Students at Madison Highland Prep were rewarded for their excellent scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills by taking the top three prizes at a recent science fair (submitted photo).
Madison Highland Prep sweeps competition
Madison Highland Prep (MHP) won all three top awards at the Highland Prep Academies Science Fair. This achievement demonstrates the school’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and scientific excellence.
The winning projects showcased the students’ exceptional scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills. “Hotter Than You Think” took first place with its study of the urban heat island effect and testing of green spaces and transpiration to better understand how to mitigate the impact of urbanization on local temperatures. “Grow with Lights” earned second place, by investigating how different colors of light affect plant growth and providing valuable insights into the role of light in plant development. “Soaky Surfaces” secured third place, with its exploration of the potential benefits of using permeable materials in roadway construction and demonstrating the importance of sustainable design in urban planning.
What set these projects apart, the school says, was the students’ ability to effectively communicate their findings through a combination of data, pictures and physical demonstrations. The judges were impressed by the students’ thorough understanding of their topics and their ability to present their research in a clear and engaging manner. Each project included a physical demonstration, allowing the judges to see the science in action.
Members of Roborunners and The Big Bananas posed together for a group picture while holding their Teamwork Champion Awards (photo courtesy of Phoenix Day School for the Deaf).
Students win big at robotics competition
Three middle school students from the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf competed and placed in a prestigious robotics competition in mid-November. Their team, the Roborunners, placed 10th in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition, an open-ended robotics challenge for elementary and middle school students.
The tournament included 18 teams, each competing in six matches aimed at achieving the highest possible score. The students placed 10th overall but their months of practice and dedication paid off when the Roborunners scored a remarkable 69 points in the finals, securing the Teamwork Champions Award with the highest final score.
In the competition’s Skills Challenge, which includes driving and programming robots, the Roborunners placed sixth with a combined 70 points. Impressively, they were among only eight teams to score programming points, demonstrating their coding skills by making their robot perform operations independently from human control.
Seniors awarded scholarships
Arizona School for the Arts announced that two high school seniors have received a QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship (Match Scholarship). Daniel Kang has been awarded a scholarship to Yale University to study piano performance and biology on a pre-med track. Amaya Vigenser has been awarded a scholarship to Oberlin College to study piano performance and computer science.
This year, the organization’s 52 college partners matched with 2,627 finalists, marking the highest number of Match Scholarship recipients to date. Recipients are admitted early to the college partners with full four-year scholarships provided by these institutions, ensuring that a top college education is affordable for them and their families.
The scholarship includes a generous financial aid package that covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing, food, books, supplies and travel expenses.
Xavier student-athletes (left to right) Carrie Doss, Izzy Lee, Ally Brown, Jane Burkhardt, Michal Cagungun, Annemarie O’Gara, Elle McCreery, Lainey Swanson and Genevieve George signed college letters of intent in November (photo by Zachary Carlson).
Athletes sign letters of intent
Nine Xavier College Preparatory student-athletes recently signed their National Letters of Intent. The event was the culmination of many years of hard work and commitment to their respective sports.
The student-athletes and their colleges are Carrie Doss, golf, Saint Martin’s University; Ally Brown, soccer, Texas Christian University; Michal Cagungun, soccer, Dartmouth College; Izzy Lee, soccer, Babson College; Lainey Swanson, soccer, Texas Christian University; Genevieve George, swimming, San Jose State University; Jane Burkhardt, volleyball, The University of Texas at Dallas; Elle McCreery, volleyball, Dartmouth College; and Annemarie O’Gara, volleyball, University of California Berkeley.
School earns STEM certification
Madison Highland Prep was recently presented with an honorary banner for being the first network of schools in the world to earn the Cognia STEM Systems Certification. The STEM certification was conferred by the Cognia Global Commission.
To issue the certification, Madison Highland Prep and Highland Prep Academies participated in a thorough STEM system review. An Arizona team of regional accreditation evaluators conducted the STEM certification review. Highland Prep Academies provided a vast amount of evidence, ranging from videos to write-ups.
In the review, it was noted that Highland Prep Academies has a rigorous academic program rooted in STEM college-preparatory practices for all students. The system embraces its Highland Prep Cross-Cutting Competencies Framework of collaborative problem-solving skills, technology and information literacy, thinking and metacognitive skills, and studying and learning skills throughout all curricular areas that led to 100 percent of its graduating seniors accepted into a four-year college or university for the past six years.
Sixteen Brophy seniors were recognized as “distinguished” at a Dec. 5 ceremony (photo by Jake Kelly).
Seniors named ‘Distinguished’
Each school year, Brophy College Preparatory recognizes 32 seniors as “Distinguished Students,” 16 in the fall and 16 in the spring. These students have been exemplary representatives of Brophy; they have demonstrated outstanding effort in school, achieved a solid record of participation in co-curricular activities and have established a record of service to not only the Brophy community but the greater community as well.
The fall honorees were announced at a ceremony on Dec. 5. The school extended congratulations to the 2024 Fall Distinguished Students: Christian Camarata, Carlos Estrada, Andrew Flynn, Michael Gonzales, Nik Gonzalez, Noah Hubbard, Aidan Hyde, Blake Mahoney, Dione Pahilan, Santiago Paul, Henry Ponce, Grant Sonnenberg, Jackson Stack, Michael Tsai, Nate Villavicencio and Henry Walters.
Montessori celebrates holiday season, new year
Strains of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” rang through the Mission Lane neighborhood as parents and visitors joined students and staff in closing December’s winter program at Montessori Day School.
January’s return will feature the Parent Activities Committee meeting on Jan. 7; Peter Piper Pizza night on Jan. 17; and “Child as Teacher” on Jan. 21, when students share their favorite “works” with their parents. In addition, re-enrollment will precede the annual open house/open enrollment on Feb. 7.
Montessori Day School is located at 9215 N. 14th St., To learn more, call 602-943-7672 or visit www.mdpsc.org.
Brophy faculty member Cooper Davis was recently honored by the Phoenix Indian Center for his advocacy efforts (photo courtesy of Brophy College Preparatory).
Brophy faculty member honored
Cooper Davis, a Brophy alumnus and faculty member, was honored at Phoenix Indian Center’s 2024 Arizona American Indian Excellence in Leadership Awards. Davis received the “Friend of the Community” award at a ceremony on Nov. 22 at the Heard Museum.
Davis led Brophy’s Native Land initiative and is the long-time faculty leader of the Brophy Native American Club. He has also been a tireless advocate for the protection of Oak Flat. In addition to teaching in Brophy’s Art & Innovation Department, Davis is also the school’s sustainability coordinator.
