PTO Press Release:
Congrats to Michelle Nguyen, Sri Devulapalli, Macy Huang, Andy Zhu, & Allie Rossmiller. Each was awarded $500 by the PTO!
Every year, the PTO gives out monetary awards to 5 outstanding Seniors.
Like most years, the process started out with an appeal to PTO Parents to Volunteer their time and energy to be on a semester-long committee, and a call out to all Seniors to take time out of their busy Spring Semester to submit applications and personal essays.
This year, predictably, we had many extremely qualified applicants.
Utilizing the posted criteria, the committee got the list of applicants down to the top 10.
These 10 applicants normally would have been invited for a round of face-to-face interviews with our PTO Committee Volunteer Panel, and 5 finalists would then be selected for the $500 PTO Awards.
Because of the circumstances of the Pandemic, we extended the application deadline from March 31 to April 18, and still unable to conduct panel interviews face-to-face, we decided that various versions of modified interviews would not be a fair medium for all applicants, and we therefore used our rubric to score and rank all applications, reaching our top 5.
We were VERY impressed by all the applicants, with their range of activities, passion and commitment. They contributed to Carnegie in so many ways… by being Quiz bowl Champions, participating in yearbook and mentoring younger students, by participating in Chemistry Olympiad, WISE (Women in Science and Engineering Club), and by leading other clubs and organizations like Student Council, CVHS Chess Club and Robotics Club but they also contributed greatly outside of school, through working with the Houston Food Bank, earning their Girl Scout Gold Award or their designation as an Eagle Scout, tutoring and volunteering in COUNTLESS other activities.
Like I said, we were blown away by what these Rhinos have achieved.
But, the pool of applicants had to be narrowed to 5. Utilizing the rubric, based on the advertised criteria of the award, the Committee determined that THESE 5 students best exemplified the Carnegie Spirit through all of their accomplishments and their contributions both inside and outside of school.
