HOPE – There were multiple bright spots Nov. 18 in the typically business-like atmosphere of the monthly session of the Hope Public Schools Board as student ideas and successes were highlighted in campus proposals, cross country athletics, ROTC, and robotics.\r\n
\r\n“A lot of good things have happened with a lot of good teachers and students,” HPS Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart said.
CROSS COUNTRY\r\n
\r\nCo-Athletic Director Susan Powers and Hope High School Cross Country Track Coach Jill Carlson introduced the HHS Cross Country Track team, which has grown in its second year to 90 students.\r\n
\r\nThe girls’ varsity team placed second overall in conference competition this year, which Hart said was remarkable for a program only in its second year. Five of the combined teams were named All-Conference, including Nick Sanchez, Briana Puente, Lizzy Arroyo, Drake Martin, and Dillon White. Puente and Arroyo also placed in the Top 10 finishers in the girls’ conference competition.\r\n
ROTC\r\n
\r\nThe Hope High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps student command presented a report of the unit’s recent Headquarters Inspection and yearly activities, with Hart recognizing the unit’s growth in the past two years.\r\n
\r\n“Two years ago, we were in danger of losing the program; and, last year it was on probation,” Hart said. “This year they completed their inspection with their best score ever.”\r\n
\r\nCadet Corps Commander Britney Alvarado-Frayre said the entire unit was determined this year to “up our game.\r\n
\r\n“We felt like we could do better,” Alvarado-Frayre said.\r\n
\r\nShe said the unit set two general goals; one in academics to show growth on the ACT Aspire test, and the second, to improve unit physical training scores and community service hours.\r\n
\r\nThe unit received the Distinguished Unit Award in 2018 and Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Briana Rodriguez was named the 2019 Air Force Association Cadet of the Year in Arkansas.\r\n
\r\nUnit advisor Master Sergeant (Ret.) Jeremy Grice said the recent inspection also showed significant growth in the cadets.\r\n
\r\n“All of these activities, the regional director was very impressed with where we were going with our unit in the future,” MSgt. Grice said.\r\n
\r\nThe unit was represented Monday night by Support Commander Briana Rodriguez, Deputy Cadet Corps Commander Alaysia Lewis, Operations Squadron Commander Joshua Johnson, Physical Training NCOIC Tre’sean Ogden, Training Squadron Commander Gianna Knight, and Cadet Corps Commander Britney Alvarado-Frayre.\r\n
HHS ROBOTICS\r\n
\r\nThe Hope High School Botcats Robotics Team placed fifth among 18 teams in the recent BEST Robotics Competition in Little Rock, missing a trip to international competition in Dallas by one match place. The team also brought home the Most Robust Robot award for solid robot construction and third place Spirit and Sportsmanship award for collaborative attitude.\r\n
\r\nTeam captain Jacob Gunn said the competition was concept focused.\r\n
\r\n“You have to imagine what you have to do and design the robot to do that,” Gunn said.\r\n
\r\nHe said the design concept is a collaborative effort that attempts to achieve a specific purpose, in this case aiding repairs to an electrical power grid.\r\n
\r\n“We take all of the ideas and mash them all together,” Gunn said.\r\n
\r\nDrawing upon the expertise of volunteer mentors, Coach Kathy Knight said the team developed its concept to answer the question, “What happens if the electricity goes out in your town?”\r\n
\r\nThe team was represented Monday night by Cole Ayers, Dale Coleman, Jadora Rivera, Jacob Gunn, Samantha Bailey and Timothy Rowe, along with faculty coach Kathy Knight.