News & Media - Press Releases

April 24, 2006

ARNOLD STUDENTS SELECTED FOR LONE STAR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Seventh-grade students Michelle Urrea and Brittni Black from Arnold Middle School have been selected to travel to Austin as participants in Education in Action’s Lone Star Leadership Academy, June 19-23, 2006.

Education in Action, a non-profit organization de dicated to fostering educated and involved Texans, states that the purpose for hosting the Lone Star Leadership Academy is to “Instill the Spirit of Texas in Tomorrow’s Leaders.”

According to Arnold Texas History teacher Leslie Bourland, her students Brittni and Michelle represent tomorrow’s leaders.

“ I nominated Brittni and Michelle for several reasons. Not only are these two girls excellent students, they get their work turned in, they make good grades, they listen and participate in classroom discussions and they are well liked by their classmates,” Bourland said. “I also picked them because I can see leadership potential. Michelle is very opinionated and curious and will make a good leader because she takes the lead to search out the answers. Brittni is more quiet but very polite and sensitive to those around her. All of these qualities make up a good leader .”

The Lone Star Leadership Academy calls for participants to become active citizens and leaders in their communities. Participants must be in sixth or seventh grade, maintain an 85 or higher average, demonstrate academic and leadership ability, receive an educator recommendation and be involved in community or school activities.

In addition to academic success, Brittni participates in volleyball, track, choir, and in the Breakfast of Champions; and Michelle participates in basketball and volleyball, as an ESL student assistant and participates in mission trips with her church.

Joining the delegation of outstanding students from across the state of Texas, Brittni and Michelle will develop leadership skills while learning about the great state of Texas and its leaders. They will learn about future career and internship opportunities and visit historically, politically and geographically significant sites including the Austin offices of their State Representatives and Senator, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, LBJ Library, State Cemetery, Governor’s Mansion, State Capitol, Supreme Court and McKinney Roughs Environmental Learning Center.

“I am absolutely thrilled by the representation Arnold will have at the Lone Star Leadership Academy,” said Susan Higgins, principal at Arnold. “This is an honor and it speaks highly of Brittni and Michelle—and their teacher [Leslie Bourland] for taking the time to recommend them for this outstanding opportunity.”

Michelle’s and Brittni’s Texas State Senator, the Honorable Jon Lindsay of District 7, and their State Representatives, the Honorable Gary Elkins of District 135 and the Honorable Corbin Van Arsdale of District 130, were notified by Education in Action of their accomplishments.

Lone Star Leadership Academy provides unique opportunities for outstanding students to learn about the Spirit of Texas and what it truly means to be from the Lone Star State. Participants discuss what they learn, complete problem solving and decision–making simulations, exercise creativity and practice presentation skills in Leadership Groups.

For more information about Education in Action or the Lone Star Leadership Academy programs in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, or Houston/Galveston programs, visit www.educationinaction.org.

(pictured from left to right) Texas History teacher Leslie Bourland, seventh grade students Brittni Black and Michelle Urrea, and principal Susan Higgins from Arnold Middle School

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