Life on the Fly- Steer Nation Message 4-30-21

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

COVID-19 Information- Please visit this site for the GISD COVID-19 procedures, protocols, and lab-confirmed cases.

GHS Class of 2021 Top ThreeGraduates- Congratulations to our Honor Graduate Spencer McHenry, our Salutatorian Hannah Isbell, and our Valedictorian Easto Wolfe! 

GHS 2021 Top 10%- Congratulations to Callie Dobbs, Rees Echols, Daniel Gilberton, Cooper Gordy, Lillian Gregory, Nicholas Helm, Raider Horn, Hannah Isbell, Olivia Isom, Hunter Lanham, Zachary Martin, Spencer McHenry, Ashton Reese, Zara Van Alstyne, and Easton Wolfe!

GHS Art State Medalists- Congratulations to Roselyn Barbosa and Gavin Henderson on receiving medals at the State Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) by receiving the highest possible score on their artwork. Roselyn earned medals on both of her pieces. 

Graham FFA Teams Experience Success at State- The FFA Cotton Classifying Team of Luke Holland, Corey Ballew, Kaci Reese, Bowen Boenisch, & Cody Epperson placed 4th at the state contest. The Wool Judging Team of Mason Reese, Cade Anderson, Reese Echols, Jade Jordan, & Becca Burgess placed 8th at the state contest.

33rd Annual Scholarship Presentation- The Graham community awarded approximately $100,000 in local scholarships this past Monday evening. We are blessed to serve a community that supports its students in this manner. Thanks to all of the organizations that provide these scholarships! Congratulations to the student listed below!!!

1. Kenneth G. Knox, Class of 1952 Memorial Scholarship- Nicholas Helm

2. Texas Tech Alumni-Lakes Chapter- Nicholas Helm

3. Graham Savings Scholarship- Sarah Sanders and Easton Wolfe

4. Desk & Derrick Club Scholarship- Spencer McHenry

5. Rhogenia Kindley Scholarship- Diego Barrera

6. Amber Lindley Memorial Scholarship- Kailey Duncan, Easton Wolfe, and Cooper Gordy

7. J.D. Burke Scholarship- Daniel Gilbertson and Spencer McHenry

8. Class of 1954, 1955 & 1956 Scholarship- Kailey Duncan and Tucker May

9. Brandon Bailey Memorial Scholarship- Addison Kimberling

10. Noah Parsons Neal Scholarship, By Young Co Dem. Assn- Morgan Patterson

11. Graham Ladies Golf Assn. Scholarship- Reese Echols

12. Graham Inter-Bank Scholarship- Sarah Sanders

13. Libby Fellows Memorial Scholarship- Ashley Bahl

14. Graham Noon Lions PK Relays Scholarship- Daniel Gilbertson and Morgan Patterson

15. Graham Noon Lions Academic Scholarship- Zara Van Alstyne and Ashton Reese

16. Lions Club Youth Contests- Diab Awareness: Suzanna Kunkel & Hannah Isbell; Outstanding Youth Award: Tucker May & Suzanna Kunkel; Drug Awareness: Zara van Alstyne & Hannah Isbell

17. DAR Good Citizen Scholarship- Zara van Alstyne

18. C.L.S.C. Emma Le Veaux Parrish English Scholarship- Zara van Alstyne

19. Tommy Littlepage Memorial Scholarship- Ashton Reese

20. Derek Liles Memorial Scholarship- Spencer McHenry

21. Bailey Pippin Memorial Scholarship- Corey Ballew, Addison Kimberling, and Ashley Bahl

22. Denny Bryan Memorial Scholarship- Suzanna Kunkel

23. Kiwanis Club Scholarship- Kailey Duncan

24. Donnie Choate Memorial Kiwanis Scholarship- Jennifer Bayardo

25. Sheri Lea Burkett Memorial Scholarship- Hunter Lanham

26. Todd Hall Memorial Scholarship= Chandler Dyer and Rebecca Burgess

27. Evening Lions Club, Cliff Walker Memorial Scholarship= Ashley Bahl

28. First State Bank Scholarship- Callie Dobbs

29. Cierra Bank Employees Scholarship- Jennifer Bayardo

30. Cierra Bank Scholarship- Morgan Patterson

31. Masonic Lodge/Forrest Burnham Scholarship- Callie Dobbs

32. Masonic Lodge, Terry Hawkins Scholarship- Sarah Sanders

33. Masonic Lodge #485, Young County Scholarship- Ashley Bahl

34. Masonic Lodge #485, Mike Booher Scholarship- Cooper Gordy

35. First Presbyterian/ Peggy & Joe McKinley Scholarship- Cooper Gordy and Addison Kimberling

36. Delta Kappa Gamma/Willie Allen Memorial Scholarship- Callie Dobbs

37. Helen F. Hawkins Scholarship- Tucker May and Reese Echols

38. Fort Belknap Electric Cooperative Scholarship- Morgan Patterson

39. Jimmy Guinn Memorial Scholarship- Hunter Lanham

40. Class of 1958 Scholarship- Ashley Bahl

41. Movelda Rhine Memorial Scholarship- Ashton Reese and Easton Wolfe

42. Brazos Communications Scholarship- Ashley Bahl, Joshua Lee, Morgan Patterson, JD Westerman, and Zachery Riggins

43. Jimmie Mae Bennett Golf Scholarship- Sarah Sanders and Mason Reese

44. Randy Finney Scholarship- Spencer McHenry and Lillian Gregory

45. Mary Lillian Blackstock Blackstock Poetry Scholarship- Zara van Alstyne

45. S.H.A.R.E. Scholarship- Callie Dobbs, Cooper Gordy, and Olivia Isom

46. Candice Martin Memorial Scholarship “What Matters Most”- Morgan Patterson and JD Westerman

47. Tom Hughes Memorial- Mason Reese

48. To the Moon Scholarship- Kyle Adair and Tucker May

49. Young County 4-H Parents Scholarship- Rebecca Burgess

50. Jeff Lowery Memorial Scholarship- Daniel Gilbertson and Cooper Gordy

51. Harrison Brown Memorial- Hannah Isbell and Cooper Gordy

52. Dorothy M. Street Memorial Music Scholarship- Zara van Alstyne

53. Hunnewell Religious Foundation Scholarship- Addison Kimberling

54. Lee Allen Hunnewell Reading Scholarship- Lynzy Alaniz

55. Jack Cody Drama Scholarship- Candace Barrett

56. Jean and Harry Bettis Educational Foundation Scholarship- Sarah Sanders, Nicholas Helm, Reese Echols, Morgan Patterson, Ashley Bahl

57. J.R. “Rusty” Cook Memorial Scholarship- Zara van Alstyne

58. Graham North Central Texas College Scholarship- Lily Cusenbary

59. Young County Bar Association Scholarship- Cooper Gordy

60. Young County You Lead Annual Scholarship- Tucker May

61. Rotary Club of Graham Scholarship- Tucker May

62. HUB Scholarships- Gratitude for sponsoring sports scholarships at individual sports banquets. These are awarded at each individual Sports banquet.

63. Ray Herring Memorial Scholarship- Corey Ballew

64. Doris Herring Memorial Scholarship- Callie Dobbs

65. Lu Allen Memorial Scholarship- Addison Kimberling

66. Graham Athletic Booster Club Girls’ Scholarship- Sarah Sanders, Ashley Bahl, and Morgan Patterson

67. Graham Athletic Booster Club Boys’ Scholarship- Spencer McHenry and Daniel Gilbertson

68. Eugenia D. Howell Scholarship- Zara van Alstyne

69. All-Around Girl Graeme Stewart Shannon Memorial Scholarship- Zara van Alstyne

70. Best All-Around Boy, Sponsored by SpotSee- Daniel Gilbertson

71. Honor Graduate Scholarship- Spencer McHenry - GPA 4.625

72. The Echo Production Salutatorian Scholarship- Hannah Isbell- GPA 4.675

73. The Bettis, Boyle, Stovall, and Street Valedictorian Scholarship- Easton Wolfe - GPA 4.70

Graham Steer Baseball- The Steers finish the regular season as District Co-Champions! The team will play Iowa Park at 6 pm this evening in Bowie with the winner being the 1st seed and play Gatesville and the loser will be the 2nd seed and play Brownwood. GO STEERS!

Lady Blues Softball- The Lady Blues are down 0-1 in the Bi-District series vs Glen Rose. Game two will be played this evening. The exact time and location will be announced later today.

Life on the Fly

An old man and a young man are playing golf together.  The young man hits his tee shot and it lands 20 yards in front of a large pine tree blocking the green.  The young man asks for advice.

"You know, sonny," says the old man, "when I was your age, I'd hit that ball right over that tree."

So the young man digs in, swings as hard as he can, and smacks the ball right into the tree.  It ricochets back and lands right in front of the two golfers.

"Of course, when I was your age," says the old man, "that tree was only about ten feet tall."

Sometimes it appears that others have skills or luck that we simply miss.  In reality, they dealt or deal with what happens in their life based on their current circumstances and obstacles.  It is often unfair to compare our situation with others, because the conditions and external factors may be far different.  It has been my experience that we must learn to "live life on the fly".  There is no absolute script, nor can we rely on the experience of others to always guide our way.  We need to value the example of others, but in the end, it will be our responsibility to evaluate the conditions, understand the consequences, and execute with our maximum skills.

 

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY

 

What gets wetter the more it dries? (Scroll down for the answer.)

 

 

A towel!

Choose to Spread Joy- Steer Nation Message 4-23-21

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

COVID-19 Information- Please visit this site for the GISD COVID-19 procedures, protocols, and lab-confirmed cases.

GHS UIL Academic State Qualifiers-  Congratulations to Suzanna Kunkel - 3rd Ready Writing, Zara Van Alstyne - 1st Spelling, Georgina Guerrero - 3rd Spelling, Dawson Grubbs - 5th Spelling and 1st Place Team - Spelling Zara, Georgina, Dawson, and Sean McCall. Also, congratulations to Hannah Isbell on her  6th Science finish at the Regional contest.

GHS Rompin Stompin Big Blue Band- The Graham High School Wind Ensemble performed at the UIL Region 7 Concert and Sightreading Contest Wednesday afternoon in Iowa Park. The band earned a Division 1 rating from all six judges and earned a UIL Sweepstakes award. This is the 3rd consecutive Sweepstakes for the GHS Wind Ensemble. Additionally, the Wind Ensemble has earned a Sweepstakes in 4 of the past 6 years. Excellent job RSB3 and directors!

GHS Smokin Steer BBQ Team- Best of luck at the High School BBQ State Championships in Llano this weekend!

Lady Blues and Steer Track- Good luck to our Lady Blues and Steers who are competing at the UIL Regional Track Meet in Lubbock today and tomorrow. The following Lady Blues and Steers have qualified to compete at the UIL Regional Meet in Lubbock. Mary Lyndell Graham 3200m 1600m, Lillian Graham 800m, 1600m relay, Madi Wilde 3200m, 1600m relay, Taylor Wilborn 400m relay, Cambrie Cowser 100m hurdles 300m hurdles, 400m relay, Emma Parker 400m relay, 1600m relay, Rachel Grimsley 400m relay, 1600m relay, Hannah Williams 1600m relay Alt, JJ Lee Shot Put, Discus, 400m relay, 800m relay, Trent Taylor Pole Vault, Daniel Gilbertson Triple Jump, 400 relay, 800 relay, Ben Williams Triple Jump, Marcos Herrera 3200m, 1600m, Gage Faulk 110 Hurdles, 400m relay, 800m relay, Carson Trice 100m, 400m relay 800m relay, Xavier Reyes 110 Hurdles, 300m Hurdles, 1600m relay, Dario Rendon 300m hurdles, Hugo Murillo 300m hurdles, 1600m relay, Adam Busey 1600m relay, Jack Graham 1600m relay, and Seth Flowers 800m.

Graham Steer Baseball- The Steer got a big 8-3 Senior Night win against Iowa Park this past Tuesday behind the pitching of Corey Ballew to improve to 22-6 on the season and to move into 1st place in district 5-4A. The Steers will play their regular-season finale at Iowa Park this coming Tuesday. GO STEERS!

Lady Blues Softball- The Lady Blues will be playing Glen Rose in the first round of the playoffs. Thursday, April 29 at 6:00 pm in Graham, Friday, April 30, 6:00 pm in Glen Rose, and if needed, Saturday, May 1 at 10:00 am (coin flip for Graham or Glen Rose).

Choose to Spread Joy 

 

I am “borrowing” today’s brief message from something our Pioneer Elementary principal, Donna Gatlin, shared with her staff earlier this week. It arrived in my inbox at a moment when I was reflecting upon the challenges before me and the district. 

 

There is so much negativity in the work, our little ones (and big ones) see it all the time. It seems that many people in the world have lost their joy.

 

Today, choose to rise above the norms of the world…. Choose joy for yourself…Choose to share joy with others!

 

Please take a moment to view this short video. It provides an excellent example of how a six-year-old chose to share joy!

 

Have a nice day…take care of yourself and others! 

 

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY

What do you call a chicken that stares at lettuce? (Scroll down for the answer.)

 

 

Chicken sees-a salad!

Do Not Compare- Steer Nation Message 4-16-21

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

COVID-19 Information- Please visit this site for the GISD COVID-19 procedures, protocols, and lab-confirmed cases.

Masks- On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, the Graham ISD Board of Trustees voted to make the wearing of masks optional for students and staff. It is important to note this does not change the rules regarding close-contact quarantine. 

GHS Treble Choir-  Congratulations to the GHS Treble Choir on earning Division 1 ratings in the UIL Concert and Sightreading!

Lady Blues and Steer Track- Regional Qualifiers- Congrats to the Steers and Lady Blues Track teams on a job well done at the Area Meet. The following Lady Blues and Steers have qualified to compete at the UIL Regional Meet in Lubbock. Mary Lyndell Graham 3200m 1600m, Lillian Graham 800m, 1600m relay, Madi Wilde 3200m, 1600m relay, Taylor Wilborn 400m relay, Cambrie Cowser 100m hurdles 300m hurdles, 400m relay, Emma Parker 400m relay, 1600m relay, Rachel Grimsley 400m relay, 1600m relay, Hannah Williams 1600m relay Alt, JJ Lee Shot Put, Discus, 400m relay, 800m relay, Trent Taylor Pole Vault, Daniel Gilbertson Triple Jump, 400 relay, 800 relay, Ben Williams Triple Jump, Marcos Herrera 3200m, 1600m, Gage Faulk 110 Hurdles, 400m relay, 800m relay, Carson Trice 100m, 400m relay 800m relay, Xavier Reyes 110 Hurdles, 300m Hurdles, 1600m relay, Dario Rendon 300m hurdles, Hugo Murillo 300m hurdles, 1600m relay, Adam Busey 1600m relay, Jack Graham 1600m relay, and Seth Flowers 800m.

Graham Steer Baseball- The Steers will host their annual Teacher Appreciation at 7:00 pm this evening vs Mineral Wells. All GISD employees are welcome to attend free of charge and be recognized during the game. Also, there will be drawings between each half inning to give away Steer baseball apparel and/or hats.  We hope to see you there! GO STEERS!

Graham FFA- This past Thursday-Saturday our chapter was represented by 24 students in their various CDE contests and rode 717 miles on the big, yellow bus. Results are as follows: Canyon High School: Wool (Cade, Jade, Becca, Reese, Mason)-4th; Cotton (Luke, Corey, Bowen, Cody, Kaci, Michael, Creed)-4th. West Texas A&M: Cotton-7th, Wool-9th, Horse (Miya, Briley, Nnenna, Kate, Lela)-2nd, Range (Creed, Cody, Luke, Lorenzo)-5th, Range (Bowen, Porter, McKaylee)-6th, Milk (Tucker, Travis, Lizbeth, Kayla)-10th; Clarendon: Horse-3rd, Range-6th & 7th, Wool-9th, Cotton-10th, Milk-14th.

Lady Blues Soccer District Honors- Congratulations to our Lady Blues who earned District Honors! Utility MVP & 1st Team All-District: Svea Johansson. 1st Team All-District & Academic All-District: Vivian Gutierrez. 1st Team All-District: Melany Simental. 2nd Team All-District: Jocelyn Hernandez, Christabel Cervantes, Brittney Aguilar. 2nd Team All-District & Academic All-District: Madilyn Wilde. Honorable Mention All-District: Lisset Rivera, Jocelyn Palacios, Morgan Dickey. Honorable Mention All-District & Academic All-District: Katie Coyac, Elizabeth Ramos. Academic All-District: Kailey Duncan.

Graham Steer Soccer District Honors- Congratulations to our Graham Steers who earned District Honors! District Co-Defensive MVP- Armando Anaya. District Utility Player- Chandler Dyer. 1st Team All-District- Zac Felipe, Jaron Noble, Christian Coyac. 2nd Team All-District- Joel Fuentes, Diego Arvizu, Xavier Reyes. Honorable Mention- Tony Vizcaino, Bryan Fuentes, Dario Rendon, Wilmer Miranda. Academic All-District – Jesus Lucio, Holton Weatherman, Jaron Noble, Xavier Reyes, Preston Noble

Do Not Compare...  

Take a moment and ponder this thought this morning. Behind every seemingly perfect person, there’s a mess you can’t see!  May we all have the fortitude to be kind and graceful!

 

Have a nice day…take care of yourself and others!