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Legacy Band Senior Spends 7 Weeks with DCI, Returns as a Champion

August 26, 2014, 9:07 am
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Mansfield ISD's own Christopher “C.C.” Waggoner, a senior at Legacy High School and a member of the Legacy Bronco Band, returned this month from a whirlwind summer marching with Drum Corps International’s Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps.

And he brought back a souvenir – a Gold Medal that came with the Blue Devils earning 1st Place at the 2014 DCI World Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., in early August.

At 17, C.C. was the second youngest member to make it into Blue Devils A Corps this year , one of 16 Mellophones on the Brass Line. In January and throughout the spring, he attended monthly weekend camps in Concord, Calif., for rehearsals. In late May, he left to join the 150-member corps for almost a month of practices in Concord before hitting the road in mid-June.

The rigorous schedule included three-a-day rehearsals; thousands of miles spent traveling and sleeping on a bus and at designated locations throughout the tour; and 29 competitions across the country – all in the span of seven weeks.

The Blue Devils remained undefeated throughout the season, which culminated in the DCI World Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, August 9. The Blue Devils won the championship, breaking the scoring record with a 99.65 before more than 24,000 fans.

This has been an amazing experience and will definitely be a summer to remember for C.C. as he enters his senior year.

Two 2014 MISD graduates, Seth Neufeldt and Sam Olayiwola of Lake Ridge High School, marched with the Bluecoats, who earned the Silver Medal at the DCI World Championships. All three boys are a testament to MISD’s fantastic music program – and their band directors, Glenn Fugett, head director at Legacy, and Matt Garrett, head director at Lake Ridge.

C.C. marched with the Bluecoats in Summer 2013. At Legacy, C.C. is first chair French Horn in the Wind Symphony; has made the All-Region Band for the last three years; qualified for Area the last two; and made All-State 4A Symphonic Band as a sophomore. He was Drum Major for the 2013-2014 school year.

Drum Corps is a highly competitive activity for youth up to 21 years old. It requires a great deal of self-discipline, teamwork and leadership. The Blue Devils are one of 22 World Class Corps in DCI, which also includes 25 Open Class Corps. All 22 World Class Corps and 15 of the Open Class Corps competed in the championships. The field was cut to 25 for the semifinals and 12 for the DCI Finals on August 9.

Guest post by Ana Waggoner.
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Nutrition staff supports local back to school program

August 28, 2014, 8:00 am
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Mansfield ISD purchased property and a building on Mansfield-Webb Road that is currently being leased by the The Community at Lake Ridge church through the fall. The Student Nutrition Services (SNS) Department coordinated with the church staff to use the auditorium as meeting space for department back to school meetings.

Upon arrival, SNS staff noticed that the church had a Back-to-School outreach program to provide backpacks and school supplies to families in the area. As a gesture of appreciation and community partnership, the nutrition staff bought a backpack to donate to their cause.

“We let the SNS staff know of this plan and said if anyone wished to make a monetary donation in appreciation of the hospitality shown to us, we would add it to the backpack,” wrote SNS Assistant Director Training & Federal Programs, Sondra Thomas. “After lunch we presented the backpack to one of the pastors of the church with more than $1,100 inside! That money will go towards buying school supplies for students in need. It was absolutely incredible. The church staff was so surprised and greatly touched by the generosity of our staff.”

Next spring, Mansfield ISD will use the building to house Student Nutrition Services as well as the Department of Research, Assessment, & Accountability.
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Superintendent Update - September 2014

September 15, 2014, 7:29 am
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MISD Employee Earns US Citizenship

September 24, 2014, 1:55 pm
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(L-R) Jeff Brogden, Assistant Superintendent for Construction Services,
Fidel Escolero, and Mark Williamson, Director Maintenance

When Fidel Escolero left El Salvador for the month-long treacherous journey to the United States 25 years ago, he never imagined he would someday celebrate becoming a US citizen. For over two decades since his arrival, Fidel has cherished the opportunities our country has provided to those seeking a better quality of life through hard work and determination. As a legal permanent resident, Fidel married the love of his life and began a family raising two beautiful children, but his dream was not complete. Attaining US citizenship was always a goal for him and watching his son join the US Navy reminded Fidel just how important it is to serve our country.

"Watching my son join the Navy made me so proud of him and what he was doing for our country. I wanted to do my part as well." said Fidel.

As an employee for the MISD Facilities & Maintenance Department over the last 3 years, he had complete and total support from his coworkers. The year-long process involved applications, interviews, and tests on the English language and US Civics. All of it was well worth the effort once he was able to take the Oath of Allegiance, the final step before receiving his certificate of citizenship.

"I came to this country with an empty box to fill with hopes and dreams." said Fidel. He now has another dream to place in that box.
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$1.00 Rangers Tickets!

September 25, 2014, 12:16 pm
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Thanks to generous support from the Texas Rangers, The Mansfield ISD Education Foundation will sell tickets for the Texas Rangers vs. Oakland A's series for a discounted price of $1.00 each! This is your last chance to catch the Texas Rangers in action this season.

Tickets for the Rangers vs Oakland A’s are available for the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games and can be purchased at the Student Services Building  located at 609 East Broad Street, Mansfield, TX - at the corner of Broad and Walnut Creek.

Tickets may be picked up during the following times:

    - Thursday, September 25, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    - Friday, September 26, from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
    - Saturday, September 27, from 9:00 a.m. - Noon

For more information call 817.299.6354.


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Blue Chip Scholars

September 30, 2014, 2:08 pm
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2015 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
(L-R) Benjamin Homer (MHS), Kendall Curtis (MHS), Ryan Roberts (MHS), Grant Wilkie (SHS)


The term "blue chip" is often used in reference to the quality of investments, stocks, and even athletes. It is used to describe something of high quality and excellent performance. In this case, "blue chip" refers to the four Mansfield ISD students chosen as semifinalists in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Mansfield High School students Kendall Curtis, Benjamin Homer, Ryan Roberts, and Summit High School's Grant Wilkie all earned the prestigious achievement in the area of academic performance. Of the 1.5 million PSAT entrants considered, the National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes approximately 16,000 students as semifinalists qualifying to compete for over $33 million dollars in scholarship awards.

To place their accomplishment in perspective, Benjamin, Kendall, Ryan, and Grant all scored in the top 1.1% of the 1.5 million test takers in the country. MISD Superintendent, Dr. Jim Vaszauskas, considers all of the National Merit Scholar Semifinalists first round draft choices, "Our student semifinalists will be sought after and recruited by colleges and universities just as any blue chip athlete would be."

However, their work is far from over. All of the semifinalists must maintain the level of their academic performance and achieve a qualifying score on the SAT to be considered for selection as a finalist. Congratulations to the four Mansfield ISD National Merit Scholar Semifinalists!
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"Y Knot" Necktie Drive Benefits Student Athletes

October 3, 2014, 1:06 pm
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Mansfield ISD staff and community members opened their hearts (and their closets) to support the “Y Knot” Necktie donation drive hosted by the Coble Middle School PTA. Over 300 neckties were donated to benefit middle and high school student athletes across the district.

The MISD Athletic program promotes discipline, character-building, and professionalism though its Leadership Program. As part of this program, male middle school and high school athletes are required to wear professional attire on game days. This donation drive not only assisted with providing the required attire to our athletes, it demonstrated the tremendous community support for our students.

As a bonus, Dr. Jim Vaszauskas, Superintendent of Schools, provided a lesson in tying a necktie for some district athletes at Coble Middle School on the afternoon of October 1.


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2014 Annual Life Skills Track and Field Event

October 23, 2014, 2:34 pm
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The Adapted Physical Education Department recently held their annual track meets for students who are part of the Fundamental Academic Living Skills (FALS) classes. The elementary and secondary FALS classes each have a day set aside for them to come out to one of our MISD tracks and participate in fun events that include throwing, jumping, dancing, walking, running and wheelchair competitions.

This year, the events were held at Wester Middle School on October 14th and 15th. Teachers, as well as parents, enjoyed a beautiful day outside observing students socializing and being physically active while competing in a friendly atmosphere. Student organizations from our local high schools and middle schools had the opportunity to volunteer and build relationships with participants. The staff at R L Anderson Special Education Related Services make this memorable event possible each year.

Special thanks to Dana Beal, Adapted P.E. teacher,  for preparing this guest post.


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Superintendent Update - November 2014

November 12, 2014, 12:16 pm
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Dr. Vaszauskas discusses the latest on the Boren and Ponder Elementary projects, recognition for MISD National Merit Semifinalists and student athletes participating in the playoffs
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A Big Brassy Night to Remember

December 8, 2014, 12:20 pm
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It was only a one-day event; but for 15 Mansfield ISD high school students, the memory will last a lifetime.

A Big Brassy Christmas was a night of musical fun performed by the brass section of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra featuring some of the finest band students in the district.

“It was a chance to integrate students into a professional musical program. Dallas Symphony Orchestra has several world-class players, and it’s a phenomenal opportunity for the kids,” said Dr. Russ Sanders, Fine Arts Director for MISD. “The students had one day of true rehearsal, which is a testament to the quality of the students in our district.”

This is the third year the MISD Education Foundation has held the fundraiser concert, but the first year students were asked to be part of the performance.

More than 1,000 people were estimated to have been in attendance for the Sunday night event. The foundation’s director, Linda Bacsik, said she couldn’t be happier with the turnout.

“I’m thrilled. All the comments I heard were positive. Everything went beautifully, and The Center did a phenomenal job facilitating the event.”

Dr. Sanders said the students who performed in the concert will all likely begin the process to be part of All-State band, which begins tonight. He said he has no doubt they will be successful.

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Tree Lighting Doubles as Student Project Showcase

December 8, 2014, 1:04 pm
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The MISD Center for the Performing Arts is home to a variety of annual holiday season events such as the Big Brassy Christmas concert and Toys for Tots. Following last year’s Toys for Tots event, Flo Torres, the Center Director, and her staff decided the holiday season was missing one central item – a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree to display in front of the facility. True to form, Torres found a way to include students in the project.

“Our motto at the Center is ‘Where Education and Celebration become One,’ and we are always searching for ways to showcase student talent through our various programs and events,” said Torres.

After some planning and collaboration, the tree became a class project for students at the Ben Barber Career Tech Academy (BBCTA). It was designed and constructed by students from the Advanced Welding class, with students from the Welding 1 class assisting with the finishing touches. The magnificent tree is approximately 33 feet tall, weighs 900 pounds, and is decked out with 10,000 multicolored lights. A beautiful four-foot golden star shines brightly from the top of the tree.

Students spent about a month constructing the tree under the guidance of BBCTA teachers Rob Goodson (Engineering) and Alex Higgs (Architecture and Welding). Student used saws, cutting torches, grinders, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, and a CNC Plasma Cutter to build this impressive project.

The project was unveiled at a tree lighting ceremony in front of the Center on the evening of Sunday, December 7. Dr. Jim Vaszauskas, Superintendent of Schools, and David Cook, Mayor of Mansfield, kicked off the event with a warm welcome and a few words about the district and community. Students from the MISD Children’s Center sang a few holiday songs just before Dr. Vaszauskas led the crowd in the final countdown to the tree lighting.

Hats off to these talented and hard-working students:

Advanced Welding Class: Zach Alvarez, Tony Dowd, Chaz Galvan, Will Hager, Devin Holcomb, Zach Lee, Jake Mathis, Mike McGaugh, Ricardo Olivares, Makenna Ruder, Trevor Saltsman, Josh St. Pierre, Sean Vandiver, Kolton Widner.

Welding 1 Class: Sirilo Alegria, Logan Anderson, Zoobie Azam, Kyle Carmichael, Gabe Diaz, Triston Lesley, Aldo Maldonado, Dylan McCallum, Hudson Neal, Tommy, Nguyen, Jacob Proffer, Chandler Shumate, Dajuan Webb, Brock Wilson.

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Take the Pledge to Save Energy

December 9, 2014, 7:54 am
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"Turn it off. Shut it off. Close the door."

Mansfield ISD demonstrates a true commitment to saving energy, and we challenge the whole community to do the same!


MISD earns more U.S. EPA Energy Star Awards than any other district in Texas, and a $3.1 million cost reduction was achieved through our energy conservation and education program.

Conserving energy helps our environment and saves money. Make a difference by taking the pledge to protect our resources.

Download and sign the pledge. Then, post it somewhere visible to let everyone know that you’re doing your part!

Be sure to also check out Energy Star's tips on ways to save.
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Ben Barber Program Manufacturing Results

December 10, 2014, 9:03 am
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 Advanced Precision Metal Manufacturing Program: (L-R)
Miranda Small, Raquel Frantz, Ethan Welch, Eric Lucas,
Khalil Wines, Dylan Deen, Javier Garcia, Christopher Richards,
Bradley Ivie, Logan Hawkins, Christian Kinnison,
James Ferguson, and Mr. Ron Johnson.
Instructor Ron Johnson had no clue what he was getting himself into when he was asked to lead Ben Barber Tech Career Academy’s new Advanced Precision Metal Manufacturing (APMM) program.

All he knew was that he was committed to the mission: getting students prepared for the real world.

The program partners with five local companies to give students a hands-on experience of the manufacturing industry. Students can even get forklift certified by the end of their internships.

“It really is a cutting-edge program,” said Johnson. “These students are manufacturing things like drills and aerospace parts. They work very hard.”

And now, the hard work is starting to pay off. The APMM program received an award Wednesday from Texas Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County for its economic involvement within the community.

The organization honored Ben Barber Career Tech Academy, Mansfield Economic Development Corporation, Cam-Tech, Drill King, Fluidic Technologies, Klein Tools, and Trinity Forge—all the entities involved in a collaboration that is preparing the future generation.

Javier Garcia, a Frontier High School senior enrolled in APPM, said the program helped him decide what he wanted to do for a living.

“I knew I liked to build things and work with my hands, but I still didn't know what I wanted to do. After taking a few classes in the program, I decided that engineering was going to become my career.”

And for some students, the effects of the class will last beyond their graduation date.

“Companies already want to employ some of my students after they graduate. Not too many people can say that. I’d say it’s been a good first year,” said Johnson.

The APMM program is expected to grow next school year with two more local companies taking part.
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2014 Toys for Tots Event Brings in 26k Toys

December 11, 2014, 12:07 pm
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The third annual Mansfield ISD Toys for Tots event was a stunning representation of the giving spirit of our community. Parents, students, staff, and local community members opened their hearts and donated 26,000 toys and an estimated $8,000 for DFW Toys for Tots!

The event was held on Wednesday, December 10, from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m. at the MISD Center for the Performing Arts. FOX 4 was on site to capture the magic of the evening, as joyful community members flooded the big event. The festivities were kicked off by a student/staff parade, followed by photos with Santa, a giant snow tubing hill, a bounce house and obstacle course, live reindeer, food trucks, more than 30 onstage student performances, and a variety of activities for kids and families.

We are so grateful for the continued support of this fantastic event. Thanks to the many student groups, sponsors, community leaders, and volunteers who make this event possible!

 

Special thanks to: Mansfield Police Department, the City of Mansfield, Mayor David Cook and the Mansfield City Council, MISD Board of Trustees, Mansfield ISD Police Department, MISD Warehouse Crew, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, Fox 4, Steele Freeman Construction, Huckabee, Lee Lewis Construction, Texas Trust Credit Union, Sam’s Club, Lowe’s Top of Texas Photography, Two Men and a Truck, Sports Clips, Starbucks, First United Methodist Church of Mansfield, Home Depot, Hawaiian Falls Water Park, Mellow Mushroom, BBCTA’s radio station 99.9 THE WILD, Dr. Chuck Roe from the Fine Arts Department, Mark Walker from the Athletic Department,  MISD Transportation Department, Quentin Myers the Music Man, and last but not least – all MISD schools and departments for supporting this event and helping promote the spirit of giving.
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A Drive to Save Lives

December 11, 2014, 2:13 pm
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Legacy Blood Drive
Legacy seniors Haley Jones (left) and McKenzie Johnson (right)
donating blood for the first time.
Saving a life can be as easy as donating a little bit of your time—and blood. That’s what students at Legacy High School discovered.

The school’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) group partnered with Carter BloodCare to organize a blood drive Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Lashandra Bible, a representative for Carter BloodCare, said drives like the one held at Legacy are very important to the organization’s blood bank supply.

“The majority of the blood we get comes from our high schools. We get dozens of participants from schools all across North Texas. We’ve gotten over 1,000 donors in one day at certain locations.”

A few of the high school participants were first-time donors who wanted to take advantage of the yearly event.

“I wasn’t old enough last year [to give blood without consent],” said McKenzie Johnson, senior at Legacy. "This year, I wanted to come out and make a difference because I know my blood will help someone in need. It’s for a good cause.”

Carter BloodCare needs 1,100 donors daily to keep up with supply. Approximately one pint of blood is drawn from each donor, and the procedure takes about five to 10 minutes.

For those who are too needle-shy to go out and give blood, senior Haley Jones gave some words of advice.

“Don’t think of your fears. Just think of the lives that you’ll be saving.”

For more information on the blood donation center nearest you, visit the Carter BloodCare website.
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Hour of Code Ends via Chat with Polyvore CEO

December 12, 2014, 8:26 am
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Technology Applications students at T.A. Howard
video chatting with Polyvore CEO, Jess Lee.
It’s not every day that you get to talk to a major company’s CEO, but the technology applications (tech apps) students at T.A. Howard Middle School were able to as a prize given during the Hour of Code.

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week (December 8 - 14), the event is part of a nationwide movement to get schools to dedicate one hour of time for students to learn coding. During this hour, kids in participating schools learn how fun coding can be through interactive activities.

About two percent of college students graduate with a degree in computer science, and the numbers have dropped since the last decade. Yet, computing jobs make up 60 percent of all math and science-related jobs.

These startling statistics are what sparked T.A. Howard Middle School to take part in the event.

As an extra bonus, one out of 100 schools that participated in the Hour of Code won the opportunity to video chat with a celebrity or industry executive. Amy Toombs, T.A. Howard’s librarian, was selected to video chat with Jess Lee, CEO of the style website Polyvore.

“Jess Lee’s in-person speaking fee is $22,000, so getting to hear all her wealth of knowledge for free was exciting,” said Toombs. “I loved that she looked like a regular person and made big goals seem so attainable.”

T.A. Howard was one of seven schools allowed to ask one pre-approved question to Lee, so students in the tech apps classes brainstormed to come up with the perfect one. Eighth grader Hayden Hartrick was the lucky student who got to ask the question during the video chat.

The question: “To what do you attribute your success today? Was it a skill, a class, a mentor or life experience? All of the above?”

Eighth grader Hayden Hartrick asking Lee the
pre-approved question.
It was the only inquiry that prompted the style mogul to respond, “That is a good question!”

View full video chat here.

For Hartrick, the chat with Lee taught him to not back away from the hard things in life.

“If you see something that is difficult, you need to traverse that road and go for what you want,” he said.

Teachers and staff hope this event will encourage students to pursue a career in the computer science field.

“Coding is used for everything from gaming to everyday apps,” said Kristi Bell, instructional technology technician for Mansfield ISD. “These children are learning why coding is important and why they should learn it.”

Find out what you can do to foster the next generation of coders and programmers by visiting the Code.org website.
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ACE Students Spread Cheer to Local Nursing Home

December 17, 2014, 1:01 pm
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ACE students passing out Christmas cards.
Students in the ACE Program at the MISD Alternative Education Center spread some Christmas cheer Wednesday to a local nursing home—proving that you should never judge a book by its cover.

The ACE Program provides an alternative learning environment for students ages 17 to 21 wanting to receive a high school diploma, whose age and academic performance indicate that he or she has not benefited from the traditional educational setting.

Students and staff visited the Mansfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to pass out refreshments, stuff stockings with snacks and gifts, pass out Christmas Cards, make glitter snowflakes, decorate the residents’ rooms, and sing Christmas carols.

It’s an annual tradition that has been going on for five years.

Science Teacher Sally McClure getting into the holiday spirit
with the students.
Sally McClure, teacher and science department chairperson at the Alternative Education Center, said there is very little opportunity for the students to get recognized for something positive, so they get excited for events like this one.

“There’s a transformation that happens within the kids when they come here,” said McClure. “I love watching these kids—who have been written off by some people—turn around and put a smile on the face of a person who really needs a friend.”

The transformation could be seen in the faces of the nursing home residents as well. For a majority of them, the students were the only visitors they will receive in a very long time.

“70 percent of the residents here have no family,” said Gene Compton, administrator for Mansfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. “Today, I can see hope in their eyes and connections being made with the younger generation.”

Senior Devin Settle helping a resident make a snowflake.
Senior Devin Settle was just one of many students who showed an outpouring of love and support to the residents. It was an emotional experience for him.

“I loved being able to touch the hearts of these people," said Settle. “It choked me up a little. It’s sad to see that they don’t have support, but that’s why we’re here today.”

To encourage the ACE students to continue in a path of positivity after the two-hour visit, Compton gave the students a message he hopes will stick with them.

“Always remember that you can achieve your goals, even if people put barriers in front of you.”

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Fourth Graders Run School News Network

January 8, 2015, 6:37 am
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Anchorwomen Allie Jarrett and Tina Tran preparing for the news.
Seconds away from making T.V. magic, the cameraman shouts, “Lights, camera, action!”

That’s a typical day for the people who run CNN. No, not the Cable News Network—the Cabaniss News Network is a news program that is broadcasted every morning through screens in the hallways and classrooms of Cabaniss Elementary School.

The morning bell rings at 8 a.m., and the newscast starts promptly at 8:03 a.m. to allow time for students to settle down and teachers to tune into the network via their classroom smart board.

Everything from the on-air talent to the information gathering and camera work is done solely by a select group of fourth graders. The students audition as third graders the prior year, so that they are all set for the first day of school. Occasionally, other students get featured on the news program as special guests to read news stories that they contributed.

For Tina Tran, positioned as the T.V. anchorwoman for the day, the choice to audition to be a part of CNN was easy.

“I like being in the spotlight. I always pretended to be a newsperson at home, so I decided to do it here, too,” said Tran.

Weatherman Adam Reynolds giving the day's forecast.
Adam Reynolds, the day’s weatherman, also enjoys the limelight; but to him, it’s also a way to give back to the school.

“We’re giving information that the students and teachers need, so I like being able to help,” said Reynolds.

Counselor David Dye oversees CNN. He started the network four years ago. He said he was thinking of producing a student-run news show when Principal Kisha McDonald came up to him wanting to start one also. Dye wrote a grant for the program to buy all the necessary equipment, and the rest is history.

Dye is very hands-on for the first two weeks of production, but he said after that, he starts handing over the reins to the students.

Cabaniss counselor David Dye after a successful newscast.
“It teaches the students to be self-sufficient,” Dye said. “It makes them have pride in their school and learn life skills. My favorite part is having the kids being able to independently produce quality work.”

And that quality work is surely being noticed. Some of the people on the on-air news team said they get treated like little local celebrities.

“A first grader came up to me and said that she wanted to be like me when she grows up,” said Allie Jarrett, the other anchorwoman on set.

Don’t think the fame is getting to their heads, though. Counselor Dye said he picks students that are very humble and know how to handle the attention.
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Science Coordinator Displays Artistic Side

January 14, 2015, 11:43 am
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An attendee admiring Garza's artwork.
As art enthusiasts toured the Mansfield High School library viewing an amazing 35-piece exhibit of paintings, one of the patrons turned to her friend and said, "And to think, this was all painted by some science guy!"

That was the sentiment of several people who attended Tuesday's debut of "Shadows and Reflections" by Dr. Fred Garza, which featured paintings of literary novels brought to life or kitchen tools through the eyes of a cooking aficionado.

Dr. Garza is Mansfield ISD's science curriculum coordinator who has been with the district for more than 20 years.

Science and art aren't typically used in the same sentence. However, for Dr. Garza, those two words sum up his greatest passions.

"It's all about creating to me. In chemistry, you're creating a new product. In art, you're creating a new piece," said Garza.

Garza always had a knack for the arts because both of his parents were artists. He said he would always critique his mother's artwork, which led her to tell him to take art classes and make his own creations. And that's exactly what he did.

Dr. Fred Garza and Suzanne Moncuse enjoying the exhibit.
Although this is the second year the former science teacher displayed his artwork at Mansfield High School for the public to see, he said he wasn't always comfortable showing off his creative side to outsiders. It took some nudging from his friends.

"Once Suzanne Moncuse [Mansfield High School's librarian] found out that I was an artist, she pushed to have me showcase my work in the library," said Garza. "Now, I wouldn't have it any other way. She shows a true appreciation and care for the artwork."

Moncuse said the honor is all hers to be able to host such a local artist in the library.

"With the level of talent he has, he could easily be showing his pieces in art galleries. I'm glad to support him, and even happier that our district also supports the arts." said Moncuse.

Garza hopes his story will encourage others to not be afraid to tap into their own passions.

"Everyone has potential," he said. "They just need to dive in."

Garza's work will be on display at the Mansfield High School library until March 1.

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Student Athlete Loses Vision, But Not Her Great Attitude

January 30, 2015, 12:00 pm
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Jobe eighth grader Mady Walker
In the span of nine months, Jobe Middle School student Madelyn Walker went from being a volleyball player and competitive dancer to losing her vision and using a wheelchair for assistance.

“I couldn’t see peripherally in my right eye, and then it just started getting worse,” said the 14-year-old who goes by Mady.

“In August of 2013, she woke up one day and told me, ‘Momma, I can’t see,’” said Mady’s mother Kati Walker, the principal’s secretary at Jobe. “I said, ‘What do you mean you can’t see?’ and she said, ‘My vision’s really blurry.’”

After an MRI, doctors discovered that Mady had optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve that causes blurred or dimmed vision.

Later that month, Mady started losing feeling in her right leg. She now uses a brace to help her walk and utilizes a wheelchair for longer distances because she gets easily fatigued.

Doctors think she suffers from mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes—better known as MELAS syndrome. The disease affects many of the body’s systems, particularly the brain and nervous system.

The eighth grader has been given a life expectancy of mid-30s. Although the news shocked the Walker family, they said they try to always keep a positive outlook about it.
(L-R) Jobe girl's athletic coordinator Stephanie Upshaw,
Mady Walker, and mother Kati Walker
“I’m still in denial about the whole thing,” said Kati Walker. “Sometimes, I wake up and think she’ll be all better. But you just have to do what you have to do and take life one day at a time.”

Mady’s diagnosis hasn’t stopped her from staying active in school. She is student council president, bassoon player in the Honors Band, and member of the National Junior Honor Society.

Even with all of her activities, Mady said she misses being in sports.

“I was only able to play in one volleyball game last school year before my vision started getting worse, and I couldn’t even try out for basketball,” said Mady. “I never really got a chance to say goodbye to sports.”

That is, until Thursday night.

Jobe girl’s athletics coordinator Stephanie Upshaw wanted to give Mady one last chance to play on the court again. She coordinated with the coach at T.A. Howard Middle School to allow Mady to shoot the basketball one more time in a competitive game.

“Mady is an outstanding student and person with an outstanding attitude,” said Upshaw. “She might not have this opportunity again, so we wanted to make it happen for her.”

Mady Walker scoring two points for her team.
The play went as planned, and Mady made the shot—a move that finally brought her closure.

Mady still has big plans for the future. She wants to be a neonatal nurse and continue living life as usual. She hopes that her story can help people learn to always be grateful.

“Never take anything in life for granted because you could wake up one day, and it could be taken away from you.”
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