WAN 1/26/23

Celebrates 90th Year with Annual Presentation Ball Bachelors Club of Austin

The Bachelors Club of Austin made history in celebrating their 90th year, while honoring eight young ladies at their annual Presentation Ball on Saturday, January 7th. The gala was held at the Fairmont Austin for the second year.

The debutantes presented were McCall Koch Carothers, Caroline Denman Moody Collier, Virginia Kathaleene Dolce, Grace Elizabeth Eckols, Megan Lynne Hollister, Allison Elaine Kemmerer, Avery Ann McCaul, and Lauren Lowry McCaul. The evening was hosted by ball chairs Brittany and Tim Ziemann, Chairman of the Board James Dyess, and President Kleberg Reynolds Over 800 club members and guests were in attendance. Keith Burnham of Westbank Flower Market

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Each debutante gracefully presented their Full Court Bow in beautiful white gowns while escorted by an Active member of Bachelors, and followed the presentation with the traditional father and daughter dance to the sounds of the High Island Hepcats.

After dinner, the party moved upstairs where guests enjoyed a dessert buffet and

Bachelors Club of Austin

espresso bar. Blind Date had everyone on the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning, and the infamous Nelson’s Diner served latenight breakfast, a Club tradition for many years.

This hugely successful evening was a tribute to the Bachelors Club’s founders and their original intentions to promote fellowship amongst its members and to further promote the social season in Austin.

Juliette Madere

BY FORREST PREECE

She’s an 18-year-old senior at Anderson High enrolled in the rigorous International Baccalaureate program. But she has found time to zero in on a median bounded by Elton Lane, Woodmont, and Forest Trail – where she and interested volunteers are planting native vegetation, which will provide a habitat for birds and other pollinators, and make a dent in global warming. Her interest in the environment goes back to middle school, when she and some friends became aware of issues like habitat loss and the impending extinction of certain species. They decided to form a non-profit called Lifeblood of Gaia to provide information about these problems and to do what they could to help counteract them. They sold baked goods to raise money for their group, and they kept their funds in a cigar box.

When she moved on to high school, she started recognizing the scope of the environmental challenges

ahead. Looking for a way to get involved, she applied and was accepted into the Youth Forest Council in the city’s Urban Forestry Department, where she worked as an intern for a year. She enjoyed that experience and learned a significant amount, but she was becoming discouraged because, in her mind, the enormity of the problems the world faced meant that one person just could not take them on all at once.

THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY

Around that time, she read a book by Doug Tallamy called “Nature’s Best Hope,” which posits that the solution for climate change starts in people’s backyards, one at a time. “The numbers in his book were encouraging,” Juliette says. The theory is that if enough people install the right kinds of native plants instead of water-guzzling grass, and make wildlife refuges in their private spaces, eventually change will happen.

Up to that point, she had

heard “grim figures.” But if this one yard at a time movement spread, bigger issues could be solved. As an intern at the Youth Forest Council, she created a useful guide called “Austin Homegrown Parks,” which outlines the types of plants property owners can integrate into their landscapes and provides information on resources available in Austin for those interested in making their own foray into the movement.

The guide provides a five-step program to execute

native planting in anyone’s yard. It includes helpful insight as well. For instance, did you know that leaving leaf litter and large decorative rocks in your garden provides pupation sites and hiding places where caterpillars can propagate? These insects are crucial in providing nourishment for birds and making the food chain thrive. Her guide also has a link to the Homegrown National Park map so that anyone can place their yard on it and gain perspective that they are part of a nationwide project. This national map also provides statistics about how many people are making their yards a part of the project in each city, county and state.

Two examples of birds and animals that are being forced out of the environment around Austin are meadowlarks and ocelots (yes, ocelots). Meadowlarks nest at the base of bunch grass plants which are becoming less and less common. And I doubt if anyone in West Austin has ever seen an ocelot near their home. Juliette says that they used to be fairly common in Central Texas, but the native environs that nurtured the ocelots have been wiped out and accordingly, so was the presence of the animals.

REWILDING FOR RENEWAL

median around the corner from her house. After completing the Youth Forest Council internship, Juliette was not going to just pay lip service to recognizing the problem and then move on to something else. She started implementing a plan to make her idea a reality.

Juliette says. By the way, Juliette’s parents have pitched in and helped her with the median, and they have planted a lot of the correct species of flora in their own yard.

Juliette smiles and says that they are suddenly noticing a lot of butterflies around their neighborhood.

LEADING A WELLROUNDED LIFE.

I LOVE THAT WE WILL BE INTRODUCING EVERYONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THIS IDEA.”

JULIETTE MADERE ON CREATING AN ATTRACTIVE LOOK THAT SUPPORTS THE ENVIRONMENT

All of this leads up to Juliette’s current “rewilding” project, which simulates a native ecosystem on the

Several months ago, she spoke to the West Austin Neighborhood Group’s board and obtained buy-in on her project from them. Then she worked for three months with the city to get permission to proceed. She and her supporters will be planting bunch grass, little bluestem, and wildflowers such as gray goldenrod, among others. Special care will be taken not to trim the perennials down to ground level during the winter, the way most people with yards do. Many of these flowers have hollow stalks where insects hibernate. When cutting them back, people often harm the insects already there and remove their habitats.

When Juliette and her crew have the median planted the way they want it, it will be a 24/7 example of what can be done to help the environment, while maintaining an attractive look for the neighborhood.

“I love that we will be introducing everyone in the neighborhood to this idea,”

All the members of Juliette’s family enjoy climbing competitions. She was seven when she started going to camps and she joined a team when she was 13. Juliette has been to youth national level competitions twice—once in Redmond, Oregon and once in Chicago. Last summer, she was training very hard both in sport climbing, which uses a rope, and in bouldering, which uses a shorter wall and a big pad. But she has had to deemphasize this sport to concentrate on her academics.

Music is another love of hers, but she had to prioritize and give up her cello playing after the eighth grade. Right now, she is applying to colleges and hoping that she gets into a program that combines biology and art as a major. At college, she wants to keep learning science and to do research, but on the other hand, she desires to maintain development of her artistic skills.

By the way, anyone who wants to work with Juliette on her project can reach her at juliette@stevemadere.com.

Ihave seen the future, and it is Juliette Madere and a triangle of land in the heart of Tarrytown. One afternoon last November, I talked with Juliette in her family’s home on Stamford Lane.

PHOTO BY KAREN KOCHER

Highland Park Elementary’s Wax Museum of American History

By Alana Moehring Mallard

Early this month Highland Park Elementary fifth graders turned the halls of their school into a museum of American history. A wax museum, if you will, because the costumed students remain motionless before their hand-painted backdrop until a visitor pushes a red button on the wall. OK, it’s a picture of a button, but still.

This is the eighth year that fifth grade teachers Lauren Mitrani and Kati Dean have worked with their students to present the Wax Museum of American History for parents and students. Mitrani brought the idea with her when she came to Highland Park to teach social studies, and she partnered with language arts teacher Dean.

“Covid put a kink in it,” said Dean, of wax museum performances for classmates and parents, “but this year

we’re back in full force.”

Mitrani said 97 kids in fifth grade worked on the crosscurricular projects, which included detailed research, writing a research paper, writing a script for the wax museum performance, creating a backdrop, and developing a costume to represent the topic. And the students chose a wide range of topics, from national parks, to indigenous ballerinas, to soccer players, Olympic swimmers, painters, landmarks, and writers.

Old Quarry Branch Library: A “No Homework” book

By Alana Moehring Mallard

Old Quarry librarian

Leslie Flynn meets twice a month with library patrons for what her library calls a no-homework book club, the For the Love of Books Club.

On first Wednesdays and third Mondays patrons gather to talk about books they’ve read, books they want to read, books they liked, books that weren’t their favorite.

Ertha Patrick came to an afternoon meeting recently and talked about a book she enjoyed. “Tiny Beautiful Things, about an actual advice column that Cheryl Strayed does under the name of Sugar,” she said. It was clear that Patrick liked the book, but that puzzled look on her face made it seem like she had a hard time categorizing it. Another member at this

St. Michael’s Catholic Academy Launches New Repertory Theatre Company

By Anne DeVries & Alexa McGlathery

This January, the first production from the newly formed Repertory Theatre Company at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy (SMCA) will hit the stage. The debut of the new consortium, between professional actors and SMCA students, is a production of The Miracle Worker. It runs from January 14-29th at the Gloria Delgado Theatre on the St. Michael’s Catholic Academy’s campus.

The newly established Austin Repertory Theatre Company at SMCA is the first of its kind in the Austin area. The company will provide high school students with opportunities to work alongside industry professionals while developing their passion for the performing arts.

The unique union between professionals and aspiring high school actors is an element of the newly established extension of SMCA, called HALO (Hub for Advanced Learning Opportunities). Due to officially launch next month, HALO seeks to provide classes, workshops, and outside opportunities for students in many disciplines to

work with industry experts in a real-world atmosphere.

Sarah Stuart, the Director of Theatre Arts at SMCA, leads the theatre program at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy. Sarah and her long-time colleague Milton Zoth co-founded the Austin Repertory Theatre at SMCA.

Both have an established presence in the theatre world.

Stuart has directed and acted professionally in numerous musicals and plays all over the country. Zoth holds an MFA in Directing from Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts and currently serves as the Artistic Director of Austin Actors’ Studio.

The company’s first production, The Miracle Worker, is a story about the life of Helen Keller. The cast is composed of six adult actors and four SMCA student actors. The support crew includes five students and six adults who work side by side to provide AV requirements, set managers, and a professional box office crew. This first undertaking of the Austin Repertoire Theatre at SMCA is proving to be a wonderful experience for the student actors. SMCA

freshman Karolina Andarza, who is sharing the role of Helen

Keller, stated, “It’s been really interesting working with adults. I have only worked with people my age for most of my life. We got the show going, and we finished both acts in one month when it usually takes two months.”

Sofia Mireles, also playing Helen Keller, added, “The adults are all so sweet. They give us a ton of tips and are very welcoming. They mentor us, so it’s been really great integrating with them.”

Not only have the industry adults been mentors to the kids, but they’ve also pushed the kids to become better actors themselves. Nash Dahl, a Sophomore at SMCA who plays Helen Keller’s ½ brother James,

commented, “It was pretty crazy to see how easily the adults got their accents in. The first day the adults were busting out this amazing accent!”

Creating the new group is an exciting addition to the theatre community in Austin. The opportunity for seasoned actors to mentor students, build and practice their craft, and provide artistic flavor to Austin will be enjoyed by many. Tickets for the upcoming final performances of the Miracle Worker are available for purchase at www.SMCA.org.

Future opportunities to attend an Austin Repertoire Theatre Company at SMCA production will be posted on the SMCA website and Instagram page.

Kacy Dolce, Realtor ®

BROKER ASSOCIATE, KUPER SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

Kacy Dolce, a 7th generation Texan married to a 6th generation Austinite, comes from generations of real estate brokerage, title, land use, and land/property investment. As a double major in Marketing and Business from Southern Methodist University and master’s level work in the MBA program at St Edward’s University, Kacy brings a greater understanding of the business of real estate. In today’s challenging real estate market, now more than ever, you can rely on Kacy to bring proven experience when buying, selling and investing.

• 2022-2024 DIRECTOR, AUSTIN BOARD OF RE ALTORS

• KUPER SOTHEBY’S PRESIDENT’S CLUB MEMBER

• AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL NOMINEE - RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Central Texas Roots, Global Reach

Dancing with the Stars Austin

Raises $1.8 Million for Child Abuse Victims

The 16th Annual Dancing with the Stars Austin, benefitting the Center for Child protection, was an unforgettable night for members of the Austin community who raised $1.8 million dollars in support of child abuse prevention and intervention services that help Travis County children.

The gala held at JW Marriott’s Grand Ballroom brought together Austin’s most dedicated philanthropists for an evening of exhilarating dance competitions, which culminated with the awarding of the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy for best performance. Event chairs Betsy Hudson and Stephanie O’Neill and the Dancing with the Stars Austin committee worked tirelessly to make the 16th year of this glittery soiree even more spectacular.

The dancing routines were led by a group of 11 celebrity dancers and their professional partners. Emcees Glenn Ball and Holly Mills-Gardner kept the crowd engaged while Judges Jeff Jumonville, Gary Little, and Becca Tobin added a hint of humor and exciting twists to the show with their commentary on the dancers’

performances.

All the musical numbers highlighted the hours of training each celebrity dancer dedicated over the past few months. After 11 routines, Liza Edebor & professional dancer Ferenc Kiss won the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy with “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” and hold the title for 2022 Dancing with the Stars Austin Champions. Bridget Ramey & Tristan Reimann won second place with “Last Dance,” and in third place Kelsey Leigh Hughes & Nolan Whitely with their “Runaway Baby” routine. Other notable winners that night included Bill Bayless who won the Fundraising and Awareness Award, and Diego Fagúndez & Sasha Kurashko Hilss with the Dancer’s Choice Award.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Center for Child

Protection, an organization dedicated to reducing the trauma for children during the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children. To learn more, visit www. centerforchildprotection.org.

Winter Waterland Gala Celebrates Clean Water for Over 18,000 More People

Over 18,000 more people will have clean water in 2023 because of efforts from the annual Well Aware’s Winter Waterland Gala, which was held on Friday, December 2nd at Hotel Van Zandt. That’s 18,000 more people that don’t have to worry about waterborne illnesses anymore, who can attend school or go to work consistently and increase the economic activity in their community, and who can live longer, healthier lives.

The Winter Waterland Gala cocktail hour consisted of doing a water walk, snapping pictures at a photo booth by the Artist Couple, shopping for Kenyan goodies with Sawa Sawa, bidding on the silent auction, and experiencing a drill up close through virtual reality. Speakers included Well Aware founder Sarah Evans and project director Mike Mutuku sharing about the

communities served in 2022 and what the future of Well Aware entails.

A highlight of the evening was recognizing the Sixth Annual Impact Award recipients. Recipients of the Global Impact Award Turk and Christy Pipkin, founders of the Nobelity Project, both attended along with a group of their loyal friends and family.

Ian Muiruri from Ol Pejeta Conservancy flew in from Kenya to accept the Geoffrey S. Ryder Ambassador of the Year Award for himself and Hetal Ganatra Mary Elizabeth Ellis, the 2022 Shower Striker of the Year, was unable to attend but she had friends attend in her honor.

Well Aware funds and implements lasting clean water systems to drive development and empower communities in East Africa. Learn more at www.wellawareworld.org.

Doss Librarians Celebrate Readers with Two Events

By Alana Moehring Mallard

Doss Elementary librarians celebrated their student readers this month in two events: Birthday Book Club and Winter Readers.

“It’s not a present for you, it’s a present for the library,” librarian Celeste Pustka told students from third grade teacher Renee Francis’s class as they entered the library to

select a new library book that would have their nameplate in the front, telling others they had donated the book as part of Birthday Book Club.

“We always donate a book and have for all our children,” said PTA mom and book fair chair Mandy Stokes who came to the library with the third graders, including her son Miles. “It’s so great for them to feel ownership of the library, one of their

favorite places.” Her son Miles chose The Fire Keeper by J.C. Cervantes, a chapter book, instead of the graphic novel she expected him to choose.

Winter Readers, students who read from a generous list of choices over the holiday break, lined up for hot cocoa from Lang and Pustka as recognition for their reading, getting their cocoa orders – marshmallows? sprinkles? whipped cream? –then

heading to recess. “I don’t want hot chocolate, just marshmallows,” said one reader, and Lang checked her marshmallows, did a few calculations about classes still to come, and dumped a handful of marshmallows into a cup.

“I’m so glad we continue to celebrate our Winter Readers,” said Lang. “It’s a community event, and it’s a parent-driven, family thing to

get done.” In a special Winter Reader event, students in Denise Bishop and Marjorie Hunter’s class had hot cocoa on the library porch in front of the school.

Lang recognizes barriers exist for some students for Birthday Book Club and for Winter Readers, and she’s working to remove some of those barriers. “I want all kids to have an opportunity to participate,” she said.

ENJOY WINTER WONDERLAND DANCE

On Saturday Dec. 3, Austin Jewish Academy sponsored a collaborative middle school winter dance attended by more than 200 Austin middle school students from participating schools, including Rawson Saunders, The Girls School of Austin, Fusion Academy, and Ace Academy, as well as students from Murchison, Hyde Park, Paragon Prep, Canyon Vista, Trinity Episcopal, St. Andrews, St. Stephens, and Four Points.

Assistant Principal Brooke Dunshee of Austin Jewish Academy organized the dance because she wanted to expose the students to a “big dance” experience. For most of the students, this was their first dance as middle schoolers, since COVID prevented large gatherings.

“The purpose of the dance was to provide our students with a ‘normal’ social experience,” Dunshee said. “The middle school dance afforded our students the opportunity to collaborate, socialize, and have fun with other students their age.”

“The dance was such a memorable event for our students,” said Nick Rodriquez, Assistant Head of Middle School at Rawson Saunders. “I’ve already had multiple groups of students request another dance in the spring, and most of lunch/ recess on Monday was spent reminiscing about the night. It was such a well-organized event, and I was really impressed with how much dancing all our kids did. Many of our sixth and seventh graders spent the whole night on the dance floor.”

The dance was held at the new Community Hall at the Dell Jewish Community Center, where students were greeted with a winter wonderland-inspired balloon arch and tables twinkling with fairy lights, frosted leaves, and LED party favors. Snacks and drinks were donated by the participating schools and party music was thanks to DJ Hailey Gratehouse, a middle school teacher at Murchison. Let’s Booth It supplied a photo booth to capture the memories, and Shalom Austin/Dell Jewish Community Center donated the perfect dance space.

“Overall, I liked the fact that there were a lot of snacks. The music was good too,” said Noam Wolinetz, an Austin Jewish Academy middle school student. “The music got into my head.”

“The dance was an absolute blast! Our goal was to sell 100 tickets. We were shocked that around 200 students showed up. It was an amazing night full of dancing, raffles, silly photo booth pictures, and a lot of candy,” said Dunshee.

TOP 10 REASONS TO GO TO CAMP BALCONES SPRINGS!

New Friends!

School friends are great, and so are those on your soccer, swim and dance teams, but there is truly nothing like a camp friend! The friends you make at camp will know you like no one else — and you’ll share some of the most exciting memories. And trust us — based on our own experience at summer camp, you’ll likely be friends for life!

Adventure!

Camp is one of the only chances you’ll get to try new and sometimes risky things, like climbing on our rock wall or doing a skit in front of all of camp! Regardless of what adventure you seek, camp gives you a chance to find it.

So Many Activities!

At camp, you’ll have the chance to play almost any sport, make many different crafts and engage in painting, pottery, and jewelry-making, rock-climb, tube and wakeboard, canoe and kayak, dance, act, play music, cook, and so much more!

Counselors!

Your counselors will be some of the coolest, most loving and admirable people you know! They will be friends and mentors to you throughout your time at camp and long after you leave the gates.

Food!

Yes, it’s true — the food is a reason to come! CBS chefs cook up some of the best food around, making sure to account for dietary restrictions and allergies, so you wont ever have to worry. Plus, you’ll get special snacks and treats on top of all of this, at our daily snack time, during some evening programs, and in our Sugar Shack when redeeming fun passes!

Animals!

You’ll get a chance to interact with not only dogs and horses, but also with goats, donkeys, sheep, chickens, and even camp’s famous parrot Susana!

Tradition!

At Camp Balcones Springs, you’ll get to be a part of decades-old traditions, like camp songs, team initiations and cheers, flag pole ceremonies, pranks and dances!

Nature!

What better way to spend part of your summer than in the Texas Hill Country, immersed in woods, lakes, and fields of green?

Get Unplugged!

No need to waste hours on Snapchat or liking friends’ Instagram posts — you’ll be hanging out with friends in person and experiencing life beyond the screen!

Independence!

Camp gives you one of the best opportunities to learn how to make your own decisions and become your own person while surrounded by great friends and role models!

Tracy LaQuey Parker

BY FORREST PREECE

Tracy LaQuey Parker, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Parker Solutions Group, Civic

Leader

1. What’s something about you that not many people know?

I was the first individual to sue an email spammer in a landmark lawsuit in 1997. At the time I owned the domain name flowers.com that got hijacked by an email spammer who was trying to make money and so I decided to fight back.

I contacted the Austin chapter of the Electronic Frontier

Foundation and one of the members was a lawyer who took the case pro-bono. He told me we had to actually determine this person had an address where we could serve papers. I happened to be on a business trip in San Diego where we thought the spammer lived, so I tracked him down (using a paper map I bought at a gas station, no GPS then!) and talked to him in person (but I didn’t reveal my motive; I came up with a sham story for my visit). We then assembled a group of plaintiffs with me being the lead and

went all the way to court. I was nine months pregnant on the witness stand at the end. We won the case and became heroes in the Internet world!

2. What was your first job?

My first paid job, when minimum wage was less than $3/hour, if I remember correctly, was working for Chick-Fil-A at the local mall when I was in high school. I was 15 years old, but I lied on the application form and said I was 16. You could do that in the late ’70s because no one would check. I needed money for clothes, so I was very motivated to serve chicken burgers and do dishes. My first “adult” job right out of college was working for NCR as a Unix Systems Engineer.

3. You can have dinner with three people – dead or alive, any time in history— who would they be?

Brené Brown, Steve Martin, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

4. If you had to pick three musicians for a playlist, who would they be?

Three musicians on a current playlist I have are Le Tigre, KT Tunstall, and Orville Peck.

5. Favorite book and TV show?

Mike Judge’s “Silicon Valley” show (on HBO) made me laugh harder than I have laughed in a very long time. I worked in Silicon Valley in the 1990s and it’s so realistic and close to the bone, it’s kind of scary. Some of my high tech friends can’t watch it. It’s not as funny to them, since it gives them a form of PTSD. It’s an absolutely brilliant parody.

There are so many great books out there, and so many fabulous authors, especially in Austin. Sarah Bird, Lawrence

Wright, and Stephen Harrigan have all written books that I have loved. The book that has had a huge effect on me recently is “Aquanaut” by Rick Stanton. It’s about his life as a cave diver, his stories of discovery, rescue and recovery missions, including the rescue of the Thai soccer team from the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand in the summer of 2018. It’s an absolutely thrilling book to read.

6. Most powerful movie you have seen?

I think “Contact” starring Jodie Foster was a very powerful movie-watching experience for me. It’s very deep and philosophical, a very well-done, suspenseful movie with great acting.

7. Favorite place in Austin?

I love walking around the University of Texas campus, just love the energy there. There are so many exciting things happening at UT,

all the incredible research, the brilliant professors and researchers, and the promising and talented students. We are so lucky to have this incredible university here.

8. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A meteorologist. As a child I was fascinated by the weather. My father was an airline pilot, and he would bring weather satellite images home for me to look at. This was in the ‘70s when everything was on paper. My father thought that meteorology would be taken over by computers which would enable better predicting so I decided to study computer science in college instead. I still watch the weather on the local news most every night -- it’s the one thing I make sure to watch. My father was right to an extent, computers do a lot of predictive modeling, but you still need people to analyze and interpret the models.

9. Which living person do you most admire?

I admire so many people but at this moment the person I most admire is Volodymyr Zelensky. He’s also on my dinner list (per the other question) but I don’t want to take him away from the important work he’s doing right now. I’ll invite him to dinner in the future.

10. What makes you happy?

I am happiest when I’m hanging out with a lot of fun, interesting, creative, and talented people. I get a lot of positive energy from doing that. There are a lot of amazing people out there, especially in Austin.

11. Best advice you ever received?

There is so much great advice and I’m constantly seeking it out. The advice to embrace being vulnerable and accept that I will never be perfect, that “good enough” is just fine, has been freeing.

Hyde Park Middle School students serve Austin

By Anne DeVries & Alexa McGlathery

In December 2022, Hyde Park Middle School (HPMS) held its annual Students in Service Week (SIS). The focused efforts of the week built a spirit of the community during a season of giving and gratitude. Students raised funds for seven different Austin charities through a series of volunteer works, including bake sales and collection efforts.

The origin of SIS Week at HPMS began in 2018 when Middle School Counselor Debbie Pakes and her daughter Nadia Pakes introduced a service group to the girls at HPMS. Nadia was adopted from an orphanage in Russia and strongly desired to give back, so in 7th grade, Nadia and her mother created S.H.A.R.E., Spreading Hope And Reaching Everyone.

Due to overwhelming interest, a High School chapter of S.H.A.R.E. was established at Hyde Park High School. Nadia, now 27, is actively engaged as a speaker and participant in both SIS and S.H.A.R.E.

During the annual service week, S.H.A.R.E. is fully responsible for orchestrating Monday & Friday (working, collecting, and bringing baked goods) alongside other Hyde Park students.

The momentum of SIS, starting with the formation of S.H.A.R.E., inspired other groups within the HPMS to

join forces for an entire week of service. As an annual event, the Hyde Park National Junior Honor Society, the Hyde Park Student Ambassadors, and the 8th Grade Leadership Organization unite with S.H.A.R.E. to orchestrate charitable activities.

The student body’s engagement towards service provides camaraderie for HP students. S.H.A.R.E. president Charlotte Cone stated that SIS week “really impacted students at HPMS because we worked together for a shared mission. It always feels good to help others, and it is fun when you do it alongside your friends.”

The students chose to

serve charities that focus on the safety of children, families, and animals. The collection campaign and charitable activities resulted in the procurement of over 200 toys for Austin’s Blue Santa program, 600 pounds of canned food for Hope Food Pantry, 150 bags of dog food for Paws of Austin, 300 handwritten Christmas cards to Dell Children’s Hospital, and $1300 to be shared between Ronald McDonald House Charities, Helping Hand Home for Children, and Partnerships for Children.

Regarding the week-long service project, 8th-grade student and S.H.A.R.E. Historian Avery Herzog

commented, “My favorite part of SIS was seeing all the smiles students and teachers gave each other when they worked the bake sale or brought in toys. All of us knew we were working for a great cause, and it brought us together.”

Hyde Park Schools is a Christ-centered, college preparatory school in Austin serving 4K through 12thGrade students. In keeping with its heritage of academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment, over 99% of all Hyde Park Schools graduates go on to higher education. For more information about Hyde Park School, please visit www. hp-schools.org.

West Austin Teen Produces PSA on Underage Drinking

By Anne DeVries

Inspired by previous experience as a young actress and a passion for cautioning young people about the hazards of drinking, 16-year-old Alexa McGlathery decided to launch a campaign about the dangers of underage drinking. “Know the Facts,” a public service announcement (PSA) that will air on prime-time TV in Austin this summer, was entirely written, cast, produced, and directed by the ambitious West Austin teen.

McGlathery has been a working actress since 2015 and has starred in numerous TV shows, commercials, and web series. One of her most impactful experiences was a publicly funded series by the state of Utah about the dangers of drinking at the age of 15. Currently an 11th grader at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy (SMCA), she actively participates in the music program, competitive lacrosse, and TAPPS theatrical competition.

As a lead singer and bass player in numerous bands at SMCA, she is no stranger to the performing arts and has captured the attention of anyone who has attended an SMCA music show. Her vibrant personality, talent, and energy are notable, as is her commitment to reaching and cautioning young people on decision-making when faced with the temptation of consuming alcohol.

The PSA, filmed on January 12th at Aduro Studios,

was completed with the help of Bennett Creative, LLC. Andrew Bennett, the production company owner, worked behind the camera to assist McGlathery as director.

Castmates Oliver Mann, Annabelle Judson, and Jordan Middlebrook, recruited by McGlathery, are friends and students of local high schools in West Austin.

The filmed scene for the commercial features a teenage girl (played by McGlathery) contemplating her inner thoughts as a boy (played by Mann) hands her a red solo cup at a party. Surrounded by her friends, flashing lights, and booming music, the young girl ponders, taking the cup or refusing. As she considers her response, statistics appear across the screen about how weight can affect blood alcohol levels. The scene continues with light effects and music, culminating in the teenage girl refusing the offered drink.

Oliver Mann, a Senior at SMCA who plays the teenage boy role, was happy to help his friend in her endeavors. When asked why he agreed to help, he stated, “this was my first time in a production like this, and I learned so much. I’m glad the PSA has a positive message and relates to us teens.”

McGlathery’s mission is admirable, and she appreciates the support of local businesses that have contributed funds to support her project. Alexa stated, “Without the help of local Austin businesses willing to donate to support my vision,

this project could never have turned into reality.”

Alexa still needs contributions toward final film editing and production costs before the commercial’s TV release early this summer.

A donation of $100 from any business will make them a

“commercial sponsor” and earn film credit at the end of the PSA. Smaller donations are also appreciated. Contact www. knowthefactspsa.com to donate, become a sponsor, and learn more information about the “Know the Facts” campaign.

Breakthrough Central Texas Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Benefit Concert

On Thursday, October 27th, Austinarea community members gathered to commemorate a tremendous milestone: The 20th anniversary of local nonprofit Breakthrough Central Texas at the annual Breakthrough Benefit Concert held at 3TEN ACL Live.

Chaired by Dr. Jim and Irma Brand and Stephanie and Todd Routh, this year’s concert featured a silent auction, a look back on 20 years of educational impact in and around Austin, a program featuring Breakthrough alum Norma Reyes, and an exclusive concert by Austin’s own Grupo Fantasma.

Since 2002, Breakthrough has grown from a small program serving 40 students annually to nearly 3,000 currently enrolled students. Today, nearly 300 students are living their dream as first in their family to earn a college degree.

The Breakthrough Benefit Concert raised more than $500,000, with special thanks to the Foresight Foundation and Stephanie and Todd Routh for issuing an event night matching gift challenge.

As Breakthrough Executive Director Michael Griffith

mentioned, “Our 20 years of growth is not a byproduct of a single individual, staff member or leader; instead we have flourished because we are a community. For 20 years, we have believed in one another. We have collaborated and empowered one another. We have remained loyal and true to the core belief that binds us all into one: that no barrier in our Central Texas communities should ever prevent a child from pursuing their postsecondary dreams. Not while we’re here in Austin. Not while we stand together as one. Not while there is this community called Breakthrough.”

To learn more about Breakthrough’s 20-year history in Austin and the thousands of students they support on the path to postsecondary success, visit www.breakthroughctx. org/20years.