Lone Star Emmy nomination for student’s documentary
November 7, 2024 7:00 AM
Ashley Vasquez, a senior at Spring Woods High School (SWHS) in the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD), has realized a dream. Her personal documentary, “Now or Never,” was nominated for a prestigious Student Production Award from the Lone Star Emmy Foundation.
Each year, the foundation presents awards to students across Texas who have demonstrated excellence in media and journalism. The awards highlight cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news, and informational achievements by undergraduate college and high school students.
“Receiving a student production award is a huge honor, especially considering how much I love film and capturing human moments,” Ashley said. “When I submitted my documentary to the Lone Star Emmy Foundation earlier this year, I hoped others would connect with my story and see a bit of themselves in it.”
The nomination marks a significant milestone in Ashley’s journey and is also a moment of pride for her school and the district.
“I’ve always had a passion for the arts,” Ashley said. “I want to keep that passion alive in film, dance, music, or production. This project allowed me to share my journey with others and show them that anything is possible, no matter the obstacles.”
The journalism program at SWHS has been instrumental in fueling Ashley’s love for journalism and multimedia. In her classes, Ashley and her peers are entrusted with more than just assignments—they are given a platform to share real stories, often their own, highlighting the importance of student journalism in shaping young voices.
Joshua Ault, who teaches journalism, yearbook, newspaper, and photojournalism at SWHS and is a former journalist, encourages his students to tell the stories of their lives and focus on moments that define who they are. Ashley embraced this challenge with remarkable vulnerability and reflection, illuminating her life’s ups and downs.
“Receiving the nomination for a Student Production award is a testament to Ashley’s incredible storytelling skills and her bravery in sharing her life’s most challenging moments,” Joshua said.
“Ashley’s honesty is awe-inspiring. She didn’t shy away from difficult topics in her documentary, and her ability to find the good in her experiences is powerful and mature for someone her age. It’s refreshing to see a young person show such resilience and have clear goals for her future.”
Throughout the production, Ashley took full ownership of her work, shaping her narrative and ensuring each element authentically captured her story. Her journey reveals a young woman who, despite setbacks, sees possibilities and has a clear vision for the future.
As Ashley reflects on her achievement, she remains steadfast in her desire to pursue the arts. Her Lone Star Emmy nomination is just one powerful validation of her talent, resilience, and passion.
Athletes in Action: Frank Miranda
November 8, 2024 7:41 AM
Running at a blazing pace, Spring Woods High School (SWH) junior Frank Miranda captured a district individual title for the Spring Woods cross country team and helped them win the district championship. Miranda is a key part of a Spring Woods athletics renaissance that saw girls’ and boys’ cross country district championships and a team tennis championship in the fall of 2024.
“We’ve come a long way from where we were two years ago with nothing,” Miranda said. “Now we are district champs and regional qualifiers. We didn’t make it to state, sadly, but we’ll come back stronger and better.”
Spring Woods coach Johnny Guajardo noticed a work ethic and drive to not just compete but to win in his team this year. Miranda was a significant part of that turnaround, setting a school record in the district meet.
“He’s one of those quiet leaders who leads by example,” Guajardo said. “I am very proud of him. Next year, I think he will definitely go to state, and he will be our No. 1.”
Miranda initially started cross country as conditioning for soccer. After being convinced by friends and his mother to stick with it, he excelled as one of the star athletes on the Spring Woods campus. Miranda has natural talent, but his dedication to a training regimen, along with his teammates, led to success this year for the Tigers.
Outside of cross country, he aims to contribute at a high level as a thespian for the Spring Woods Safari theater group. He played Puss in Boots in the Safari’s production of Shrek last year and plans to step up again as an actor in future productions.
College is a long-term goal for Miranda, with aspirations of attending top area universities.
“I’d like to get accepted to Rice, Texas A&M, the University of Texas, and the University of Houston and get my degree in either business, accounting, or marketing,” Miranda said. “Running for a university in cross country or track would be great.”
For now, Miranda is focused on improving. He already has his sights set on another district championship and an appearance in the UIL Class 5A state meet in 2025.
SBISD students earn academic honors from the College Board
November 1, 2024 10:00 AM
This recognition highlights their hard work and dedication to academic excellence.
The National Recognition Program honors students who attend school in a rural area, or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latino, Indigenous/Native American, or as a first-generation college student. These students must score within the top 10% of PSAT assessment takers in their state or earn a score of 3 or higher on 2 or more AP Exams by the end of 10th grade. They must also earn a GPA of B+ or better. These recognition awards are instrumental in broadening college access for underserved populations. Many institutions actively use them in their recruitment efforts, ensuring that diverse talent is recognized and encouraged to pursue higher education.
Recognized Students by Campus
NORTHBROOK HIGH SCHOOL
Lilly Barrera, Ronald Beltran, Emili Castillo, Aylin Choc, Inez Constante‐Hernandez, Sebastian Elias, Franklin Gamero, Josue Giron, Diego Gonzalez Urbina, Emily Hernandez, Jimmy Hernandez, Alexis Martinez, Mario Matias, Andy Melgar‐melgar, Michel Mendoza Lopez, Anthony Murillo, Santiago Pineda, Dominique Quellar, Omar Robles, Roman Romero, Steven Rosales, Nabil Salgado Peralta, Valeria Torres‐Farfan
SPRING WOODS HIGH SCHOOL
Christine Alexander, Hannah Araiza‐Rojas, Jaylen Campbell, Jonathan Cano, Emmanuel Carmona, Jose Delgado, Arianna Flores, Elizabeth Flores, Marcos Franco, Isabella Hernandez, Paula Hoang, Viktoria Hoxha, Alexander Jenkins, Alexis Jenkins, Yamileth Martinez Cortes, Angela Mejia, Noah Melkus, Angel Mendoza, Karina Montoya, Citlali Negrete, Jossue Ortega, Siaosi Patton, Mohammad Qaisar, Alin Sanchez, Nina Skae, Diego Suarez, Nabil Tlass, David Trevino, Steven Urbina
At the beginning of the next school year, students will receive their awards, providing an opportunity for communities to celebrate their achievements and for colleges to connect with them as they advance into their junior or senior year.
Additionally, the College Board’s Student Search Service™ enables thousands of nonprofit colleges and organizations to reach out to awardees to share information about their postsecondary programs.
Congratulation to all our student honorees!