Primary College Prep Blog – Page 2 – AUSTIN TENNIS ACADEMY

ATACP’s Annika Pandey Named National Merit Commended Student

ATA College Prep senior Annika Pandey has been named a Commended Student in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing her in the top 5{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition.

“This recognition is a tribute to Annika’s long-term dedication to her studies, work ethic, and perseverance,” said ATACP Director Carol Hagar.

Around 50,000 Commended Students are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise, all of whom entered the competition by taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“I think the biggest factors that contributed to my success were my parents because they always push me to do my best and set high goals and academics have always been really important to us,” Annika said. “I also think Carol and College Prep have helped me keep up with the material a lot. Mr. Rutherford and Coach Tommy have also kept me really challenged in the classroom so that has definitely helped.”

Annika is currently narrowing her college choice as she moves through her second to last high-school semester. Over the past month, she has visited Claremont McKenna College in California, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and MIT in Boston.

“I really liked all of them, but I found that campus atmosphere and student body were two things that were really important to me so I think I will be making my final decision based on those two criteria,” Annika said.

Wherever she lands, Annika is angling for a well-rounded experience in college. While medical school is the post-grad plan, a major in anything from International Studies to Business or Economics over biology or chemistry spikes her interest most at the moment.

“I want to be challenged in college of course and being in an area where there is a lot to do is important to me,” Annika said. “I’m really excited to be a little bit more independent and sort of gain my footing in the world while learning a lot and spending time with interesting and ambitious people.”

Congratulations, Annika!

ATA College Prep Hustles To Help With Harvey Relief

Over the first week of school, the ATA College Prep community combined their efforts to try to make a small positive impact amid a large and ongoing tragedy. After thousands upon of thousands were displaced from south east Texas following Hurricane Harvey, the CP community focused on families heading to Austin. Together with the Austin Disaster Relief Network, the group donated two packed van loads of essential supplies to those most in need.

In total, ATA College Prep gathered and compiled 30 full Welcome Kits (1 per family), 8 boxes of organized essential supplies, 10 cases of diapers, 14 bags of clothes, blankets and kids toys, 6 cases of baby food and 4 cases of water.

The group will continue to engage in opportunities to serve those affected by this disaster throughout the year. Check back here for updates, or feel free to reach out with any possible opportunities or interest to participate.

And, most of all, a huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to those of you who donated and/or helped over the last week.

ATA College Prep Students Zip Through Orientation

The 2017-2018 school year at ATA College Prep kicked off late last week with two fun-filled days of orientation. Beyond the standard class schedules and syllabus discussions, the time together was packed with everything from Woosh. Bang. Pow., to tangled human knots, to zip-lining through the Texas hill-country. Here are a few pictures from the fun.

Carol introduces the students to the rules of Woosh. Bang. Pow.

After linking each left arm to a teammate’s right arm who was not immediately next to you, the groups worked to untangle the knot of arms.

Callie, Kristin, Sydney and Jordan smile for a picture while secured to the platform at the top of a tree between lines.

Mac and Alex race through the tree tops on the longest line of the day.

Mac, Jackson, Alex, Christian, Harrison and James casually lean off of the platform as they wait for the next line.

Sophia hangs on as she repels through the trees to the next landing.

The students and teachers enjoyed two action-packed days together and are primed and ready for an amazing start to the year. Check back here for regular updates on the action in the classroom and out as the ATA College Prep year kicks off.

ATA Adds Experience, Energy With Coach Shaimaa Elsisi

The Austin Tennis Academy has hired Coach Shaimaa Elsisi as the latest addition to its standout coaching staff, CEO Jack Newman announced recently.

“Shaimaa will be an excellent addition to the ATA coaching staff,” Newman said. “She brings college coaching experience and an incredibly positive, high energy level to practice.”

Elsisi joins the ATA community after spending the past year as the Volunteer Assistant Coach at Baylor University, where she landed after moving from Florida. While in the sunshine state, Shaimaa took the court for Troy University where she competed for the Trojans and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees.

A native of Cairo, Elsisi was one of the top ranked junior players in Egypt before moving to the United States to play college tennis. She helped the Trojans to a winning record each year that she played at Troy.

“Tennis has taught me everything,” Shaimaa said. “Matches have given me mental strength, practice has given me stamina, tournaments have given me social skills, team competition has given me spirit, traveling has given me experience, participation has given me the best friendship…. tennis has given me my soul!”

After serving as a graduate assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at Troy, Shaimaa moved on to a head coaching position at Hillsborough Community College where she stayed until relocating to Baylor.

“I am a coach because of my passion for tennis,” Shaimaa said. “I chose to become a coach to give back to the sport, to impact my student-athletes’ lives in a positive way, to help them succeed on and off the court, and to give them the opportunity that my own coaches gave me as a student-athlete.”

That passion she mentions stems from a family full of tennis players including her sister, who is the head coach at Troy, her brother, who coaches professionally back in Egypt, but all started with her father.

Shaimaa, center, pictured with her sister and brother.

“I learned how to walk on a tennis court,” Shaimaa said. “My late father (my favorite person in the whole world) was a tennis coach and he took me to his work every day and I fell in love with tennis because of him! It was our special place! I love tennis and it’s my happy place and every time I stepped on the court in my playing years it felt like it was my first time!”

In addition to being an accomplished tennis coach and player, Elsisi is an exceptional student, earning her bachelor’s degree in sport and fitness management with a minor in recreation and her master’s degree in sports and fitness management with a concentration in sports administration. She now applies this love of learning to her students.

“As a coach, I learn everything I can about every student-athlete—not every individual responds in the same way,” Shaimaa said. “My goal is to learn what motivates them and keeps them engaged to give them the opportunity to develop their skill level in a structured learning environment that constantly challenges them while providing them with both encouragement and support.”

Off the court, Shaimaa loves traveling and visiting family and friends. She enjoys playing golf, softball, watching Disney movies with friend’s kids, and reading about nutrition and health issues.

After her first few weeks around ATA, one thing has stuck out to her that distinguishes this place from the rest.

“It’s culture! I loved it right away and I felt home the minute I walked in and I loved how welcoming everyone was right away,” Shaimaa said. “Everyone is very professional and very friendly. Kids are respectful, and they work hard on and off the court. They have great attitudes and are very coachable. The staff is great and passionate about what they do and they care about the kids on and off the court. It’s definitely a place that I can call home and family! I feel very lucky to be part of the ATA family and I’m very grateful to Coach Newman for this wonderful opportunity.”

Welcome to the ATA community, Coach Shaimaa!!

The ATA College Prep Community Honors The Class of 2017

The ATA College Prep community came together last week to celebrate the graduating class of 2017.

Set in the serenity of the Spanish Oaks hills, a few hundred family members and friends of the graduates attended the commencement ceremony. Before Head Coach Doug Davis offered his customary invocation, Director of ATA College Prep Carol Hagar opened the evening and welcomed the guests. An excerpt:

“I hope that during your years at College Prep you have learned to be more mindful of your thoughts, words, and actions… and of their effects on yours and others’ well-being. …that you have learned to help yourself and be of service to others. … that you have learned to be compassionate and optimistic. …that you have learned to possess hope and to engender hope in others. … that you have learned to be grateful for the gifts you have been given and to honor them by continuing to develop them within you.

It is for your transformation that you are here to study and to learn. It has been an honor to witness and participate in a portion of the transformation within each of you. I know that you will choose to forever follow in this way.”

As the sun set behind the trees, the community personally honored and celebrated each graduate. Wilson Hamilton, Alejandro Rodriguez and Abigail Chiu were each recognized through commemorative video tributes, introduced by two loved ones who know them well and finished by addressing the audience with a few words of their own.

Continuing a CP tradition, each graduate selected a Senior Legacy Quote that will be installed as pavers in the campus garden. Their selections are below.

Wilson Hamilton will attend Trinity University in San Antonio next Fall. Long-time friend Chase Bartlett and coach and teacher Brian Notis spoke on behalf of Wilson. Each highlighted the academic transformation and confidence Wilson has accomplished during his time at College Prep.

No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how hard you fall… you are never out of the fight. -Marcus Luttrell

Alejandro Rodriguez will attend the University of Chicago next Fall. Teacher and coach Tommy Collins and mentor Clifford Chiu spoke on his behalf and reflected upon Alejandro’s tireless efforts to reach excellence in study, relationship and as an athlete.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. -Winston Churchill

Abigail Chiu will attend Dartmouth College next Fall. Coach Doug Davis and brother Harrison Chiu spoke on her behalf. Each shared the lessons of perseverance and compassion that they have learned from Abigail.

Be great, not ordinary. Embrace diversity, not security. Live fully, not fearfully. Once chance you write your story; make it one worth reading. ~Abigail Chiu

Following the presentation of the graduates, Santiago Montoya, current Glimmer Chief Investment Officer and ATA alum, offered the commencement address. Reflecting on some of his past failures, he reminded the graduates to fall forward and embrace great attempts that may fall seemingly short. And that these are the moments that teach us the greatest wisdom.

CEO Jack Newman closed the graduation ceremony by initiating the Passing Of Leadership To The Class of 2018. This tradition of handing off the ATA ball symbolizes the handoff of responsibility for leadership within the greater Academy group for the next year.

A year from now, this group of leaders will look to continue the CP tradition of 100{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} college matriculation to some of the top schools in the world.

Following the ceremony, the group once again came together in community to share a meal surrounded by story tables celebrating each senior and their past accomplishments.

Congratulations to each of the ATA College Prep graduates of the class of 2017! Check the ATA College Prep Facebook page for more pictures from the evening.

ATA College Prep – Guest Speaker Series

Throughout the year, ATA College Prep brings in guest speakers who impact our students with thoughtful words of wisdom and inspiration. Often, the stories they tell spark future studies, compassion for others, and ideas for community service projects.

Recent speakers have included: Dr. Reginald Baptiste (cardiothoracic surgeon) and Mrs. Oksana Malesheva (physicist, first generation immigrant, and entrepreneur). Both shared amazing stories about how they grew into and continue to grow in their chosen life passions.

Last Wednesday in Leadership, ATACP students heard from ATA alumnus, Carla Rosenberg, as she shared some of the lessons she learned from tennis that she utilizes in her adult life as a successful entrepreneur. Listed here are her top 15 lessons.

1. Understanding winning and losing

2. Be coachable

3. Be prepared

4. Be decisive

5. You grow the most when you are uncomfortable.

6. Develop others

7. Integrity

8. The power of adjacency

9. Step up when the occasion arises

10. Produce results

11. Everything sends a signal

12. No one is perfect

13. Be flexible

14. Do the little things really well

15. Visualization

Take a look at her full speech:

Excellence is never an accident; it is always the result of HIGH INTENTION, DETERMINED EFFORT, and SKILLED EXECUTION. ~Carla Rosenberg

The Trip to the Big Apple By ATA CP’s Harrison Chiu

The Trip to The Big Apple

By: Harrison Chiu

It is very challenging nowadays to succeed in a field which you have not had any exposure or experience in. Many recent graduates from college are currently struggling to find the jobs that they want because they don’t have any experience. What future employers really want to see in future employees is some sort of experience, record, or exposure so they can be adequately prepared to excel in that job.

Over Spring Break, Alejandro Rodriguez (another ATA College Prep Student) and I were fortunate enough to have a life-changing internship at Morgan Stanley in New York City. We were interning at the Morgan Stanley Wealth Management group called the Scotto-Sorenson Group.

We arrived on the evening of Monday, March 13th, and immediately went to dinner with our host, Mr. Trapness, father of ATA CP alum Camilla Trapness. We didn’t realize this before getting in, but there were serious warnings of an incoming blizzard that was supposed to hit Manhattan the following day. Sure enough, blizzard Stella did hit, which turned traveling to the office into a nightmare. Alejandro and I first took the subway for nine blocks of the trip, but we still had at least three more to make it. Walking in the huge blizzard and seeing everyone wearing at least five layers, some snow boots, and gloves, Alejandro and I were just a couple of freezing teenagers in suits and dress shoes trying to make it in the office by 8 AM.

We arrived at Morgan Stanley with only six other people in the office at 7:56 AM. A financial advisor from their group came to meet us in the main room, and he brought us into their office, where we met the rest of the team. Alejandro and I were asked to shadow a little bit of everyone’s job, as each person plays a different yet pivotal role on the team. We joined conference calls with hedge fund managers and people in the oil industry, and we also partook in a meeting with a smaller company presenting their business model to some of the analysts on the floor. Apart from doing usual intern things, such as going to get the team coffee and lunch, taking care of their printing and copying, and delivering checks next door, Alejandro and I got to experience the feel of a major workforce on Wall Street first hand. The experience of listening to the team deal with their clients and each other is something I would never be able to get in a classroom setting, just like Mike Scotto, leader of the team says.

The Scotto-Sorensen group is one of the biggest teams at Morgan Stanley, managing $2 billion of assets. In wealth management, their job is to take funds from clients and invest those to reach their client’s financial goals, for which they make a fee and a fraction of the returns on investment. Brokers need to know the market and have to excel at communicating with their clients. After talking with a few guys from the team like financial advisor Mark McCooey, he says that knowing how to invest for income, mastering salesmanship and having clear communication with your clients are just a few of the major skills required for the job. Alejandro and I agreed that, if we are going to work in finance, the investment side of the business seems more appealing than the brokerage side.

You never know where life may take you. Everyone in the office had a unique path that got them to where they are now. John Sorensen, the co-founder of the group, got a low-ranked job and made his way up, but it all started from his being a young intern at Morgan Stanley. Mark McCooey was working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for many years before the growth of technology drove his decision to go into Wealth Management. Jimmy Janecek, a younger financial advisor apart of the team, was a former basketball player for NYU, and he was extremely interested in sports journalism and broadcasting. After a long time of contemplation, he chose to go where he had previous experience because of an internship and started working for Morgan Stanley. Some always saw themselves working in finance, but for others, it came as a surprise.

What I take away most about the four-day internship was that no matter what, successful people surround themselves with people who can elevate their level as well as elevate the teams. A strong team camaraderie is essential. To be honest, a desk job doesn’t sound that appealing to me, but when you have a great team culture like they have, it makes the experience a much more enjoyable and efficient one. Also, as Alejandro says, he “got exposure of the inner working of the financial world and realized the social importance of the industry.” Going out for dinner together at Bobby Vans steakhouse was a tremendous experience. The atmosphere was hilarious and charismatic, but when they needed to get things done, they did. We got to meet many people, and knowing those people will “build a network which will help [us] a ton so [we] can call upon them in the future,” Alejandro says. Although they are widely known as the loudest room on the floor who break the most rules out of anyone, they define finance.

The College Process Parent Meeting: RESOURCES

Last week, ATA College Prep Director Carol Hagar and ATA CEO Jack Newman hosted a Student and Parent Meeting for anyone interested in learning more about the college process. 50plus parents and many students filled the ATA Fitness Center to hear the presentation and ask questions.

In case you missed the evening, below are copies of the documents covered throughout the presentation.

ATA College Prep grad Hunter Bleser is now competing for the University of Virginia

Admissions Process: What are colleges looking for?

[embeddoc url=”http://www.austintennisacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Admissions-Process-What-are-colleges-looking-for-Harvard-1.pdf” download=”all”]

College And The Perfect Mix:

[embeddoc url=”http://www.austintennisacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/College-and-the-Perfect-Mix-1.pdf” download=”all”]

Dating Rituals of Elite College Recruiting:

[embeddoc url=”http://www.austintennisacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Dating-Rituals-of-Elite-College-Recruiting-1.pdf” download=”all”]

NCAA Tennis Recruiting Calendar:

[embeddoc url=”http://www.austintennisacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NCAA-Tennis-RECRUITING-CALENDAR.pdf” download=”all”]

CP Students Visit Public Art On UT Campus

Today, ATACP students toured the University of Texas campus to view a few public art installations recently procured by the newly developed Landmarks Division.

“I really enjoyed getting to see pieces of modern art on campus this morning,” said Alejandro Rodriguez, a senior at CP headed to UChicago in the Fall. “It was very interesting to see how sometimes, the environment around a piece of art dictates the way in which that artwork will be created. I was blown away by some of the creative displayed by the artists, who took ordinary objects and presented them in a way that creatively showcased many different attributes.”

The students saw everything from a monochromatic sculpture made from 70 canoes to unique portraits of Austinites that eventually will be installed in the Dell medical school building.

This field trip was part of a larger unit at CP focused on the purpose and meaning of public art. Soon, the students own artistic creations will be on display in and around the CP campus.

“My favorite piece was called Monochrome of Austin, and it consisted of 70 canoes, 30plus feet in the air, leaning over the street,” Alejandro said. “It was incredible.”

A few more photos from the day:

KK, Jack and Wilson discuss their favorite portraits.

The students check out the perspective from inside one of the pieces of art.

Sasha and Caroline taking in the scene together.

CP Grad Bartlett Brings Energy, Work-Ethic To Hilltoppers

ATA College Prep alum and St. Edward’s University freshman Chase Bartlett wrapped up his first college semester maintaining his high academic standard, earning a 4.0 GPA and claiming a spot on the President’s Honor Roll through 7 classes on the Hilltop.

“While not at all surprised, I am incredibly proud of Chase’s accomplishments and his continued diligence during his first year at St. Ed’s,” ATACP Director Carol Hagar said. “His insatiable curiosity, his dedicated work ethic, and his copious positive demeanor embody the ideal scholar-athlete. Chase was an excellent leader while at ATACP and it is a beautiful thing to see him carry that forth into his college community.”

His work ethic was also evident on the court, as he’s spent the majority of his winter break participating in practices and fitness workouts with his former teammates at ATA preparing for the upcoming season.

“Chase Bartlett’s willingness to be humble and work hard continues when he returns to ATA from college,” ATA CEO Jack Newman said. “This past few weeks he has been in practice a lot. Just like when he trained at ATA full time, for him it’s never about who he is practicing with, it’s about what he brings to the practice. He brings a high level of energy and of course a high level of tennis. He doesn’t come with the attitude that he’s too good for the kids in the academy, he comes with that attitude of wanting to be there and wanting to get a great workout. I think this draws a high level of work and effort from his younger teammates. Consequently everyone gets an amazing practice.”

As a team, Bartlett and his fellow Hilltoppers set the goals to finish top 10 in the country this year while earning the highest GPA out of any athletic team at St. Edwards.

“I’m super excited about this upcoming season because I want to see the work that the Hilltoppers put in the fall season pay off,” Chase said. “A lot of guys (myself included) pushed literally to our physical limit. I remember one practice when the other freshman and I won a relay race against our other teammates and then both of us proceeded to leave the courts and throw up. That happened a few times this season.”

While the team logged long hours working together through the Fall, being apart through the holiday season makes continuing the momentum a challenge for each individually.

“It’s really helpful to have ATA,” Chase said. “During a one-month long break it’s important to keep training to maintain what we worked for in the fall, and for that you need a place to train. I like going to all of the academy practices and fitness sessions because when I was in high school/middle school it was really motivating to see what older, more-experienced people can do.”

As far as his academic success at the college level, Chase again looked back to his ATA College Prep roots.

“ATA College Prep really prepared me well. CP taught me both the time-management skills and academic foundations that are necessary for success at the college level.”

Follow along while Chase and the Hilltoppers begin the season in the coming weeks. The St. Ed’s Men’s and Women’s teams are scheduled to play multiple matches on the ATA courts, offering many opportunities to see college-level tennis right here while supporting some ATA alums, including Charlie Shin, Men’s and Women’s head coaches Estevam Strecker and Kendall Brooks, as well as Bartlett.

Next up:

St Ed’s vs ATA All Stars – Jan 27^th 4pm

St. Ed’s vs Southwestern U – Feb 3^rd 4pm

St. Ed’s vs UTRGV – Feb 11^th 2pm

College Prep Students Entered In Children’s Business Fair

The Kids in Business class at ATA College Prep introduces students to entrepreneurial practices and processes, business and marketing plans, and allows them to develop their own products for sale. Implemented through project-based learning, students have free-reign of choice and are guided by exploration and careful questioning to redirect.

“Project-based learning is a powerful and enjoyable way to develop metacognitive skills – such as confidence, decision-making, self-regulation, and autonomy – which are known to increase motivation and self-directed learning,” said ATACP Director Carol Hagar.

Products and businesses designed by entrepreneurial CP students:

JAK’S

JAK’S creates colorful spin art on vinyl records. You can design your own by picking your colors or buy a colorful record that is already made. Also, vinyl record bowls will be for sale. They make great pots for succulents! Come help support Austin Pets Alive and get homemade dog treats!

-Jordan, Abigail and Keana

SCS Designs

SCS Designs makes handcrafted colorful decor for your home. We have a variety of decorated letters that you can hang or stand up, painted canvases with inspirational words and coasters with colorful designs. Come out and help us support A Glimmer of Hope with each purchase made!

-Sasha, Caroline and Sydney

ATACP students Abigail, Sasha, Sydney, Jordan, Keana and Caroline invite YOU to visit and shop their stores this Saturday at the Children’s Business Fair at Pease Mansion, 1606 Niles Road, Saturday, October 25th 10:00am – 12:30pm.

Please come out and show your support for this entrepreneurial event. The students have designed, created and will be marketing unique products. You will be amazed!

ATA College Prep – Around The Campus, In The Classroom

It is hard to believe… but we are approaching the final moments of the 2015-16 academic year. The students and teachers are well underway preparing for a strong finish to the year, while continuing to improve on the court as they enter the summer months.

Below are a few photos from around campus and inside a few classrooms recently.

The CP students do a group dance for a video message in an attempt to cheer up a fellow teammate who was recovering at home.

The boys work the legs and lungs while Coach Luka keeps track of time. This was one stage in a lengthy and diverse circuit workout to support strength and conditioning.

Coach Lucie leads the group in a Pilates workout during a rainy morning after the circuit workout.

Mr. Collins is guiding the English III/IV students through their final research papers after discussing C.S. Lewis. Each student chose a social problem in Austin and is working to research the issue and offer a solution. They will present their findings to the school at the end of the semester, including the experience of volunteering their time and energy to support their proposed solution.

Mr. Rutherford gets his Chemistry class started. “We’ve been learning about nuclear chemistry, radioactivity and nuclear power, as well as discussing the advantages and drawbacks of nuclear energy production in society,” Rutherford said.

Erik Kerrigan, a CP senior and UChicago commit, helps Josh and Wilson with math homework.

Check back over the next few weeks for updates on the end of the year presentations, graduation and more!

ATA College Prep Students Debate Policy, Develop Skills

The ATA College Prep Policy Debate unfolded last Friday, with many of CP’s juniors and seniors clashing over the topic of ‘Increasing Military Presence In The Middle East’.

“Debate and public speaking are primary components in an education that matches our mission of developing compassionate, communicative leaders,” said Head of School Carol Hagar. “During their years here, all CP students produce both informal oral presentations and formal ones, as in the recent policy debate. I was impressed with the overall level of research, preparation and poised delivery from each our students.”

The debate, which followed the standard guidelines outlined by the National Christian Forensics And Communications Association, centered on the issue of whether or not the United States should allocate more military resources of all kinds to the Middle East as a solution to the growing instability in the region. CP Junior Alejandro Rodriguez argued for the Negative Team.

“I had a lot of fun in both taking the debate course and doing the actual debate,” Alejandro said. “Because of our topic, I felt like I got to engage in something that is current and relevant, and I got to greatly expand my knowledge on the subject. I really enjoyed the final debate because it was kind of a culmination of what we had researched and practiced for a whole semester and it was cool to see how we all did after so much preparation. The amount of reading we did was really high and in depth and it was a good experience to prepare me for future classes/endeavors.”

Ms. Yousef, who has a background teaching social studies, speech, and theatre, got into debate because to her it is a combination of all of those.

“I teach debate for two reasons: it offers skills that can be an asset in many careers and I enjoy watching students grow in ability and confidence. Debate develops skills in critical thinking, research, organization, persuasion, and writing affirmative cases and negative briefs on US policy. This type of research and organization can translate into many fields. The recent exhibition debate before judges gave the students an excellent opportunity to try their arguments and realize how much they have learned. They have spent many hours researching the resolution, which called for more US military presence in volatile regions and studying the rules of policy debate. I think everyone stood up to the task and should be proud of their performance.”

Congratulations to all of the College Prep students who participated in the 2016 CP Policy Debate!

UT Neuroscientist To Speak To CP Students Tuesday

Dr. Kimberley Raab-Graham, a Professor of Neuroscience and a Principal Investigator in the Center for Learning and Memory at the University of Texas in Austin, will speak to the ATA College Prep students and teachers on campus this Tuesday.

Kimberly_Raab-Graham

“Dr. Raab-Graham and her graduate students will give a presentation to our students describing some of their work, and how our memory works,” CP teacher Summer Messer said. “Students will also be broken into small groups for learning activities.”

Her group researches molecular mechanisms used during learning and memory, focusing on how synapses transform the makeup of protein in a site-specific manner in response to changes in the activities of neurons. Their goal is to discover how different cellular mechanisms are manipulated in mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Raab-Graham’s research has been published in several scientific journals including Molecular Psychiatry, Neurobiology of Disease, and Journal of Cell Biology.

“We are excited for the opportunity to host and hear from Neuroscientists performing cutting edge research in their field,” Messer said.

For more information on Dr. Raab-Graham and her research go to https://clm.utexas.edu/krglab.

College Visits: Try Before You Buy

from Carol

There is no better way to understand the culture of a school than to be on the campus, take a tour, and visit with current students and admissions officers. If you are able to take advantage of this part of your college search, it will bring you confidence that your selection is the best fit – academically, athletically, and culturally.

During a visit, you are evaluating the school.

How will this environment serve your growth and development? What criteria are most important to you? Consider the location, population, class size, programs and degrees, social opportunities, post-graduation opportunities.

During the application process, the school is evaluating you.

How will you positively impact this community? Do you have the necessary attributes to be successful here – competitive grades, scores, rankings, community service activities? Do your homework. Research the school’s website.

On your visit… Be Yourself

Take a tour. Ask questions. Visit with the guide. He or she is usually a student and will love to talk about personal experiences at the school. Walk the campus, set up an interview with admissions. If available, sit in on a class. Visit the student center or lounge. Visit the dining halls. Visit the library. These are the places that can give you a sense of the campus culture.

Academics… Educate Yourself

How many students can you expect in your lower and upper level courses – 15 or 150? Is this a teaching university or a research university? Who teaches classes – professors or grad students? What year are you required to declare a major? Can you double major? Is your major available to athletes? Is academic scholarship available? Meet with an admissions counselor.

Athletics… Develop Yourself

When you are considering the best fit for pursuing athletics, consider the goal. How do you hope to use tennis as a tool for your personal development? Which school is more appropriate for your goals? Are you hoping to further your training to become a professional athlete? What type of coaching style do you prefer? How many are on the team roster? How many spots do they have for your graduation year? Is scholarship money available? Are you competitive with the players currently on the team (UTR)? Visit the sports facilities. Meet with the coach.

Culture… Know Yourself

All of the above criteria creates culture, but you should also pay attention to details. Is the school located in the heart of a big city? Is it a small school? or is it a school the size of a small city? What is the ratio of undergraduates to graduates? What clubs or other student activities may be of interest to you? Art? Singing? Greek life? Philanthropic work? Is there a travel abroad program? What are the opportunities after graduation? Does this culture fit YOU?

Before You Go

Write: 1) your personal statement – a few sentences about who you are and what you want from your college experience; 2) your numbers – GPA, SAT/ACT, UTR; 3) questions for admissions, coaches, students. Keep this with you during tours and interviews to take notes and to remind you of your questions.

After Your Visit

Jot down pertinent and interesting facts. Take pictures to remind yourself later of some of the unique things about the school and the people. Do this during or immediately after your visit while it is fresh on your mind.

Summary

A ‘good college’ is one that fits you. It supports your goals and dreams. College visits are like trying on clothes before you make a selection. Prior to purchasing an entire 4-year wardrobe of a college or university, try it on for size, color, style, and comfort. It will likely increase your satisfaction by ten-fold!

CP Theatre Performance, Thursday May 21 @ 6pm

PLEASE JOIN US

Thursday, May 21 at 6PM

at the Spanish Oaks Pavilion

for The Importance of Being Earnest

Bring a friend!

CP Theatre Field Trip, Upcoming Performance

Ms. Flanagan’s Theatre class recently experienced ZACH’s performance of “Peter and the Starcatcher”. Audience members were taken on a magical ride to discover the origins of Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, the mermaids, and Neverland itself. This was an educational experience for the CP Theatre troupe as they could view the powerful results of teamwork, creativity and commitment.

Josh, Tatum, Adi, Callie, Annika, and Ms. Flanagan

Mark your calendars for March 3 for this special event!

CP Theatre Class proudly presents the first performance of the semester:

“An Actor’s Nightmare” by Christopher Durang

Captain Hook (Ms. Flanagan) getting attacked by the crocodile (Josh)

Adi Ford stumbles into a theatre and suddenly finds herself starring in play after play after play (alongside Tatum Blalock, Josh Clark, Callie Creath, Annika Pandey and Jacob Gauthier). The only problem is…she hasn’t been to a single rehearsal and she definitely doesn’t know her lines!

Join us Tuesday, March 3rd at 5pm in the Fitness Center for this hilarious one-act play!