U. City Board of Education Commends Student Accomplishments

UNIVERSITY CITY, MO — The University City Board of Education recognized eight students for noteworthy community service projects or award-winning artwork when it met Thursday night, according to a news release.

Four Brittany Woods Middle School students were commended for community service projects funded by scholarships from the We Schools Me-to-We: Take Action Camp, an international non-profit organization. WE Schools "challenges young people to identify the local and global issues that spark their passion and empowers them with the tools to take action," according to the group's website.

The four traveled to Arizona for the camp in July. There they practiced leadership and public speaking skills and explored issues such as sustainability and cross-border migration.

"With the support of their teacher, Anne Cummings, each participant created a project action plan in an area of personal importance that they are working on during the school year," officials said.

Here's a breakdown of each student's project, according to the press release:

• TaeShia Johnson coordinated a personal care and cleaning items supply drive to support the homeless. Items were collected at the school through October 12 and will be donated to Loaves and Fishes, St. Louis County’s longest operating family shelter.
• Mouhamed Ly aims to reduce disposable water bottles by purchasing a water bottle filling station for each elementary school in the District. He is currently seeking funding and support.
• Lucy Rhoades is investigating the gender pay gap and is taking a look at St. Louis organizations that support pay parity.
• Alara Stewart is working towards the installation of a “Giving Garden” at Brittany Woods Middle School. The produce will be shared with refugee families in University City.

The School Board also recognized four U. City High School students for placing in U. City in Bloom's 2018 Plein Air painting competition on September 23. Jade Morrow placed first in the competition's youth category, while second place went to Rebecca Rico. Shu' Rya Butler placed third, in addition to being named Curator's Choice. A fourth student, Andrew Immer, was also named Curator's Choice.

Officials said the students' artwork was featured during an October 7 gallery reception at the U. City Public Library. It will remain on display there through the end of the month, while other student artwork is on display in the high school's Student Art Center in the old school library through the November 8 "See Our Schools" open house.

Find more information about the open house here: ucityschools.org/SeeOurSchools.

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