Park Cities People January 2024 by People Newspapers

STEAM: TOTAL ECLIPSE BRINGS EXTRA OPPORTUNITIES - SECTION B

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JANUARY 2024 VOLUME 44 NO. 1

PERSON OF THE YEAR

PARKCITIESPEOPLE.COM I

The newspaper honors Ava Danuser, a teenage cancer survivor setting an example of resilience and service. PAGE 10 KELLY CHRISTINE SUTTON

NEWS

SCHOOLS

SENIOR LIVING

Contents

Mark Cuban visits HPHS with big news, business advice

Annual auction boosts funding for Armstrong

Edgemere man recalls mountain top experiences

News ............................................... 2

Home & Business ........................... 14

Senior Living .................................. 28

Crime ............................................... 4

Real Estate..................................... 16

Society .......................................... 32

Sports ............................................. 6

Schools ......................................... 22

Classifieds, Obituary ...................... 34

Community .................................... 10

Living.............................................. 26

STEAM ................................ Section B

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NOVEMBER2020 2020VOLUME VOLUME1 NOVEMBER

NO NO

Coach CoachKenny KennyJ Thomas ThomasJeffers Jeffer athletes athleteswon’t won’tl from a tornado from a tornado prevent them fr prevent them up to compete. up to compete

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EXCUSES EXCUSES

yJones Jonesand and son’s rson’sresilient resilient tlet lethard hardknocks knocks and a pandemic o and a pandemic rom showing from showing . PAGE 20 e. PAGE 20

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PATRIOT PRIDE: ATHLETES STAY STRONG DESPITE SETBACKS PATRIOT PRIDE: TJTJ ATHLETES STAY STRONG DESPITE SETBACKS

Coach Jones aims to build back tornado-hampered program better stronger Coach Jones aims to build back tornado-hampered program better andand stronger thoughtful of what canwe docan for do ourfor kids tokids to thoughtful ofwe what our

maintain hope,”hope,” Jones said. “We have uphill maintain Jones said. “Weanhave an uphill battle with of these but that’ s what battleallwith all ofsetbacks, these setbacks, but that’s what makesmakes this jobthis so rewarding.” job so rewarding.” After After the storm, assistance came pourthe storm, assistance came pour-

ing in.ing Dallas ISD arranged for facilities and and in. Dallas ISD arranged for facilities equipment on short The Dallas Cow- Cowequipment onnotice. short notice. The Dallas boys opened their Frisco practicepractice facility facility to the to the boys opened their Frisco

Patriots free offree charge. And the Texas Patriots of charge. And theRangers Texas Rangers have pitched in by allowing TJ to use have pitched in by allowing TJ baseball to use baseball and softball fields at theiratMercy Street comand softball fields their Mercy Street complex inplex West inDallas. West Dallas.

Thomas Jefferson High High School athletic coordinator KennyKenny JonesJones stepped in to lead football team team Thomas Jefferson School athletic coordinator stepped in tothe lead the football “We’ve“We’ve continued to stayto calm coach afterafter the program’s coach left this (PHOTOS: CHRISCHRIS MCGATHEY) continued stayand calm and coach the program’s coach leftsummer. this summer. (PHOTOS: MCGATHEY)

By Todd Jorgenson By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers People Newspapers

losseslosses entering this season. entering this season.

on,” Jones we raise bar,the kidsbar, usually on,”said. Jones“Ifsaid. “If wethe raise kids usually find a find way to try and meet a way to try andthose meetstandards.” those standards.”

“We “We certainly have have resilient staff and players have responded. TJ hadTJ had certainly resilient staff and And the And the players have responded. coaches and student-athletes. They have conmore than 30 varsity players suited up for the more than 30 varsity players suited up for the coaches and student-athletes. They have continued to open our eyes to how resilient they Wins on the scoreboard are nice, but for season-opening football game against PinkWins on the scoreboard are nice, but for season-opening football game against Pinktinued to open our eyes to how resilient they coaches and athletes at Thomas Jefferson, it’s a are,” said Jones, who has been the athletic co- ston, and despite a 50-2 loss, participation coaches and athletes at Thomas Jefferson, it’s a are,” said Jones, who has been the athletic co- ston, and despite a 50-2 loss, participation victory these days just to keep playing. ordinator at TJ for eight years. “We have concontinues to rise. ordinator at TJ for eight years. “We have concontinues to rise. victory these days just to keep playing. “We would typically be going and knockAfter all, you could hardly fault anyone at tinued to not make any excuses and move our After all, you could hardly fault anyone at tinued to not make any excuses and move our “We would typically be going and knockTJ for making excuses amid all of the obsta- programs forward.” ing on doors just to get kids to come to pracTJ for making excuses amid all of the obsta- programs forward.” ing on doors just to get kids to come to praccles that have befallen the school the past year. Jones points to a handful of milestones, tice,” Jones said. “Now we’ve had just as many, cles that have befallen the school the past year. Jones points to a handful of milestones, tice,” Jones said. “Now we’ve had just as many, A tornado leveled the campus in Octo- such as Lizzet Salazar making the school’s if not more, students showing up.” A tornado leveled the campus in Octo- such as Lizzet Salazar making the school’s if not more, students showing up.” ber 2019, prompting the relocation of classes first-ever appearance at the girls wrestling state Where coaches at other schools might first-ever appearance at the girls wrestling state Where coaches at other schools might ber 2019, prompting the relocation of classes and athletic programs to an old middle-school tournament last winter. But behind-the-scenes have to manufacture character-building expeand athletic programs to an old middle-school tournament last winter. But behind-the-scenes have to manufacture character-building expebuilding nine miles away. The COVID-19 achievements are just as noteworthy. riences, TJ players live through them every day.

building nine miles away. The COVID-19 achievements are just as noteworthy. riences, TJ players live through them every day. pandemic hindered efforts to regroup teams For example, it’s challenging to keep stu“There are reasons why people could have For example, it’s challenging to keep stu“There are reasons why people could have pandemic hindered efforts to regroup teams dents coming to a school 20 minutes from left, but we’ve had to talk with parents and ask and rebuild morale. and rebuild morale. dents coming to a school 20 minutes from left, but we’ve had to talk with parents and ask The public-health crisis also caused the their neighborhood. Administrators worked them to give us a chance to grow their kids The public-health crisis also caused the their neighborhood. Administrators worked them to give us a chance to grow their kids school’s football coach to leave over the sumout a bus plan to help, but regular practice at- and support their kids. Many of them have out a bus plan to help, but regular practice at- and support their kids. Many of them have school’s football coach to leave over the summer, with boys basketball coach Kenny Jones tendance can be logistically challenging for stayed,” Jones said. “We just try to focus on the mer, with boys basketball coach Kenny Jones tendance can be logistically challenging for stayed,” Jones said. “We just try to focus on the stepping in as a last-minute replacement to athletes. positives. Eventually, we will be back at the TJ positives. Eventually, we will be back at the TJ stepping in as a last-minute replacement to athletes. lead a downtrodden squad with 27 straight we know. It will be built better and stronger.” “We’ve tried to be really mindful and lead a downtrodden squad with 27 straight “We’ve tried to be really mindful and we know. It will be built better and stronger.”

Here zes and options.

2 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

CUBAN TALKS BIG CHANGES, WISE BUSINESS RISKS

Mark Cuban spoke to Highland Park High School students and community members Nov. 29 as part of the Moody Advanced Professional Studies speaker series. MARIA LAWSON

“I’ve had an interesting two days.” That’s how Mark Cuban opened his speech to Highland Park High School students on Nov. 29 as part of the Moody Advanced Professional Studies speaker series. On Nov. 27, the Preston Hollow billionaire had announced that he’ll be done with Shark Tank after season 16 and news broke on M A R I A L AWS O N Nov. 28 by Marc Stein that Cuban was selling the majority of the Dallas Mavericks to the Las Vegas billionaire Adelson family. His Shark Tank departure is so he can spend more time with his children while they’re still young. He made this announcement on Showtime podcast All the Smoke with hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. Shark Tank is airing its 15th season. Cuban sold the team majority to the

Housing Forward leadership Housing Forward, an evidence-based

NorthPark demonstration A group of protesters held a “die-in” and rally at NorthPark Center the morning of Nov. 24. A video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by @pslnational shows some lying on the ground while others chant “Free, free Palestine” at the shopping center on Black Friday. Two individuals held a banner reading, “STOP U.S. Funding of Israeli Apartheid.” The protest was led by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (A.N.S.W.E.R.) Coalition, a U.S.-based protest umbrella group. Nationwide, the group held gatherings on Black Friday at commercial centers to raise awareness for the conflict. The day after said demonstration, a group of five neo-Nazis were spotted across the street from Temple Emanu-El with one holding a swastika flag and another using a megaphone.

ParkCitiesPeople Publisher Patricia Martin

EDITORIAL Editor William Taylor Art & Production Director Melanie Thornton Deputy Editors Rachel Snyder | Maria Lawson Sports Editor Todd Jorgenson Digital & Production Assistant Mia Carrera

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Park Cities People: ISSN 2833-7654 (Print) 2833-7662 (Online) is published monthly by CITY NEWSPAPERS LP, an affiliate of D Magazine Partners LP, 750 N. Saint Paul St., Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75201. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission. Submissions to the editor may be sent via e-mail to editor@peoplenewspapers.com. Correspondence must include writer’s name and contact number. Main phone number, 214-739-2244

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Adelson family based on a $4 billion valuation. He purchased the team from Ross Perot Jr. in 2000 for $285 million. The latest transaction will allow Cuban to retain operational control of the team’s basketball dealings. Adelson is the largest shareholder of Las Vegas Sands, which Cuban has previously entertained partnering with to create an arena in the middle of a resort and casino. Despite speculation in response to his two recent announcements, Cuban says he has no plans to run for president in 2024. Cuban also touched on the power of entrepreneurship during his speech to students and community members at Highland Park High School, encouraging students to take business risks now while they’re young, have parental and community support, and “have nothing to lose.”

nonprofit leading a coalition of more than 140 organizations in Dallas and Collin Counties, has named Sarah Kahn as the interim president and CEO effective Dec. 21. Kahn has served as chief program officer of Housing Forward since September 2021 and has 21 years of experience in evidence-based homeless solution and policy implementation. Before joining Housing Forward, she led the Homeless Assistance and Housing Program at The Cloudburst Group, a contractor for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The previous president and CEO, Joli Angel Robinson, has accepted the role of CEO with Center on Halsted in Chicago.

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FOOD: Whatever Happened to Tortilla Soup?

COURTESY PHOTO

LIFE: Trains at NorthPark Open Through Jan. 5

Crime Reports Nov. 6 - Dec. 3 Nov. 6 A thief found easy pickings of a MacBook Pro, an iPad Air, a pair of AirPods, and more left in an unlocked Porsche Taycan parked in the 6400 block of Williams Parkway before 6:18 p.m.

An unhappy resident hit a Toyota Corolla parked in the 4700 block of Abbott Avenue during an argument with another driver at 4:26 p.m. Police say they eventually received the other’s insurance information.

Arrested at 8:15 a.m.: a 40-year-old man accused of using a handheld mobile device in a school zone in the 3800 block of University Boulevard.

Nov. 16 A blackmailer took $20,000 from a man from the 3100 block of Grassmere Lane at 6:15 p.m.

Nov. 7 A truck appeared to hit a power pole in the 4600 block of Fairfax Avenue, causing a power outage and damage around 9:45 a.m.

Nov. 17 A tie thief took a tie from the Hermes store in Highland Park Village at 12:55 p.m. by hiding it in a pants pocket.

Nov. 8 A ne’er do well got into a Land Rover Discovery in the 3900 block of Wentwood Drive before 9 a.m. and stole a Louis Vuitton piece, a $4,150 Cartier piece, $400, and more.

Nov. 18 A burglar got into a Mercedes GLC parked in the 3000 block of Mockingbird Lane and took jewelry, including a $15,000 Rolex, a Kindle, an iPhone, a MacBook, an iPad, a pair of AirPods, makeup, and more.

Nov. 9 Reported at 4:15 p.m.: A jerk makes harassing phone calls to an employee in the 7000 block of Preston Road. Nov. 10 Reported at 9:29 a.m.: A careless driver hit a Jaguar XJ parked in the 3100 block of St. Johns Drive and didn’t stop to leave information. Nov. 11 Arrested at 4:01 a.m.: a 28-year-old man accused of public intoxication in the 7000 block of Boedeker Street. Nov. 13 Reported at 11:28 a.m.: An intruder got into an apartment in the 4700 block of Abbott Avenue, rummaged through it, and took prescription pills. Nov. 14 A careless driver hit a trailer attached to a truck in the east parking lot of the Whole Foods in the 4100 block of Lomo Alto Drive and continued north on Hawthorne Avenue without stopping to leave information at 9:54 a.m. Police said they were able to find the driver with the help of witnesses.

Nov. 19 A porch pirate pilfered a package from a home in the 3400 block of Potomac Avenue before 6 p.m. Nov. 21 A Bubba’s Cooks Country manager was scammed out of $4,224 by a fraudster around 12:17 a.m. The manager took cash from the store safe, deposited it into his own account, and transferred the funds into the scammer’s account.

Nov. 22 Before 8:39 a.m., a woman’s Subaru, which was left unlocked with the keys in it, was stolen, along with her driver’s license, a Kempton tote bag, $900 cash, a wallet, and an iPhone, from the 4400 block of Southern Avenue. Nov. 23 A good neighbor turned in a Chevy key fob he found at Abbott Park before 2:17 p.m.

Nov. 25 A burglar broke into a man’s Ford F150 and stole $600 worth of firearms

and $1,000 in vehicle parts and accessories around 9:01 a.m. in the 6500 block of Hillcrest Avenue

Nov. 27 Arrested around 1:24 a.m.: a 24-yearold drunk driver in the 5500 block of Preston Road. Nov. 28 A burglar rummaged through two vehicles parked in the 3800 block of McFarlin Boulevard around 4:37 p.m. Before 1:55 p.m., a burglar stole three Louis Vuitton items, $1,200, and credit cards from a woman’s unlocked Rolls-Royce Wraith in the 4000 block of Villanova Drive.

Nov. 29 A woman’s purse, with her wallet and key fob inside, was stolen around 10:31 a.m. from her unlocked Volvo parked in the 4400 block of Lovers Lane. How easy was it for a burglar to steal a woman’s Mercedes around 2:52 p.m. in the parking lot of Highland Park Village? The vehicle was left unlocked with the keys inside.

Nov. 30 Reported around 4:29 p.m.: A vehicle parked in the 4500 block of Abbott Avenue was found with a deflated tire that appeared to be slashed. Dec. 1 A woman’s ex-husband entered her unlocked home around 8:45 a.m. and left “unauthorized items there without her permission” in the 4400 block of Glenwick Lane. Dec. 2 A burglar stole a woman’s handbag from a Nissan Pathfinder before 11:29 a.m. at Vintage Car Wash in the 6800 block of Preston Road. Dec. 3 A burglar broke into a man’s Land Rover before 10:56 a.m. in the 4300 block of Edmondson Avenue and damaged his leather center console by stealing a Glock 28 and a pistol safe.

TAMYTHA CAMERON

of the

MONTH:

STOLEN WHEELS

Reported around 11:51 a.m. Nov. 22: A burglar stole a woman’s hoverboard and electric scooter, along with the chargers, from a garage in the 3800 block of Lexington Avenue.

UNSPLASH.COM

For more crimes, visit peoplenewspapers.com/ category/crime/

CRIME STATS Property Crimes UNIVERSITY PARK

 14 9

October 2023 32 October 2022

HIGHLAND PARK October 2023 11 October 2022

Violent Crimes UNIVERSITY PARK

5 =3

October 2023 4 October 2022

HIGHLAND PARK October 2023 3 October 2022

Property crimes include burglaries, thefts, and vehicle thefts. Violent crimes include assaults and robberies. Sources: Highland Park Department of Public Safety, University Park Police Department. Illustration: Melanie Thornton

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6 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

Sports

HP SENIOR SEEKS FINAL CHANCE FOR STATE WRESTLING MEDAL Baumgartner excels despite hearing loss with ‘feel’ for matches By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

arter Baumgartner’s wrestling matches always get Highland Park coaches out of their seats and flailing their arms — but not because of excitement. By rule, coaches typically are confined to their mat-side seats during a match, limited only to verbal instructions with no physical gestures. But what happens when their protege can’t hear them?

“His skills are exceptional and he’s worked really hard.” Tim Marzuola Athletes with profound hearing loss are relatively common in wrestling. But not many opponents can compete with Baumgartner, regardless of any limitations or impairments.

Highland Park senior Carter Baumgartner is aiming for his third trip to the state tournament this season. CHRIS MCGATHEY

The Highland Park senior is aiming for his third consecutive appearance at the state tournament this winter, with a goal of a first podium finish. “Carter has had to develop a sixth sense for having this feel of what needs to happen during a match,” said HP head coach Tim

Marzuola. “He can’t depend upon his coaches to tell him what to do. The most difficult thing is being aware of the time and score.” He’s been in the sport for nine years, after switching from soccer when his father — a former high school wrestler himself — encouraged his involvement in a

youth program. “I liked it a lot, especially the coaches and the atmosphere. I’ve made a lot of friends through wrestling,” said Baumgartner, who wears hearing aids when he’s not wrestling. “I like the hard work and the drive.” Baumgartner wrestled at 113

pounds in his first two years with the Scots before bulking his lean frame up to 126 pounds last season. He has started his senior campaign at 132, and was unbeaten in his first few tournaments. “I was worried in the beginning because I didn’t know how strong they were going to be,” he said. “But it didn’t turn out to be that bad.” Marzuola said Baumgartner’s tenacity and leadership have provided valuable examples for the younger wrestlers on the team. He won 46 matches last season and has more than 100 victories in his career. “Carter is the guy with the most experience and has had the most success over the last couple of years,” Marzuola said. “His skills are exceptional and he’s worked really hard.” Baumgartner admits he was disappointed by losing his first two matches at the Class 6A state tournament last year, but that has added motivation for his final run at state. “This is probably going to be my last year of wrestling, so I’m trying to make every day count,” Baumgartner said. “I have that opportunity. I just have to take it one match at a time.”

Fresh Kicks: New Coach Optimistic About Upward Progression for Scots HP girls aim to build on district soccer title while eyeing deep postseason run By Todd Jorgenson

H P B OYS S C H E D U L E

People Newspapers

During his extensive soccer coaching career at the college and high school levels, Scott Turner has always admired the Highland Park boys program from afar. Now he’s tasked with continuing an upward trajectory for the Scots, with aspirations for turning HP into a perennial powerhouse. “It was always something I would think about if the job opened up and the timing was right,” Turner said. “It’s a great opportunity.” Turner is a Lake Highlands native who was an assistant at his alma mater for the past three seasons. Before that, he guided Bryan Adams to consecutive district titles as a head coach. He also previously was the head coach at Northwood University and worked as a volunteer assistant at SMU. He replaces Salvador Richie, who led HP to a pair of district crowns in four seasons and is now the head coach at Colleyville Heritage. Turner takes over a program that narrowly missed the playoffs a year ago in a very competitive District 7-6A, won by Lake Highlands. He favors a possession style to push the ball forward and generate scoring opportunities, which requires discipline and technical skill. “You are going to produce more offensive chances in general. You’re getting the ball closer to the goal, and generally those chances are higher quality,” he said. “If we have the ball a lot, the opponent will find it difficult to

January 2 Arlington Martin 4-6 HP Classic tourney 9 Jesuit* 11-13 MSU Invitational^ 16 at Irving MacArthur* 19 Irving* 23 at Richardson* 26 Richardson Pearce* 30 at Irving Nimitz* February 6 Richardson Berkner* 9 at Lake Highlands* 13 at Jesuit* 16 Irving MacArthur* at Irving* 20 23 Richardson* 27 at Richardson Pearce* March 1 Irving Nimitz* 8 at Richardson Berkner* 19 Lake Highlands*

7 p.m. TBA 7 p.m. TBA 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

* — District 7-6A game ^ — at Wichita Falls

Jack O’Grady (top) and Emerson Andrews (bottom) are among the top soccer returnees this season for Highland Park. CHRIS MCGATHEY

score unless we make an error.” The Scots will have several key returnees on the roster, including seniors Reid Valentine and

Paul Michael Healy, plus juniors Jack O’Grady and Hafeey Shah. Elias Taft is back after playing last season in Spain, and Justin Ratner likely will take over in goal. “The talent is there, and if you add that teamwork, it can evolve,” Turner said. “There’s a lot of excitement.” Meanwhile, the HP girls will look to continue building on a stellar 2023 campaign that included 21 wins, 113 goals, and a 7-6A

HP GIRLS SCHEDULE January 4-6 HP Classic tourney 11-13 National Elite Showcase^ 18-20 Governor’s Cup tourney** 23 Richardson* 26 at Richardson Pearce* 30 Irving Nimitz* February 2 Irving MacArthur* 6 at Richardson Berkner* Irving* 9 13 Lake Highlands* 16 at Irving* 20 at Lake Highlands* 23 at Richardson* Richardson Pearce* 27 March 1 at Irving Nimitz* at Irving MacArthur* 5 8 Richardson Berkner* 19 Rockwall

TBA TBA TBA 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

* — District 7-6A game ^ — at Southlake ** — at Georgetown

regular-season title before a second-round playoff exit. The Lady Scots have a strong core of players returning, led by Emerson Andrews, Elle Jones, Addie Brink, Isabella Davis, Lucy Cox, and Reagan Johansen. Both HP squads will host their annual tournament at Highlander Stadium during the first weekend in January before district play begins on Jan. 9 (boys) and Jan. 23 (girls).

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After Upgrade, Dallas Open Tennis Tournament Relocating from SMU to Frisco

Cowboys partnership prompts move following third edition of February ATP event By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

The Dallas Open tennis tournament is growing in stature. And it’s also leaving the cozy confines of SMU for a new location about 20 miles north of, well, Dallas. The men’s professional event will move from University Park to The Star in Frisco beginning in 2025 — the same year it moves to the more prestigious ATP 500 level on the tournament calendar. The ATP 500 designation means enhanced purse money and likely a more elite field of players for the tournament, which has been held at SMU’s Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex since its inaugural event in 2022, when it moved from New York. The 2024 tournament, set for Feb. 3-11, will be the last played at the 45,000-squarefoot hard-court facility on campus and the last at the ATP 250 level. The upgrade was contingent upon finding a new venue. Tournament officials secured a partnership with the Dallas Cowboys to hold the tournament at the team’s practice facility moving forward. “For us to be able to host the Dallas Open is just extraordinary,” said Charlotte Jones, Cowboys executive vice president and chief brand officer. “We are ready to make it bigger and better.” Park Cities resident John Isner, who retired from the ATP Tour this fall after a decorated 17-year career, will continue as a tournament ambassador.

FROM LEFT: Dallas Open tournament director Peter Lebedevs, ATP board member Mark Knowles, GF capital chairman and CEO Gary Fuhrman, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president and chief brand officer Charlotte Jones, and former ATP champion John Isner. COURTESY PHOTO

“It’s been incredibly successful at SMU for the first two years. It’s been an amazing atmosphere for the players and fans,” Isner said. “But then you need to think of how you can scale the event and make it bigger. This is incredibly unique. I’m excited for the future.” The Dallas Open was one of three tournaments among a pool of 17 — all in February or April — to receive upgrades from the ATP as part of an effort to consolidate

the calendar and boost prize money. Event operator GF Sports & Entertainment chose to push the Dallas Open for ATP 500 status over its other event, the Atlanta Open, which will cease after next year. The Dallas Open, which is the only indoor annual ATP event in the United States, will be one of 16 annual tournaments at the 500 level. Prize money will increase to about $2.8 million.

“The Dallas Open continues to grow the sport,” said tournament director Peter Lebedevs, “offering greater competition, star power, and ranking points to American players on the professional tennis circuit, as well as those coming from abroad.” Officials said that despite the changes, the event will continue to offer a main-draw wildcard spot each year to the top men’s tennis player from SMU.

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

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10 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

Community

Photographs chronicle Ava Danuser’s cancer journey from bald, to blue, to role model. COURTESY PHOTO, KELLY CHRISTINE SUTTON, ERIN SCHREYER, AND TAMYTHA CAMERON

2023 PERSON OF THE YEAR: AVA DANUSER

Cancer surviving teen a triumphant inspiration for others By Rachel Snyder People Newspapers

va Danuser, 16, now two years post-treatment for Ewing’s sarcoma, has dedicated her time and creative talents to raising awareness of and support for those going through pediatric cancer. The Highland Park High School student’s resiliency and advocacy earned our admiration, making her Park Cities People’s choice for 2023 Person of the Year. Ava was diagnosed with bone and tissue cancer at 13 after an injury while cheerleading and did nine months of chemotherapy. “I know my experience and how bad it was. If I can just help make someone’s a little bit better, I’m all for that,” Ava said. While she was going through chemotherapy, a friend told Ava about Salood, a Texas nonprofit bringing businesses and cancer patients together to create brand partnerships benefiting families affected

by pediatric cancer. As she was finishing chemo, Ava was accepted as a 2022 Salood Ambassador to represent a line of Stoney Clover Lane products. “One thing about Ava is she’s very mature for her age,” said Salood co-founder Joshua Castillo. “She was just standing tall … just really well-spoken, kind, intuitive, smart, creative. One thing I remember sticking out to me is that she loves to play music, she loves to draw, she loves art.” Danuser co-founded the Heroes for Children club at the high school with senior Ellie Donahoe.

HPHS principal Jeremy Gilbert has known Danuser since she was 5 years old, as he was also her principal at Hyer Elementary School. “Even back then, I knew she was a unique and special human being,” said Gilbert, who recalled his feelings at learning of her diagnosis. “Even dealing with this difficult hand, I knew Ava was going to be a fighter, a survivor, and ultimately a game changer for so many people,” he said. “However, even with these high expectations, I am blown away by her toughness and her heart for others. She took a challenging situation for herself and turned it into a

“I am blown away by her toughness and her heart for others. She took a challenging situation for herself and turned it into a winning opportunity for others.” Jeremy Gilbert

winning opportunity for others.” Most recently, Ava got among her biggest stages yet, volunteering at Junior Cattle Baron’s Ball with her mom, Christine, and serving as the first paddle raise ambassador for the 2023 Cattle Baron’s Ball supporting the American Cancer Society in October, headlined by Shania Twain. Ava met the multi-Grammy Award winner whose hit song “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” she’d previously performed in choir during the ball. This year’s Cattle Baron’s Ball cochair, Isabell Novakov Higginbotham, said funds from the paddle raise, which raised a record-setting amount of more than $500,000, will support an Ewing’s sarcoma grant named in honor of Ava. “We’re very impressed with Ava and her maturity, and her willingness to help others, and her positivity after what she’s been through,” Higginbotham added. “We just thought she was a really positive voice and a role model for other people, especially other children.”

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

‘Park Cities People’ Applauds

Legendary

ur team specializes in listing and selling luxury homes in urban neighborhoods. A legacy of finding the perfect high-rise neighborhood for people wanting to downsize or the ambiance of Uptown/Downtown/Turtle Creek. We’re here for you.

R E S U LT S

KYLE CREWS 214-538-1310 SANDERS AVREA

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TREY BOUNDS

COURTESY SMU

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MARY ALICE GARRISON

214-543-7075

CARLA JOHNSON

405-229-6976

ANI NOSNIK

972-896-5432 ROBIN BROCK WEBSTER

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COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY THE FOOD NETWORK

• University Park Police Department Accreditation Manager Amanda Walker, who, with her team of fellow cake artists and bakers, recently won The Big Bake holiday competition on the Food Network. Her home baking business is It’s a Cakewalk on social media. • Attorney and social impact entrepreneur Brittany Barnett who recently received SMU’s Emerging Leader Award. Barnett has founded and co-founded multiple nonprofits, including Manifest Freedom, which supports entrepreneurship of the formerly incarcerated; the Buried Alive Project, which works to eliminate life without parole sentences under federal drug laws; and Girls Embracing Mothers (GEM), which empowers girls with mothers in prison to break the cycle of incarceration. She is the author of A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom, a memoir that was selected as an NAACP Image Award nominee and a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist. • SMU nanotechnology expert MinJun Kim, who, with his team, has been awarded a $1.8 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research related to gene therapy. The four-year grant will allow Kim, the Robert C. Womack chair in the Lyle School of Engineering at SMU and principal investigator of the BAST Lab, to develop a simpler, more effective way to accurately determine whether viruses intended for gene therapy contain their full genetic cargo.

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• SMU, as represented at the recent Humble Beginnings Luncheon by university president R. Gerald Turner. The university was recently recognized with the Leadership Award at the Austin Street Center fundraiser for longtime commitment to the center, which provides support services such as onsite education and employment services, individualized case management, a medical respite program, and access to permanent housing to those in need. – Compiled by Rachel Snyder

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12 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

Tree Lightings: Santa Claus Came to Town, and Snider Plaza

CHRIS MCGATHEY AND LAUREN RUMINER

Santa Claus doesn’t need a reindeer-drawn sleigh to make a stylish arrival. A town of Highland Park fire engine will do delightfully well, as the jolly fellow proved Dec. 7 during the lighting celebration at the Landmark Pecan Tree in the 4200 block of Armstrong Avenue. Children eagerly awaited the big guy’s arrival while Mrs. Claus indulged them with a sweet treat and posed for photographs. The affair also featured songs from the Highland Park High School Choir, real reindeer, mini train rides, and face painting. On Dec. 3, a few weeks later than usual, Rotary Club of Park Cities member Jeff Brady and University Park Mayor Tommy Stewart counted down the annual tree lighting in Snider Plaza. The event began hours earlier with live performances on the main stage and plenty of activities for children, including crafts with UP Public Library, photo opportunities with Santa Claus, and, new this year, a skating rink. Other booths offered opportunities to adopt pets and enjoy food and beverages. The annual event benefits the North Texas Food Bank and the Salvation Army of North Texas. Rotary club president Jeff Sheehan honored Jerry Washam with an award for 18 years of support for the Snider Plaza Tree Lighting. – Compiled by William Taylor

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

CFT fund holders CHUCK and JOANNIE HENSLEY

Giving OPP ORT UNIT Y Whatever your passions are, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) is here to help you give with purpose to the causes that matter most to you. Chuck and Joannie Hensley have two charitable funds at CFT to further their passion for helping others - a donor-advised fund that supports their giving now, and a scholarship fund that will support North Texas students through their estate plan. Read their story of generosity at CFTexas.org/Hensley Working with CFT is like having your own charitable giving concierge. If you give $5,000 or more to charity annually, contact us for a complimentary conversation to learn about the effectiveness, efficiency, ease, and advantages of creating a charitable fund at CFT. Learn about the benefits of a charitable fund at: CFTexas.org/GivePurpose

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14 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

Home & Business

‘THEY SAY THERE’S NO MONEY IN IT’

Cooper Clinic founder funds film on how he proved doubters wrong By Josh Hickman

Special Contributor

he new documentary The Power of Prevention & The Impact of Aerobics follows the remarkable life and groundbreaking work of a local fitness legend, spry 92-year-old Dr. Kenneth Cooper. It’s hard to imagine, but in 1968 when Cooper coined the term with publication of his book Aerobics, there was no prevailing medical consensus that exercise was good for you — especially as you age — actually, quite the contrary. “One scientific journal said, ‘Cooper is going to kill more people than Hitler,’” Cooper chuckled. “The criticism was rabid. It was terrible.” But public opinion has changed since 1970 when he opened his highly successful and esteemed Cooper Institute and Cooper Clinic, which now boasts a six-month waiting list. The film, which includes testimonials from such illustrious patients as Ray Hunt, Roger Staubach, and former President George W. Bush, has been a long time coming. “In 2019, I was invited to speak at the United Nations,” Cooper said. “The presentation was about

Dr. Kenneth Cooper has a new documentary to explore the preventative medicine ideas he used to create Cooper Institute and Cooper Clinic. COURTESY COOPER CLINIC

how it’s cheaper to prevent diseases than to find a cure. They were so impressed, they wanted to make a documentary of that to send around the world under the umbrella of UNESCO. Then COVID hit. As a result of that, they lost the funding. So, I took over the funding myself. It took four years to get this finished, a lot of time, a lot of effort, many hours in front of the camera.” There are four different versions of the film — the long cut, a 20-minute version, one cut intended for medical students, and

Comings and Goings

COURTESY TERRY COSTA

in proving exercise is medicine.” “We’ve had a resurgence of interest in marathons,” he said of fitness today, pointing to a recent article in The New York Times. “We go up, down, get criticized. But there’s so much evidence to the health benefits of exercise, you can’t deny it.” “Fitness is a journey, not a destination,” he said, describing his present daily routine of prayer and Bible study, 30 minutes on a stationary recumbent bike, 10 minutes of weight training, then walking his dogs. “We don’t stop exercising because we

grow old; we grow old because we stop exercising.” Apart from various screenings, the 20-minute version of The Power of Prevention & The Impact of Aerobics can be viewed at cooperaerobics.com/about/documentary, with the full-length version coming soon as part of an informational series. “I will probably — I don’t know when — give this documentary to UNESCO, because they’re the ones who got me started on it,” Cooper said. “I still practice what I preach. Your health is your responsibility.”

NOW OPEN

such as Japanese-inspired household goods, stationery, food, and more, recently celebrated its grand opening. • Women’s clothing store LOFT has joined the shopping center.

in the country will open in January on the new paseo located on the south side of the center along Dallas Parkway.

The Stache Preston Forest Village The 30-seat, mustache-themed speakeasy, located inside of Renny’s restaurant, is open for public reservations on Wednesdays and Thursdays then invitation only on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to midnight.

COURTESY GALLERIA DALLAS

COURTESY YLANG 23

one for physicians. “Preventive medicine has been an oxymoron as far as the medical profession is concerned,” he bemoaned. “They say there’s no money in it.” An overweight Cooper himself returned to exercise at 29 after a health scare which he thought was a heart attack, firmly believing it was “divine intervention.” “We’ve published about seven hundred papers now,” he said. “My goal has been to bridge the gap from fantasy to scientific legitimacy in the practice of medicine. We’ve jumped over that gap

The Stache COURTESY ASHLEY ESTAVE

Agua by Agua Bendita Highland Park Village The brand known for its sophisticated, timeless garments opened its first U.S.-based store as a pop-up at least through January, carrying swimwear and ready-to-wear pieces. Every element is inspired by Latin America’s biodiversity and culture. Shops at Park Lane Multiple stores • Retail chain Daiso, known for its array of unique and affordable products across various categories

NorthPark Center Various stores • The shopping center welcomed piercing and accessory shop Claire’s to level two between Nordstrom and Macy’s. • IT’SUGAR, also described as America’s Greatest Candy Store, now offers an array of sweets on level two between Nordstrom and Macy’s. • Upscale greeting card store Bonsai Paper Co., offering fine stationery, concierge gift wrapping services, and handmade gifts, opened in November on level two between Nordstrom and Macy’s. • A newly remodeled Lululemon opened at the shopping center in November on level one between Neiman Marcus and Dillard’s.

COMING North Italia Galleria Dallas One of the top Italian concepts

EXPANDING Terry Costa 12817 Preston Road, Suite 138 The remodeled dress and bridal store, set to be complete this winter, will grow by more than 3,500 square feet and feature 58 dressing rooms, state-of-the-art lighting, Instagram-worthy runways, photo sets, and a more private area for bridges to shop, along with new technology for a seamless shopping experience.

MOVING Ylang 23 The Shops of Highland Park The Dallas-based designer jewelry brand will leave its home at The Plaza at Preston Center in spring 2024 for a new 3,200-square-foot location in the same shopping center with its sister brand, Wildlike.

Preserve your story with an ad-free PDF. Visit: peoplenewspapers.com/request-a-pdf/

— Compiled by Maria Lawson

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

People To Know

PAID ADVERTISING CONTENT

BRET REDMAN

FULL SERVICE Brousseau Naftis Erick & Massingill, PC

allas’ Brousseau Naftis & Massingill is ringing in the new year with a new name: Brousseau Naftis Erick & Massingill. The name change acknowledges the contributions of shareholder Elayna Erick, an accomplished family lawyer and civil litigator who has been with the firm since 2003 and became a shareholder in 2021. While this is a change in terminology, named shareholder Matthew Naftis said Elayna has been co-managing the firm with him for years now, and adding her name to the firm is a formal acknowledgment of her essential role in the firm’s operation. Elayna says she’s honored to be publicly recognized more permanently. “This will tie me to the firm in a more public way when I’m out in the community,” she said. “When I meet people, it will be easy to identify me with the firm and make that connection. To me, that’s the most important part.” In the past few years, the firm has strengthened its already

robust family law, wills and probate, and commercial and residential real estate practice while expanding into other areas, such as residential broker defense work and representation of arts and theater groups. In acknowledgment of the firm’s expertise, both Elayna and Matthew were named 2023 Super Lawyers for family law and real estate, respectively, and both for business litigation. The firm also made the “Best Law Firms” 2024 list for family law. Beyond helping clients with their legal needs, the firm is also committed to making a positive impact in the community through philanthropic initiatives, many of which were established by the firm’s founder, the late Maryann Brousseau, who passed away in 2020. The firm is a longtime sponsor of Austin Street Shelter, including providing pro bono legal counsel on its acquisition of property for its recent expansion, and Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, where the firm supports a fund in Maryann’s honor

that pays for classroom improvements and scholarships. Another recipient of the firm’s support is Goodwill Dallas. In addition to the firm’s sponsorship of the organization’s annual luncheon, Elayna serves on its board of directors. Despite the firm’s growth and name change, its objective remains the same: to provide clients with personal, effective legal services. “We are here to provide our clients with whatever they need for all stages of their lives and businesses,” Elayna said. “Those were the values established by Maryann, and we’re happy to carry them on.” Knox Place 4645 N Central Expy, Suite 300 Dallas, TX 75205 (214) 220-1220 bnmdallas.com

16 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com R E A L E S TAT E

Three Key Decisions to Make Before Buying a Coffee Table You may think that your sofa is the statement piece of the living room, but here at Chambers MARGARET CHAMBERS I n t e r i o r s , we consider the coffee table equally important. A coffee table that’s the wrong size or style can throw off the whole space, so choosing one shouldn’t be an afterthought. As an interior designer, I evaluate any coffee table by the following criteria:

1. Material A transparent acrylic or glass coffee table can help a small room feel more open. Glass is not a good choice for families with young children or pets. Not only is it fragile, prone to fingerprints, and easy to scratch, but any sharp corners are a hazard. Wood tables introduce texture and warmth to the room. Mahogany and walnut are classic choices for traditional homes, while Cirrus Oak is a good fit for modern spaces. I recommend using a contrasting material, such as marble, glass, or metal, when you already have wood floors or stunning wood furniture in the space. Marble is a popular choice that instantly adds

AT LEFT: Putting a glass top on a wood table can offer the best of both worlds: the wood adds a natural and organic texture, while the reflective surface brightens the room. NATHAN SCHRODER WITH DESIGN BY MARGARET CHAMBERS

ABOVE: In larger living spaces, such as this den in a Dallas home, it’s better to have two coffee tables rather than one huge table that is difficult to get around. These tables have tops made of fossil stone. MICHAEL HUNTER WITH DESIGN BY MARGARET CHAMBERS

a touch of elegance to a room.

2. Shape Rectangular and oval-shaped tables are both smart choices in narrow spaces. A round table will soften the look of your room, especially if you have a lot of sharp lines and hard corners. A square table can fit perfectly into the L-shaped nook of a sectional. Nesting coffee tables, in

which one table is tucked slightly underneath a taller one, create more surface area, making them an excellent solution for when you have guests over.

3. Size and Placement Your coffee table should ideally measure between one-half and twothirds the length of your sofa. Leave at least a foot-and-a-half of space between the table and the couch for

legroom, plus 24 to 30 inches between the table and your TV console or fireplace for walking room. The height of the table should be equal to the seat of the sofa, or slightly below (1 to 2 inches). Consider contacting an interior designer with access to trade-only resources and the experience to pay attention to easily overlooked small details. Professionals will find the perfectly

proportioned table for your space while ensuring that the layout of your room flows beautifully. Margaret Chambers, a registered interior designer (RID) and American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) member, leads Chambers Interiors and Associates. Her colleague Caitlin Crowley helped edit this column. Visit chambersinteriors.com/ blog for more design advice.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

Home for 2024 7615 Glenshannon Circle $2,199,000 3 Bed / 3.1 Bath / 4,153 Sq. Ft.

Susan Baldwin | 214.763.1591 | susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

A Glow of Glamour 7322 Centenary Avenue SOLD — Represented Buyer Listed for $3,199,000 5 Bed / 5.1 Bath / 4,843 Sq. Ft.

Juli Harrison | 214.207.1001 | juli.harrison@alliebeth.com

18 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

A Real Charmer 3603 Harvard Avenue $4,000,000 5 Bed / 4.3 Bath / 5,513 Sq. Ft.

Susan Bradley | 214.674.5518 | susan.bradley@alliebeth.com

Bright, Light & Luxurious 3408 Cornell Avenue $5,250,000 5 Bed / 4.1 Bath / 5,061 Sq. Ft.

Alex Perry | 214.926.0158 | alex.perry@alliebeth.com

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

Settling in the New Year Off-Market Preston Hollow — SOLD Listed for $3,795,000 5,798 Sq. Ft. / .438 Acres

Clarke Landry | 214.316.7416 | clarke.landry@alliebeth.com

Spectacular New Construction 4429 Colgate Avenue $2,899,900 5 Bed / 6.2 Bath / 5,474 Sq. Ft.

Susie Thompson | 214.354.8866 | susie.thompson@alliebeth.com

All listing information, either in print or electronic format, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and listing broker is not responsible for any typographical errors or misinformation. Prospective buyers are instructed to independently verify all information furnished in connection with a listing. This information is current as of the distribution of this material, but is subject to revisions, price changes, or withdrawal without any further notice. Allie Beth Allman & Associates strictly adheres to all Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity laws and regulations.

20 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

MARC CHING’S

Market Insight TODAY’S REAL EXPERT

Making it happen in this market takes hustle and pricing to sell. Today’s market is strong. You need the strongest expert. Marc Ching

214.728.4069 marc.ching@alliebeth.com

Private Sale 4 Bed / 4.1 Bath / 5,508 Sq. Ft.

5122 Purdue Avenue $2,495,000 4 Bed / 4.2 Bath / 5,565 Sq. Ft.

Susan Shannon | 214.796.8744 susan.shannon@alliebeth.com

Tim Schutze | 214.507.6699 tim.schutze@alliebeth.com

3919 Gillon Avenue

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

SOLD on Marquette! 7615 Marquette Street — SOLD Listed for $1,495,000 3 Bed / 3.1 Bath / 3,201 Sq. Ft.

Kim Jacobs Calloway | 214.395.7001 | kim.calloway@alliebeth.com

Under a Million in Highland Park 4649 W. Mockingbird Lane $999,000 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath / 2,252 Sq. Ft.

Lucinda Buford | 214.728.4289 | lucinda.buford@alliebeth.com

22 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

Schools

SPORTS SWITCH UP

Pickleball powers tennis foundation fundraising

Brady Lin

Austin Chantilis

Alex Lajous

Erica Zeitman

Scots Senior Pens Letter to Freshman Self, Others As I reach my last semester at Highland Park High School, I have started thinking about what advice I would give A M E L I A TAY L O R my freshman self. As an only child, I also wished I had an older sibling to show me the ropes. Instead, I got to figure it out on my own. Although I have grown because of this, I know freshman me would have wanted to take the easy route. Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, these pieces of advice may apply to you. First, make sure to try your best academically in every single grade.

You may not be thinking about college now, but your future self will thank you for all the studying you did for your biology tests. I hate to break it to you, but your GPA takes all your grades from each year and mushes them into one. Also, don’t be afraid to go to tutoring. It may seem scary if you don’t have any friends in your sessions, but in the end, that will help you focus even more. Plus, no one else at tutoring is wondering what you are up to, so do what’s best for you. That leads me to my next point: Make sure to be yourself. What I mean is, don’t try to be someone you aren’t because you want to be more popular or fit into a particular group. By sophomore year, you won’t care anymore, so you might as well start while you are ahead.

Also, don’t sweat the little things because it most likely won’t matter in a month, and in a year, it definitely won’t. No one else is worrying about you except for you. Sometimes friends drift apart, and it doesn’t mean anything bad happened between you. Especially in these four years, people change like crazy. Whether it’s for the better or not is for you to decide, but with all these evolving personalities, it is normal for friendships and friend groups to change. Also, if you’re not in a “friend group,” it’s OK. I never found myself in one, and I still have amazing friendships with many different people. Lastly, try to enjoy the time you have left until college. It won’t hit you until senior

CHRIS MCGATHEY

formation on indoor and outdoor badminton-sized courts, as well as on tennis courts that are modified to include boundary lines specific to pickleball. Using small wooden or plastic racquets, players volley a whiffle-type ball across a net.” The November tournament included two brackets based on skill levels and drew sponsorship from Strech Zone, North Dallas Pickleball, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The BCG Dallas office has a strong pickleball club, tournament organizers said. – Compiled by Chris McGathey and William Taylor

year, but college is way closer than you think. Go to all the dances whether you have a date or not. Go to not just the football games but all sporting events. And try to laugh as much as you can during the school day. Make sure to make the most of every moment, even if it’s a brutal test or a bad hair day. This column – full of cliches – may help you through these formative years, or it might not. I hope you enjoy high school as much as I did and that the memories created will be pleasant to revisit. So here is your reminder to do your English vocab, and go Scots! Highland Park High School senior Amelia Taylor interned with People Newspapers during the fall semester.

W H A T W O U L D Y O U S AY ? “My advice to my freshman self is to do your research before you buy something.” Ben Fitzgerald Junior

“I would tell myself not to be scared of failure or making mistakes and to be more resilient when facing challenges.” Dylan Pivnick Senior

“Stay on top of your work and start good habits.” Taylor Onofrietti Senior

POSSIBILITIES Possibilities Await You at Parish Episcopal School. February 7 - Coffee with Dr. Matt Rush, Allen Meyer Family Head of School (All grades) 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Midway campus

Application deadline: January 10

For additional opportunities to visit campus, please visit: parish.org/admission

AMELIA TAYLOR

Pickleball anyone? Scots tennis players traded in their rackets for paddles this fall to take on each other and members of the community in the increasingly popular sport. A pickleball tournament on Nov. 11 at Williams Park in University Park served as a fundraiser for the HPHS Tennis Team Legacy Foundation. Players paid $100 per two-person team to compete for prizes. A Park Cities People freelance contributor described the sport this way several years ago: “Pickleball is a fusion of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. It is played in singles or doubles

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

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24 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

Armstrong PTA Over the Moon About Annual Auction Results CLARK CABUS PHOTOGRAPHY

Organizers called the 2023 fundraiser Mission Armstrong. Results suggest another name: Mission Accomplished. The 2023 auction benefiting Armstrong Elementary School in Highland Park brought in a record-breaking $567,000 – money that will cover expenses not met by Texas’s school funding system. “Your donations will provide Armstrong with the resources to help our children reach their fullest potential and reward the teachers and staff that make such a difference in our children’s lives,” PTA president Kasha Lee wrote in a letter to the community. Work on the auction, an annual party for 350 Armstrong parents and staff members, begins months out. Auction chairs Morgan Bass, Lauren Conway, and Lindsey Williamson started preparing for the November 2023 event in February. Kasha Lee praised the chairs, sponsors, and others. “Not only was the auction party out of this world, but it was an astronomical financial success as well.”

FRONT: Lauren Conway, Morgan Bass, and Lindsey Williamson BACK: Ashley Wallace, Kasha Lee, and Lauren Jordan Casey & Michael Andrews

– Compiled by William Taylor

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GRACE ACADEMY Grace Academy of Dallas is “Christ-Centered and FutureFocused.” Grace Academy is located in the heart of Preston Hollow and serves students in Pre-K3 through the sixth grade. We proudly partner with families to meet both the educational and spiritual needs of each child and offer a unique balance of an academically rigorous curriculum within a nurturing, Christian environment. Students are encouraged to maintain a balance of academic, spiritual, social, athletic, and artistic pursuits and to discover new gifts and talents. Join Grace Academy for a campus tour and discover how your child can “grow with grace!”

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The Hockaday School Limitless STEAM Opportunities Girls in Pre-K to Grade 12 undertake projects bringing change to our community every day. Through extraordinary experiential classes and opportunities, such as immersive scientific expeditions to institutions like the Marine Biological Laboratory and the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, as well as engagements in Model UN, Harvard debate tournaments, and MIT math competitions, our students confidently confront real-world STEAM issues. On our 88-acre campus, our Field Research Station, garden, and beehive facilitate hands-on learning. With an unwavering belief in the boundless capabilities of girls, Hockaday empowers and nurtures resilient women who are equipped to live lives of purpose and impact.

Piano Teacher Offers Lessons in Enjoying Music

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

Steinway & Sons adds Miriam Morales to Music Teacher Hall of Fame By Amelia Taylor People Newspapers

Performing for people like President Barack Obama might prove daunting for many pianists, but Miriam Morales has all the experience needed. The piano teacher, a recent Steinway & Sons Music Teacher Hall of Fame inductee, has been playing since she was 6.

“You have the most fun playing music you enjoy, and it causes you to grow at a faster rate.” Miriam Morales Morales gives much credit to her first teacher, a woman who played piano at her church. “She was the sweetest teacher that helped me progress not only in reading music notation but also contemporary chord charts and jazz,” Morales said. “I still have a friendship with her, almost 30 years later.” Morales began her lessons on a small keyboard and earned her first piano while attending Booker T. Washington High School. “One reason I’m so passionate about students beginning on the

Music teacher Miram Morales helps her students enjoy piano by using music they already love. Morales performs on the piano, an instrument she began learning when she was 6. COURTESY MIRIAM MORALES

best possible piano is because I didn’t get that opportunity, and it makes a difference,” she said. Morales’s passion for piano prompted her to teach music lessons – something she’s done for nearly 15 years with many Park Cities and Preston Hollow students. “I love it when the student (most often adults) tells me, ‘This is hard,’ as though they are letting me in on a secret,” she said. “I smile and say, ‘Great, now the

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real work can begin!’” “Once a student understands the amount of coordination, reading, and listening it takes, they really can start to practice effectively. Whether they realize it or not, that is their breakthrough moment, and so exciting for me to see this epiphany,” Morales said. For almost 10 years, Morales’s New Song Music Academy has been an educational partner with Steinway Hall-Dallas,

which has hosted recitals and provided pianos for performances in other venues. The Dallas store just outside Highland Park at 5301 N. Central Expressway nominated Morales for the brand’s Hall of Fame honors. “I truly feel honored and so appreciated, which is perhaps the most desirable thing when you’re

a music teacher,” she said. “It’s not a profession that is done for money or notoriety but to share something of greater worth with another person, and when you are appreciated in that process, it just means the world.” Morales views everyone as made to sing and create melodies, however uniquely, and sees playing the piano as a great way for creative expression and escaping daily tasks. Playing piano is an immersive experience with no room for distraction, uncommon in our modern age. The focus required allows for true mental rest, she said. Morales describes her teaching style as playful yet firm and personalized for each student’s needs and genre preferences. “You have the most fun playing music you enjoy, and it causes you to grow at a faster rate,” she said. She has two hopes for her students, including that they gain the confidence to play for the rest of their lives. “The second is that through musical mentorship and encouragement, they are able to excel in other areas of life and share those events with me.”

26 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

COURTESY DSO

Living

Paula Holmes Fleming

Erin Hannigan

Daphné Volle

Scott Walzel

EUROPE-BOUND DSO OBOIST MIGHT LIVE NEXT DOOR

he Dallas Symphony Orchestra and music director Fabio Luisi will head to Europe this summer. The two-week tour marks the first international tour of Luisi’s Louise W. & Edmund J. Kahn Music Directorship and the DSO’s first visit to Europe in over a decade. “Touring abroad puts the DSO in a unique position to not only reach new audiences, but also to elevate the city of Dallas’ position as a musical and cultural hub,” DSO’s Ross Perot president and CEO Kim Noltemy said. But the rest of this story focuses on matters closer to home – namely that some of the DSO’s incredible musicians are your nearby neighbors. DSO members hail from all over North Texas, including Highland Park, University Park, and Preston Hollow. Meet Paula Holmes Fleming, Erin Hannigan, Daphné Volle, and Scott Walzel.

Paula Holmes Fleming, Highland Park The bass player, originally from New York City, joined DSO in 1979 after stints in Louisville, Kentucky, and Austin. She studied at the University of Miami and the Vienna Academy of Music, eventually earning her master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also a mother to three daughters. What kind of music do you listen to, outside of classical? I listen to some country music.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work? Walk every day and visit my daughters and grandchildren Where is your favorite restaurant in Dallas? Al Biernat’s If you weren’t a professional musician, what would you have done instead? Worked with animals in some capacity What would you like North Texans to know about the Symphony? How much beauty one can derive from attending concerts

Erin Hannigan, Highland Park The principal oboe player has recorded multiple CDs and commissioned a piece for the DSO. She teaches at SMU, co-founded Artists for Animals, and received the “Ford Award for Excellence in Community Service.” The Oberlin Conservatory graduate earned a master’s degree, Performer’s Certificate, and the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Eastman School of Music. What’s something about Dallas that has surprised you since moving here? I’ve been amazed by how such a big city can feel so small (in a good way!). What do you like to do when you’re not at work? I like to work out, go for long walks on Katy Trail, explore new restaurants, help with animal rescue efforts, and read.

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Where are your favorite restaurants in Dallas? Knox Bistro, Mister Charles, Maison Chinoise If you weren’t a professional musician, what would you have done instead? Perhaps become a chef or bakery owner What are you looking forward to most this season? Shostakovich 10

Daphné Volle, Preston Hollow The violinist, who joined the DSO in 1996, began her professional career at 17 and won a National Radio Competition at just 6. She performed with the National Orchestra of France, where she became Concertmaster in 1993. She graduated with honors and a gold medal from The Conservatory of Lyon at 14, studies at the Paris Conservatory, and graduated from SMU with an artist certificate degree and a master’s degree. What do you love most about Dallas? The people are friendly and the city is becoming more and more diverse. What kind of music do you listen to, outside of classical? Blues and Latin If you weren’t a professional musician, what would you have done instead? Teach history or be a doctor What is your favorite outdoor activity? Tennis

What would you like North Texans to know about the Symphony? We have one of the best and most gorgeous halls in the world and great music for all tastes.

Scott Walzel, University Park The Texas native joined the DSO in 1992 and plays a dual role as a musician and as the consultant for Orchestra Community Development and Outreach. He holds a bachelor’s in music education from the University of Houston and a master’s in music performance from the University of Southern California. He and his wife, Simone, are raising their two sons, Benjamin and Alexander. What do you love most about Dallas? I love the fall and spring weather in Texas. What kind of music do you listen to, outside of classical? Oldies – ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s If you weren’t a professional musician, what would you have done instead? History teacher Where is your favorite restaurant in Dallas? Le Bilboquet What would you like North Texans to know about the Symphony? We have something for everybody! – Compiled by William Taylor

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

Central Market is packed with over 80 varieties of picked-at-peak citrus to add a sweet punch to every meal. Rock out with citruspowered Pink Lemonade Cake, Coriander Lime Pork Chops, and sipper-smacking Cold-Pressed Juice Shots. Pucker up and head down to Central Market for Citrus Fest, January 10-23!

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SENIOR LIVING

Mount Everest Memories and Motivational Speaking By Karen Chaney

Special Contributor Richard Fiske, recounting his 1999 journey up Mount Everest, recalls meeting “Cary Grant,” rubbing car oil over his body, and getting tossed like a kite while holding onto a rope. Although the adventure happened 27 years ago, the Edgemere resident still finds ways to apply lessons he learned before, during, and after the trip. After graduating from Lewis & Clark College in 1957, Fiske started going on annual trips with nine college friends. They rented a sea plane in Canada, played golf in Scotland, and saw penguins in Antarctica. During their 1997 ‘What should we do next’ meeting, someone yelled, “Let’s do Mount Everest!” Just like that, the bar was raised. “I said OK, but we better get our spouses’ approval,” Fiske said. “Six of my friends had to back out because their wives said they’d leave them.” Four friends, armed with familial support and loads of determination, started training. They spent weekends climbing mountains – Hood, Shasta, McKinely, Poconos, Baker, and Jackson Holen – and 10 intense days at Marine Corps Base Quantico. They arrived in Katmandu in September 1999, then helicoptered to Sherpa Village. “I couldn’t pronounce my sherpa’s name, and I asked him to pick an English name,” Fiske said. “He picked the name ‘Cary Grant.’” Crossing Khumbu Icefall provided an exhilarating intro to the journey. “A great big piece of ice, the size of a building, broke off and came tumbling down,” Fiske said. “The sherpas told us to get close to the

While climbing Mount Everest in 1999, Fiske (wearing red ski suit) would occasionally pause to take in the beauty of his surroundings and appreciate this accomplishment. COURTESY OF RICHARD FISKE Richard Fiske, 88, has lived at Edgemere Senior Living since 2020. In addition to running his business, Astrea, he enjoys working out daily and being a motivational speaker. KAREN CHANEY

wall. It went right over the top of us.” Then weather turned bad. “When it gets bad, all you can do is stay in your tent in your mummy sleeping bag and get as warm as you can,” he said. “To stay warm, you rub car oil over your body and your body will retain the heat. You live in it and can’t take a bath.” While ascending the mountain, another snap of bad weather was heading their way from India. In an effort to miss the brunt of the storm, they decided to repel down. “When I jumped off, the winds were around 150 to 160 miles per hour. The wind caught me, and the rope went up in the air like a kite, and I was holding onto the end of it,” he said. “I remember looking down and I could see Burma; a plane

FISKE PHILOSOPHY • Plan to live at least 100 years. • Refuse to be a senior citizen. Stay committed to being an active person. Love the age you are. • Promote positive aging in yourself. • Maintain your sense of purpose. Purpose promotes passion and meaning. • Manage your stress with exercise, a good sense of humor, and most importantly, prayer.

went by below me. The guys from the bank said take your legs and cross them, make yourself more aerodynamic … so I did, and it blew me down and in.” Fiske was 62 when he climbed Mount Everest. He is now 88, owns a business, adheres to a daily workout regimen, and is a motivational speaker. He draws from his mountaintop experiences to help audience members find their personal gusto. “I know I won’t live forever,” he said. “But I want to say I got maximum value out of being a human.”

Flower Planting Benefits Memory Care Patients

Ramona J.

TJ H., Susan C., and Cristina W. COURTESY EDGEMERE

A little gardening makes a huge difference, delivering a harvest of engaging activity and calming social interactions for those in memory care. That’s why the Edgemere senior living community at 8523 Thackery St. partnered with the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden this fall to bring the Edith’s Garden Program to individuals in the early to middle stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s. During sessions in September and October, Arboretum volunteers led residents in planting flowers and taught about proper care.

The residents got to take their potted plants with them to enjoy nature in the comfort of their homes. This program, facilitated by the Dallas Arboretum, is sponsored by the Darrell K Royal Research Fund and AWARE Dallas, a Dallas Foundation-supported nonprofit fighting Alzheimer’s disease since 1989. Rita and Henry Hortenstine and the Dallas Arboretum staff founded the Edith’s Garden Program. – Compiled by William Taylor

Jinks H.

Mobile Payment Gives Seniors Security If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it, right? For so long, consumers have been comfortable with the tried-andtrue processes of carrying cash, debit or I G NAC I O A R A N DA credit cards, and checks. It feels normal. There’s a sense of comfort in feeling the tangible card or cash in your hand. Experts tell us, though, that the way forward in structure, convenience, and security is in mobile payment services. Mobile payment services allow a user to take compatible debit or credit cards and create a virtual copy that is securely accessible on a smartphone. Once set up, you can tap your smartphone on a card reader at your grocery store or favorite restaurant and complete a purchase like a physical card.

Is it safe? Apple and Google, as well as banks like Chase, Bank of America, and American Express, are enthusiastic about the security of mobile payment systems and agree they are as safe as, or even safer than, the “traditional” methods. W hen you perform a tap-to-pay transaction, none of your complete card or personal information is shared with the merchant. These services create transaction-specific security codes, making payments more secure and difficult to trace.

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28 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

Setup is easy Whether you have an iPhone or an Android, you can search for the “Wallet” app that automatically comes on your smartphone. Apple’s service is called “Apple Pay,” and Android’s is called “Google Pay.” Both apps have a plus (+) button you can tap to add a new payment debit/credit card. You can use your smartphone’s camera to scan and transcribe your card information, or you can select “enter details manually.” Afterward, you agree to a few terms of use with the bank, and you are all set up. Ignacio Aranda spent seven-plus years with Apple before joining The Senior Source’s Elder Financial Safety Center. The technology trainer aims to empower older adults with technological literacy for f inancial safety and personal enrichment. The Senior Source, a nonprof it formed in 1961, assists more than 25,000 seniors and their families annually. Visit theseniorsource.org for a schedule of classes.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

30 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

Casseroles Provide Cozy Comfort on Winter Nights

CHRISTY ROST

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When chilly winter days turn into cold nights, hearty, hot-from-the-oven casseroles can provide much-needed cozy comfort. One of my favorites is chicken enchiladas. For this popular recipe, corn tortillas cradle a filling of shredded chicken, chopped onion, and grated cheese, then are rolled, placed in a casserole dish, and CHRISTY ROST topped with a spicy sauce and additional grated cheese. Sauces generally range from chile con carne to ranchero, tomatillo, or sour cream sauce. I crave the layered flavor imparted by roasted peppers, so I prefer topping my enchiladas with creamy poblano sauce. Unlike hatch chiles, available only in the early fall, poblano peppers are readily available in supermarkets year-round. When selecting peppers, choose ones that are dark green and firm. Roasting peppers is as easy as your backyard grill. Place peppers on a hot grill, turning them over when the skin blisters and begins to blacken. When a grill isn’t handy, or the weather doesn’t cooperate,

CREAMY POBLANO SAUCE

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon canola oil 3 poblano peppers, rinsed ¾ cup sweet onion, peeled and chopped 3 large cloves garlic 1 ½ cups chicken or vegetable stock 1 teaspoon oregano 1/8 teaspoon cumin 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped Coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste ¾ cup heavy cream Directions: Roast peppers under the broiler or on the grill until the skin has blackened. Transfer to a plastic zipper bag, close, and steam 10 minutes. Remove peppers, peel off the skin, and discard. Remove the stem, slice the pepper open, remove seeds, and discard them. Coarsely chop the peppers. Preheat a medium saucepan over medium heat, add oil, and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add peppers and onion, and saute several minutes until the onion has softened. Add garlic and saute 1 minute more. Stir in stock, oregano, and cumin. Bring mixture to a boil, then lower heat and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in cilantro. Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until it is smooth. Alternately, cool the mixture until it is lukewarm and puree in a blender.

an oven broiler works just as well. After roasting the peppers, place them in a large plastic zipper bag, close the bag, and allow them to steam. Steaming facilitates removing the pepper’s tough skin. To make the sauce, I sauté chopped, seeded, roasted peppers with onion and garlic, then stir in chicken or vegetable stock, oregano, and ground cumin. After simmering, I add fresh cilantro and puree the mixture with an immersion blender before stirring in heavy cream. Because peppers vary in their degree of heat, tasting the finished sauce is an important step to ensure it conforms to your palate. Add more stock or cream if the sauce is too spicy. At this point, the sauce may be reheated or chilled overnight. Start the year with comfort food that tingles your tastebuds while it chases away the chill. Wishing you a Happy New Year! Christy Rost is a cookbook author, host of Celebrating Home cooking videos, and longtime Park Cities and Preston Hollow resident. Her ‘At Home with Christy Rost’ cooking series for Eat This TV Network launched March 2023 on AmazonFire, AppleTV+, Roku, Samsung TV, and YouTube. Please visit christyrost.com for details and recipes. (Hot liquids create pressure in a blender and can explode, resulting in burns.) Transfer the sauce to a clean saucepan; stir in cream. Add a bit more broth or cream if the sauce is too spicy. Reheat but do not allow it to boil.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Ingredients: 8 to 10 corn tortillas Canola oil 1 large boneless chicken breast half, poached, shredded 2 cups cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated 1/3 cup sweet onion, peeled and diced 1 recipe Creamy Poblano Sauce Additional cheese, for garnish Sour cream, for garnish Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, add two tablespoons of oil, and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Heat each tortilla in oil until they soften, flip and heat other side, then transfer to paper towels. Lightly grease a large casserole dish. Place a tortilla on a large plate and add chicken, cheese, and onion. Roll up the tortilla and transfer, seam side down, to the casserole. Fill and roll remaining tortillas. Spoon sauce over tortillas, top with cheese, cover, and bake 45 minutes or until hot. Garnish with sour cream, if desired.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

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32 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com SOCIETY

Hope Party Brings 500+ to Statler for Grant Halliburton Foundation SIMON LUNA

Alan, Amy, and Vanita Halliburton

Chris Harrison and Lauren Zima

Steve Noviello and Doug Bedner

Kevin and Sharon Hall

T.J. Griffin and Reed Robertson

Camille Owens and Karen Goetting

More than 500 Grant Halliburton Foundation supporters gathered at the Statler Hotel on Nov. 17 for the nonprofit’s 14th annual Hope Party. The evening raised nearly $400,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, live and silent auctions, and a wine and spirits pull. Event proceeds benefit the foundation’s work providing mental health education, resources, and support to North Texas youth and their families. The party co-chairs were Karen Goetting and Camille Owens. The evening started with a welcome from emcee and Fox 4 News reporter and anchor Steve Noviello. After dinner, Grant Halliburton Foundation president Kevin Hall highlighted some of the foundation’s impacts this year, including the growth of Spanish presentations, mental health training, Hope Squads, and other initiatives. “Whatever you give will help Grant Halliburton Foundation move forward as we work to keep young people happy, healthy, and here,” Hall said. After the live auction, attendees danced to music performed by The Grooveline. — Compiled by Maria Lawson

Night at the Museum Brings in $2M for Perot TAMYTHA CAMERON

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science celebrated its 11th-annual fundraising gala, Night at the Museum, on Nov. 11. The evening raised $2 million, and proceeds will launch the museum into its next decade of education and inspiration. The night incorporated exploration and engaging experiences with an emphasis on science designed by Valdivia Ventures with food activations by Wolfgang Puck Catering. Longtime Perot Museum supporters Cataline Gonzalez and Santiago Jorba and Elizabeth and Kevin Phillips served as the Night at the Museum event chairs. Funds from the event allow the museum to expand its reach by providing scholarships and financial assistance to schools and families to make the museum more welcoming and inclusive. — Compiled by Maria Lawson

Elizabeth and Kevin Phillips

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Catalina Gonzalez and Santiago Jorba

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parkcitiespeople.com | January 2024

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34 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

MARKETPLACE

SOCIETY

Mad Hatter’s to Celebrate ‘Gardens of Greece’ in April

To place your ad in People Newspapers, please call us at 214-523-5239, fax to 214-594-5779, or email to classified@ peoplenewspapers.com. All ads will run in Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People and online. Pre-payment is required on all ads. Deadline for our next edition is Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. People Newspapers reserves the right to edit or reject ads. We assume no liability for errors or omissions in advertisements and no responsibility beyond the cost of the ad. We are responsible only for the first incorrect insertion. BURIAL PROPERTIES

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The 36th-annual Mad Hatter’s Luncheon will be themed “Gardens of Greece” on Thursday, April 18 at Rosine Hall at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The theme was announced at a reveal party Nov. 15 at Bonnie Shelby’s Highland Park home. This year’s luncheon chair is A l l i s on Brodnax, who welcomed guests along with Karen Sargent, this term’s president of the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Longtime Women’s Council supporter Barbara Bingham is the luncheon’s honorary chair. Hat categories were also announced at the theme reveal: My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Olympic Games, Greek Mythology, Greek Life (sorority), Best Botanical Using

O B I T UA RY

LEWIS WILLIAM KREPS

01/22/1957-11/02/2023

ewis William Kreps, 66, of Katy, TX passed away peacefully on November 2, 2023, surrounded by his three children. Lewis William Kreps was born January 22, 1957, to the late Jean and Charles Kreps in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Hall High School in 1975 and treasured the friends he made there. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with honors with a BS in Civil Engineering. He went on to earn his MBA in finance from Southern

Fresh Flowers, and Greek Goddesses (groups of three or more). The announcement soirée was chaired by Elizabeth Rois-Mendez and Brittany Davenport. Patron tickets start at $500 for this year’s Mad Hatter’s Luncheon and can be purchased online at e. givesmart.com/events/tua. Various sponsorship levels are also available. Event proceeds will benefit the Women’s Council and the development, growth, and maintenance of A Woman’s Garden. — Compiled by Maria Lawson

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Methodist University. Lewis spent fifteen years working at Dual Drilling Company, starting as an engineer trainee, and held increased responsibilities to become Senior Vice President of Business Development, Marketing, and Contracts. He opened ten foreign offices, traveled the world, and negotiated their largest contracts. A career change led him to energy research where he covered the oilfield service sector. He was ranked #2 stock picker nationally for the oil industry by StarMine Magazine. In addition, Lewis was the founder of a securities research firm, the Aperion Group. He retired after doing business development in the oil industry. Lewis enjoyed being a Boy Scouts leader and playing tennis. Lewis’ most treasured role was father. He enjoyed fishing and traveling with his children. He is survived by his three children, Mary Caroline, Ford, and Natalie Kreps. Also, he is survived by his sister, Lynn Dillard, and her family. Lewis leaves behind his nephew, Charlie Kreps, and his family. Lewis Kreps’ memorial will be on January 20, his birthday weekend, at 2 pm at St Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 8011 Douglas Ave. Dallas, TX 75225.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

DAVE PERRY-MILLER REAL ESTATE

Find Your Perfect Highland Park Home

After Strong Summer, Preston Hollow Offers Beautiful Homes for Sale

Architect-Built Home with Park Views Ripe for Renovation

Find a home in Preston Hollow with the help of an Allie Beth Allman & Associates agent.

Southern home at 3532 Rankin Street (3532rankin.dpmre.com).

Homes sales in Preston Hollow have remained strong this

his family, the 1934 Creole Cottage-style residence with three

Preston Hollow is one of the hottest-selling neighborhoods

summer, with an average sales price of $1,419,89, according to

bedrooms and three baths is offered by Kathy Myers and Lacy

in the region, with 142 homes selling from June until

the Multiple Listing Service.

Schultz for $1,900,000.

September, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents announce new listings available in Highland Park. Highland Park is a portrait of luxurious living, with elegant mansions along wide, tree-lined streets. The picturesque, independent town draws residents for its amenities, including police and fire service, a library and excellent schools. This summer, the Multiple Listing Service reported 20 homes were sold in Highland Park between July and September, at an average price of $4.2 million. Here are some spectacular homes the brokerage is offering on the market now. The five-bedroom home at 3408 Cornell Drive also features high ceilings that make it perfect for entertaining. The home was totally remodeled with a kitchen designed to serve elegant dinner parties. A pair of French doors in the primary suite opens to a private balcony that overlooks the pool. Your guests can spend the night in detached quarters. On Beverly Drive, Highland Park’s premier street, Allie Beth Allman & Associates has an extraordinary home available. At 3108 Beverly, the six-bedroom home has access to the Katy Trail from your back door. Meanwhile, the five-bedroom, modern home of actor, celebrity chef and Real Housewife D’Andra Simmons sits on a corner lot at 3501 Lindenwood Ave. The living room showcases floor-to-ceiling windows that open, giving access to the private outdoor oasis – an entertainers dream.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Find a Great Park Cities Home at the Right Price

Discover a unique opportunity to restore this classic

If you would want to live in this prestigious neighborhood, the experts at Allie Beth Allman & Associates specialize in buying and selling Preston Hollow homes. The home at 5530 Falls Road has a grand, two-story entry with a floating spiral staircase. Your guests will be impressed with the living and dining room that lead seamlessly into the kitchen. The four-bedroom home at 6827 Mimosa Lane, built in 1998, has been totally updated. It has renovated baths, hardwood flooring and countertops. The first level holds the primary suite, a home office and a guest bedroom. Looking for a contemporary-style, one-level home that features sleek walls and an impressive use of color? The fourbedroom home at 6237 Del Norte Lane was built in 1950 but feels like new with an open floor plan.

Built, owned and maintained by a respected Dallas architect and

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

The Right Price is There for a Home in Preston Hollow

Preston Hollow homes are selling well, according to experts at Allie Beth Allman & Associates.

Positioned on a spacious 60-by-150-foot lot between Golf

With more than 9,000 square feet on a .73 acre lot,

Drive and Dickens Avenue, the home backs to Turtle Creek

a French traditional home at 4206 Woodfin Drive brings

and Curtis Park. Its prime location allows easy access to the

sophistication to family living.

park, tennis courts, Holmes Aquatic Center, and University Park Elementary School. Additionally, enjoy the convenience of being

Arched windows and openings are throughout, giving the first level a seamless flow perfect for any sprawling party.

just steps away from Snider Plaza’s shopping and dining options.

If you’re seeking more of an urban lifestyle without

With its history and charm, this property stands as a

compromising charm, this 4,125-square-foot home at 9831

testament to timeless architecture and comfortable living. Seize the chance to own a home that embodies both classic simplicity and modern convenience, or start fresh building your dream home.

Kingsway Ave. is for you. The home’s prime location near Preston Hollow Village makes it perfect for walkability to shops and restaurants. Another home available in this walkable neighborhood is

For questions, contact Myers at 214-676-5823 |

at 9712 Kerrisdale Lane. The home boasts a state-of-the-

kathymyers@dpmre.com or Schultz at 214-455-0476 |

art closet in its massive primary suite, while the other three

lacyschultz@dpmre.com.

bedrooms come with en-suite bathrooms.

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate (dpmre.com) is a division of

And at more than 4,000 square feet, the home at 9827

the Ebby Halliday Companies, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate,

Kingsway Ave. has loads of storage space, including a pantry

The three-bedroom home at 6414 Waggoner Drive is a

with four locations that specialize in Preston Hollow, Park Cities,

off the professional kitchen and custom closets. Don’t miss

Preston Hollow classic. Built by the renowned Oscar Ponder,

North Dallas, Lakewood, East Dallas, Uptown, Kessler Park and

seeing the three-car garage space and a common room off

the home is designed for privacy. Inside a columned entry is a

Farm & Ranch properties.

the second-floor bedrooms.

floor plan that is ideal for entertaining. In your private backyard, is a pool with a waterfall.

THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP

Selling in 2024: Strategic Improvements & Tailored Marketing Plans

EBBY HALLIDAY

D CEO Names Carolyn Rosson to Dallas 500

Making the Dallas 500 is no easy feat in a market as large and vibrant as North Texas. Those featured are the best of the best; they play an integral role in driving the local economy. “It’s my honor to be named to the Dallas 500,” Rosson said. “But I want to give credit where credit is due: Our people are what make the Ebby Halliday Companies special. It’s my honor to work alongside an immensely talented team of professionals who are passionate about serving our clients, our communities and our industry. The opportunity to help lead this iconic company to its next level of growth and performance is both humbling and exciting.” As President & CEO of the Ebby Halliday Companies, Rosson shapes the company’s strategy and leads with a focus on driving

D CEO, the regional business publication of D Magazine, recently unveiled the Dallas 500, its annual list of the most influential business leaders in North Texas, including Ebby Halliday

Allie Beth Allman & Associates has excellent opportunities for homes in the Park Cities. The experts at Allie Beth Allman & Associates can help negotiate a deal for your dream home or show you one of these spectacular homes below. The classic, English-style home at 3213 Wentwood Drive in the heart of University Park has been remodeled with a new

The #1 Companywide Top Selling Team at Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate. The Perry-Miller Streiff Group is excited about the opportunity to serve our clients in this new and changing market. Growing inventory levels, particularly

future growth while preserving Ebby’s legacy of exceeding clients’ expectations. For more information about Ebby Halliday’s brokerage,

Companies President & CEO Carolyn Rosson.

mortgage, insurance and title services, visit ebby.com.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Here are four University Park homes that are new on the market.

Homes Available in Coveted University Park

On a large lot, the five-bedroom home at 2716 Purdue Ave. has a recently resurfaced pool and spa for your family’s fun and relaxation. The home has recently renovated baths and kitchen that appeal to contemporary tastes.

with homes that have not been recently remodeled, near 8%

Indeed, the kitchen has an island and top-of-the-line appliances

interest rates and a Presidential election year, have days on

for preparing memorable meals for guests. They also can enjoy

market on the rise and more and more frustrated sellers.

relaxing in the great room, complete with a wet bar.

roof and is ready for new owners to move in. The four-bedroom

Now more so than ever, it is imperative that sellers have

home sits on a large lot within walking distance of Boone

strategic counsel regarding how they can move the perception

Elementary School.

of their home into that sought-after category of “move-in

The single-level home at 4227 San Carlos St. has a sunroom and a large family room with 11-foot ceilings. The pool and backhouse

For entertaining during the holidays, this home has an

ready”. The Perry Miller Streiff Group encourages those

updated kitchen and special architectural details, including lovely

considering selling to start the process as early as possible

leaded glass.

in 2024.

In convenient West Highland Park, which shares a police and fire department with its larger neighbor, Highland Park, a three-

“Start the process when you have a little time on your side and trades people are not in as high of demand. We target

bedroom home at 4649 W. Mockingbird Lane has a downstairs

the improvements that yield the highest return on investment

primary suite with a walk-in closet.

with the least amount of brain damage” says Ryan Streiff, the

The home has an attached two-car garage with an electric car charger. The space over the garage could be an office or another bedroom.

group’s founder.

Two blocks from Highland Park Village on a tree-lined street is a three-bedroom, Tudor-style home.

could be used as a gym or office. The home could be ideal for a buyer

UP homes this summer averaged nearly $2.7M in sale prices, per Allie Beth Allman & Associates. If your dream is to live in University Park, the experts at Allie Beth

looking to downsize, or the large lot could be a great site to build your dream home. Connect with an expert agent: https://www.alliebeth.com/

Allman & Associates specialize in buying and selling Park Cities homes.

roster/Agents

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN URBAN

4300 Fairfax Ave, 5 Bed, 8 Bath, 6,536 SqFt, listed for $6,350,000 by Kyle Crews and Allie Beth Allman.

Once you get your home properly ready for the Spring

Pristine Mediterranean residence steps away from Highland Park

market, it is critical to price your home correctly. In this

Village! Private corner lot with outdoor entertaining areas. Light-filled

At 3603 Harvard Ave., the five-bedroom home that was built

tightening market, many agents are pulling back on spending.

grand foyer and hand-scraped hardwoods throughout.High beamed

by award-winning builder Bob Cresswell has a fantastic floor

The Perry-Miller Streiff Group has been preparing for this

ceilings, Alderwood cabinetry and abundant storage. Spacious

plan with an elevator.

market and is ready to unfold a strategic marketing plan

primary suite downstairs with separate his and hers bathrooms.

tailored to your property.

Two staircases and elevator provide access to three bedrooms and

When friends stop by, entertain in the wine grotto or in front of the carved fireplace in the living room. A versatile fifth bedroom has a kitchenette, ideal for a nanny or caregiver.

Contact the Perry-Miller Streiff Group at 214.799.1488 or visit DPMFineHomes.com

office upstairs as well as guest suite with kitchenette. Casual oldworld elegance!

36 January 2024 | parkcitiespeople.com

ParkCitiesPeople

PrestonHollowPeople

The first total solar eclipse to pass directly over Dallas in 140 years will influence classroom instruction before blotting out the sun on April 8. PAGE B6

2024 SMU’s Guildhall about more than fun games

Sports Analytics course puts math skills to work

Booster clubs go beyond athletics at Parish Episcopal

PIXABAY.COM, SCIENCESTOCKPHOTOS.COM, ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE THORNTON

FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT, GOT TO WEAR THESE

B2 STEAM 2024 | peoplenewspapers.com

SUPER RARE ECLIPSE JUST ONE SIGN OF DALLAS STEAM SUPERIORITY

etired astronomy teacher Donna C. Pierce was packing canned food at the North Texas Food Bank in October when she urgently needed to go outside. The octogenarian dynamo hadn’t gotten tired enough to need a break, nor did she plan to depart for the State Fair. Pierce wanted W I L L I A M TAY LO R to see the sky. She wanted to see the partial eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023. Soon, she had her fellow Rotary Club of Park Cities volunteers following her example. They became her latest batch of students as Pierce pulled from her pocket a handful of the foldable solar glasses needed to view an eclipse safely and insisted everyone take turns having a look. She’s even more enthusiastic about April 8, 2024, when, as perotmuseum.org describes it, “Dallas will be the largest city in the path of totality for the once-in-a-lifetime Great North American Eclipse.” See what Pierce says about that on Page B6 in a story about how schools will prepare for the occasion. While the upcoming eclipse will make Dallas the center of astronomical focus for a day, industries and institutions of higher education demonstrate daily how central STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education is to the area. Add an A for art and get STEAM because the technologies that power the future must look good and, perhaps, should be fun. For example, SMU established the Guildhall through the Linda and Mitch Hart eCenter when the Texas gaming industry asked the university to train its future leaders. Editor’s note: If you occasionally focus your lenses on Park Cities and Preston Hollow happenings and would like to share, please email your high-resolution images with your name and an explanation of your pictures to editor@peoplenewspapers.com.

1. Episcopal School of Dallas ESD AP Physics 2 students were tasked with creating a seaworthy watercraft out of recyclable materials and then raced their creations in the school’s quarry in October. The requirements: Using cardboard, aluminum, or plastic, the rafts had to support at least 150 pounds of weight while being as small of volume and as buoyant as possible.

2. Dallas ISD Students at DeGolyer Elementary School recently integrated technology in a lesson with Merge EDU cubes. The cubes displayed holographic imaging when technology, like a phone, passed over it, allowing students to see those images through a computer or phone and interact with the hologram through their device.

With a highly experienced faculty and specializations in all four cornerstones of game development, the Guildhall has helped hundreds of SMU students achieve rewarding careers in the gaming industry. COURTESY SMU

SMU’s premier graduate-level video game development program celebrated its 1,000th graduate in May and 20th anniversary in November. Students study such specializations as art creation, level design, production, and software development. But the benefits of the Guildhall go well beyond fun and games. In collaboration with other university departments, the program leveraged video game technologies to enhance data-driven research in biological sciences and human trafficking. Other campus partnerships resulted in gaming tools to engage students with math outside the classroom and an app

3. Shelton School During the fall semester, sixthgrade Shelton STEM classes built bows and arrows to 1. practice the engineering design process. Students brainstormed, built, tested, and modified their designs until they were ready. They then went to the football field and competed to see whose arrow could reach the furthest distance and who could make a field goal with their arrow. 4. Trinity Christian Academy Heidi Aiken, a TCA lower school STEM teacher, tasked her thirdgrade class with building a floating soccer field. The idea came from the book The Floating Field, which Aiken turned into a STEM project to teach her class about tides, a different culture, and building the actual project. Students worked in teams to create a field that would float in a 2-by-4 plastic container filled with water. Materials included sliced pool noodles, cardstock, craft sticks, straws, and other materials. — Compiled by Maria Lawson

to foster adult literacy. What else is happening? Khaled Abdelghany, a civil and environmental engineering professor, aims to use artificial intelligence to enhance traffic safety and efficiency at intersections. And the federal government tapped SMU to lead one of 31 Tech Hubs and focus on expanding and fostering innovation in the semiconductor supply chain. The campus could pony up plenty more examples. Elsewhere in Dallas, a Dallas Love Field and JetWind Power Corporation pilot program captures and converts aircraft-generated

wind into sustainable energy. Preston Hollow’s Tom Luce works for Lyda Hill Philanthropies on the transformation of North Texas into a growing biotech hub. So much more could be said. Find in the pages of this annual STEAM section just a sampling of the ways area schools are turning your students into the alternative fuels innovators (Page B7), future doctors (Page B9), medical researchers (Page B10), and robotics technicians (Page B11) we’ll need tomorrow. And don’t forget to reserve plenty of viewing time to enjoy April’s eclipse.

COURTESY DALL

AS ISD

D COURTESY ES

COURTESY SHEL TON A COURTESY TC

peoplenewspapers.com | STEAM 2024

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HIGHLAND PARK ISD S T E A M

Larry Lavine, HP Alum and founder of Chili’s Restaurants advises MAPS Business Design and Leadership students on a restaurant research project.

ELEMENTARY

All our elementary schools are equipped with unique spaces where our youngest students participate in dynamic STEAM activities throughout the year.

INTERMEDIATE & MIDDLE Our 5th-8th grade students have a wide range of opportunities to pursue STEAM topics including Engineering, HPMS engineering students learning about column grids and large scale projects from Holly Ragan, American Airline's senior manager of corporate real estate.

Coding, Robotics and Digital Media.

peoplenewspapers.com | STEAM 2024

Pictured Above: Students with MoneyGram-HAAS F1 Car (left) and F1 Driver Nico Hülkenburg speaking at an exclusive MAPS event for students and faculty (right).

MOODY ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES @ HPHS Where can High School students have authentic learning experiences from outstanding teachers and industry experts? Right here in the MAPS Program at HPHS. Our classes include Business Design and Leadership, Environmental Architecture, Brain Science and Health, Engineering Design, Modern Media, and Sports Analytics.

ENTER TO LEARN. GO FORTH TO SERVE. For more information on about Highland Park STEAM, please visit our website.

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B6 STEAM 2024 | peoplenewspapers.com

From Classrooms to the Sky Solar eclipse anticipation inspires astronomy lessons By Heather Aldridge People Newspapers

Every 20 years, the moon travels directly between the Earth and the sun, darkening the skies for a few minutes and revealing stars and planets. For 2024, the rare event happens over Dallas.

“You want to see the moon move across and the sun start appearing again. It’s magic.” Donna Pierce The total eclipse, where the moon completely covers the sun, will begin in Dallas at 1:40 p.m. on April 8 and end at 1:44 p.m., with the partial eclipse being seen from 12:23 p.m. to 3:02 p.m. “I want people to realize this is a treasure to see one,” said Donna Pierce, retired director of Highland Park ISD’s planetarium. “I’ve had to travel all over the world, and it’s going

to go right over my house.” Dallas schools are using the eclipse as an opportunity to teach their students about astronomy. The Winston School plans to dedicate a month of learning to the eclipse with high school science teacher Charlene Olson as the curriculum’s head planner. “I worked as a teacher intern at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) at Kitts Peak National Observatory in Arizona, a collaborative effort between NOAO and NASA,” Olson said. Olson received a grant from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, so she will take the Eclipse Stars Workshop to get the most up-to-date information. The grant gives her equipment and activities she can use with her students. “Their materials are just amazing, and I’m excited to see what activities they will be teaching me and that I can take to fellow teachers to use in the classroom,” Olson said. Olson plans to meet with K-8 teachers to see what they need to incorporate activities best suited for their classroom. For high school students, she may offer leadership opportunities with the lower grades or partner with Preston Royal Branch Library to teach children about the eclipse. “The culmination of all of the learning and

the materials is being able to watch (the eclipse) together as a community,” said Rhema Jones, the director of advancement and communications at Winston. Area private schools, including Parish, Greenhill, Alcuin, Shelton, Ursuline, and TCA, will also host watch parties and provide equipment for students to watch the eclipse safely. HPISD plans to incorporate eclipse viewing into the city of University Park’s centennial celebration. Many Dallas ISD students will view the eclipse with glasses donated by the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. To watch the eclipse, wear solar eclipse glasses to protect your eyes and prevent potential blindness. If you can’t get ahold of the glasses, you can also look at the ground through a leafy tree, a piece of welder’s glass, or a hole poked through an index card and watch the eclipse on the ground. “Don’t go in halfway though,” Pierce warned. “You want to see the moon move

across and the sun start appearing again. It’s magic.”

DON’T MISS IT April 8, 2024, brings a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for North Texans: the first total solar eclipse to pass directly over Dallas-Fort Worth in 140 years. It won’t happen again for another 300 years. Visit totaleclipsedfw.com for information about obtaining ISOcertified safe solar eclipse viewing glasses, safe viewing practices, and the best viewing locations.

Source: Total Eclipse DFW

Students Get Their Moment in The Sun

Solar Car Challenge inspires success for young scientists By Daniel Lalley

Special Contributor Problem-solving, ingenuity, and teamwork are tools that extend far beyond the confines of any classroom.

“When they finally get to the race, the students know that they’re already winners.” Lehman Marks Whether studying to be an engineer, artist, or entrepreneur, a solid foundation rooted in real-world challenges and rewarded with actual accomplishments is essential for students. An element of excitement makes

Students prepare a solar car in mid-July 2023 for race day in Fort Worth. COURTESY

SOLARCARCHALLENGE.ORG

things that much more inspiring. That’s what Lehman Marks, a former Winston School teacher, had in mind when creating one of the most exciting events in STEM education. He founded the Solar Car Challenge in 1993 to help encourage students in science and engineering while increasing alternative energy awareness. “This is a 15-month education program,” Marks said. “We work with students around the country to teach them how to come up with a plan, including what they want to do, how to set up a budget, and how to go out and meet the community so they can fundraise for their project. Then, we teach them how to engineer it. We also

help them learn about project management. Finally, they get a chance to display their work by driving it, either at the Texas Motor Speedway or in a cross-country race.” After noticing a lack of engagement from several of his students, Marks created this project to bring an exciting tactile component to illuminate complex applications in science. “In around 1989, I was trying to get physics students interested in what we were learning,” Marks said. “They found a lot of the material very difficult to understand by just reading textbooks or even engaging in labs. So, I had some friends at the University of North Texas who invited us to see a solar car they built for the 1990 Sun Race. I took nine students up there, and they kept asking, ‘Why couldn’t we do something like this?’” Shortly thereafter, Marks decided to create the Solar Car Challenge. Combining elements of physics, engineering, and critical real-world

skills has been an incredible way to reimagine traditional teaching methods. “It’s been a remarkable way to get kids to take ideas that they learn and actually apply them,” Marks said. “One of the philosophies we strongly promote is that this is not a competition; it’s a cooperation. When they finally get to the race, the students know that they’re already winners. Whether they exceed on the track or simply build a car that passes scrutinization, they’ve already won by working as a team and completing this project together.”

AT A G L A N C E In July 2023, teams of high school students from across the United States gathered in Fort Worth to show off the solar cars they designed, engineered, and built. Many of them then departed on a 1,400-mile trek to Palmdale, California. Visit solarcarchallenge.org to learn more and get involved.

B7 PIXABAY.COM AND UNSPLASH.COM

peoplenewspapers.com | STEAM 2024

New CEO Aims to Take Museum to New Heights

Frontiers of Flight plans include more technology, permanent women’s exhibit By Heather Aldridge People Newspapers

The Frontiers of Flight Museum is still here and has a new CEO who plans on reimagining the museum as a comfortable space for those who love aviation. “The museum after COVID was a little bit quiet, and I think folks forgot we were here, so one of the things we are focusing on is revitalization,” CEO Abigail Erickson-Torres said. Her team is focusing on the visitor experience by improving accessibility, adding a dinein space, and bringing in new exhibits. Advancements in technology will help enrich the experience for guests and create “interaction between the museum-goer and the exhibit itself,” Torres said. That also includes accommodating people who are hard of hearing or speak a language other than English. “Our exhibits are going to look a little different both in the technology we bring in and design because I want people to feel something when they walk in that says, ‘I belong here,’”Torres said. Plans include partnering with Southwest Airlines to redo the insides of the Southwest planes in the museum. A new children’s area will ensure kids have fun, while the bookstore will be reimagined along with the front so visitors feel welcome during arrival.

“One of the things I’m hoping to do is bring the woman’s perspective into the museum, so that means a permanent women’s exhibit,” Torres said.

“The museum after COVID was a little bit quiet, and I think folks forgot we were here.” Abigail EricksonTorres She envisions a new program to help girls learn about aviation career opportunities, such as becoming pilots, mechanics,

and astronauts. Torres’ goals include a “women and girls membership connect” to help girls decide what path to take in aviation. The girls will meet one-on-one with “people from aerospace industry.” She also plans on establishing a membership group where “every quarter folks get together to talk about” their love for aviation and raise money for the Jan Collmer scholarship fund. Amidst all this change, Torres emphasized traditions she wants to keep, including annual events celebrating the landing of the moon and honoring veterans. Special events happen throughout the year, and in April, the museum plans on hosting about 5,000 people to view the eclipse. The event will include food trucks, entertainment, and educational displays and activities. Want to help the museum? “There’s a great opportunity for people to come in and adopt a plane (to) make sure

it’s being well taken care of,” Torres said. “It’s the people who really are the heart of the museum.”

AT A G L A N C E What: The Frontiers of Flight Museum, with 18 galleries in a 100,000-squarefoot facility, has more than 35 space vehicles and 35,000 historical artifacts on display. Where: 6911 Lemmon Ave. is on the southeast side of Dallas Love Field Airport, north of Mockingbird Lane. When: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: Adults $12; seniors (65+) $10; youths/students (3-17) $9, and children under 3 are free. More information: 214-350-3600; flightmuseum.com.

The Frontiers of Flight Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate that provides aerospace STEM education through exhibits, including airplanes and spacecraft, is planning a new children’s area, a bookstore upgrade, and expanded use of technology. COURTESY FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT MUSEUM

B8 STEAM 2024 | peoplenewspapers.com

Racing, Trades, and Rankings Give HPHS Math a Sporting Chance Formula 1 visit revs up learning

Analytics course draws plenty of fans By Rachel Snyder People Newspapers

Highland Park High School has a Sports Analytics waitlist in the Moody Advanced Professional Studies program – not for any game, but for a spot in the class. The waitlist when it started could have filled three classes of 32 students, said Dr. Geoffrey Orsak, the Moody Innovation Institute executive director. Sports Analytics, which uses statistical and data analytics skills to study questions and challenges f rom sports, was one of two new MAPS classes Highland Park ISD trustees approved last December for the 2023-2024 school year. The other was modern media.

“Having to present football data to a room full of football players, I’ve definitely gained a lot more confidence in my presenting skills.” Ava Marie Price With the crowds at Scots games at Highlander Stadium and professional teams like the Rangers’ recent World Series win drawing thousands to their victory parade in Arlington, it may not come as a surprise that the class would be popular. It’s not all for fun, though. Sports analytics is also a math credit. Ava Marie Price, a senior in the class, plays softball and says she’s considering going into sports management. William Haney, a senior who’s played football, said he hopes to use the analytical skills developed in his future as an aspiring investment banker. “I am infatuated with analytics and

ABOVE, FROM LEFT: HPHS seniors William Haney, Praneel Cherukuri, and Ava Marie Price. AT RIGHT: In October, the Moneygram Haas F1 team made an educational “pit stop” at Highland Park High School. RACHEL SNYDER

how it can affect the real world, and I also want to be an investment banker,” Haney said. Praneel Cherukuri, a senior who runs cross country, said he’s always been interested in sports and hopes to use some of the skills developed in the class to go into aerospace engineering. One of the favorite class projects involved acting as NFL team managers. Students determined the best trade for their team and presented their decision and reasoning. “You had to look and find what your team needed work on, what players were good to trade with,” Price said. “It was a difficult project for me personally, but I really enjoyed it.” Another project involved ranking the top 10 sports towns in the country by

coming up with an equation to rank the cities based on factors like playoff appearances and championship wins of local teams. “It’s always cool to see how … you get one data set, and people look at it in different ways,” Cherukuri said. “Having to present football data to a room full of football players, I’ve definitely gained a lot more confidence in my presenting skills and talking to people,” Price added. Colin Stringer, who teaches the class, is a Highland Park alumnus, football coach, and math teacher. “The kids are really excited about it,” he said. “It’s really cool seeing them so passionate about class, which doesn’t happen in my other math classes.”

Exercising analytical math skills by studying auto racing – that’s fun. Having a U.S. Formula 1 team make an educational “pit stop” on campus – that’s even better. “I’ve always been fascinated with cars, and just seeing like a multimillion-dollar car just sitting there was pretty cool,” Highland Park High School senior Praneel Cherukuri said. Moneygram Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner, MoneyGram CEO Alex Holmes with chief marketing officer Greg Hall, and drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg brought the F1 car to campus ahead of the U.S. Formula 1 Grand Prix Oct. 20-22 in Austin. Moody Advanced Professional Studies (MAPS) program experience on Oct. 18 included a conversation moderated by Nicole Briscoe of ESPN. Hall’s son, Ellery, studies brain science and health in the MAPS program. “We have designed and raced our own (model) F1 cars, explored the corporate benefits of sponsoring an F1 team, delved into the brains of F1 race drivers, learned about F1 efforts to be carbon neutral within a decade, and discussed the challenges in effectively marketing an F1 team across the globe,” Ellery said. “The breadth of our learning has been simply incredible.” Ava Marie Price, a senior taking Sports Analytics, also considered the F1 visit a family affair. “My mom is from Indianapolis,” Price said. “We went and saw the Indy 500 every year. We’ve always been a racing family.” Price’s mom came to school that day, too. “She was so into it.” – By Rachel Snyder

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Would-be Doctors See Future More Clearly

peoplenewspapers.com | STEAM 2024

Scottish Rite-hosted program introduces teen girls to orthopedic surgery By Karen Chaney

Special Contributor Those prone to think, “My doctor looks like they are still in high school,” could have encountered a confirming sight at Scottish Rite for Children in October. But the 40 scrubs-wearing youthful females walking the halls weren’t actual doctors. They were high schoolers participating in a Perry Outreach Program introducing girls to orthopedic surgery via handson experiences. Scottish Rite hosts the program annually.

“I feel like my path to orthopedics was like braille, just finding my way in the dark.” Dr. Amy McIntosh Pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. Amy McIntosh estimated that 100 girls apply for the free educational program, but only 40 are accepted. Applicants write short essays about their interest in participating in the program and their long- and short-term goals. Program participant Nichole Ayodele, a 17-year-old high school senior, plans on becoming a biomedical engineer. “Being here is confirming that for me, and I’m also learning about more things in the

CLOCKWISE: Nichole Ayodele (fourth from left) uses power tools during a surgical simulation with guidance from Dr. Amy L. McIntosh (second from left). Girls learn proper suturing techniques from female Scottish Rite medical professionals. Participants perform mock surgical simulations, including attaching an external fixator. KAREN CHANEY

medical field,” Nichole said. McIntosh recalled how when she was 18 years old and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine, an orthopedic exam course proved pivotal in determining her career path.

“I wish there had been a program like this for me when I was in high school or medical school,” she said. “I feel like my path to orthopedics was like braille, just finding my way in the dark. There wasn’t a lot of

O PP ORTUNIT Y KNOCKS Visit perryinitiative.org to find a schedule and learn more about programs for girls.

guidance or mentorship. I’m hoping to change that for future women.” Throughout the day-long program, the gir ls rotated through various stations, including suturing lacerations on

pigs’ feet, mock surgical simulations using bones made of sawdust, ultrasound technology, and more. “They were cutting the bone with an oscillating saw; they were drilling just like we do in the operating room,” McIntosh said. “A lot of young women have never held or used a power tool before. We’re trying to get them more comfortable with the uncomfortable and opening their mind to a lot of different career paths in medicine.” Upon completion of the surgical simulation station, Nichole confirmed that the goals McIntosh stated were achieved. “We just … fixed a f racture temporarily,” she excitedly said. “It was interesting seeing the mechanical engineering that went into that. We used drills and saws. I had never used those tools before; it makes me happy to say I’ve used them now. I didn’t know they used those tools in surgery.” Female orthopedics and engineering experts shared their history with the students during the program. “I don’t understand why 50% of medical students are women, but only 6% of practicing orthopedic surgeons are women,” McIntosh said. “If you can see someone you are like in some way, you can open your mind to the concept that maybe you can be that person.” Although Nichole is still determining which direction her career path will take, she is looking forward to being the first person in her family to pursue a career in a STEM field. “I really just want to see what is out there,” she said. “No knowledge is wasted.”

B10 STEAM 2024 | peoplenewspapers.com

Move Over Sports; Parish Boasts STEM Booster Club

Parents organization provides volunteers, raises $50,000 in first five years By Maria Lawson

maria.lawson@peoplenewspapers.com

Parish Episcopal School’s sySTEMs Booster Club brings parents together to enhance science, technology, engineering, and math programming through fundraising and volunteer work. Booster club president Andy Mahtani got involved in the group four years ago because his senior daughter is involved with STEM, specifically on the rover team. SySTEMs works with the school to help with programming — such as the annual STEM speaker series — and provide grants to teachers for learning materials.

“There’s a real culture of philanthropy here at Parish, and it’s not just monetary.” Kristen Twomey “Bringing in kids, especially girls who might otherwise not think of STEM as their field, it’s a great way to get them exposed to it to figure out STEM can be fun,” Mahtani said. The booster club recently provided the anatomy and physiology department with a model leg and funded a model arm a few years ago. “The anatomy teacher felt that the kids will learn a lot more seeing this item with the veins and all that,” Mahtani said. Kristen Twomey, assistant director of development at Parish, said the boosters fund “things above and beyond what is naturally built into the budget.” SySTEMs also has a scholarship program where faculty and staff select one junior and one senior each year to earn a $1,000 scholarship.

Parish’s sySTEMs Booster Club provides learning materials and volunteer efforts to help the Episcopal school’s science, technology, engineering, and math program. COURTESY PARISH EPISCOPAL

With sySTEMs, Parish has three stakeholders in the world of STEM. “It creates an interaction between the teachers and the sySTEMs membership because now, as parents, we’re sort of aware of what the teachers’ needs are,” Mahtani said. “The faculty know who they can reach out to outside of the administration as well. It just brings about a very positive environment for

the school, all the stakeholders.” SySTEMs, now in its sixth year, has a board of 16 parents and two faculty members. The group raised about $50,000 in its first five years. “There’s a real culture of philanthropy here at Parish, and it’s not just monetary,” Twomey said. “It is a gift of time as well, and our parents enjoy volunteering. … They

want to be here and help in any way (to) help enhance the experience.” Parish STEM coordinator Megan Williams said the booster club supports school programs by providing supplies and help to students in class and at home. During the pandemic, when students were learning remotely, sySTEMs provided 100 robots for students to learn the robotics curriculum from home. “(The parents) are all completely supportive,” Williams said. “Everyone on that sySTEMs board and just involved in the organization altogether is just ready to help in any way they can.”

Greenhill Senior Researches Stem Cells To Aid Leukemia Studies

By Maria Lawson

maria.lawson@peoplenewspapers.com

Greenhill School senior Pooja Sanghvi is researching how hematopoietic stem cells – the ones that give rise to other blood cells – metabolize glucose, specifically in bone marrow. “To learn more about leukemia, we have to learn more about the stem cells,” Sanghvi said. “I just thought their whole relation to a cancer that we know very little about was very interesting, so I wanted to continue that over the (school) year.” Sanghvi got involved in this research when she was a summer intern at UT Southwestern Medical Center, assigned to study stem cells. Now, her senior capstone project focuses on how these cells break down glucose through the glycolysis pathway as opposed to other metabolic pathways. “We’re kind of studying how that happens, which enzymes are necessary for the breakdown of glucose and which enzymes these specific cells rely on because they seem to be different than other cells in the body,” she said. The capstone is for credit at Greenhill.

However, research is conducted through UT Southwestern as part of a series of projects to learn more about what leukemia relies on and how those cells vary from healthy hematopoietic stem cells. Her research has included three main experiments. In the first, she measured antibiotic activity by isolating a specific enzyme in mice and looking at its function through different acids. The second one used flow cytometry – a technique involving lasers – to analyze cells in the bone marrow, the heart, and the liver. “From that, we can compare survival rates when we apply different conditions to the mice so we can find out the survival rates of these different cells and how well they’re growing,” she said. The third experiment is called metabolomics, a technique Sanghvi’s lab uses to look at how various blood cells break down into different blood cells in the body. “We look at all the different blood cells, and we look at which metabolites are peaking in those blood cells. For example, glucose or lactate, so we can measure which medical lights are necessary and therefore figure out which pathways

are necessary for these cells.” Sanghvi’s plans for publication depend on what she discovers. She will present her findings at the end of the school year as part of her capstone but also wants to consolidate it into a project, whether that’s a paper or another medium. Her career goal is to become a doctor and conduct research on the side. “I think it’s important to focus on the patient aspect of it but also to get into the science of it, which not everyone is able to do,” she said. “I don’t know exactly what kind of doctor I want to be, but this

has really helped show me what the research world looks like because I think it was really mystifying for me before this.” Sanghvi describes the lab as a different environment from what she’s experienced in the past: “School is a very holistic view on education, and in the lab, everyone knows so much about a very narrow topic.”

Pooja Sanghvi is conducting research with UT Southwestern for her senior capstone project. COURTESY POOJA SANGHVI

peoplenewspapers.com | STEAM 2024

What Does $2,500 Buy a Dallas ISD Teacher? Emma Grace Lloyd adds STEM Station for Withers pre-K

Pre-kindergarten teacher Emma Grace Lloyd won a Junior League of Dallas Grant to spend on her Withers Elementary School classroom. COURTESY DALLAS ISD

By Amelia Taylor

getting the kids involved is how they learn, so I really wanted to bring in part of the STEM aspect to get their wheels turning.” Technology is everywhere today, and Emma Lloyd aims for the project to continue for many Grace Lloyd of Withers Elementary School wants years, with the station available to future pre-K to ensure her students are prepared for it. classes and becoming a part of the The pre-K teacher won a Junior class’s daily routine. League of Dallas Grant for Innovative She said the stations would allow for Teaching this fall. She plans to use the a more involved learning that helps stu$2,500 to create a science, technology, dents absorb information and enables out-of-the-box STEM learning relevant engineering, and math station for her students. to the modern world. One of eight different stations, the “I feel like this is a crucial push in education and the world right now benew STEM area will include everything from measuring tapes to items Emma Grace Lloyd cause everything is so heavy on tech, for building racetracks. The station will science, engineering, and everyday also incorporate literature with situations for the math skills,” Lloyd said. “I just think being able to students to solve, many set in fairy tales. problem-solve is the main aspect, and using differ“I saw this need for hands-on learning,” Lloyd ent tools to get them there. Problem-solving is a explained. “I can read a book about STEM, but huge lifelong skill.”

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B11

Virginia Ross: Sensors will upgrade W.T. White robotics By Amelia Taylor

“This grant will help (the students) immensely with learning how to code and just being more comVirginia Ross, the robotics teacher petitive,” she said. “When I went to at W.T. White High School, strives my first competition, which really to get her students the resources compelled me to write this grant, I needed to be successful in robotics. realized that our students were beAs one of the Junior League of hind in coding and basic electronic materials.” Dallas Grant Ross unfor Innovative derstood Teaching winners, Ross has that her students needed put the $2,500 a deeper untoward three derstanding of types of robotic sensors: how their robots worked, inertial, vision, and distance. not just how Inertial to build them. “The kids sensors will could learn measure acceleration and how to build angular veloca robot, but ity, vision senthe more valsors will detect Robotics teacher Virginia Ross is ready to see ue-added skill colors, and how new sensors will upgrade coding instruction is how do you distance sen- at W.T. White High School. COURTESY DALLAS ISD both build sors will deit and think termine how far the robots are from about the complexity of how you’re their starting point. going to make the code and how As head of the robotics club, you’re going to make the electronics Ross saw a need for more complex all work together,” she said. “That incomponents. spired me.”

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B12 STEAM 2024 | peoplenewspapers.com