Lakehill Upper School artists brought home multiple awards from the TAPPS 2A District 2 art competition, including a coveted first place win in the largest and most important category of Senior Portfolio. A total of 15 works of art by Lakehill students will advance to the State Competition. 

Upper School art teacher Scott Boles entered 49 student works of art to compete against nine schools from around the north Texas area in the February 28 District event.  

Michaela Rollins took first place in Senior Portfolio with her oil and watercolor paintings of various buildings from around the world, finishing ahead of 20 talented competitors in this high profile event. Judges in this event evaluated six of each competitor's best works of art to determine the champion. Michaela also placed in the individual categories of drawing and painting. She placed second in "Drawing: Color" and fourth in "Drawing: Black and White." She also took third place in the Painting category. All of her paintings and drawings will now advance to Austin to compete on the state level.

Other notable winners include Laura Currey with a first place win in "Pottery, Fabrication, and Ceramics," and Honorable Mention in "Drawing: Color." Emily Allton placed second and Amanda Boles took third in the category of "Computer Rendered Art." Manon LaGrange placed fourth in "Printmaking" and fifth in "Painting." Kathleen Evans took fifth and sixth place in "Pottery, Fabrication, and Ceramics."  

These six district winners will advance to the March 25-26 State Competition in Austin.  

Sixth Grade Tutors Inspired by Rachel's Challenge           In January, the Lakehill community rallied around "Rachel's Challenge," a program that encourages students to start a chain reaction of kindness.

Sixth grade students Noah Bernstein, Declan Devine, Bridget Draaisma, Spencer Gautreaux, Marion Humphreys, Varun Iyer, and Lily Turner were motivated by the program to do something good for their community. The students became involved with Bayles Elementary, an east Dallas public school that maintains a long-standing relationship with Lakehill. Bayles Elementary principal Maria Tafur enlisted the Lakehill students help as tutors in her school's Saturday School Program. The program offers extra tutoring to students having difficulty passing the state TAKS exams.The Lakehill students have been working specifically with Bayles students in grades 2-4 in Math and Reading.   

Lakehill student Lily Turner says she enjoys getting up early on Saturday mornings to tutor these students. "I feel like this tutoring will really help these kids pass their tests," she explained.The group's combined efforts will result in more than 75 hours of tutoring to Bayles Students by the end of the program. Lakehill's young tutors have already been invited back next year to work with the same students.  

According to Bayles principal Maria Tafur, the tutoring program is a win-win situation. "The Bayles students are receiving tutoring while the Lakehill students are receiving the positive feelings associated with helping others," she explained. Lakehill parent Sharon Mansfield believes that the program is a reflection of the Lakehill community's values. "The children have learned they have a real ability to affect real positive change in their world."  

Middle School Coordinator Kaye Hauschild agrees, "I think that students have been inspired through the Rachel's Challenge program, and that they realize that kind acts such as this can create a permanent positive change in their school and in their community."   

Class 2A District 3 is comprised of six schools, including Lakehill, Dallas Covenant, Cambridge, Fairhill, Desoto Canterbury and Waco Vanguard.