• Miles Meador (May 2021)

Denton High has been known by many to have great pride in intellectuality from students. Ranging from spelling bee winners, to now National Merit finalists, the academic awards and scholarships usually flow in.

Schools all across the country are awarding students for their academic excellence, and Senior Thomas Gumienny, was selected as a finalist for the National Merit scholarship award. Along with Thomas, Senior Jack Alagood was selected for a smaller but significant award for scholarships. 

“I actually didn't know what the National Merit program was,” Gumienny said. 

“I just did as good as I could on the PSAT and got an email about the National Merit Scholarship a year after I took it.”

Being a finalist for the National Merit award is very limited and a big deal for schools across the country. Only a few thousand from all United States schools get selected, and upwards to $35 million go to scholarships. 

“Being a National Merit Finalist will strengthen my resume for both colleges and jobs,” Gumienny said. “It also got me a rather nice scholarship from A&M. They do have a great engineering program, and my parents were also Aggies, so I am planning on going there.”

There is always a ton of pressure being in the higher classes in high school, but having good preparation and academic skills can really help your case for being a National Merit student.

“Pay attention to every subject in a course,” Gumienny said. “The PSAT has a habit of bringing them up.”

Not many students that go to Denton High live outside of Denton and are eligible for this award, but since Jack Alagood lives in Pilot Point, he was eligible and honored for the College Board “Rural and Small town scholar” award for having excellent PSAT scores. 

“Once they notified me that I qualified,” Alagood said. 

“All I had to do was submit the application, and all of the hard work really paid off. I was very honored to get that type of recognition.”

Determination and effort, is what Jack advises to students wanting to get more involved and receive opportunities for college credit and scholarships.

“My advice to students seeking an award from College Board,” Alagood said. “Is to take time to research the many awards they offer and see which ones fit you. If you’re a student with the motivation and work ethic to study hard and score well on the PSAT or SAT, there's no limit on how many scholarships and recognitions you'll get. It all depends on how much effort you put into it.”

• Mayra Diaz (April 2021)

Art has helped us transcend and break barriers for centuries. It has kept us connected to the past and has helped us understand it. Art sends a message that sometimes can not be explained, that’s why it continues to thrive and help us understand each other.

Two Denton High students’ art works were recently accepted into the 2021 Young American Talent Competition (YAT). YAT is a juried Visual Art competition for North Texas High School students. 

“I’m so proud,” DHS Art teacher James Rosin said.

The annual event encourages the pursuit of artistic excellence among Dallas-area high school students by providing an opportunity to compete with peers, participate in a juried art exhibit and receive recognition in a professional gallery setting.

“It's quite the honor to be selected.” Rosin said.

Last year 1120 works were entered and 130 were selected. This year 1126 works were submitted and 134 were selected as finalists. Students from art magnet schools like Booker T. Washington are  also competing this year.

“Super excited for my students and DHS. I think I even cried a little.” Rosin said.

Junior Dalya Kinsizer is one of the two Denton High students whose artwork was selected for the competition. Her art piece “Quarantine 3” is her third piece from her quarantine series.

“It has the most important value for me, because overall I believe it reflects the reality of quarantine and how emotionally we have all dealt with the reality of isolation.” Kinsizer said.

Strayed from a typical charcoal painting, the reverse method was used for this piece to demonstrate a more realistic version of a human skeleton. “Quarantine 3” is a piece which reflects the loneliness an individual feels during the isolation period.

“The sense of abandonment, loneliness, and desperation were what I was aiming for in the emotion of this piece,” Kinsizer said

Kinsizer plans on academically pursuing her art career in the future and hopes on becoming an architect. “Art has been my refuge and sanctuary. Art has really carried the game for me, because being alone isn't my favorite thing, and by creating art," Kinsizer said. "I never felt that alone.” 

The 2021 Young American Talent Competition awards were announced earlier this April. Neither Denton High students won in their respective categories. Despite this, both students continue to challenge themselves in their art.

“Art is like sports in a way, you have to practice so you don't lose your hand-eye coordination because it is a skill after all” Kinsizer said.

• Celia Rubalcava(March 2021)

There were ten teachers that were nominated for being the teacher of the year, one from each department. The winner was Shannon McCuistion, the Agriculture teacher.

“I truly devote myself to this career and my students much like other teachers,” McCuistion said. 

“Knowing that I can come to work every day, give everything I have to my students and colleagues, and being able to go home at night knowing that I did everything that I can, that is what motivates me.”

The nominees include Kerri Burgess (performing fine arts), Etienne Illy (visual fine arts), Brandon Slimmer (Social studies), Hannah Hintz (Science), Julie Seeley (English), Marlene Nobles (Math), Branden Melson (Health), Rita Bruton (World languages), and Elizabeth Lockley (Special Education). 

“I don't believe I have any more or less qualities than any other person on this campus,” McCuistion said. “The only thing that sets me apart from other teachers is what I teach.”

Every teacher “has been doing their best to make this difficult year a successful one.” Although McCuistion won, she believes that everyone deserves to be the teacher of the year, even those who did not get nominated.

“I never in a million years thought I would be the Teacher of the Year at a school of this capacity much less get nominated,” McCuistion said. “I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Denton High School as the Teacher of the Year.”

• Celia Rubalcava(March 2021)

All members of the POBC who competed in the UIL Solo Contest earned a Division 1.  Four of them even advanced to the state solo contest.

“Our top band is practicing two days a week after school and our second band is practicing two-three days before school,” Brian Wilson said.  

 “In both ensembles, performance expectations are going as expected.”

In the solo contest, the POBC has to compete against a standard, rather than other schools. To earn a Division 1, they need to to play with superior tone, technique and musicality.

“We try to instill a high standard when it comes to individual performance from the moment they pick up an instrument in 6th grade,” Wilson said.

“The hope is that by the time they reach us in high school, performing at a high level is more of a habit than a goal.”

The students that earned a Division 1 are Abigelle Carrasco, Caleb Harold, Thomas Hudson, Gerald Jones, and Marco Illari. Those who also advanced to state were Leo Illari, Haydee Norris, Lily Fosmire, and David Na.

“I feel good about those that made it to state.” Wilson said.   “But as always, I feel extremely proud of everyone’s accomplishments.”

• Mayra Diaz (March 2021)

Connecting and understanding our past history whether by one’s self or with others has helped us further our knowledge. The Denton High Junior Classical League, or JCL, is a national organization for the classics.

“Our purpose is to encourage an interest in and an appreciation of the language, literature, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome and to impart an understanding of the debt of our own culture to that of Classical antiquity.” The official JCL website states.

Recently, JCL students participated in the JCL Area C competition and all received phenomenal results. The students competed in multiple competitions within and we’re ranked in the top ten. Due to this,  JCL students have advanced to the TSJCL State Convention.

“We were elated. All but one student qualified for state, and even that student was really close.” Latin teacher, Rebecca Thomason said.

The Area C competition was held online this year to prevent the spread of and keep students safe from the on-going pandemic. 

The Area competition is normally held at a specific high school and is an all day event. Administrators of the Area C competition had to make secure academic tests that would release at the same time and also organize easily so they could filter results to the correct schools.

 “I assisted with the organization of the event this year and it was much more work than usual, mainly because we had to recreate some events into a virtual format that never previously worked that way.” Thomason said.

DHS JCL is a student-driven club meaning students lead and decide what they want to achieve for the year. Unlike past years, zooms have been the location for JCL students to meet up and collaborate.

“We have all been motivated to push the boundaries and continue to work hard,” JCL student Brianna Ayers said.

The TSJCL convention will be fully virtual this year for safety purposes, but will be kept as close to the usual schedule as possible.

• Catherine Grether        (March 2021)

Student Council (STUCO) created a kindness challenge to students for National Kindness week.

National Kindness week 2021 was Feb. 15  -21 and for that week STUCO decided to create a challenge here to our students. The idea was to help incentivise and inspire people to help brighten up the world around them. Challenges ranged from “ learn to say hello in a different language” to “help a teacher”. 

Many of the members volunteered to make the posters hanging up around campus and helped suggest different activities , but it was Israel Ramirez who put together the form and QR code for students to scan to find the challenges and helped reach out to 4 winners who received restaurant gift cards.

“Around 11-13 people participated. While that may not seem to be a huge number, I personally see it as a huge success.” Ramirez said. 

“Even getting one person to accept and do the challenge spreads kindness and the positivity we want to spread ,and hopefully the kindness that they spread makes another person happy so they do a kind act and so on." 

One winner, Jessica Crouse did something for most of the categories but the one she enjoyed most was  writing letters to the counselors and a friend. 

“I love this challenge because it always makes people around you smile. I mean, how nice is it when you receive a card!” she said. 

“The main reason why I decided to do it was because I love people, and I enjoy making them feel like they are appreciated, loved, and cared for.“                   

Her prize was a gift card to the Loco Cafe where she then went with her family.

Another, Addison Bonine, said she participated because “ I wanted to try something out and be involved in my school.”  She completed most of the activities by making a bookmark for a friend, leaving  a kind note, and learning to say hello in a different language (latin- it’s salve). 

• Celia Rubalcava (February 2021)

On an average summer day, students wake up very late in the morning, eat, and get on their phone. However, there are a few students who went to a flight academy, to get 

their very own pilot’s license. 

The flight academy is an effort to help with the shortage of pilots. It is intended to inspire and encourage high school youth toward aviation careers. In 2018, AFJROTC awarded 120 scholarships to students. Out of the 120 students, seniors Merrick Seeley and Braden Sweeten got their Pilot’s license.  

“It is great, I feel unique.” Sweeten said. “I wanted to be a pilot because I was interested in it, and because none of my family members were in it.” 

“I heard about the program around September of my junior year,” Seeley said. “My best friend Braden and I started studying together, and it's cool, because now we have our pilots licenses together too.”

The flight academy started in the fall of 2017. It has two purposes: to address the issue of diversity throughout the aviation community, and to regard the opportunities in the aviation community. 

The Air Force is currently short of at least 1,500 pilots, and the AFJROTC is working to train the future pilots and give them scholarships to fly a plane.

“We got there on a Saturday, and on Monday we went straight to work, and hit the ground running,” Seeley said. “You start off with a wingman, but on the 5th day you get to fly solo. It was a lot of studying too.”

"One thing I liked about the academy is that we made new friends,” Sweeten said. “At first we didn't know each other but as time went on we knew each other to the point that we became friends.”

It takes about eight weeks for a cadet to get a license at the flight academy. However, that does not mean that they will incur a military commitment, and or it does not guarantee acceptance towards one of the Air Force’s officer accessioning programs.

“One of the best things about the academy is the views from the plane,” Sweeten said. “You get to see everything from the air.”

“We got to keep all the stuff, like the maps, and what not.” Seeley said. “It has been a super cool experience, and it will definitely pay off in the long run.”

• Catherine Grether (December 2020)

On July 24th, Maggie Delacerda competed in the Junior National Beefmaster Breeders Association Show, a highly competitive heifer breeding competition. She placed second out of 12 students with her heifer, Lady Bird Britches or “Birdie” for short, and was the only DHS student to make it to national level.

The judging at breeding competitions can be subjective and centers around judge preference but Birdie usually gets points for her bone and frame structure. 

Agriculture has a large meaning to Delacerda and her family. 

“I have always loved animals and plants," she says

"I think that stemmed from my grandpa who owned a small ranch with a big garden. I would always play with the cattle and chickens.” 

Her grandfather was also the one who gave her her first calves- a Holstein bottle baby that was about 2 weeks old, a 6th month old dairy heifer and a longhorn heifer

- which is when Delacerda knew she wanted to show cattle. 

In addition, she’s been riding horses for about 6 years. She used to ride western and now  competes in the hunter ring (English), and is “an avid garden and flower enthusiast!" She is on the career path to be a large animal veterinarian.

• Catherine Grether (November 2020)

In April, towards the beginning of the shutdown, Melinda King was talking to a friend about how her elderly mother was still risking trips to the grocery store. They worried about her potential exposure to COVID-19, especially considering she was high risk. King realized her sons could  potentially help them out by picking up the groceries for them. She proposed the idea to her son, Matthew Warnock, who agreed.

“Once I was in the car about to leave she came outside with a big smile on her face and said how thankful she was and that made me feel really good so we decided we this could be an opportunity to help even more people.” Warnock said. 

They came up with the name N.E.A.D.S. - Neighborly Errand and Delivery Service.

N.E.A.D.S. seeks to help anyone at high risk of catching or being affected by COVID-19 , especially the elderly.

They got word out by posting on Facebook and putting up flyers with contact information. Those interested in using the service could call or text 940-453-1660. Users would text an address and grocery list, then Matthew or his brother, Mitchell Warnock,  would buy the groceries and drop them off, usually without seeing them personally. They picked up a check for the groceries but the delivery was completely free.

 Since their first run on April 6th, they went to help 44 people.Recently, as things are opening up again, they “don’t get as many runs as usual, but are still happy to do it.” The service is still available for anyone who wants it, or is still hesitant to go out.

The N.E.A.D.S. program is not the only service for them either. For those whose problem is with being able to afford their meals, Denton ISD also has food available.

As of September 28th, DISD is providing free breakfast and lunch to every student with a Denton school ID.

This is available for everyone including face to face, hybrid students, and connected learners  Hybrid students can pick up the next day’s meals at the end of the school day, and connected learners can pick up five-day meal bundles (10 meals total.

 The connected learner meal bundles are to be picked up at Alexander, Bell, Borman and Nelson elementary schools on Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00 PM. People must show IDs for each student receiving meals, and are asked to stay in their cars during that time to make it easier for volunteers.