ongview Voice “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” ― Arthur Ashe
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Sharing the good news about LISD!
Vol. 3 No. 6 June 2018
Complimentary Copy
A publication of Longview Independent School District
‘Class WofE2018Dtakes I Dthe Inext Tstep !’ O
n a warm and breezy evening at Lobo Stadium, the Class of 2018 donned cap and gown to celebrate their graduation from Longview High School... and begin the first day of the rest of their lives.
Senior Class President Teresa Orona greeted the crowd, sharing an impassioned and light-hearted exhortation to her peers. “We are stepping out of the hallways of Longview High School and into the real world, where we won’t always have second chances,” she said. LHS salutatorian Suzanne Zeid urged her classmates to not play it safe having graduated from high school, but to seek even greater heights of personal growth and achievement. “We are the generation who will bring about positive change and rebuild our country,” she said. “All that’s required of us is that we don’t give in.” Class of 2018 valedictorian Stephanie Guck recalled fond memories of how far the class had come since their elementary days, and reminded them of the importance of understanding from where one comes to better understand where one needs to go. “Take a look around, this may be the last time you get to share these memories with some of the faces in this green-clad crowd,” she said. “The bonds built here will carry on throughout your life no matter how far you go.” With some offers still pending, scholarships total $5,415,784 for 129 seniors. The Top 2 percent of the Class of 2018 includes (in alphabetical order): Isabella Cowart, Levi Grant, Stephanie Guck, Madeline Johnson, Sean King, William Langston, Justin Melendez, Carter Sorrels, Kyra Turner, and Suzanne Zeid. Graduates finishing in the Top 10 percent of their class includes (in alphabetical order): Elizabeth Adeeko, Ana Aguilar, Kamri Alexander, Madeline Archer, Mariana Aviles-Gutierrez, Joshua Babino,
Continued on page 3, see “Class of 2018”
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OUR EMPLOYEES! Rotary Club honors
Longview ISD teachers and staff were honored for their years of service May 10th at the annual Employee Awards Banquet. There were more than 40 teachers and staff honored for 15 to 25 years of service to the district. The crowd also celebrated five honorees were recognized for their 30-35 years of service accepted their awards. But most impressive were the four employees honored for 40-45 years at LISD. 45 years: Geardean Whitaker 40 years: Laura Lott, Latitia Wilson, and Joyce Thompson 35 years: Ginger Pritchard 30 years: Esther Davis, Mike Gipson, Brian Kasper, Vonda White 25 years: Queen Bell, Myra Coby, Patty Daniel, Alma Denkins, Sherri Fagan-Lewis, Susan Moon, Jackie Mullins, Debra Nelson, Trevelyn Phillips,
THE
Longview Voice
Mrs. Rachel Virgen
Bobbie Wade, Oslyn Williams, Susanne Yohe 20 years: Barbara Briley, Cheryl Buchanan, Sue Carter, Michael Cherry, Lula Decker, Cathy Edwards, Samuel Ferguson, Arbee Fuller, Dorothy Garrett, Cheryl Gutierrez, Izinia Horn, Linda Jones, Robin King, Laurita Lister, Helen Merriman, Don Moughon, Lois Nowell, Nelda Oswalt, Brian Pitts, Natalia Sanchez, Mary Sanders, Sarah Sheppard, Randal Steelman, and Diane Venson 15 years: Elizabeth Bailey, Cynthia Bickerdike, Eunice Callejas, Melody Fitzgerald, Ana Garcia, Cynthia Harris, Guy Jacobs, Perry Jeffery, Alethea Johnson, Kimberly Jones, Lana Magness, Loretta Thompson Martin, Frances Mitchell, Martin Morris, Angela Reagan, Joey Russ, and Martha Vaca.
Continued on page 3, see “Employees” Coming Events All 1s for Hudson PEP
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The Longview Rotary Club honored Ned E. Williams Elementary teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Rachel Virgen during their regular meeting May 22nd at the Summit Club of Longview. Mrs. Virgen was recognized as the May 2018 Teacher of the Month for excellence both inside and outside the classroom. “The Longview Rotary Club is glad to honor our educators for their tireless work in ‘service above self’ for our community,” said club officer Dietrich Johnson. Mrs. Virgen was born in Longview to Tommy and Lynne Lloyd. She has one older sister named Reagan. Her mother, Lynne, was a special education teacher and drill team director at Longview High School and her father, Tommy, has a local insurance company. After graduating from Longview High School she went on to attend the University of Texas at Tyler, where she received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in History with teacher certification. Since the fall of 2012 she has been a special education inclusion teacher at Forest Park Middle School, where she was named Teacher of the Year in 2016-17. For the last two years Mrs. Virgen has participated in a graduate program at the University of Texas at Tyler. In May of 2018 she graduated with a Master’s degree in Special Education with her diagnostician certification. She is married to her husband Alfredo, and together they have one daughter. The Longview Rotary Club recognizes a local teacher and student each month during regular luncheon meetings.
ACT McCrory/Newhouse Green & White Game
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IB Hoods Mack Scholarship
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