament will air starting January 30, 2013.
Stone is a 2013 National Merit Semifinalist. She also was the regional representative at the Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition in Washington D.C. in 2009.
El Paso teen to appear on 'Jeopardy!' Teen Tournament airing this week
By Aaron Bracamontes / El Paso Times
Posted: 01/29/2013 05:41:31 PM MST
Katie Stone, a senior at Maxine Silva Health Magnet School worked with Kei Takigawa, left, in their advanced placement literature & composition class. Stone will be a contestant in the TV game show Jeopardy. (Times file photo)
›› Previous: El Paso teen to compete on 'Jeopardy!'
Over the next two weeks, a senior Silva Health Magnet High School student will appear on national TV on Jeopardy!
Katie Stone, 17, is one of the 15 teenagers in this year's Jeopardy! Teen Tournament, which begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night on KDBC-Channel 4. The exact date the show featuring Stone has not been released.
"Whenever I think about it I have this look on my face," Stone said to the El Paso Times in November. "I just smile so much until my jaw starts to hurt. I feel lucky I was even able to get an audition."
Stone participated in the taping of the tournament in November, but the episodes have not shown yet.
In order to get on the show Stone, who is also a national merit scholar finalist, had to pass an online test and private audition in order to be invited to the tournament.
Aaron Bracamontes may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6156. Follow him on Twitter @AaronBrac.
Posted: 01/29/2013 05:41:31 PM MST
Katie Stone, a senior at Maxine Silva Health Magnet School worked with Kei Takigawa, left, in their advanced placement literature & composition class. Stone will be a contestant in the TV game show Jeopardy. (Times file photo)
›› Previous: El Paso teen to compete on 'Jeopardy!'
Over the next two weeks, a senior Silva Health Magnet High School student will appear on national TV on Jeopardy!
Katie Stone, 17, is one of the 15 teenagers in this year's Jeopardy! Teen Tournament, which begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night on KDBC-Channel 4. The exact date the show featuring Stone has not been released.
"Whenever I think about it I have this look on my face," Stone said to the El Paso Times in November. "I just smile so much until my jaw starts to hurt. I feel lucky I was even able to get an audition."
Stone participated in the taping of the tournament in November, but the episodes have not shown yet.
In order to get on the show Stone, who is also a national merit scholar finalist, had to pass an online test and private audition in order to be invited to the tournament.
Aaron Bracamontes may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6156. Follow him on Twitter @AaronBrac.
El Pasoans in Washington for Inauguration Day
By Aileen B. Flores \ El Paso Times
Posted: 01/21/2013 07:29:34 AM MST
Kassandra Sanchez will attend this year's High School Presidential Inaugural Conference, which coincides with the inauguration. (Courtesy photo)
Among the multitudes who will line the streets of Washington, D.C., today will be El Pasoan Kassandra Sanchez, a freshman student at Silva Health Magnet High School.
Sanchez, 14, left El Paso early Friday so that she could attend the 57th Presidential Inauguration today in Washington. She will watch the parade and the public swearing in. I feel special, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that not many kids can do," she said.
Her journey to witness President Barack Obama making his way down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House accompanied by the first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden began about three years ago when she attended the Junior National Youth Leadership Conference in the U.S. capital. Because she was part of that conference, Sanchez was invited to attend this year's High School Presidential Inaugural Conference, which coincides with the inauguration.
"I feel proud to represent El Paso in going to Washington, D.C.," she said. "I also look forward to meeting students from all over the world who will also be attending."
This is Sanchez's first inauguration. She said she is excited about seeing Obama in person leading a procession of military regiments, marching bands, floats and other groups.
Sanchez is one of several El Pasoans who will be part of the inauguration festivities.
Among those marching in the parade will be El Pasoans Manuel Ituarte and Christopher Gisler, members of the
Culver Military Academy Black Horse Troop from Indiana, and El Paso native U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Todd Baldwin, a member of the U.S. Army Band Pershing's Own.
Sanchez said that the most important thing is to be part of a historical event.
"Even more exciting will be to visit our National Mall to see our president and vice president taking the oath of office on Inauguration Day," Sanchez said.
During her five-day visit to Washington, Sanchez will also listen to speakers including retired Gen. Wesley Clark and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, and will learn about the roles of the president, political party leaders, diplomats and others.
Sanchez, who wants to become a pediatrician, expects to learn leadership skills that will help her become a better person, she said.
The inauguration draws thousands of people every four year to Washington, D.C. About 1.8 million people attended the inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009. The parade will be televised live.
Aileen B. Flores may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6362.
Posted: 01/21/2013 07:29:34 AM MST
Kassandra Sanchez will attend this year's High School Presidential Inaugural Conference, which coincides with the inauguration. (Courtesy photo)
Among the multitudes who will line the streets of Washington, D.C., today will be El Pasoan Kassandra Sanchez, a freshman student at Silva Health Magnet High School.
Sanchez, 14, left El Paso early Friday so that she could attend the 57th Presidential Inauguration today in Washington. She will watch the parade and the public swearing in. I feel special, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that not many kids can do," she said.
Her journey to witness President Barack Obama making his way down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House accompanied by the first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden began about three years ago when she attended the Junior National Youth Leadership Conference in the U.S. capital. Because she was part of that conference, Sanchez was invited to attend this year's High School Presidential Inaugural Conference, which coincides with the inauguration.
"I feel proud to represent El Paso in going to Washington, D.C.," she said. "I also look forward to meeting students from all over the world who will also be attending."
This is Sanchez's first inauguration. She said she is excited about seeing Obama in person leading a procession of military regiments, marching bands, floats and other groups.
Sanchez is one of several El Pasoans who will be part of the inauguration festivities.
Among those marching in the parade will be El Pasoans Manuel Ituarte and Christopher Gisler, members of the
Culver Military Academy Black Horse Troop from Indiana, and El Paso native U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Todd Baldwin, a member of the U.S. Army Band Pershing's Own.
Sanchez said that the most important thing is to be part of a historical event.
"Even more exciting will be to visit our National Mall to see our president and vice president taking the oath of office on Inauguration Day," Sanchez said.
During her five-day visit to Washington, Sanchez will also listen to speakers including retired Gen. Wesley Clark and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, and will learn about the roles of the president, political party leaders, diplomats and others.
Sanchez, who wants to become a pediatrician, expects to learn leadership skills that will help her become a better person, she said.
The inauguration draws thousands of people every four year to Washington, D.C. About 1.8 million people attended the inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009. The parade will be televised live.
Aileen B. Flores may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6362.