Thank you, NACA, for being our most solid community partners! We have SO MUCH going on at Lanier, that it is difficult to pick just a few accomplishments from this school year, but here are a few highlights:
SPORTS
Lanier started a Wrestling Team and the 2016-2017 girls team won District Champions
They came in 8th place in the State of Texas
We had 3 State Qualifiers
Regional Champion: Selena Cordell
Girls Basketball reached the playoffs for the first time in 20 years! We also had 3 players recognized on the All District teams. Kadasia Duirden: 2nd team all district, Erica Coleman: 1st team all district, Precious Brewer: 1st team all district.
Girls’ Soccer:
Goalkeeper of the district – Maria Salgado
1st team all district – Maria Salgado & Diana Ramirez
2nd team – Cindy Moreno
Honorable Mention – Lisbet Rivera, Jacqui Chavez, Leslie Estrada
Academic all district – Jacqui Chavez, Maria Salgado, Lisbet Rivera, Leslie Villagran
Tasco All Region:
2nd Team – Maria Salgado
Honorable Mention – Jacqui Chavez
ACADEMICS
This was the first year that Advanced Biotechnology was offered at Lanier. We had 24 kids take the course and 22 of them have earned ACC credit for it. The students learned entry level biotechnician skills that they can use either in college courses, work study, careers in pharmaceuticals, forensic science, genetic testing, etc.
Lanier was just named an Early College Prep School! We look forward to rolling out this program to the Lanier Community in the next school year.
ART
Diana Gonzalez, a senior (#20327517) in Art I, received a rating of IV (Exemplary) and medals at Regional Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE Region 13) for both her art entries, Piece by Piece and Treasure of the Night. Diana’s piece, Treasure of the Night was also selected to advance to State VASE. At State VASE, she received a perfect score, a rating of IV (Exemplary), and a gold medal.
Nina Trujillo, a senior (#2048778) in AP Studio Art, was accepted to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) with a Merit Scholarship based on her academic, art portfolio and artistic potential. SAIC is ranked number 2 (According to SAIC, US News have them at 4) in the US and number 3 in the world.
Both students are also good standing members of our National Art Honor Society (NAHS) where students uphold the highest standards in art scholarship, character, and service and to bring art education to the attention of the school and community.
Diana is getting recognized at an AISD Schoool Board Recognition of Award Winning Visual Arts Students tonight and I can send you a picture later. I can also get you a picture of Nina and Ms. Discher (CCC) tomorrow.
COMMUNITY
We have had tremendous partnership in the community!
– ESL classes for adults are offered in the Family Resource Center morning and evening. Evening classes have childcare.
– Community Care and Central health have teamed up with Lanier Athletics to offer over 180 low-cost physicals to Lanier athletes
– The Lanier Fall Viking Parade and Festival had over 1,400 attendees – in part because of greater community resource participation
– The Lanier Family Resource Center launched a “Spanish Club for Teachers” where teachers could practice Spanish for their workplace setting
– Over $16,000 in funds from Austin Energy were distributed to families who needed help paying an electric bill
– In partnership with the Mexican Consulate, Adult Literacy Classes launched at Cook Elementary School – with the idea that parents of children at Cook will learn to read along with their children
– The Lanier Family helped launch one of the first (of three) Food Banks at public Schools at Burnet Middle School. Lanier families are referred to the pantry in time of need. During the first 3 months of operation, the Burnet Food Pantry distributed over 10,000 pounds of food to the community.
– Houghton Mifflin Harcourt partnered with Lanier to host the Community Holiday Dinner: 446 people were served. 52 families (253 people) signed up for Operation Blue Santa at the event
– The Lanier Family Resource provided wrap-around case management services to 60 families at the school with one full time social worker.
– Lanier helped coordinate the Mother’s Day Shop-a-thon at Wooldridge Elementary school where over 500 students chose mother’s day gifts for influential women in their lives.
– In its second year, Futbol Rapido had over 600 people on campus for the community soccer tournament
– Over 50 adults have registered for intensive ESL classes this Summer

We look forward to continuing our work with you in the following school year.
All the best,
Jocelyn Connell
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Jocelyn Connell
Austin Voices for Education and Youth
Lanier High School Vertical Team – Full Service Community Schools
Grant and Community School Coordinator
Phone: (512) 414-8709
Lanier HS | Burnet MS | Cook ES | Wooldridge ES