RCTW JUNIORS LASSO FIRST PLACE IN ERG RODEO – Rowing Club of The Woodlands Juniors kicked off the 2011 regatta season at the indoor rowing machine event called “Erg Rodeo” hosted by Texas Crew in the Gregory Gymnasium in Austin. This annual event featured the standard 2,000 meters on the indoor rowing machine. Participants had the chance to be ranked on the national level based on their time. The rowers also become potential college recruits because coaches search the erg results from across the country.

Outstanding results were achieved by many of the RCTW Juniors. Winning first place in the Men’s Junior Lightweight Novice category was Ryan Lynch with a time of 7:16.0. Men’s Junior Novice first place was won by Jonathan Bohn, a junior at College Park High School, with a time of 7:07.5. Men’s Junior (Varsity level) Lightweight first place was won by Thomas Eastwick, with a time of 07:00.9.

Tara Dalton proved that this wasn’t her first erg rodeo when she won first place for the Women’s Junior (Varsity) event in a time of 07:28.3.

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DOUBLE TOURNAMENT SUCCESS FOR THE WOODLANDS HS THEATER – The Woodlands High School Theater Department continues be active in a more competitive side of theater arts by attending the final few speech tournaments of the year. These last tournaments determine the competitors qualified to participate in the Texas Forensic Association State competition.

Actors of all grade levels compete in acting categories including Duet Acting, Humorous Interpretation and Dramatic Interpretation. At the Westfield Tournament in Duet Acting, Katlin Newman and Andrew Hollinger placed second, Rachel Schardt and Casey Hale placed sixth, and Katelyn Mattingly and Aaron Evans placed eighth. In Dramatic Interpretation, Will Rogers placed third and qualified for State. Allison McKinney placed fifth.

At the Magnolia tournament, the department swept the final rounds. The Duet Acting team of Jacey Martin and Chelsi Jump placed first and qualified, Katelyn Mattingly and Aaron Evans placed second, and Casey Hale and Rachel Schardt placed third and qualified for state.

In Dramatic Interpretation, Allison McKinney placed first and qualified. Christi Beauchemin placed third, Rachel Schardt placed fourth, and Adelle Harris placed sixth. In Humorous Interpretation, Katlin Newman placed first and qualified, Andrew Novak placed third, Gwen Jones placed fourth, and Rachel Ricks placed fifth and qualified.

Students have double qualified, and have worked diligently on pieces since August. If not already qualified, the members of Troupe No. 1053 are well on the way to participating in the State Competition of 2011.

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EAGLE SCOUT CANDIDATE HONORED FOR WORK AT POST OFFICE – Eagle Scout candidate Hunter West-Freeman was recognized for his work at the U.S. Post Office at Gosling Road and Woodlands Parkway, leading the Boy Scouts of Troop No. 1772 in the installation of weed barriers, painting light piles, power washing and landscaping.

The beautification project was facilitated by The Woodlands Township’s Revitalization program and the Montgomery County United Way. Turner Construction Company assisted the scouts by donating all materials, and Dirt Cheap Mulch provided mulch at a discount.

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YOUNG TEXAS ARTISTS ALUMNUS MAKES METROPOLITAN OPERA DEBUT – The Young Texas Artists Music Competition is proving its success by launching an ever-growing number of performing artists and elite teachers. One such member of the talented YTA alumni pool is baritone Joshua Hopkins, who recently had his Metropolitan Opera debut as Ping in Turandot.

The 2003 YTA competition was significant for Canadian-born Joshua. As winner of first place in the voice division, his talents were recognized by one of the competition’s distinguished judges, Richard Gaddes, who was then the general director of The Santa Fe Opera.

Joshua holds a Bachelor of Music with honors in Voice Performance and Master of Music in Opera Performance from McGill University in Montreal. He said he was encouraged to participate in the YTA Music Competition while he was at the Houston Grand Opera Studio.

“Having experienced my first HD broadcast performance at the Met this past season, I would love to explore more opportunities of opera on film, whether recorded live or produced as a movie,” said Joshua.

The 27th annual Young Texas Artists Music Competition’s Entergy Finalists’ Concert & Awards was held on March 12 at the Crighton Theatre. The event was presented by the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society.

Entergy presented a check in the amount of $25,000 to the Young Texas Artists Music Competition. Entergy has contributed more than $200,000 to Young Texas Artists since beginning its sponsorship 13 years ago.

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COOPER INTERACT OFFICERS REPORT ON OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO ROTARY CLUB – Interact Club executive board members and faculty sponsors from The John Cooper School attended The Rotary Club of The Woodlands’ January luncheon. Interact Club President Iyza Baig gave an update on the club’s activities and introduced members of the Interact Executive Committee who were in attendance.

Cooper’s Interact Club is the largest on campus, made up of approximately 100 members, or a little less than a third of the Upper School student body. The club sponsored the first of two blood drives to be held this year. The club also sponsored two teams at the YMCA Dragonboat Races, and helped host the annual Rotary Christmas Party for local senior citizens on campus.

In addition, club members participated in the Light the Night event to raise awareness for cancer and supported the Montgomery County Teen Book Festival in January. They also plan to volunteer at a spring picnic for CASA and help with the Literacy Volunteers of America Used Book Sale.

The club raises funds throughout the school year through bake sales and special fundraisers for an international project. This year’s designated international cause is Rotoplast, a nonprofit organization that provides free reconstructive operations and treatment for children in need worldwide.

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COOPER’S SPIRIT WEEK ROARS WITH DRAGON PRIDE – Spirit Week is an annual tradition in the Upper School, grades nine through 12, at The John Cooper School. The week is held during the winter sports seasons of girls and boys basketball, soccer, swimming and diving, to promote “dragon pride.”

Activities includes home games, theme days when students dress up, a boys volleyball game and girls flag football game, voting for and naming of a Dragon Court, and crowning of a Dragon King and Queen. New activities this year included a dodgeball game and a competition based on the popular television game show, Minute to Win It.

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WOODLANDS PREP HOSTS FIRST SENIOR NIGHT – Woodlands Prep honored their senior athletes in the first annual Senior Night. Athletic Director Michael Postus presented each senior athlete with a gift from the Booster Club to remember their years at Woodlands Prep. The senior athletes in turn presented flowers to their parents for their dedication and support in the last four years at Woodlands Prep.