City has extraordinary number of talented youth
Do you realize how many talented children we have? For four nights in a row, I experienced firsthand an amazing number of gifted young people who call Lowell home. Their abilities in athletics, academics, and the arts were highlighted in a series of events this week that demonstrated we have more than our share of talented youth with skills as diverse as their population. Monday night’s award ceremony honored our many successful high school athletes. It was also the first of three nights of the preliminary round of the Knowledge Bowl, a Jeopardy-like game pitting middle schools against each other based on the academic prowess of their student teams. The Knowledge Bowl is an evening of fast-paced questions on topics such as current events, literary devices, and math problems that is as entertaining as it is academically rigorous. (The next level of the competition will be in two weeks.) And then, of course, Wednesday saw the boys’ basketball team advance in the state tournament—another in a long list of athletic wins for Lowell students. Thursday was the semi-finals of Lowell High School Idol, Headmaster Bill Samaras’ local spin on the popular television show. As one of three judges that night, I can tell you the 14 acts were impressive, as were the two students who co-hosted the show. It was difficult to choose only eight acts for the final competition on March 19, which will be broadcast live on channel 22, but my favorite was the Derek and Henson dance duo. Their amazing choreography told a story of transformation that was at times laugh-out loud funny as well as intensely moving—not to mention the incredible dance moves. For a list of the finalists and the sponsors (first place winner will receive $500) check:
Finalists: Inez Elder and Elizabeth Baez, Ashley Witts, Altagracia Soto, Derek and Henson, Marcela Cruz, Victoria Vann, Timothy Bergeron, and U Kno Cru: Hosted by Stephanie Bates and Corey Boykins
Special thanks to sponsors: Enterprise Bank, The Lowell Plan, Mill City Management, The Sun, Trinity Ambulance, Lowell High School Communications Academy, Fine Arts Academy, Student Affairs & Activities.