PA S A D E N A
I N D E P E N D E N T
S C H O O L
D I S T R I C T
ALUMNINEWS
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
WINTER 2020
COVER STORY
IN THIS ISSUE:
EDITORIAL: Review of 2020, p. 1 HEARTS FOR HEROES: Alumni on the Front Lines, p. 2 ALUMNI PROFILE: Rayven Moore, PMHS Grad, p. 4 COVER STORY: Back 4 the Future Telethon, p. 5 Q&A: Jae&Jay, p. 7
A YEAR IN REVIEW AS 2020 COMES TO A CLOSE By Reesha Brown, with contributions by Kadey Heidrich Alumni News Editor In a word, 2020 was unforgettable. Whether directly or indirectly, we experienced two hurricanes, racial unrest, a chaotic political election, wildfires and the list goes on. But one of the greatest obstacles that upended and disrupted our daily lives this year was the coronavirus pandemic. The ramifications of this virus have been devastating and will probably continue to be felt for years, but when faced with adversity, Pasadena ISD and its graduates are resilient and care for their fellow man. Amid the fear and uncertainty, our graduates engaged in inspirational acts of kindness and gave us hope along the way. When the country experienced its first wave of coronavirus cases in the spring, many of our CTE (Career and Technical Education) graduates reached out a helping hand to provide medical assistance for patients throughout the Greater Houston area. The Pasadena ISD communication department recognized some of these individuals through their “Hearts for Heroes� social media series. As the year progressed, teachers, students and administrators found new and creative ways to solve problems. Sasha Runnels, an art teacher at Thomas Hancock Elementary, created backpacks made of old t-shirts to help students carry their art supplies.
The district continues to be recognized for its innovativeness and has received several honors including the title of District of Distinction by the Texas Art Educators Association (TAEA) and Model PLC School District by Solution Tree, along with the receipt of the Summit Learning Rise Award by Carter Lomax Middle School. The generosity of Pasadena ISD alumni stands out. Thanks to their contributions, the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation raised $327,000 during its virtual Back 4 the Future telethon, exceeding its original goal of $250,000. The funds raised will provide teachers with mini-grants for classroom projects and scholarships for students. These are just a few examples of the amazing ways that alumni gave back. We will continue to share positive alumni news in the future because while a good story has the ability to grab your attention, a great story has the power to inspire. We have many great stories from 2020 to share throughout the contents of this magazine because our graduates make a difference. Now more than ever, we need to stay connected and draw on the strengths of our district and its alumni members. Let these stories evoke a sense of pride and positivity as we transition into the new year. Enjoy! Reesha Brown, PISD Communication and Alumni Coordinator
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ALUMNI ON THe front lines A Salute to GRADS IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD Serving the Community During the COVID Pandemic Pasadena ISD alumni are the heartbeat of the community. They give back, volunteer and keep traditions strong. During the COVID pandemic, some of these graduates have been serving the community in an unprecedented way -- by saving lives. We honor these individuals for being on the front lines of the virus. Here are their stories. Stories/photos submitted by the individuals being recognized and edited by communications.
caoly fabian
Ashley Woodruff Ashley Woodruff graduated from Pasadena Memorial High School in 2018. She is a HOSA alumnus who currently serves as a CNA at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital, providing patient care on the hospital’s designated COVID floor. While Woodruff admits that she enjoys her work, the hardest part about her role in today’s health climate is the isolation. Since the COVID pandemic started, Woodruff has been living in self-isolation, cut off from her loved ones. Despite the hardships that come with working on the front lines of this pandemic, she continues to stay in the fight. She continues to be resilient.
The health and safety of patients and healthcare workers are a top priority for this Dobie High School graduate. Caoly Fabian, who graduated from the health science program at Dobie, put aside her normal role as an EKG technician to work as a screener throughout the coronavirus pandemic. “I make sure that everyone who comes through my hospital’s door is safe and cleared to come in. I take the patient’s and physician’s temperature and ask them security questions in relation to their safety as well as my own.” We are so thankful to Caoly for going above and beyond to keep people safe during these uncertain times.
angie vegas As COVID cases continue to rise throughout Harris County, our front line heroes continue to serve. Angie Vegas, a Pasadena High School Class of 2006 graduate, is one of those front line heroes who is currently helping in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Angie attended Kruse Elementary and Jackson Intermediate before enrolling at PHS. She graduated from the University of Texas, where she earned a nursing degree. She is currently a Registered Nurse for COVID-19 units in the Houston area. When asked about her nursing experience throughout these troubling times,
she said, “Working as a nurse during the pandemic has been a very humbling experience. Not every day is a victory, but I look forward to the days when we discharge patients who successfully recover from COVID-19.” “From the time they get admitted to the time they get discharged, we become their family since outside guests are prohibited from entering the hospital battlegrounds. I’m very grateful to be part of each of my patient’s journey.” Angie’s next goal in life is to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).
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christal Guzman Christal Guzman is on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. She graduated from Pasadena Memorial in 2011 and currently serves patients as a registered nurse in the Intensive care unit at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. Guzman has spent the past two months caring for critically ill COVID patients who are on ventilators or life support because they are unable to maintain their own airway. When asked about her experience on the front lines, she said, “The hardest part about it all is watching it all happen before your eyes from the nurse sidelines. The best thing is seeing the patient overcome it and being able to see the small light at the end of the tunnel.” Christal has been working tirelessly to provide the best medical care to patients, along with the emotional and physical support they need to get through this situation. She said she knows that at the end of the day, we are all human and we are in this together.
Emilio de los santos Emilio De Los Santos is a Dobie High School graduate from the Class of 2008 and HOSA alumnus. De Los Santos is an EMT with Republic EMS, a private ambulance service based in Texas. He has been aiding in the COVID battle with his fellow first responders at America’s ER in The Woodlands and Cypress, while also responding to medical emergencies in an ambulance. Thank you, Emilio, for your service. Our hearts are with this local healthcare hero.
Gabrielle Robles
Royce medina Royce Medina is a Memorial graduate from the Class of 2007 and a paramedic/firefighter with Texas City. He also serves as Asst. Fire Chief with the South Houston Volunteer Fire Dept. Thank you all you do to keep residents in our local communities safe.
This is Gabrielle Robles, a 2014 Rayburn graduate, who has been serving patients in the COVID unit at M.D. Anderson. Thank you for your service.
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melissa parker Melissa Parker Montoya graduated from the HOSA program at Memorial High School in 2012. Since then, she has built up an impressive resume. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master of science in nursing, and currently serves as an RN in the Hermann Hospital system’s Labor and Delivery and Surge Staffing units. In this photo, Melissa is preparing to swab an expectant mother for COVID. She said, “It’s strange to walk into a room and they can’t see your face or hardly any of your attributes since we use this to communicate empathy in uncomfortable procedures.” Melissa is hopeful we will “get through the worst of it soon.” Please help us recognize this front line hero for all her dedication throughout this pandemic.
ALUMNI PROFILE: Rayven Moore, PMHS Class of 2010
By Rebeca Lazo Alumni News Writer Amidst a tragedy, a silver lining is always at play. Rayven Moore, a 2010 Pasadena Memorial graduate, found his in 2005 when Hurri-
cane Katrina struck his home of New Orleans, marking the start of a new chapter in his book. Now, as a certified public accountant (CPA), Moore looks back at the incident that changed his life 15 years ago with gratitude. Moore and his family evacuated to Houston when Katrina hit New Orleans. After months of uncertainty on when they would be able to return home, Moore’s mother decided to enroll him in classes at V.W. Miller Intermediate School where he continued eighth grade. “I view Hurricane Katrina as a blessing in disguise when I reflect on the impact it made on my life. I had the opportunity to receive a better education and have advantages that I may not have had access to if I stayed in New Orleans,” says Moore. After finishing intermediate school, Moore continued his studies at Pasadena Memorial High School. During his time at PMHS, Moore played for the school’s football team and ran track. He was also a member of the National Honor Society while being enrolled in advanced placement (AP) classes. He credits the teachers, faculty and coaches at PMHS for their endless assistance throughout his high school journey. Moore’s former assistant principal, Tish Eubanks, and head football coach, Chris Quillian, are two of the many supporters he had throughout his four years. “[Eubanks] is one of the most authentic
people I have ever met; she does everything that she can to take care of her students... Coach Quillian taught myself and the other men on the football team the importance of discipline, integrity and personal responsibility,” says Moore. During his senior year of high school, Moore was awarded a full scholarship to study at Notre Dame where, in 2014, he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. In 2015, he received his license as a CPA. Moore currently works as a CPA for an oil and gas company in downtown Houston, while using his spare time to create personal projects. This year, Moore opened his own online store, Houston Drip Factory, where he sells clothing and sneakers for men and women, and purchased a multi-family home that he plans on renovating for rental income. Always one to seek new opportunities, Moore plans to buy additional property to add on to his portfolio and invest the money he has earned into stocks. With hard work and dedication, he is optimistic of what the future has in store. “Success in life does not come easy. You have to be eager to work everyday with a smile because if you keep up the good work, then the opportunities you never considered will be attracted to you,” says Moore. “You won’t chase the opportunities, the opportunities will chase you.”
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YouTube stars Eduardo Verastegui and Princess Thi serve as co-hosts during the live virtual event. Verastegui is a CTHS alumnus and Thi is a Dobie High School graduate. All Telethon photos were captured by Mark Halvorsen, SHHS teacher; Stephanie Gobea, Tegeler CC teacher; and Maria Mata, communication specialist; Cover photo capture by Reesha Brown.
$327,000 raised Virtual b4tf Telethon Exceeds Goal through community-wide support By Reesha Brown & Kadey Heidrich Alumni News Writers
Maya Arredondo, Pasadena Memorial graduate, Class of 2020, interviews volunteers in the call center.
Jay Do, a Dobie High School graduate, volunteers in the call center during the Back 4 the Future telethon. The first lady of Pasadena, Ginny Wagner, wife of Mayor Jeff Wagner assists Do with taking calls.
Excitement filled the air, Tuesday, Dec. 8, as the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation’s Back 4 the Future telethon topped its $250,000 goal with a total of over $327,000 in donations to support students and teachers in the district. The proceeds will go toward funding mini grants for Pasadena ISD teachers, scholarships for students and more. “It was a huge undertaking with lots of moving parts, said Cheri Hutcherson, PISD Ed. Foundation president. “Thankfully, we have two very talented individuals with the Education Foundation, Andrea Nguyen and Kathy Richardson, along with our Associate Superintendent, Troy McCarley, who spearheaded this event. Along with these three, we had close to 90 volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event a huge success.” A total of more than 12,800 local viewers tuned in to the live eighthour virtual event, which was live-streamed through the foundation’s fundraising webpage, the district website and Facebook page. The telethon was divided into 20-minute segments featuring stories about: programs offered by the district, grant awards provided by the foundation, Pasadena ISD history, along with performances by various student groups, shots of the telethon’s call center and check presentations. The event included special guest appearances by various news personalities and social media influencers who served as the event’s show hosts, including Nate Griffin (Fox 26 News), Cynthia
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In keeping with the “Back to the Future” theme of the telethon, the Enchantment Under the Sea band plays throughout the event. The band is comprised of employee graduates from Pasadena ISD. CONTINUED FROM P. 5 Cisneros (ABC 13 retiree), Jennifer Almaguer (actress and producer known for “Prison Break”), famous YouTubers Eduardo Verastegui and Princess Thi, and Jennifer Reyna, (former NBC news anchor). Administrators and graduates of the district also joined in on the fun and served as cohosts or reporters for portions of the event, including Jeremy Richardson, principal at Pasadena Memorial High School, who co-hosted the final hour of the show alongside Reyna; and reporters: • Jae Lee, principal of Burnett Elementary; • Roneka Lee, principal of Bondy Intermediate; • Maya Arredondo, recent graduate of Pasadena Memorial High School; • Jorly Thomas, principal of Fred Roberts Middle School; • Franklin Moses, principal of Dobie High School; • Lisa Haws, principal of Morales Elementary; • Steve Fleming, principal of CTHS; • and Amy McClellen, principal of Young Elementary. During the live broadcast, the event sponsors presented big checks to the Education Foundation, boosting the amount raised by
hundreds of thousands. The scales tipped past the $250,000 mark when the Pasadena South Rotary presented a $54,000 check, followed by Chevron, which really knocked it out of the park with a $50,000 check. In addition to the check presentation, Tim Sutherland, general manager of the Chevron Pasadena refinery, also offered advice for students. “We specifically invest in STEM....so I think my advice is if you have the abilities to go into the math and sciences, go do it. Go into a physics degree, an engineering degree and then look us up,” Sutherland said.
directors, steering committee members, and volunteers who made the Back 4 the Future Virtual Telethon a major success,” said Andrea Nguyen, PISD Education Foundation executive director. “We will be able to provide dozens of mini grants for teachers in the spring due to the generosity of our donors.” Nguyen said the response from the public has been received with “overwhelming” positivity. “People say they enjoyed how entertaining and fun the live show was and they got to learn more about Pasadena ISD and the mission of the Education Foundation. The show also allowed us to showcase the talents of Pasadena ISD students and staff. From students who operated the cameras to employees who formed the live band, to alumni and district leaders who manned the phones... it was great to see everyone come together for a great cause.”
Alumni support boosts fundraising efforts
The Back 4 the Future telethon was the culmination of over two months of hard work by the foundation, the event’s steering committee and countless other employees and volunteers within the district and the Pasadena community. “The Pasadena ISD Education Foundation is grateful to all of our donors, sponsors,
To view the livestream videos, please click here: https://livestream.com/pasadenaisd/ events/9387219
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Video/Photo Credit: Maria Mata, communication specialist.
Q&A WITH JAE&JAY: DOBIE ALUM GIVES BACK TO STUDENTS Jae Lee, principal of Burnett Elementary, sits down for a Q & A with Burnett Elementary and Dobie High School alumni Jay Do to speak about the importance of giving back. LEE: First of all, share with us how you’re connected with Pasadena ISD. DO: Thank you for welcoming me back here, I have a lot of fond memories in this building. It’s a joy to be here and see the changes and the next generation of students. As far as my own connection with the district, I went through Burnett some 15 years ago in Cassandra Sneed’s kindergarten class. I remember that very fondly. I went through Burnett, Melillo, Thompson and Dobie. I graduated from Dobie in 2017 and attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergrad, graduating last May. I’m currently attending law school at the University of Texas at Austin, I hope to graduate in 2023. I actually still have some finals to take. (laughs) LEE: You’ve shared with me that some of your family members have gone through Pasadena ISD, as well. Tell us more about that, what professions are they in now? DO: A wide variety of professions. We have a couple of pediatric dentists, supply chain managers for the oil industry, a few doctors and an aerospace engineer. Now that they’re established, they’re reaching back to their roots, where they all started from. That speaks to their love of this community. As you know Jae, we’re first-generation Americans. I was the first one in my family to be born in this country. My other family members were immigrants and they came through Burnett, so they recognize what this school has done for them to help them get where they are. We all want to give back to the students out there right now, some of them are immigrants. We live in a community with a lot of first-genera-
tion American students. LEE: Can you tell me more about the non-profit that you and members of your family created and what inspired you to create it? DO: Last Thanksgiving, we were all gathered together and chatting with one another. You’ll recall around that time Mr. Lee, that you had started the Student of the Month initiative. I saw Burnett’s Facebook post asking for donations for the program and I reached out to my family to see what we could offer. We provided donations for that month and later, I brought up the issue with them again. As a family, we decided that everyone myself, my grandmother, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, we would all pitch in and do what we could to help students at Burnett. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away earlier this year. We decided to name the foundation we created in honor of her. She was the matriarch of our family and always pushed each one of us to pursue higher education. It means a lot to us to let her live on in this sense. We’re thinking of calling it the Jung Nguyen Foundation. LEE: What do you want to let other alumni know about how they can give back to Pasadena ISD? DO: I encourage you to give back to your schools and this district. I’m not writing checks for millions and millions of dollars and that’s not what they’re asking for. They’re asking for $10, $15, $20, or whatever you can give. These grassroots efforts are where it all starts, this is where we can lay the seeds for the next generation of students and eventually, the next generation of leaders in our community. I can tell you, I have witnessed how contributions and efforts are used to benefit the students. Alumni are already giving back and I’m encouraging people who have recently graduated from this district to give back, too.
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editorial staff
Got news tips? Email us story ideas for the next edition! EDITOR/Designer COMMUNICATION WRITERS
Reesha Brown, PISD Communication & Alumni Coordinator
Kadey Heidrich, Communication Specialist
Send your tips to RBrown1@pasadenaisd.org or call (713) 740-0000.
Rebeca Lazo, Communication Intern
/AlumniPasadenaISD
@AlumniPasadenaISD
WE’RE STILL ACCEPTING DONATIONS! Visit the Back 4 the Future Telethon Event Page to Donate. https://app.mobilecause.com/e/vEp4_Q?vid=fgrtn
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