On Sunday, January 16th the Urban League of Greater Madison had their annual youth recognition, although due to public health concerns, the annual Recognition Breakfast was replaced with a pop-up style event open only to awardees. Nearly 250 Outstanding Middle and High School youth who were nominated by their schools for outstanding academic performance and service to their schools and community were recognized with a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Outstanding Young Person Award. Nominated students embody the spirit of MLK and deserve recognition for their accomplishments in and out of the classroom. Nominees are selected based on their academic performance, engagement in their school community, and volunteer service outside of school.

East High Award Recipients:

Gordon Allen, 12th Grade

Samuel Cann, 12th Grade

Maya Dettwiler, 12th Grade

Manuel Gonzalez Jimenez, 12th Grade

Amir Lee, 12th Grade

Onabule Adewole,12th Grade

Maryangeliz Acosta Mass, 10th Grade

Jada Matson, 10th Grade

Michael Onabule, 10th Grade

Melkiya Hirekatur, 9th Grade

Reyes Murillo, 9th Grade

Christopher Davis Jr., 9th Grade

Additionally, the Betty Franklin-Hammonds was presented. The Betty Franklin-Hammonds Scholarship Fund was created to honor one of Madison’s most dynamic and visionary leaders, Ms. Betty Franklin-Hammonds. With her passing in April 1999, this scholarship was started through a generous endowment from the Madison Community Foundation with subsequent gifts added by friends, family and people in the community. The Betty Franklin-Hammonds Memorial Scholarship rewards the accomplishments of graduating seniors seeking to further their education beyond high school, with special attention given to those who have faced particular economic and/or social obstacles on their journey to educational advancement. We are happy to announce that one of our East High nominees, Gordon Allen, won this award this year!

East High School Nominations:

Gordon Allen

Samuel (Fifi) Cann

Maya Dettwiler

Amir Lee

Manuel Gonzalez Jimenez

Onabule Adewole

Winner:

Gordon Allen

Some lucky orchestra and band students will be attending a Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra final dress rehearsal in the Overture Center's Capitol Theater on January 27th, as musicians prepare to debut an original composition, "Symphony No. 8, Here I Stand," by current Composer in Residence, Dr. Bill Banfield, on January 28th.

Students are looking forward to witnessing how a professional orchestra prepares for a performance (and a world premiere!). This opportunity is made all the more meaningful because Dr. Banfield recently visited band and orchestra class at East, and students have been exploring his work leading up to this performance. Dr. Banfield even sent us some of his music to rehearse, and he will be visiting us again January 26th.

In case you missed it, over winter break WISC aired an upbeat segment on East High School's Jazz Combo, comprised of students in our Jazz Ensemble. This school year Orchestra and Band Director Mr. Mark Saltzman brought back the combo's morning jazz concerts, and the group now plays every other Thursday in the mall as students and staff arrive to school.

"Music makes everything better," one teacher told Mr. Saltzman on a recent Thursday morning. A special education assistant added, "Music is so powerful. It makes babies sleep, it makes us dance, and it gives you hope."

And that's truly what this story is about. Hope. Hope for East High School and the positive culture and community we know runs through our Purgolder blood. It's really worth a watch. Just make sure you are somewhere you can dance when you play it, because you probably won't be able to help yourself.