PPAS CAMPUS NEWS
December 2013 Vol. 2, No. 6

In This Issue

Remembering Mr. Perry Reed

Christmas Candlelight Service

National Honor Society Induction

Hefzi Jimenez - Wendy's High School Heisman Trophy Award

One Act Play Competition

New Campus Entrance Signs

Merry Christmas

Students have completed their semester exams and are officially on Christmas Break until classes resume on January 6. We wish all of our students, faculty, staff and friends of the school a safe and blessed Christmas.

Remembering Mr. Perry Reed

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Perry Reed on Thursday, December 12, 2013, in Palestine, Texas. He was loved by many at Tex-Mex and Presbyterian Pan American School where he served for 37 years as a teacher, associate headmaster, treasurer and registrar. He retired from Pan Am in 1983, but his legacy lives on through the many lives he touched.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 18. Click here to read the obituary.

Christmas Candlelight Service

The entire campus joined together for worship with a Service of Lessons and Carols on Saturday, December 7. Students presented six lessons, which were read in Kinyarwanda and English.

Special music included an instrumental quartet with Magdiel Alaniz, Hyun Suk Choi, Ismael Bartolome and Miso Lee and a special vocal performance of "O Holy Night" performed by Grace Han and accompanied by Hyun Suk Choi on piano. The ceremony concluded with the singing of "Silent Night, Holy Night" as everyone lit candles creating a circle of light around the chapel.

The service was followed by a Christmas party in the dining hall, where students enjoyed food and fellow-ship and participated in the traditional gift exchange. "Santa" (aka Dr. Dalglish) assisted in distributing the gifts, and a great time was had by all.

National Honor Society Induction

Eighteen PPAS students were inducted into the John A. Mackay Chapter of the National Honor Society on Friday, December 6. Dr. Dalglish, opened the ceremony with prayer, followed by welcoming remarks from principal, Ellie Perez.

Officers of the club presented the four Natonal Honor Society

pillars (Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character) and lit the respective candles. And, Tania Rodriguez, PPAS Class of 2010, spoke to the students about how her education at PPAS prepared her for college and encouraged students to have a passion and to pursue their dreams. Tania will graduate from the University of Houston in May 2014.

The new inductees are Fernanda Aleman, Monach Bizumuremyi, Raquel Cahuich, Hefzi Gabriel, Estrella Galvan, Uriel Gonzalez, Grace Han, Jinghan Li, Celeste Moreno, Igor Ngabo, Frank Porras, Libni Robles, Monika Ruiz, Valeria Saenz, Daniela Tamayo, Francine Umumararungu, Emilio Vasquez and Ana Karen Vazquez. Congratulations to these fine students!

Hefzi Jimenez - Wendy's High School Heisman Trophy Award

PPAS senior, Hefzi Jimenez, has been named the female winner for the Wendy's High School Heisman Trophy Award for the entire State of Texas, an award that recognizes excellence in academics, community service and athletics.

In addition to being the PPAS Student Council President, Senior Class Treasurer and a stellar athlete in multiple sports, Hefzi has maintained a top three academic ranking among her classmates since she arrived at Pan Am from Oaxaca, Mexico four years ago. She has also received many Top Student

Hefzi Jimenez and PPAS Athletic Director, Reili Cantu

Awards at Pan Am while also being enrolled as a dual credit student at Coastal Bend College.

Hefzi has excelled athletically during each of her four years at Pan Am. Last year, Hefzi was a State Qualifier in the 3200-meter track and field event and holds school records in the 1600m and 3200m events. She achieved Academic All-State honors in 2012. She was the Female MVP at Pan Am last year and earned the Newcomer of the Year Award in various sports her freshman year including Pan Am's Female Newcomer of the Year. Hefzi has received MVP awards in all four sports.

Even with her academic and athletic accomplishments, Hefzi still finds time to serve the Kingsville community by volunteering at local nursing homes, Porky's Pack during Javelina home football games and with Adopt-a-Highway. In her hometown, she volunteers at a local hospital as well as with Clean Up Oaxaca.

Hefzi's future plans are to study medicine because it is an important way to help others. She learned leadership from her parents. She is the oldest of three siblings and strives to be a role model and to set a positive example for others.

One Act Play Competition

PPAS drama students participated in the TAPPS Division II One Act Play Contest in Kerrville, Texas on November 8, 2013. They performed a play entitled "Before Juliet," which was directed by Theater Arts teacher, Rick Saenz.

Several students received special recognition for their performance. Receiving "All Star Cast" awards were Yvonne Borrego, Monika Ruiz and Sebastian Guerrero. Receiving "Honorable Mention" awards were Samuel Godinez and Zack Duran. And, receiving the "Technical Crew" award was Osmara Perez. Congratulations to all of our drama students for a job well done!

New Campus Entrance Signs

New signs were installed at the entrance to campus in November. These ranch-style signs are a welcome addition and a "sign" of great things to come for Pan Am!