STISD schools make 2008 honor roll

MERCEDES - Officials from South Texas Independent School District are in celebration mode after three of the district's schools were named to a regional honor roll last week.

Med High, Science Academy and Med Tech were recently named 2008 Honor Roll Schools by the Texas Business and Education Coalition.

"This is the business and education communities coming together to recognize us," said STISD spokesperson Andi Atkinson. "This is a very big honor. You have to do well over a three-year period and the school must already be exemplary or recognized (in the state of Texas.)"

Michael Aranda, principal at the Science Academy, said the recognition was a result of hard work from everyone at his school.

"This shows commitment from our students, parents and faculty," he said. "The fruits of their labor have culminated into this award. Being recognized for your feats is an honor and a boost of self esteem. It allows you to keep working to do the best you can every year not only for the school, but for the students."

Aranda said that because of accomplishments like this one, students have a more solid chance for advancing to the post-secondary schools of their choice.

"We get awareness from colleges and universities from all over the country," he said. "Because of that, we have recruiters visiting our campuses on a monthly basis. Our kids have a wider range of universities to choose from in and outside of Texas."   
Med High principal Barbara Heater agreed.

"We have a school profile that we send to colleges where our students apply," she said. "We list the various national and state honors we have been awarded on that profile. That gives colleges and universities an idea of what our students are able to accomplish."

Heater said the Med High goal is for each student on campus to go on to college.

"When students come into this school, one of our first statements to them and their parents is, ‘Were not going to ask you if you're going to go to college, we're going to ask you where you want to go,'" said Heater. "Then, we will do everything we can to make sure you get there. Students here also have very positive peer pressure on each other."

Med Tech Principal Harry Goette explained how his school was able to garner recognition within six years of opening its doors.

"We are the youngest magnet school in STISD," he said. "The results basically come from the hard work of our students and staff. We concentrate on areas other than just state testing like SAT and ACT scores. We've still got work to do and that is the challenge that the students take."

Goette credited rigorous courses and student motivation as reasons for the young school's quick success.

"We focus on the medical profession here," he said. "Kids who choose to come here have thought about their career paths in the seventh and eighth grades. This is something you might expect a junior or senior to be thinking about. That brings a more motivated and focused individual than what you would have if that decision hadn't been made yet."