Griffin White, a sophomore at Palacios High School, took and passed the CompTIA Network+ certification exam on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.  CompTIA Network+ is a performance-based certification that helps you develop a career in IT infrastructure by validating the hands-on skills needed to troubleshoot, configure, and manage both wired and wireless networks, including emerging technologies such as unified communications, mobile, cloud, and virtualization technologies.   The possession of the CompTIA Network + Certification is an advantage for network technicians.  The Network+ certification opens up even more job opportunities allowing you to work as a network administrator, network engineer, network technician, and other similar positions.  

On April 18th, members of Palacios High School’s POWER SET organization traveled to Sweeny High School to compete in the Phillips 66 Olympics with other area POWER SET groups. Teams contained members from multiple schools and their objective was to build a device that could sort different sized objects to simulate the process of separating crude oil into different products. Groups had only a certain amount of time, money, and resources to build, as well as prepare a brief presentation. After time was called, groups presented and tested their creations. Members of Palacios’ POWER SET were on all three placing teams. Also, special awards were given for different categories. Summer Brandstatt won “Most Energetic.” Tamara Perez won “Future Mechanical Engineer.” Christina Peterson won “Most Curious.” Maria Muniz won “Best Shoe” (she is currently wearing a boot for an injured foot). And finally, Bailey Grones won “Most Likely to be a Safety Specialist.” Pictured left to right, back to front: Tamara Perez, Quynh Nguyen, Lili Vu, maria Hurtado, Brooke Vandenbergh, Mai Nguyen, Karla Goytia, Maria Serrato, Erika Espinosa, Katie Nguyen, Dorothy Nguyen, Monsterrat Garcia, Kayla Vu, Kaitlyn Marroquin, Jessica Muniz, Matia Muniz, Christina Peterson, Priscilla Nguyen, Bailey Grones, Summer Brandstatt, and Sarah Tran.

On Thursday, March 29th, Rhonda Shay, Human Resources Business Partner for Phillips 66, came to Palacios High School to present an interview workshop to WIT and POWER SET members. She focused on creating focused and attention-grabbing resumes, as well as how to participate in different types of interviews to ensure success in all of their future endeavors. Following an interview and resume workshop with Rhonda Shay, Human Resources Business Partner for Phillips 66, Junior WIT students from Palacios High School put their new skills to the test doing mock job interviews with Phillips 66 employees. In addition to the interview, students also underwent a resume critique. Besides improving their interviewing skills, students learned more about career opportunities at Phillips 66 and went through some of the activities the company does with their new hires. These activities helped improve team communication and listening skills. This opportunity gave these students valuable real-world experience that they can use later on in their careers. Thank you to Phillips 66, Mrs. Shay, Mrs. Brunner and the other employees that made this opportunity possible. Back row - Daniel Castanon, Steven Phan, Jannifer Le, Alondra Rubio, Brenda Mancera, Lanae Tucker, Timothy Kessler, Noah Zamarippa, David Cruz, Javier Figirova, Jackson Engel, Jonathan Segovia, and Daniel Zamora   Front Row - Samantha Garcia, Justin Vu, Hannah Tran, Salvador Carrillo, and Hailey Fuentes

The Palacios High School Computer Science UIL team competed at Regional on April 13. Individually Joe Pena placed 1st, Clayton Stuhrenberg placed 4^th and Daniel Castanon placed 6^th. They also competed as a team and placed 1^st making them REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!!  The team consists of Joe Pena, Clayton Stuhrenberg, Daniel Castanon, and Jackson Engel. These students will now compete at STATE UIL on May 4.  

 

The Science UIL Team competed at the 28AAA UIL meet on Friday, March 30.  The team of Lili Vu, Tyson Nguyen, Justin Vu, Rachel White, Salvador Carrillo and Tim Kezzler placed 1st as a team.  Individual awards were also given to Lili Vu:  2nd place overall individual, 1st place Biology, Tyson Nguyen:  3 place overall individual, Rachel White:  4th place individual.  They will now compete at Regionals on April 14, 2018.  

The Computer Science UIL team competed at the District 28AAA Academic meet on Saturday, March 31 and are District Champs!!  The team of Joe Pena, Clayton Stuhrenberg, Daniel Castanon and Jackson Engel competed as received 1st Place Team.  Individual awards were also awarded:  1st Place Individual:  Joe Pena, 2nd Place Individual:  Clayton Stuhrenberg, Tied for 3rd Place Individual:  Daniel Castanon and Jackson Engel.  They will now compete at Regionals on April 13, 2018.  

On Saturday, March 24^th, 5 English IV AP students and their teacher, Mrs. Gerberman, traveled to Clear Springs High School in League City to attend the  annual TeenBookCon. This FREE event brings in popular and up-and-coming young adult authors to the Houston Area. Attendees are able to get up close and personal with YA authors from all genres during panel discussions and book signings. The 5 students who attended were able to meet Mary HK Choi, the author of Emergency Contact. She is a former UT graduate and has written for many magazines. This is her first novel.   Pictured from L to R: Priscilla Nguyen, Montserrat Garcia, Mary HK Choi, Lisa Nguyen, Bailey Grones, and Erin Claudon.

The boys basketball team defeated the Randolph Rohawks 61-59 Tuesday night to continue their playoff run.  The next playoff game will be Friday, February 23 at the Victoria Event Center at 7:00.  Come and support these boys!!

Kaleb Mikeska, a sophomore on RoboSharks was awarded the Dean’s List Finalist. The Dean’s List is the highest honor an individual student can receive for their participation in the FIRST Robotics program. He will travel to the World Championship in April with the hopes of being named a Dean’s List student.  

The RoboSharks competed at the FTC State tournament this past Saturday and came home with the 1^st place trophy and Banner. The team has advanced to the South Super Regionals in Athens, GA, March 7 - 10^th. This competition consists of the top 72 teams in the Super Region which include teams from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. The students have been working very hard and have done a lot of customization to their robot and would like to thank the community for the continued support of their program.   L-R Jordan Nguyen, Griffin White, Jamie Gatica, Joe Pena, Lisa Nguyen – Co-Captain, Tyson Nguyen, Edwin Miranda, Clayton Stuhrenberg - Captain, Erin Claudon, Kaleb Mikeska, and Noah Zamarripa.