Aspiring senior architect wins $10,000 scholarship

Ryan Stanley, ReporterFebruary 21, 2019Leave a Comment

After school, freshman Michelle Ayala interviews junior Elizabeth "Betty" Gacek. At just 17 years old, Gacek has already accomplished balancing her academics with having fluency in eight languages as well as overcoming a series of challenges with her dyslexia. Her life is split between two distinct countries and cultures. She spends her summers in Poland for schooling and the rest of her time in Texas. “In Poland, the culture is more serious," Gacek said. "If you smile, it can be perceived as being dumb or creepy. In Texas, it’s a more casual and friendly atmosphere where smiling and casual interactions are common.”

1 student, 8 languages, 1 year & 2 countries

As Jennifer Delano strikes up a conversation with Tiffany Ballard, they discuss the upcoming details for the Toyota Symposium. A PCIS event where students get the opportunity to make connections, and speak with professionals. “During my first year at Prosper, I taught all the marketing classes,” Ballard said. "Later, I was asked to lead the PCIS program to increase its enrollment. When I first took over, we had only 11 students. Now, we have 400 across Prosper ISD."

From marketing at Sega to adviser

As they finish up their monthly meeting, sophomore Christine Kim guides students when creating cards. Kim faced some challenges when Cardz for Kidz started. "Figuring out the materials we needed when making cards and who's doing what to help with the club (created part of the challenge)." Kim said. "We collectively agreed on things in the end when we needed to make decisions."

Students create cards for kids in hospitals

While the audience watches, junior Boyd Mueller sings into a microphone. Mueller plays Hades. Prosper Theatre's "Hadestown: Teen Edition" was chosen to be performed at the Main Stage at the Texas Thespian State Festival in Grapevine. "Generally, Main Stage is a privilege almost exclusively given to private fine art schools," stage manager senior Annabelle Nugent said. "The fact that a public school like Prosper is getting Main Stage is fantastic. Simply, it means that we are at the level of schools who specifically draft for stuff like fine arts and singing and dancing ability, and it's really a compliment to our actors and our technicians."

Prosper Theatre shows varsity musical

Brush in hand, senior Emma Esposito paints her pumpkin at the October FFA meeting held on Oct. 21. Emma competes in horse evaluation – a CDE competition. "You see horses going around and people riding them, and you have to judge them, and they have a mock competition," Richmond said. "And basically your goal is to get as close to the real judge as you can."

Cultivating success: FFA members gain community in organization

Students start to see changes with their social media accounts. Instagram announced Sept. 17 it will add new restrictions for teenagers going into 2025. These restrictions include a new age verification policy, changes in privacy, protection from suspicious adults, new restrictions on content, parent supervision and notifications. Graphic was made by Ethan Chatelain on Canva.

Students voice opinions on ‘Teen Account’ restrictions

The JROTC Color Guard marches with the American and Texas flags during halftime at the Prosper Homecoming football game. 1st Sgt. Sedric Wade and Staff Sgt. Michael Songy teach the class. This class includes Cadet Sgt. Maj. Brooklyn Spring, Cadet 2nd Lt. Christian Politz, Cadet Cpt. Jolee Page, Cadet Cpt. Christopher McHenry and Cadet 2nd Lt. Pravani Sundaram.

JROTC prepares students for future

Eyes ahead, junior Cali Swick follows the play on the field. It teaches me responsibility. This is Swick's second year in the stadium crew program. "It teaches me a better understanding of equipment and the way that things roll at a stadium," Swick said. "The relationships that you make with everyone are just so pure because you're helping each other out."

Stadium crew operates Children’s Health Stadium

Photo provided by Arya George

Senior Arya George stands with her parents after winning a $10,000 scholarship. “I did not think I would win,” George said. “They had six scholarships in total. There was one $1,000, four $5,000, and then the $10,000 scholarship. They called the $10,000, and said it was me. I freaked out. It was a dream.” The scholarships were given out at the ACE awards, which was a 15 week mentorship based program.

There were six scholarships to give out. Five had already been awarded, and the grand prize, a $10,000 scholarship, awaited its lucky recipient. With her hopes down, senior Arya George said she couldn’t believe it when her name was called.

The two month ACE program (architecture, construction, and engineering) culminated at the awards night on Jan. 31. Ninety students from various schools were split into 15 teams and tasked with designing a hypothetical building in New York City.

“I did not think I would win,” George said. “They had six scholarships in total. There was one $1,000, four $5,000, and then the $10,000 scholarship. They called the $10,000 and said it was me. I freaked out. It was a dream.”

Architecture teacher Donald Berliner said his hopes dwindled for George because two scholarships had already been awarded to two members in her group from different schools.

“I was really excited,” Mr. Berliner said. “I yelled way louder than she did. I just thought there was no way they’d keep giving them to the kids in the same group.”

Each group designed a building with three parts and were helped along the way by mentors who taught them about the different ACE careers.

“The bottom was retail, the middle was an office for the client we were given, and the top floors were apartments,” George said. “We would work on each level and the exterior throughout the program. Each week, the different career we would learn about within the ace fields would be our focus.”

Senior Derek Holdeg, whose team won first place for their project board, said all of his architecture classmates in the program, including George, were really dedicated.

“They all had good connections, they were really smart, and they knew what they were doing,” Holdeg said. “It was just good to work with them.”

Berliner said he sees promise in George and said she was a student in his Architecture I class who also helped set up the architecture club.

“She is a great student,” Berliner said. “She is definitely going to be an architect. I could see her being a mentor in the ACE program in the future. Her artwork from last year I actually have hanging on the wall because it was so good.”

George realized from the program how big of an impact mentors can have on students, and how they can open up career opportunities.

“They volunteered to come every single week, out of their way to help us gain more knowledge, and it helped me a lot to choose the career I wanted to go into,” George said. “I think my biggest takeaway would be the fact that I want to be that person for other people too because it’s an amazing opportunity.”

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