News Briefs

Sixteen students will advance to the semifinal round of the 26th annual Gardere Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition. The 16 placed first at their campus contests and will compete to determine the eight finalists starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at César Chávez Learning Center. Students at participating Dallas ISD schools wrote their own speeches based on this year’s theme, “What is your dream for today’s world?” Their speeches are judged on their writing and delivery. The semifinalists are (in no particular order): Alexandra M. Torres, Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary Tijahanai Lane, John Neely Bryan Elementary Wesley Stokes, Harry C.…

The Dallas ISD Elementary Chess Tournament drew 634 students to compete on Saturday, Oct. 28. The districtwide chess program has more than 1,450 elementary students enrolled.  See the tournament results below: Third-grade Gold Medalists • Reese Widhelm, Hexter • Lucas Castillo, Macon • Leo Russo, Hexter • Daniel Kang, Hexter • David Mejorado, Ireland • Jung-hwa Tutt, Gonzalez • Adrian Manzanares, Henderson • Samuel Hardy, Withers • Adryan Corral, Gonzalez • Giorgio Fabris-Rich, Lakewood • Juan Herrera, Gonzalez  Third-grade Team Winners • First: Gonzalez • Second: Hexter • Third: Chavez • Fourth: Henderson • Fifth (tie): Bryan and Solar Prep…

Chef Chip Reid, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, taught some cooking techniques this week (on Halloween) to students at Wilmer-Hutchins High School. The students learned how easy it is to cook, and had a great meal, too.

Skyline High School football coach Derick Roberson is the winner of the Week 8 Dallas Cowboys Whataburger Coach of the Week award. Winning the award means Roberson earned a $2,000 grant for the school’s football program. Now in its 23rd year, the weekly Whataburger Coach of the Week award engages North Texas football fans in recognizing local high school football coaches who are making a positive impact on their teams, school and community through hard work and dedication to young athletes. During the high school football season, two local coaches are nominated as finalists for the award based off of…