Student and Faculty Accolades
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Bryan Gardiner ’11 was one of 150 students from around the world who were selected to attend the International Summer School of Scotland, held at St. Andrew’s University. The Bryan Gardiner ’11 and some program requires friends gather on the last day participants to take of their summer program one academic and one elective class, and Bryan participated in the debate and golf programs. He and his partner, Sebastian Teodorescu of Romania, competed in and won the international Final Debate, which required them to argue in favor of abolishing the British monarchy. Bryan says it was “an interesting experience. We spent about a week learning about debate; then we moved into a week-long tournament…and a final debate [with] four teams of two people each.” Because the British Parliamentary Debate process allows participants only 15 minutes to prepare after being given the topic, part of the challenge is being well versed in all topic areas, being able to think quickly on your feet, focusing your argument, and being clear and concise in rebuttals and Points of Order. Leading up to the final debate,
Sara Kashef ’14 gives a definite “thumbs up” to the Young Scholars Program
12 Flint Hill Magazine – Winter 2010
contestants were asked to debate other topics, including, “Should video games be banned?”, “Should we harvest the rain forest?”, and “Should we allow international adoptions?” Upper School Learning Specialist Stephanie Hulke received a scholarship to attend the International Dyslexia Association’s Upper School Learning 60th Annual Specialist Stephanie Hulke Conference, held November 11-14, 2009, in Orlando. Stephanie wrote an essay as part of her application, and the resulting scholarship covered her registration fees and included a travel stipend and a one-year membership in the International Dyslexia Association. “This was a very valuable, rewarding, and professional conference,” says Ms. Hulke. “I came away with a new outlook on how to teach my students who are dyslexic and struggle with reading. In addition, I learned essential no-cost technology tools to help them approach reading and writing assignments. I recommend this conference not only to educators, but parents, students, and administrators.” Eighth Grader Sara Kashef was one of 50 students nationwide to receive a scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Young Scholars Program. Each year, more than 1,000 highachieving Seventh Graders across the country apply for the Program; recipients enter in the Eighth Grade and continue through high school. Sara is the second Flint Hill School student to receive the scholarship; the first went to Dashell Laryea, a 2009 graduate now attending Yale University. The Program is designed to nurture exceptional students who have demonstrated, through academic excellence and extracurricular activities, that they have the potential to excel.
Lauren Porter ’11 took first prize in her age group (16-19) at Jack & Jill of America’s Southern Cluster Workday Oratorical Competition, part of the Eastern Region’s Pictured at the Southern Cluster Teen Conference workday are (l-r) Dell Wilson; in November. Jack & Jill’s Burke-Fairfax Chapter President Alane Dent, She was one and Lauren Porter ’11 of five contestants, and the only female in her age group. Competitors were asked to deliver a three-minute speech on the Conference’s theme, “Better, faster, stronger! Building a new Future!” It was a busy day—that evening, she appeared in the final performance of the Upper School’s Dessert Theater presentation of “Four Way, the Town That Time Forgot.” Lauren, the daughter of FHS Kindergarten Assistant Dell Wilson, will represent the Southern Cluster at the Eastern Region’s Teen Conference in March, where she will deliver the same speech, this time against the winners from the other three Clusters in the Eastern Region. Bravo, to say the least, to Fifth Grader Alex Smith, and his sister, Fourth Grader Lindsay Smith, who participated in, and completed, last Fall’s Marine Corps 10k Marathon. About 5,500 runners were part of the competition. Alex finished with an unofficial time of 45:38; Lindsay was not far behind, with an unofficial finish time of Alex and Lindsay Smith with 48:23. By the Tony Guida, an accomplished way, it’s a steep, marathoner who helped Alex with his pace in this year’s uphill finish! Marine Corps 10k marathon