Harlem Globetrotter Returns to Former High School

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Lili Thompson went from being a Lady Wolf to being on the world-famous Globetrotters, and she returned to where it started to encourage students to follow their dreams.

Thompson graduated from Timberview High School in 2013. During her tenure, she was the leading point guard on a winning team, member of the debate team and member of the student council. She went on to have a standout college basketball career at Notre Dame and Stanford University.

All the while, her eyes were set on something bigger—going pro. She accomplished that when she was drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters in November as one of only two female players to be selected.

“I always wanted to be a professional basketball player, and I always wanted to use basketball as a vehicle to take me places in life, both physically and in terms of opportunities, and it’s done that,” said Thompson. “The Globetrotters have an amazing legacy, and I’m really proud to step in and be part of it.”

Thompson, also known as Champ, made her way back to her former high school to motivate them to aspire for something greater and never give up. She said she also wanted to show her support of the Timberview girls basketball team for being top-ranked and undefeated in its district.

"Champ" shows students her basketball spin trick.

“I had so much fun at Timberview,” she explained. “It’s a great place, it’s a great school district and a great place to be in Texas. I’m really, really proud of them for how they’re doing, and it’s just great to be back.”

The rookie Globetrotter noted that her time at Timberview High School shaped a lot of habits that propelled her to success, such as working hard, being disciplined, having time management skills and utilizing good communication skills.

Head girls basketball coach Kit Martin was in attendance at the assembly. She said she wanted students to take Thompson’s story and apply it in their lives.

“You hope that they can see that there is going to be a future, regardless of what it is, once they walk out these doors and they’re done,” said Martin. “It should be limitless. It should be without a ceiling to dream for whatever they want. Lili is a perfect example of that, and coming back gives them that tangible goal that they can look out and say, ‘Hey, if she can come from here and do that, then I can do whatever it is that I set out to do.’”

Globetrotter teammate Zeus McClurkin accompanied Thompson to the assembly, where they both showed off their ball handling skills. The Harlem Globetrotters are in town through Nov. 25 as part of its Fan Powered World Tour.

Rewarding the Determination to Succeed

Having a high grade point average (GPA) is great, but proving that you have the drive to roll with life’s punches on your journey to college is also important. And for three Mansfield ISD seniors, that trait is being rewarded.

The Dell Scholars Program annually awards $20,000, a laptop, textbook credits and ongoing support to students who demonstrate that they have a different type of GPA—grit, potential and ambition.

Medina (left) and Ali (right) said they value service
and want to make a difference in people's lives.

Timberview High School’s Maria Medina and Hana Ali, along with Summit High School’s Samira Bideh, were three of the 400 finalists nationwide.

Medina said she has come a long way from being the little girl who moved to the U.S. from Mexico and didn’t learn English until the second grade. Despite the naysayers and doubters she encountered, she was determined to make something of herself.

“I started getting really good at English by fourth grade,” Medina said. “The next year, I was taking Pre-AP classes. I was nervous at first, but my teachers kept encouraging me to try it.”

The senior is now graduating from high school with enough credits to enter Texas A&M University as a sophomore this fall in hopes of becoming an immigration lawyer and, eventually, the president of Mexico.

Her classmate Ali also knows a thing or two about not letting life’s experiences deter the future. The fellow Dell Scholar lost her father when she was in the eighth grade. Instead of making excuses for herself, she pushed herself even harder.

“It was a hard time for my family,” Ali explained. “But I’ve always valued education, and I knew it’s what my dad would have wanted. Doing good in school would make my parents proud, and that’s what I wanted to continue to do.”

And there’s certainly a lot to be proud of. Ali will be graduating as valedictorian of her class. She will also be attending the University of Texas at Arlington with a full ride and some leftover money for medical school.

Bideh said she's ready to take on college
and further her education in graduate school.

Over at Summit High School, Bideh spent her high school years striving to succeed by juggling school, a job and her extracurricular activities—all while still keeping up with her grades. She said her determination comes from her parents who came to America from Somali speaking little to no English when she was an infant.

“They didn’t know the system or how anything worked since it was a new country,” she recalled. “I just kept putting education first. But even if you don’t have the best grades, showcase the different things you’re good at to prove to colleges that you have what it takes.”

Bideh, who is one of six siblings, said that she plans to attend the University of Arlington. She wants to major in biology to become a physician assistant.

Although these ladies may have had different life paths and obstacles, they kept their positive attitude through it all. Now, with the welcomed surprise of being a 2017 Dell Scholar, they will be able to use their positivity to help others through their respective careers.

MISD High School Art Camp Quadruples in Size

Dallas Williams (left) and her art camp students.

When it comes to creating art, there is an element of surprise that can sometimes lead to a stroke of genius. The same concept came into play when Timberview High School art teacher Dallas Williams prepared to launch an art camp seven years ago.

When Williams was in high school, she experienced a tough time, and it wasn’t until she connected with her art teacher-turned-mentor that she gained clarity about her future.

“I went from being a very poor student to a straight-A student,” recalls Williams. “It was definitely the relationship I made with my art teacher that made all the difference for me.”

Williams went on to receive the “Bootstrap Award” for improvement her senior year. It was then that she decided she wanted to work to inspire positive change in the lives of students, just as her mentor had done for her.

Williams has now been teaching art for 20 years, 10 of which have been in MISD at Timberview High School. Seven years ago, she began offering an art camp for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Middle school and high school students also participate in the camp as volunteer helpers and counselors. As the camp gained popularity, Williams gladly developed a plan for expansion. There are now four art camps offered throughout the year.

The camp has drawn students from all across the district, as well as some out-of-district students. For Williams, the greatest surprise has been watching the relationships develop between the campers and the high school students that volunteer as counselors.

“Watching the creative connection between the kids is so rewarding,” Williams said. “A lot of them continue to come back each year and they build on those relationships. It’s really special for me because I can say firsthand; you never know when you’re going to meet that one person or mentor that could change your life forever.”

A student learning how to sculpt clay.

Many of the counselors enjoy helping out with the camp so much that they continue to volunteer even after they’ve graduated from Timberview.

“My absolute favorite thing about the camp is getting to know all of the little kids and seeing their personalities come out through their artwork,” said 12th grader Keshayla Gainer, who is considering returning to volunteer at camp after graduation this spring.

In addition to being an avenue for the development of many friendships and mentor-mentee relationships, the camp also serves as a substantial fundraiser. This year, Williams will be taking some art students on a trip to New York where they will have an opportunity to view lots of famous art and take part in a workshop at the legendary Guggenheim Museum.

MISD Seniors Prove Hard Work Literally Pays Off

L-R: Grant Wilkie, Kendall Curtis, and Ifeoluwa Obayan

For three Mansfield ISD seniors, hard work in their junior year paid off—literally.

Grant Wilkie from Summit High School, Kendall Curtis from Mansfield High School, and Ifeoluwa Obayan from Timberview High School all received very prestigious scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Wilkie and Curtis received the National Merit Scholarship. Obayan was awarded the National Achievement Scholarship, which is given to high-achieving African-American students. Both of the scholarships are awarded based on a student’s high Preliminary SAT (PSAT) scores.

The winners of the scholarships receive $2,500, and universities often discount their tuition to finalists. For Wilkie, the news couldn’t have come at a better time.

“This is definitely the most important thing that’s happened to me in my life,” said Wilkie, who will be headed to Baylor University in the fall with his tuition fully paid. “I’m finally able to give back to my parents by saving them money. It’s a huge blessing.”

Out of 1.5 million National Merit entrants nationwide, only 7,600 are named as scholarship winners. Curtis, also headed to Baylor, explains what she did to help her odds.

“AP classes helped,” said the future law student. “I would suggest reading a lot of high-level literature and taking the harder math classes.”

Obayan can boast that she’s one of 800 winners out of 160,000 total applicants to receive the National Achievement Scholarship. She said looking back, she’s glad she put in the countless hours to review for the PSAT.

“I really worked hard,” said Obayan. “The District offered a PSAT prep program in the summer in my junior year, and I remember spending every Monday in that class for two to three hours. It really paid off.”

Obayan, valedictorian of her class, will be going to Harvard University to major in biomedical engineering.

For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and their awards, visit the NMSC website.

Two MISD Seniors Receive Big Scholarships

As the end of the school year approaches, seniors have two things on their minds—graduation and scholarships.

Watch the stories of two Mansfield ISD students—Brady Moore from Legacy High school and Lizzy Hennessey from Timberview High School—to hear in their own words how they won their generous scholarships in a very competitive field.

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Grit, Potential, and Ambition: the GPA of Dell Scholars

Timberview seniors Peyton Sennet and Sabrina Gonzales

Sabrina Gonzales and Peyton Sennet had way more to worry about than their grades in school.

The Timberview High School seniors were dealing with a lot of difficulties in their personal lives, but they never let that stop their vision of going to college.

Gonzales just suffered the loss of her 15-year-old brother in December 2014 from a stroke; and months before that, her parents filed for divorce. While she was going through that grief, she knew she had to keep her education as a priority.

“I had to grow up and become mature at an earlier age,” said Gonzales. “I taught myself how to study and to be more responsible.”

Sennet also had some hardships to overcome. She said while she was dealing with family issues, she followed the wrong path. The 18-year was even put in a mental health facility because of her behavior. It was the birth of her little brother that made her realize that she had to turn her life around.

“He looked up to me,” said Sennet. “I needed to start being a better example because he was going to follow in my footsteps.”

The two students had their mind set on higher education, but there was one road block in the way—the money to pay for it.

As a requirement for their AVID class, which focuses on college and career readiness, Gonzales and Sennet applied to become Dell Scholars. The Dell Scholars Program places greater emphasis on a student’s determination to succeed than just academic record and test scores. The winners receive $20,000, a laptop, textbook credits, a mentor, and other support services.

Gonzales and Sennet applied for the scholarship in January. Three months later, they received the news they had been hoping for.

“I couldn’t believe it. I was crying and speechless,” said Gonzales.

“I was just worrying about finances for college the night before, so when I heard I got the scholarship, I was screaming,” said Sennet.

The seniors are two out of 300 students in the nation who received the Dell scholarship, and this is only the beginning for the big plans they have for their careers.

Both have a heart for helping others. Gonzales plans to attend Abilene Christian University and become a nurse. Sennet wants to attend the University of North Texas and become a psychologist for the often-forgotten people in jail.

Principal and Student Swap for a Day

 Senior Karla Camacho and Timberview principal Derrell Douglas
on a normal school day

They say if you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, you’ll understand their perspective better. That adage became a stark reality to Timberview High School principal Derrell Douglas and senior Karla Camacho.

The two made the principal-student swap as part of “Douglas Switch Day”—just one of the many fundraising events during Timberview’s “Helping Others Thru Giving” (H.O.G.) week.

Camacho paid to have her ticket in the raffle to become the school’s top administrator for one day and won the big prize. In return, Principal Douglas spent the day attending all the classes in Camacho’s packed schedule.

The experience can be summed up by one word: enlightening.

Douglas, who dressed in full "student" gear for the occasion, said he has a better understanding of how much students go through every day—educationally and socially.

“It was a lot of fun, but still challenging,“ said Douglas. “Karla is an involved student, and I had no idea how hard it was to get from one class to the other on time. I also had to figure out where I was going to sit in the cafeteria for lunch and who would talk to me.”

Camacho and Douglas on "Douglas Switch Day"

Camacho noted that she didn’t realize how much administrators have to manage on a daily basis.

“I observed classrooms, but I also noticed how much happens in the office every day,” said Camacho. “They have to deal with budgets, phone calls, and various requests, and they handle it so smoothly. I have a lot of respect for them after seeing that.”

She added that she is now considering becoming an administrator in education after she graduates college.

This is the fifth year Timberview has held its “Douglas Switch Day.” Principal Douglas said he likes it because it helps break barriers in stereotypes.

“A lot of the students think administrators are just trying to find ways to punish them. We don’t want to do that at all. And as an administrator, I see how much we expect out of our students. They work hard,” said Douglas.