Lakeview Seniors Ink Academic Letters of Intent to Four-year Institutions
Article Date: May 19, 2008
Years of disciplined academic preparation recently paid off for a select group of Lakeview Centennial High School seniors as members of the AVID program signed letters of intent to four-year colleges and universities last week.
In a ceremony more commonly associated with the athletic scholarship excitement of early February, the 18 seniors were aligned on stage inside Lakeview’s auditorium and seated behind T-shirts, caps and banners of their chosen collegiate home. There, the soon-to-be Garland ISD grads inked their names to well-deserved academic contracts.
“I asked myself, ‘If we can do this with our athletes why can’t we do it with our kids who earn scholarships, as well?’” said Dr. Gerald Hudson, principal of Lakeview Centennial. “When our students achieve such high success on any level we need to applaud their efforts.”
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a program designed for those who may have a tougher road to college than most, including many first-generation collegians. With help from Lakeview counselors and program coordinators, AVID has allowed its participants to achieve higher education goals that – in many cases – did not exist upon their entry into high school.
And Hudson shared that message with a large group of eighth graders he invited from neighboring O’Banion and Lyles Middle Schools – campuses which channel students into Lakeview.
“As high school is winding down for each of the seniors up here on stage, your days here at Lakeview are just about to begin,” Hudson said, as he pointed to the assembly of middle schoolers gathered in the first few rows. “These young men and women began studying and working as freshmen in order to get where they are today. Now is the time for you all to begin working and studying so that you can be up here on stage in four years.”
Hudson’s point was driven home when he turned to the outbound seniors and announced that a free lunch at Texas Land and Cattle would be provided that afternoon, complete with transportation in a stretch limousine large enough to carry all 18 students and accompanying staff.
| Student | College |
|---|---|
| Adam Africawala | University of Texas at Austin |
| Vanessa Akidi | Texas Woman’s University |
| Ronald Balthazar | Texas A&M University-Commerce |
| Tiffany Buffington | Texas Woman’s University |
| Joel Copley | University of North Texas |
| Edilberto Diaz | University of Texas at Austin |
| Enrique Granado | University of North Texas |
| Carlos Guerrero | Texas Tech University |
| Alexis Jones-Wilson | University of Texas at Austin |
| Anthony King | Prairie View A&M University |
| Marshall Manry | Midwestern State University |
| Jenny Meam | Texas Woman’s University |
| Saad Mustafa | University of North Texas |
| Khai Jamee Ramsey | University of Texas at Austin |
| Jessica Salazar | Texas A&M University-Commerce |
| Tucker Simmons | Tyler Junior College |
| Chris Simon Jr. | Morehouse College |
| Damon Whitley | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi |