English
The ENGLISH DEPARTMENT proudly gives awards to those students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in English, creative writing, English Language Acquisition, journalism, and speech and debate.
The Harper Lee Award is presented to outstanding freshmen English students who display Scout’s curiosity and willingness to grow, and Atticus’s integrity in their classroom conversations, in their studies, and in their writing. This year’s Harper Lee Award Recipients are:
Jack Fleischner
Sophia Haynes
Cassandra Hedlund
Jaden Jackson
Khairi McKinney
Talei Ricketson
Mariam Waite
Desire Young
The Paulo Coelho Award is presented to outstanding sophomore English students who value the world around them, with all of its challenges and rewards, and contribute to that world through their unique thoughts, speech, and writing styles. This year’s Paulo Coelho Award Recipients are:
Tamara Arellano
Brandon Bicknell
Gabriella Chapparo
Christabelle Deeng
Adrienne Essel
Ashlynn Hare
Bithiah Negusu
Ian Park
Annahi Rodriguez
Shalomita (Mia) Sihombing
The Frederick Douglass Award is presented to outstanding junior English students who show courage and compassion, and who continue to seek out and write their truths. This year’s Frederick Douglass Award Recipients are:
Faith Baca
Afia Boakye-Yiadom
Ava Brindle
Kaylah Curry
Elishevlyne Eliason
Andrew Huynh
Colin O'Connor
Osman Osman
Jelani Smith
The Shakespeare Award is presented to outstanding senior English students who understand language’s beauty and power, demonstrate persuasive interpretations of texts, are able to support arguments with an appreciation of language technique, and strive for precision and powerful beauty in their own speech and writing. This year’s Shakespeare Award Recipients are:
Delena Alemayehu
Mia Damato
Victoria Fowler
Caleb Holt
Alexis Lee
Spencer McPhillips
Juneau Padilla
Bella Scancarello
Miranda Sheinbaum
Evan Sprinkle
English Language Acquisition
ELA students take on a full academic schedule, while learning how to read, write, and speak English. The following students are truly exceptional for what they have accomplished this year:
Stephanie Barajas Araujo and Arturo Cordova Campuzano
Stephanie is a freshman who moved from Mexico a few years ago. She excelled in her classes while still learning the English language. She has served as a strong mentor for other Spanish speaking students who have started at Smoky this year and has helped these students as they transition to life in the U.S.
Arturo is a junior who started school at Smoky Hill this year. Arturo is a kind, hardworking young man who has adapted well to school at Smoky Hill and life in the U.S. He continues to work hard and advocate for his needs while learning the English language.
Yearbook & Newspaper
The English Department also wishes to recognize the excellent work in our student-run yearbook, magazine and online news publications.
Tristan Solida-Rodriguez, a fourth-year yearbook staffer, became one of three Editors-In-Chief of the Summit yearbook staff her senior year. As an editor, Tristan led by example by modeling an outstanding work ethic, spending her off periods in the yearbook room and logging in at home to help others with their work. Tristan continued the expectation of excellence set by previous Summit staffs and helped produced an incredible 2020 yearbook that truly celebrates the Smoky Hill community.
Tori Griffey, a third-year news staffer, took on the role of Editor-In-Chief during her junior year and continued on to lead the staff her senior year. As editor, Tori worked with a young and developing staff to make sure that the student voice of Smoky Hill high school continues to be heard both online and in print.
Speech and Debate
Finally, we would like to recognize the following students for excellence in Speech and Debate:
The Speech and Debate Pacesetter award is given to a student whose overall contributions to the Speech and Debate program demonstrate consistent excellence and commitment. This year, the student who has been instrumental in guiding the program to new heights of success is Aiden Nave. Aiden’s consistent leadership throughout the year has enabled her teammates to compete with confidence and integrity in a challenging environment, along with picking up accolades of her own, including being the Colorado NSDA district’s top point earner as well as qualifying for the state and national championship tournaments.
