NON-TRADITIONAL SPORTS YOUR KIDS MIGHT LOVE— FENCING INCLUDED
LIFE + CULTURE
A DOG’S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE WOODLANDS
Erica K. Cummings, DDS, MAGD, D-ABDSM is a board-certified general and cosmetic dentist crafting gorgeous smiles throughout The Woodlands. With 18 years of experience as a dentist, Dr. Cummings is proud to own a practice that treats its patients like family.
• General Dentistry
• Cosmetic Dentistry
• Crowns
• Dental Implant Restoration
• Sleep Apnea
• Teeth Whitening
• Full Mouth Reconstruction
• Fillings
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS, 77382
BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 4 FULL & 1 HALF SQFT: 3,840
Exquisitely remodeled home in the Rhapsody Bend neighborhood of Sterling Ridge - just a short stroll or golf cart ride to the Woodlands Country Club and Gary Player Golf Course! Zoned to top rated schools and close to shopping and fine dining, this neighborhood is known for its meticulously maintained homes and serene surroundings. A freshly painted interior, new designer light fixtures, 4 year old tile roof, 2 new water heaters, 3 new a/c units, quartz counters, remodeled baths, and luxury vinyl plank wood-look flooring throughout are just a few highlights of this home. The open concept island kitchen with dual wall ovens, a 6 burner gas cooktop with pot filler, built-in fridge and spacious pantry overlooks the light filled breakfast and family rooms with stunning fireplace. Primary bedroom and 2nd bedroom suite downstairs; upstairs you'll find 2 additional bedrooms, 2 full baths, a game room and media room. The remodel extends to a brand new timeless pool in the backyard!
Letter From the Editor
“So, they went off together. But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”
That final line of A.A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner evokes the spirit of the issue you hold in your hands: children and their furry friends, real or make-believe, playing among the trees that make up our very own Hundred Acre Wood. What better way to welcome you to our annual Kids & Pets Issue?
As the back-to-school days approach, we are excited to share a collection of stories that revolve around the smallest members of our community.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
In the following pages, find a round up of non-traditional sports to enroll your kids in this fall—if fencing comes to mind, we’ve got you covered; a feature on a new educational offering, Alpha School, and how it is employing AI to personalize each student’s education; a peek inside the laboratory of Lone Star College, where students are empowered to conduct innovative research that has the potential to transform medicine; a historical portrait of two well-known local mascots, and more.
Plus, don’t miss our interview with viral comedian, Trey Kennedy, and his wife, Katie. And because no pet issue would be complete without a dog’s ultimate guide to The Woodlands, we kick off the issue with a portrait of Fido’s “perfect day.”
As another summer chapter closes, may this edition of our publication inspire you and your family to go on one last afternoon adventure—or two—with the little ones in your life and their beloved pet companions.
If we’ve learned anything from A.A. Milne, it’s always worth it.
ALEX GRAY, PUBLICATION DIRECTOR @THEWOODLANDSCITYLIFESTYLE
August 2026
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WHO YOU CHOOSE MATTERS.
1: Child Advocates of Montgomery County gathered on April 13, 2026 at The Peach Orchard. 2: The 2026 HOPE for Children Volunteer Appreciation Event honored advocates and supporters. 3: Four long-time community partners—Bags of Love, Project Linus, Victor Love, and The Bike Guys—were honored. Photography by Child Advocates of Montgomery County
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Excellence in Dentistry
Dr. Leah has taken over 140 hours of continuing education with the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) and is working on her Fellowship distinction. Dr. Leah Zils is set to take over Dr. Cagle’s dental practice, dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of exceptional dental care established by her predecessor. Dr. Zils attended the University of Arkansas on a soccer scholarship before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at Texas A&M University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She then graduated from UT School of Dentistry in Houston and hit the ground running with her dental career.
She has taken over 140 hours of continuing education with the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) and is working on her Fellowship distinction. She is certified in laser dentistry as well as oral sedation. She is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Zils looks forward to welcoming new clients into the practice, where she can apply her extensive education and experience to provide top-notch dental care.
Welcoming New Patients.
MilkShake Factory - The Woodlands
The family behind MilkShake Factory, 4747 Research Forest Drive, Suite 195, The Woodlands, TX 77381, has been making premium chocolates since 1914. From signature salted caramels, decadent terrapins and a wide variety of chocolate barks, you will find an assortment of freshly made chocolates to enjoy, share or give as gifts. As MilkShake Factory continues to expand, it is staying true to its legacy of commitment to quality and service with a smile. Visit MilkShakeFactory.com.
Photography by MilkShake Factory
Sky Zone The Woodlands
At Sky Zone The Woodlands, 425 Sawdust Road, Suite A, The Woodlands, TX 77380, create unforgettable experiences through active play, fun and adventure for all ages. Its indoor entertainment park features trampolines, dodgeball, ninja warrior courses, basketball, toddler play areas, space for birthday parties, group events and more. Whether you are celebrating, staying active or making memories with family and friends, be sure to check out Sky Zone. To learn more, visit SkyZone. com/Spring-The-Woodlands-Tx/.
Photography
by Sky Zone
ARTICLE BY TRAVIS HAGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISCELLANEOUS
MY PerfectDAY
The Ultimate Dog-Friendly Guide to The Woodlands
I know when it is going to be a good day because my person puts on the shoes.
Not the “going to work” shoes. Not the “I will be right back” shoes, which everyone knows are full of lies. I mean the walking shoes. The shoes that say, “Come on, buddy.”
That is when I begin my morning dance.
My perfect day in The Woodlands starts on The Waterway, where there are so many smells that my nose needs its own assistant. The humans call it a scenic 1.8-mile linear park and water amenity through Town Center. I call it The Long Path of Excellent Sniffs. It winds past restaurants, trees, bridges, boats and other dogs who need to be greeted immediately.
First, we visit one of my favorite secret places: the koi pond and garden beside the water. I am not supposed to bark at the fish, so I do my best serious face and stare at them like a gentleman. They swim around in their colorful outfits, acting calm and mysterious. I will give you a hint about where to find them. They are directly across the water from the Marriott. If you know, you know. If you do not know, follow your dog. We always know.
After the koi inspection, we head toward Waterway Square. That is where the splash pad lives. I understand it better than most people. Water shoots up, children laugh, humans try not to get their shoes wet, and I run straight through the middle like a furry superhero. My ears flop. My paws splash. My person says, “You are ridiculous.” I accept the compliment.
By then, the whole day is sparkling, which means it is time to think about the water. At Riva Row Boat House near Town Green Park, and at Lakes Edge Boat House on Lake Woodlands, people can rent kayaks and paddleboards. Some even rent swan boats. I have studied swan boats carefully. They are big, white and birdshaped. People use their feet to pedal them around. I do not trust them completely, but I respect their confidence.
If we keep walking, we go under the bridge near the new RitzCarlton Residences and make our way toward Hughes Landing. This is important because Hughes Landing has docks, water views, friendly neighbors and a dog park. My person likes to stop and talk. I like to stand there looking handsome so everyone understands that I am available for pets.
There is also a building with a Starbucks. Starbucks understands dogs. Sometimes they give me my very own Puppuccino, which is a small cup of cloud. I do not bother wondering what it is made of. I just make sure none of it escapes.
After all this walking, watching, splashing and socializing, it is time for brunch.
My favorite patio is Del Frisco’s. The humans there always bring me a cold bowl of water, because a dog of my importance must remain hydrated. Sometimes I also get hamburger patties. My person orders Cheesesteak Eggrolls, and he orders them so often they must be very important to human happiness. I have never had one, but I sit politely and stare just in case a mistake happens.
“My paws are tired and my person looks happy. That is how I know it was a perfect day.”
Beating the summer heat.
Another place I love is The Goose’s Acre, on The Waterway. It is an Irish pub, which I think means everyone is cheerful and the food smells amazing. The people say the food is delicious, and I believe them because people talk louder when they are happy. The manager tells me, “You’re a rock star.” I do not know exactly what a rock star is. I assume this is a respected title.
The Goose’s Acre is in the same building as another favorite stop, Blue Door Coffee Company. Yes, it really has a blue door. I like to sit by it because people see me, smile, and say, “Oh my goodness!” The people who work there are friendly, too. They bring water and sometimes another Puppuccino.
Then we go home for my nap.
Humans call it a nap, but I call it processing the morning. I dream about fish, splash pads, hamburger patties, swan boats and being told “What a good boy!”. Sometimes my paws twitch because I am running through Waterway Square again. It is deep thinking.
When I wake up, it is time to get pampered. Dogs enjoy a spa day, too. One place I like is Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming in Creekside Park. It is across from another green space. They have grooming, treats, toys and things that make tails move without permission. I walk in smelling like adventure and walk out smelling like someone with a social calendar.
After that, we might stay and play around Creekside. If not, my person takes me to see my friends at one of the dog parks.
Bear Branch Dog Park is a great one. It is fully fenced, more than two acres, and has separate areas for big dogs and small dogs. It has shade trees and water stations, which are important because the Texas sun does not play around. I run, sniff, chase, pause dramatically and run again.
“A perfect day is not complicated. A walk by the water. A secret fish pond. A splash pad. A patio bowl. A Puppuccino.”
My favorite walk: The Waterway.
Terramont Dog Park is another favorite. It sits inside Terramont Park and feels wonderfully shaded and wooded. There are usually separate areas for big and small dogs, plus picnic tables where owners can sit and pretend they are in charge. Around the larger park are places for disc golf, skating, biking and tennis, so everyone gets something.
By the end of the day, my paws are tired, my fur smells faintly like shampoo and sunshine, and my person looks happy. That is how I know the day was perfect.
A perfect day is not complicated. A walk by the water. A secret fish pond. A splash pad. A patio bowl. A Puppuccino. A park full of friends. A nap in the middle because even joy requires rest.
And tomorrow, when my person reaches for the walking shoes again, I will be ready.
The Koi Pond next to The Waterway is a great secret escape.
Woof Gang in Creekside is always a top choice to get pampered.
Penny, a much-loved pet resident of The Woodlands.
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En Garde!
Non-Traditional Sports Options Your Kids Might Love
ARTICLE BY CAROL MOWDY BOND | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISCELLANEOUS
With another season of school sports nearly upon us, there’s no better time to consider what non-traditional athletic options your kids might love. Whatever your child’s age, experience or interests, there are plenty of creative ways for them to stay active, make friends and have fun while they’re at it.
WHAT’S YOUR ANGLE?
As a true sport, fishing—also known as angling—requires skills: an ability to follow rules, stamina and strength. Thankfully, The Woodlands is home to more than 40 bodies of water that are stocked with numerous fish species, including Lake Woodlands, which allows fishing.
Check online to find more locations, and keep in mind fishing license requirements, plus which locations are “catch and release” or “catch and keep.” Bring your own gear and follow all Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations for your “catch and keep” experience.
Want your child to join the 50+ million people around the world who fish competitively?
A free fishing tournament will be held Saturday, September 5, at Creekwood Park in Panther Creek. The Kiwanis South Montgomery County, Woodlands is hosting ages toddler through 16 (plus parents/guardians). Bring your own rods, reels and tackle. Club members will supply the bait and help kids learn the sport.
ULTIMATE SWORDPLAY
If swordplay is your child’s favorite pastime, consider fencing. The Woodlands International Fencing Club (WIFC) offers classes, lessons, camps, competitions and recreation for all ages and levels. WIFC students have represented state and national teams in national and world championships, and universities have recruited them onto prestigious fencing teams.
The Alliance Fencing Academy is an international fencing school for all ages and experience levels with locations in
Creekwood Fishing Derby
Photo Courtesy of The Woodlands Township
Woodlands International Fencing Club fencers
Photo Courtesy of Woodlands International Fencing Club
The Woodlands, Houston and Katy. The academy provides fencing instruction for ages 5-8, youth ages 9-14, and homeschoolers, with options including individual and group lessons.
TARZAN ON DECK
If you have a climber on your hands, good news: climbing activities abound in The Woodlands.
CLIMB Woodlands is an indoor rock climbing gym for all ages and skill levels. The facility includes 18 top-rope lanes, five auto-belays, an indoor ropes course, a two-week-free trial for youth, opportunities for school districts and homeschoolers, fitness equipment and an adventure course.
For all ages and fitness levels, The Woodlands Township’s Texas TreeVentures is an outdoor climbing adventure park involving a three-level aerial course among the trees with nearly 100 challenge elements. There’s even a tree house space, and all kinds of opportunities for kids to discover their abilities and develop their personal skills.
TRY TRIATHLON
For anyone ages 4-18, SelecTri offers a youth triathlon team that trains in The Woodlands, with opportunities for youth to bike and swim. SelecTri focuses on introductions to the sports, but youth may also transition into competitive teams that advance to national championships.
To determine whether or not triathlon is a good fit, youth are welcome to try up to three classes, with the crew recommending swim, bike and run classes. SelecTri athletes pursue individual and team goals in a collaborative environment. SelecTri has a recreational team for ages 6-18, and a competitive team for athletes ages 10-18.
Non-traditional athletics thrive year-round, close to home. Like all sports, they help youth develop confidence, independence and cognitive skills. Sometimes kids need to experiment to find the right fit. But once they find it, what a joy for the rest of us to watch them thrive from the sidelines.
SelecTri triathlon bikers. Photo by Daniel Aguilar
The Woodlands Township’s Texas TreeVentures Photo Courtesy of The Woodlands Township
TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
ALPHA SCHOOL
Two Hours of Academics. A Full Day of Growth.
ARTICLE BY DAWN ALLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
For families in The Woodlands, the back-to-school conversation centers on a familiar set of choices, each with a well-earned reputation. This fall, a new option enters the mix. Alpha School opens its K-8 campus in The Woodlands on August 12, occupying the former Glade Cultural Center
A reading nook designed for discovery.
“A student’s morning at Alpha looks different from a conventional classroom: the child moves at his or her own pace.”
property, built around a model that looks different from anything currently in the area.
The premise: students complete core academics in the morning using AI-powered learning platforms, then spend the afternoon in workshops focused on leadership, communication, entrepreneurship and real-world problem solving.
OVER A DECADE IN THE MAKING
Alpha School launched in Austin in 2014, founded by MacKenzie Price and Brian Holtz. What started as a single campus has grown to 12 locations nationwide, expanding to 50 this fall—in cities from Manhattan to Palm Beach to Santa Barbara.
The concept draws on decades-old research. In 1984, education researcher Benjamin Bloom found that one-on-one, individualized instruction produced dramatic results: students outperformed 98
percent of peers taught by conventional methods. The obstacle was always scale. Not enough tutors existed to make it work. Alpha's model positions AI as the solution, using adaptive platforms to deliver personalized instruction to every student.
LEARNING AT THE RIGHT PACE
A student's morning at Alpha looks different from a conventional classroom in one significant way: the child moves at his or her own pace. Not the pace set for the class. Not the pace of the child sitting at the next desk.
The AI figures out what a student knows, where the gaps are and what should come next, adjusting constantly based on how the student performs. A student who hasn't mastered fractions doesn't get swept into pre-algebra. One who has already grasped a concept doesn't sit waiting for the group to catch up.
But students are not alone with a screen. They are on a real campus, in a real building, with peers and a full school community around them. Guides—the term Alpha uses for its educators—work alongside students throughout the day, coaching, motivating and building relationships that technology can't replicate. The ratios show it: 1-to-5 in the younger grades, 1-to-8 in middle school, 1-to15 at the high school level, which Alpha The Woodlands plans to add next year.
The two-hour block of core academics strips out the friction: the waiting, the repetition, the one-pace-fitsall instruction. That freed time gets used differently. Alpha treats workshops, group projects, public speaking and collaborative challenges as equal in importance to academics, not as add-ons.
A HEART FOR THE WOODLANDS
Rachel Goodlad, Alpha's head of expansion, grew up with a particular tie to The Woodlands. Her grandfather was part of the original team that developed the area and named its streets.
"This school will be part of the community," Goodlad says, "caring about community, giving back—that's key to student success and integral to building the school."
Students will connect with local nonprofits, with dedicated time during the school day focused on identifying specific local needs and combining efforts with organizations doing the work.
That ethos shows up in the classroom, too. When a group of boys at Alpha Austin developed a deep interest in World War II history, the school leaned in. Students partnered with a veterans organization, did substantive research and earned an expense-paid trip to Normandy. Goodlad points to that outcome when describing what effective use of academic time makes possible.
SEEING IT TO BELIEVE IT
Like many Alpha parents, Goodlad didn't take the model on faith. She experienced it. She took her son to a summer program at Alpha Austin, designed not as a typical camp but as a full week of school. They were immediately sold. For The Woodlands’ campus inaugural year, Goodlad and her husband enrolled both their son and daughter at the new campus.
The summer program revealed passions the family never knew existed in their son—art being chief among them.
"He found things he cared about," Goodlad says, "that his traditional school, although outstanding, never gave him room to find."
That summer program now comes to The Woodlands. Hosted at The Woodlands Resort, it gives local families a front-row seat to the model—a full week of the Alpha experience before making any commitment.
Play time is part of the journey.
Woodlands local and Head of Expansion Rachel Goodlad.
WHAT'S AHEAD
The Woodlands campus launches at capacity. All 60 seats across K-8 have been claimed, with families driving in from Cypress, downtown Houston and beyond.
Alpha The Woodlands targets 250 students for the following school year and 1,000 longer term. High school grades launch in 2027-2028, with this year’s eighth graders among the first to enter the high school program.
Tuition covers everything. No added fees, fundraising galas or auction nights. Even earned trips, like the Normandy example, fall within tuition.
PART OF SOMETHING LARGER
The Woodlands campus arrives as Alpha builds momentum nationally. This fall, the network expands into Puerto Rico, Chicago, Atlanta and North Carolina. That growth comes with selective hiring: 80,000 applications arrived for 200 guide positions nationwide. Beyond a bachelor's degree and three years with K-8 students, Alpha looks for one thing: "favorite teacher energy"—the adult who challenges a child and makes them feel supported at the same time.
The student experience resonates. In an internal survey of roughly 1,000 K-12 students across Alpha's 12 campuses, 94 percent said they love school. Sixty percent said they would rather spend a school day at Alpha than go on vacation.
THE LONGER VIEW
Goodlad carries particular weight opening a school in the community her grandfather helped build—and a mission that extends beyond academics.
"We're not just building a school," she says. "We're becoming part of this community for the long term."
Learn more about Alpha The Woodlands at Alpha.School/the-woodlands.
Hands-on learning takes flight.
A Scientific Moonshot
LONE STAR’S INNOVATIVE RESEARCH
PROGRAM POWERED BY STUDENTS
ARTICLE BY AUNIKA ANDERSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL KAINER
Liliana "Gaby" Guzman-Garcia working with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer to measure protein concentration in a sample.
Samuel Hopkins standing near a state-of-the-art 3D printer with a model of a patient's heart printed from a CT scan.
The next breakthrough in biotechnology may begin right here in The Woodlands.
At Lone Star College-Montgomery, the Biotechnology Program, led by Director Daniel Bryan Kainer, Ph.D., is giving undergraduate students opportunities rarely found at the academic level while pursuing ambitious research with the potential to impact the future of medicine and biotechnology.
“We are proving that you don’t need a multi-million-dollar grant to move the needle on the future; a dedicated group of undergraduates on a lean budget can lay the groundwork for world-changing science,” says Kainer.
The biotechnology program is the first twoyear training program of its kind in Texas. It has prepared students for careers in life sciences while helping build a talent pipeline for one of the state's fastest-growing industries. Today, many program graduates are making meaningful contributions across Texas's life sciences sector, whether in industry, research or academia.
A NEW FRONTIER: THE LABORATORY
A key component of the program's success is its specialized biofabrication laboratory, which houses a cleanroom, bioreactors, and multiple state-of-the-art 3D bioprinters. The lab gives undergraduate students hands-on access to advanced bioprocessing hardware and
opportunities to participate in cutting-edge biotechnology research—experiences that are often unavailable until graduate school.
“We are breaking the traditional mold of higher education by transforming community college undergraduates into active, passionate discoverers who operate the exact same advanced hardware found in top-tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms,” says Kainer.
Student research focuses on three primary areas: biofabrication, bioprinting and the circular bioeconomy. One current project explores how mealworms can be converted into biomaterials for use in medicine and biotechnology through an advanced process.
BUILDING THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE
While their research is in the early stages, their long-term vision is to create a sustainable way to support the next generation of regenerative medicine and healthcare technologies.
“If the global community of researchers fully realizes the goals of sustainable biomanufacturing and automated tissue engineering, it will completely rewrite how humanity treats organ failure, tests cancer drugs, handles waste and builds medical devices,” says Kainer.
Kainer often describes the program's research ambitions as a "moonshot," drawing inspiration
“We are breaking the traditional mold of higher education by transforming community college undergraduates into active, passionate discoverers...”
— Daniel Bryan Kainer, Ph.D.
from President John F. Kennedy's famous challenge before the Apollo Mission, "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
LAUNCHING A MOONSHOT IN THE WOODLANDS
"The scientific milestones we are reaching for—from manufacturing patient-specific drug-testing models to scaling master stem cells in rocking bioreactors—are incredibly complex and daunting,” says Kainer.
“But our undergraduate students are facing them head-on. Building on our legacy of training hundreds of successful industry professionals, these students are launching a lean-budget scientific moonshot right here in our community that has the potential to change the world forever.”
For local students interested in STEM, the program offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on research experience, work with advanced biotechnology equipment and contribute to projects that address real-world challenges. As the life sciences industry continues to grow, Lone Star College-Montgomery is demonstrating that groundbreaking innovation doesn't only happen at major research universities—it can begin right here at a community college in The Woodlands.
For more information, visit Lonestar.edu
Current biotechnology students with Dr. Daniel Kainer (back, middle left) and Dr. Janeu Houston (back, right).
Meredith Boudousquié Founder | Editor-In-Chief
ARTICLE BY ALEX GRAY | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
A TALE OF TWO MASCOTS
HOW A DRAGON AND A WARRIOR CAME TO LIVE IN HARMONY
Across the world, schools of all traditions have boasted at least one thing in common: the mascot. Whether birds, reptiles, amphibians or felines—or a figure beyond the realm of Animalia—mascots have long stood as a symbol of commonality. Common values, common goals, common culture and communal pride. For students, they’re a rallying cry. For faculty, a source of amusement. For alumni, a calling card in the vast professional milieu of mutual connections and interview talking points.
In The Woodlands, our own mascots are no different. The histories of two in particular and how they came to dwell here echo down the years—happily for us, right onto these pages.
DRACO THE DRAGON
Circa 1990, a dragon—aptly named Draco—landed in The Woodlands, making his home among a collection of curious students. That dragon, thankfully without the ability to breathe fire, became a distinct symbol of imagination, strength and independent thinking for all who bore its colors.
Ideated by The John Cooper School’s Founding Head of School, Dr. Marina Ballantyne, the school’s mascot took shape after Ballantyne caught sight of Lake Woodlands South Shore Park’s friendly sea serpent. From that time until today, Draco has flown as a generational reminder of the school’s founding vision, itself rooted in George Mitchell’s vision for The Woodlands: a master-planned community built around innovation, education and community.
A DRAGON’S SCALES
Although Draco’s image has shifted over the past four decades across logos, artwork, athletic branding and the mascot’s own costuming to keep up with the times and John Cooper’s expanding identity, what has not shifted, says Jessica Holloway, the school’s director of marketing, communication & social media, is what the mascot represents.
“From the beginning, the dragon has symbolized school pride, creativity and the bold spirit of a
community that values both challenge and imagination. Nearly 40 years later, students still proudly identify themselves as Dragons, and Draco remains one of the most recognizable symbols of The John Cooper School.”
THE SPIRIT OF THE SCHOOL
Draco’s pastimes—far more than simply snoozing in a John Cooper-adjacent treasure cave or keeping to the sidelines of the school’s activities—include rallying school spirit at pep rallies, sports competitions, fine arts performances, admissions events and various Cooper traditions.
“Most recently, Cooper student Lucas Frome, a member of the Class of 2026, earned national recognition as the National Cheerleaders Association’s ‘Most Spirited Mascot,’” says Holloway. “His enthusiasm captured exactly what Draco has represented for decades: joy, positivity and unwavering school spirit.”
Frome, in donning Draco’s green form, entered into a long line of hallowed mascot-animators, Dragons who have gone before our time and place “inspiring school spirit for generations” of Cooper students and alumni.
FORTY YEARS AND FOREVER
With The John Cooper School’s 40-year anniversary approaching, Draco the dragon flies on as a unifying symbol of what the school’s founders envisioned from the beginning: an enduring legacy of courage, creativity and community for all who walk Cooper’s halls.
As for Draco, he isn’t going anywhere.
“Once a Dragon, always a Dragon,” says Holloway.
THE WARRIOR
When a handful of locals glimpsed the spiritual war at work in the world, a Warrior arrived in The Woodlands to inspire the next generation to don God-given armor.
In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul describes this armor—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet sandaled with readiness
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Two mascots, two missions, two schools united by their founders’ understanding that ideas shape culture, and the right ideas have the power to strengthen a community for generations.
for the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—items which would have been worn by soldiers in biblical times, now imbued with rich, spiritual significance.
At The Woodlands Christian Academy’s founding in 1993, the Warrior, so outfitted, took up his station as the school’s mascot, where he has served ever since.
A CONSTANT STRENGTH
Through the years, the Warrior has remained a symbol of constancy and strength, his image visually unchanged apart from small streamlining touches since the academy’s founding. In the early years, he was especially loved by students of the lower school during Friday football game days—it was school tradition for the Warrior to pay a visit to the cafeteria on those storied occasions, when he was seeing to his duty at pep rallies.
“Our Warrior mascot imparts more than just school spirit,” says The Woodlands Christian Academy Chief of Staff Nancy Sievert.
“The mascot reflects our ‘Warrior Way’ values—A Warrior: Honors God, Fights for Truth, Leads by Example, Serves Others and Walks Humbly. These values are embedded into every aspect of school life and allow us to build a unified culture that empowers our students to become courageous leaders, compassionate servants and faithful followers of Christ.”
THE WAY OF HOPE
The Warrior uniquely embodies the mission the academy sets out to fulfill each school year: to challenge students to reach their greatest, God-given potential in four distinct ways: intellectually, creatively, physically and socially.
When students glimpse the Warrior’s armor, the hope is that they will remember long into the future what each piece represents and why God’s Word calls them to put them on. With the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, they are fully equipped to face whatever challenges may come their way, with an immovable hope.
“Our students are immersed in a Christ-centered culture,” says Sievert.
This culture “allows them to discover their unique gifts and talents,” all in the enduring context of the Warrior Way—and the way of the ultimate, peace-winning warrior: Jesus.
HERE TO STAY
In The Woodlands, a dragon and a warrior have made their home—and by all signs, they are here to stay. Two mascots, two missions, two schools united by their founders’ understanding that ideas shape culture, and the right ideas have the power to strengthen a community for generations. For The Woodlands, their impact is self-evident.
ARCHITECTS OF THE GARDEN LIFESTYLE
AUGUST 2026
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
AUGUST 1ST
Family Movie:
Jurassic World Dominion
The George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library | 1:30 PM
Head to the Mitchell Library at 8125 Ashlane Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382 on Saturday afternoons this summer for a fun family movie! On August 1, watch Jurassic World Dominion at 1:30 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room. Snacks will be provided. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
AUGUST 2ND
The Woodlands Cars & Coffee for a Cause
Market Street | 6:00 AM
The Woodlands Car Club and area auto enthusiasts will gather at Market Street on the first Sunday of the month from 6 - 10 a.m. for a morning charity car event to show off special vehicles and provide a fun and creative way to give back to our community. For more info, email Dana@WoodlandsPerformance.com.
AUGUST 8TH
2026 YES to YOUTH Gala
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
Attend the 2026 YES to YOUTH Gala, Every Child Deserves An Ever After, on Saturday, August 8. This evening celebrates hope, generosity and the belief that every youth deserves their “ever after.” Proceeds from the gala will help support YES to YOUTH’s programs, including the BridgeWay Youth Shelter, mental health counseling and a 24-hour crisis hotline. Register at App.BetterUnite.com/YesToYouth2026Gala-EverAfter.
AUGUST 15TH
Chairman's Invitational Ball
Honoring Justin Kendrick
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center | 6:00 PM
The 2026 Chairman’s Ball honoring 2025-2026 Chamber Chairman, Justin Kendrick, CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center & NE Hospital, will take place on August 15 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. This year's theme is The Chairman's Invitational. Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this highly anticipated evening! Purchase tickets at Woodlands Chamber.org/Chairmans-Ball
AUGUST 16TH
The Woodlands Arts Council’s “ENTWINED” Exhibit
The Woodlands Arts Council | 1:00 PM
"Entwined” marks The Woodlands Arts Council’s first exhibition featuring a married couple. Bob Mosier and Karen Fearon, partners for 32 years and former educators at The John Cooper School, now devote their time to individual artistic practices rooted in a shared creative dialogue. Together, their work explores light, form and value, and the dynamic balance of the creative process.
AUGUST 21ST
Santana & The Doobie Brothers: Oneness Tour
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | 7:00 PM
Let the jams commence! Santana and The Doobie Brothers are bringing the Oneness Tour to The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on August 21 at 7 p.m. Feel the rhythm, sing every word and experience Santana live during one summer evening you won’t want to miss. Gates will open at 6 p.m. To purchase tickets, go to Woodlands Center.org/Events/2026/SantanaAnd-The-Doobie-Brothers
LIONS, ALPACAS AND DOGS, OH MY!
3 Adorable Gifts for Big Imaginations (and Appetites)
ARTICLE BY ALEX GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
FOR LITTLES: POTTERY BARN KIDS
ALPACA
CRITTER ROCKER, $189
We have all heard of a rocking horse, but what about a rocking alpaca? Pottery Barn’s iteration of the famous toy is described as “plush as a mountain alpaca” with a “huggable body” and “cozy Sherpa fleece fur.” The kind countenance of the faux animal gives it an immediate approachability, and its precision-shaped, solid rubber wood runners offer a soft rocking motion. Recommended for littles ages 1-5 and up to 110 lbs., this gift can also be uniquely personalized with your child’s name for an additional cost.
FOR YOUTH: THE CHRONICLES
OF NARNIA 7-IN-1 DELUXE HARDCOVER SLIPCASE BY C.S. LEWIS, $150
The Narnia series many of us read as children is back in a fresh format—a deluxe 7-in-1 hardcover volume with a standout red slipcase. Invite your child or grandchildren to step into the beloved fantasy epic that comprises The Magician’s Nephew; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle—all unabridged, in C.S. Lewis’s preferred order. The 768-page hardcover also features original illustrations by artist Pauline Baynes.
FOR FIDOS: MACKENZIE-CHILDS ROYAL CHECK PET DISH, $69.95
Featuring the MacKenzie-Childs-signature check print, this glazed enamel pet dish with personalization options promises to be a stylish and enduring reminder of the fact that even practical items—like food bowls for your canine— can be charming. “Featuring a hand-painted check pattern and elegant brass accents,” the bowl comes in two colors— royal check (blue) and rosy check (pink), and two sizes: 6 inches wide by 3 inches tall for the small size and 7.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall for the large.
We have all heard of a rocking horse, but what about a rocking alpaca that is “plush as a mountain alpaca”? Look no further than Pottery Barn.
The Lone Star Convention & Expo Center, 9055 Airport Rd, Conroe
