WFAA-TV, (Channel 8) has been conducting an Eco-Educators Award program to identify the fine teachers, faculty and administrators that have made our children, schools and communities more educated about environmental issues.

RISD is proud to be represented by three of the fifteen finalists in this program. They are Sheridan Stringer from Merriman Park Elementary, Kim Aman from Moss Haven Elementary, and Pat McCleskey from Richardson West Jr. High. Our congratulations go out to these wonderful representatives of our district along with the students and staff that participated with their support.

Now you can have a role in recognizing their efforts and accomplishments.

Please visit the following link: wfaa.com/projectgreen and choose one of the RISD finalists.

You can only vote once, and it will be a difficult choice, but they need your vote before midnight on Friday (11.6.09).

Please help support these outstanding conservation efforts in RISD. >Top

Plano west sophomore Parker Cohen is only too aware of Pancreatic cancer. His father, Ron Cohen, was diagnosed with stage 3 of the disease last November. Given only three months to live, Ron has beaten those odds but continues his battle with a regimen of Chemotherapy and a new trial drug that serves as a checkpoint inhibitor.

Ron is not alone in his fight, along with his wife Luann Boggs and their son, the Plano West Booster Club refused to sit idly by. They decided to raise funds hoping to find a cure for the insidious disease by selling and wearing purple t-shirts.

All four J.J. Pearce varsity captains practice with Parker at Canyon Creek Country Club in Richardson, as they train for their individual state and national rankings. Upon learning of the fundraiser they approached Pearce coaches Jim Morrison and Sammi Gunter about abandoning their uniforms and wearing the purple shirts as a sign of solidarity and support. The coaches enthusiastically embraced the idea. “  I am always proud of our kids”, said Coach Morrison, “ but when they want to do something like this, you can’t help but be even prouder."

Friday was a veritable “purple palooza” from the shirts and the socks right down to the purple Gatorade.  The Pearce coaches and athletes also donated money to the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Network in honor of the Cohens and presented it after the match. Luann Boggs was overwhelmed. “It just touches me to see this community care so much. We are so grateful."

Plano West beat the Mustangs with the exception of the mixed doubles and girls line one singles. “ Losing is never fun,” says senior Varsity Captain Jeffrey Stulmaker, “ but this loss hurt less because even in losing, by participating we won."  Julianne Jackson, a Varsity Captain, said” I really feel for Parker and what his family is going through and it really puts things in perspective."

Even as the two schools competed against one another, it was clear the real rival was cancer. 

On the courts and in the stands purple reigned, as did sportsmanship.

For more information or to make a donation please go to: pancan.org. >Top