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Saluting Sugar Land
� Sugar Land Magazine � Sugar Land, Texas 2006
January 15, 2006
By Brenda Thompson
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MOMS Club Teddy Bear Drive
Area MOMS Club chapters recently donated nearly 250 teddy bears to the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Emergency Room. The MOMS Clubs of Missouri City-N/Stafford, Missouri City-South, Sugar Land-Southwest (Greatwood) and
Sugar Land-South (First Colony) worked together on their Second Annual Teddy Bear Drive. Chapter members with the help of Babies R Us collected the bears as a service project for the clubs. The bears will be used to
comfort pediatric patients who visit the ER.
Local Student Walks in
Footsteps of U.S. Leaders
Emily Dunbar of Richmond recently joined 200 middle school students from throughout the United States at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference held in Washington D.C. Emily is an eighth-grader who is currently
home schooled. The Junior National Young Leaders Conference introduces middle school students to the rich tradition of leadership throughout American history, while helping them develop their own leadership skills.
During the program
Dunbar took part in educational activities as well as visited historical sites, monuments and memorials.
Fort Bend Women�s Shelter Honors
Dedicated Volunteers
The Fort Bend County Women�s Center commemorated 25 years of service to the community and celebrated their accomplishments at their annual volunteer luncheon during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In 25 years of
serving the community, the Fort Bend County Women�s Center has helped more than 20,000 women and children achieve violence-free lifestyles.
Local Gymnastics Great
Congratulations to Britne Goldstein, an eighth-grader at Dulles Middle School, for placing third in the Trampoline for Level 5, 13-14 year-old girls at the Trampoline and Power Tumbling Nationals competition in Houston.
Britne started competing in gymnastics at the age of 9. Starting her gymnastics training at several Sugar Land area gyms, she now trains three times a week at the Houston Gymnastics Academy (home of Olympian Sean
Townsend).
Lamar Forensic League
Receives Top Honors
The Lamar High School chapter of the National Forensic League has qualified for the NFL �200 Club.� Lamar qualified for this award by achieving 200 degrees or more last year, placing it in the top 5 percent of NFL
chapters nationwide. This prestigious award is given to programs that teach essential life skills such as communication, research, listening, writing and organization to a large number of students.
Sienna �Idols� Taped
Chosen from among approximately 200 children who auditioned, four Sienna �Idols� were taped to appear in the community�s next series of television commercials with a professional actor. The Sienna superstars are
8-year-olds Taylor Breedlove, Liam Wigle and Megan Moran and 6-year-old Hannah Downing. The new television ads featuring the Sienna �Idols� will continue through the end of 2006.
St. Laurence Named
Blue Ribbon School
St. Laurence the Martyr Catholic School is one of 295 schools nationwide and one of six private schools in the state of Texas to be named a 2005 �No Child Left Behind� Blue Ribbon School. This national program, under the
direction of the U.S. Department of Education, spotlights successful schools that either make significant progress in closing the achievement gap among their students or whose students achieve at very high levels. St.
Laurence is recognized for being in the top 10 percent of the schools across the nation in reading and mathematics.
Bike the Bend a �Blast�
Cycling enthusiasts from all parts of the Houston area took over the streets of Richmond, Rosenberg, Fulshear and Simonton in October for the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County�s second annual Bike the Bend for
Literacy, which raised more than $20,000 for the organization�s adult literacy programs. The Amegy Bank Cycling Team took a break from the 62-mile course to enjoy refreshments and food at rest stop three in Fulshear.
Pictured (l-r) are: Michael Luster, Steve O�Mara, Gary Camero and Jeff Beaty.
�We had a blast,� said Steve O�Mara, fundraising captain for the Amegy Bank Cycling Team. �The weather could not
have been better, and the volunteers did an excellent job. I look forward to doing it again next year!� Approximately 450 riders gathered before 8 a.m. at the Wharton County Junior College Fort Bend Technical Center in
Richmond to participate in Bike the Bend, a recommended training ride for the 2006 BP MS 150 Bike Tour from Houston to Austin, which will be held April 22-23.
Duck, Duck�Good Job!
The Fort Bend Exchange Club would like to extend its gratitude and appreciation to all who supported the 7th annual Fort Bend Exchange Great American Duck Race sponsored by Southern National Bank. The club was able
to raise more than $47,000 towards its goal of preventing child abuse. For a full list of Duck Race winners and sponsors, visit the Exchange website at
www.fortbendexchange.org. Proceeds from the race will benefit local community service projects such as Child Abuse Prevention programs through ESCAPE Family Resource Center, Fort Bend County Fair Youth Scholarships
and many more.
Sugar Land Rotary,
Lt. Col. North Honor Veterans
The Sugar Land Rotary Club saluted its area military veterans in a very special way with a full-fledged, patriotic �Legacy of Freedom� celebration program on the evening of Nov. 9. Lt. Col. Ollie North, a decorated
Vietnam combat veteran and now author and TV host, helped honor veterans as the keynote speaker. The event served a dual purpose. Not only did the club honor veterans, but it also raised money to fund scholarships and
services for veterans and their families, said Rick Miller, event coordinator.
The Texans
The Texans 9-year-old select baseball team placed first out of 14 teams in the Lamar Jingle Bell Dinger on December
16. They won the championship game 16 to 5.
St. Laurence Catholic
St. Laurence Catholic School students hosted their fifth annual Grandparents� Day celebration. It was the school�s largest turnout at 650 guests with grandparents visiting from all over the world, as well as grandparents
of new students from Louisiana.
Neil Wilkins, Teacher of the Year
Neil Wilkins, director of instruction for Sienna Plantation Golf Club, has again been named �Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year� for the Eastern Chapter of the Southern Texas PGA. The award is given for overall excellence
in golf instruction, performance as a golf professional and involvement in the golfing community.
The Lamar Renegades
The Lamar Renegades celebrated another undefeated season in softball and their second state championship in October. These feats come on the heels of the Renegades� first place finish at the Regional softball tournament.
Family Volunteer Day
Teams of family volunteers gathered at East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry in November to celebrate Family Volunteer Day and to showcase family volunteering as a way to benefit neighborhoods, communities and families.
Mustang Football
Congratulations to the Lamar Consolidated High School Mustang Football Team for being selected as the Channel 55 Team of the Week. Every week �High School Sports Live� is on the air with highlights from all the top games
from greater Houston area. The program presents stories on outstanding athletes, coaches and teams. The LCHS head football coach is Lydell Wilson.
The Sartartia Middle School
The Sartartia Middle School 8th-grade girl�s volleyball �A� team completed the 2005 season undefeated in district play, winning both district tournament and title.
Allison Marlow
Lamar High School Junior Allison Marlow competed in the Miss Texas Teen USA Pageant in November, along with more than 100 contestants from all over the state.
Brenda Thompson is a mother of two and lives in Sugar Land. Before becoming a freelance writer and mother, she worked as the marketing director of a local Houston bank. She currently volunteers for several non-profit
organizations.
Submit your Sugarland news to [email protected].
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