Elkhart HS students win gold at state UIL meet

By MARY RAINWATER
The Palestine Herald

ELKHART May 14, 2008 02:50 am

— Eight Elkhart High School students helped make history for their school earlier this month, earning three awards at the University Interscholastic League State Championship Meet May 3 in Austin.
The EHS UIL Calculator Applications team of Kaylee Russell, Boris Dosen, Sam Henry and Rachel Morgan brought home the school’s seventh state championship title and its fourth state title in Calculator Apps.
“It was exciting for us,” said team member Kaylee Russell, who also earned the silver medal for individual effort in Calculator Applications and was a state qualifier in the Mathematics contest. “All our hard work and practice paid off for us.”
For senior Sam Henry, the win meant a lot, as he has competed at the state level for all four years of his high school career.
“It feels good to go all four years and to come out on top,” he said. “To be part of something like this is really cool for me.”
Also participating at the state competition was the current events team of Ross Blake, Alexis Allen, Ben Krisch and Andrea Lightcap. Blake, the team’s appointed leader, was ranked fourth individually in the state current events competition.
“The current events team accomplished a lot under Ross’ leadership,” Allen said. “We would not have made it to state if it weren’t for him.”
The group of students practiced every day for competition, they said, and two days a week after school. They all expressed gratitude to their teachers and sponsors for getting them to state.
“All our sponsors did a great job working with us,” said Dosen, who is also one of the school’s foreign exchange students. “We are thankful to all of them for all they did for us.”
Those sponsors included Kelly Gazaway, computer applications; Carla Absalom, literary criticism; Cody Mitchell, science; and Holly Wilson, current events.
“It is a fun experience for me to see the students accomplish their academic goals through UIL competition,” Gazaway said. “And each time they win, it is as exciting for me as the win before.”
As state qualifiers, all eight EHS students are eligible to apply for a TILF scholarship, with the chance to receive up to $3,000 toward their college education.
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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com

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