Lawrence Public Schools / Contributed Photo
Craig McCauley, West Middle School choral music director, has been honored as the Lawrence school district’s Teacher of the Year for secondary schools.
Dick Meidinger/Lawrence Rotary Club
Three Lawrence high schoolers were honored at the school board’s Monday meeting for being selected to attend the noon Lawrence Rotary Club’s 2021 summer Rotary Youth Leadership Academy.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
A group of Lawrence teens aims to alleviate embarrassment by normalizing the conversation about menstruation while offering free period products to those in need.
Lawrence Schools Foundation / Contributed Photos
Four accomplished young artists — Free State High School seniors Matt Chappell and Devon Janus and Lawrence High School seniors Ashton Rapp and Rachel Schmaus — have been honored as the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s 2021 Student Champions.
KU Black Alumni Network
The Black Alumni Network of the University of Kansas has selected the first seven winners of its new biennial Emerging Leaders Award, plus nine winners of the group’s longstanding Leaders and Innovators award.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
Amid the lush leaves and neatly arranged rows of plants and trees, the orchard and gardens at West Middle School grow a bounty of food. The smells of clematis and lavender float through the air, and wherever you turn, you’ll see colorful fresh fruit and vegetables. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll also find the project grows people.
Lawrence Public Schools / Contributed Photos
A dozen students of Douglas County high schools have earned the prestigious title of National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, according to a news release from the organization.
Contributed
As Lawrence school district staff prepped indoors for the new school year, Occupational Therapist Karen Lassman painted a vibrant outdoor classroom on Quail Run Elementary’s east playground.
NAJA media release
Just a week after announcing a haul of 14 National Native Media awards from the Native American Journalists Association, the staff of the Indian Leader has announced that it has won another — this one for its “commitment to upholding freedom of the press, information and transparency in Indian Country.”
Contributed
Audrey Trowbridge sits in her basement surrounded by glitter, wood, paint cans and her favorite crafting supply of all time — pipe cleaners. Her craft room serves as a retreat, and during remote learning, the Free State High School social worker took her video conference calls there.
Behind her, a painting of a glowing Black woman wearing a bejeweled crown draws attention. When asked if she painted it, Trowbridge says one of her sisters gifted the piece to her. Its placement is purposeful. She wants others to see it in the background, but she also hopes to glean inspiration from it when she glances at herself on screen. The powerful art serves as a self-affirmation and a reminder while advocating for herself and her students.
