I am very happy to write to all of you as Chinquapin’s forty-first school year has come to a successful conclusion. We are pleased to publish this electronic newsletter. Furthermore, we would like to announce that our new website will launch July 1, 2010.

All of us at Chinquapin are very proud of our seventeen recent graduates. They are going to some very fine schools, and we are confident that they will find themselves well prepared for the challenges awaiting them. I hope to see many of them after their first semester as they return from winter break to share their experiences. In this newsletter you will learn about a few of our successes this year. We truly do have a lot to be proud of. The institution has shown great resiliency through two significant and potentially disruptive challenges. Challenge number one was the economy, and it has proved to be a very difficult time for private schools and nonprofits. Second, when Bill and Kathy Heinzerling departed after 32 years, we were required to carefully navigate through a leadership transition.The Chinquapin community has responded positively to both challenges. Financially, we have weathered this very difficult economic climate by raising enough money to meet our financial needs and move towards next year with confidence. Of course, the Heinzerlings left the school in excellent condition, and we all have found that Chinquapin, because of their strong leadership, continues the mission laid out by Bob Moore after their departure.

Thanks to all of you who supported our school by helping send us great students, giving of your time and energy, and of course, donating generously. Enjoy this end-of-year review, and be certain that you will hear from us in the fall about our exciting plans for the 2010-11 school year. Mark your calendars for Homecoming 2010 on October 15th and 16th, honoring the students who attended Chinquapin in the 1970s.

Sincerely,

Ray Griffin

Dr. Charles Ray GriffinDirector

Betsy PhillipsDirector of Development

2009-2010 BOARD

Jennifer S. PickeringPresident

Leon M. Payne, Jr.First Vice President

Sarah Callahan BakerVice President

Barton R. BentleyVice President

Robert C. Christy, Jr.Vice President

Kelly P. CliburnVice President

Barbara M. CollieVice President

Byron L. WillefordVice President

Mary PetersonSecretary

Carole L. Engelder, PhDTreasurer

F. Benjamin Henry, Jr.Immediate Past President

William N. MathisCapital & Endowment Campaign Chair

Kate S. KirklandTransition Committee Chair

Quid pro Quo Spring 2010 Newsletter

THE CHINQUAPIN SCHOOL NEWSDirector’s Report

Page 2 Spring 2010 Newsletter

Javier Macias Montemayor Senior Essay Prize Winner

As I open the photo album, I remember spending hours organizing the pictures chronologically, from the few pictures taken in early 2005 to the tons I have taken in 2010. I come across a picture I took from Cory Anglin, my English teacher. It is one of the first-day assemblies led by Bill Heinzerling, the one where he talks about the upcoming school year and welcomes us, the little 7th-graders, to a new beginning. The picture is full of new faces, and I can barely spot myself in the top right-hand corner with my red T-shirt and jean shorts. (I thought I was dressed for success, but soon I found out otherwise.)

That day in August I was terrified. I had been accepted to a school away from home, a school full of strangers who seemed to know more about where they were than I did. All of the students knew their way around. Everyone seemed happy to be there, while I felt like crying out and running back into my mother’s arms because I felt trapped. The pictures don’t show that I was terribly homesick. At first I thought that was a good thing because I wanted no reminders of the tears I had shed. I had never been away from home, and being an only child had only made me more insecure. I felt inadequate to live the Chinqua-lifestlye of being committed to schoolwork and always lending a helping hand. I cried a lot. I knew this was a good school, and I didn’t want to miss out at a chance to get a better education, but it took me a while to fully understand.

I come across a picture where some of my classmates and I are dressed up and ready to act out a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Alissa Bouler’s class. We look like total goofballs posing for the picture and having fun. I remember we were all excited to just go out there and act, even though we didn’t really know our lines. I’m sure Alissa knew that already, since we went out and acted a fool. Although it seems like I was having a blast, subconsciously I was growing up. All of the thoughts about leaving Chinquapin, all the homesickness that almost drowned me, were soon evaporated. The busier I became with the production of the play, the less I thought of home and the warm tortillas that my mom made every night. Soon enough, I stopped crying and calling my mom and making her come visit me every Thursday night. I started to appreciate Chinquapin for what is was, not regret it for what it wasn’t.

I learned Chinquapin is a place I can be myself and not be judged for being a little wacky. Once I learned that I could be myself and no one would judge, I was welcomed right into the family. Chinquapin has made me think about how lucky I am to be a part of this community. The more involved I became with everyone at school and in the clubs I joined, the more I understood that we were all in the same boat trying to stay afloat.

I reach the end of my photo album, and I see the picture my classmates that I took at the Christmas dinner last year. We are all dressed up of course. We stand tall and brave as Ray takes at least six photos to get the right one to tape on his office door. It is clear in our faces that we have had our share of pain, happiness, and struggle here at Chinquapin. I remember being extremely excited that day because half of our senior year was over, and all we had to do was complete the second semester to graduate.

Soon enough the bittersweet feelings of leaving Chinquapin became real, as soon as the chairs started being picked up. As the tablecloths were stored in their designated boxes for next year, my departure from Chinquapin became a reality. That was the very first time I cried alone in the restroom of St. Jude’s. To think that I could be crying for Chinquapin made me realize how much I had grown, from hating it to dealing with it to being depressed because I was about to leave. It didn’t make any sense, but deep inside it was clearer than water. I had learned to cherish and love everything about Chinquapin. Some say crying is a form of weakness; to me it was my body telling me how confident I had become through the help of Chinquapin. I didn’t want to leave because I had finally found a reason to stay.

As I close the book of photographs, I realize that staying at Chinquapin at the age of twelve was one of the best things that I ever did. I’m not saying it was easy after I decided to stay. It was terribly hard. At times I wanted to stop and leave it all behind, but I just couldn’t.

Chinquapin has laid the foundation that I need to become a real grown-up who isn’t afraid to go to college and make a life for myself. My photographs are special because they make me realize that what I experienced was something real. A transformation has occurred of a small boy with a complete lack of confidence into a young man who is comfortable in his own skin. I didn’t make it up in my head or in a drawing; it happened. All I know is that I’ll preserve all of the photographs that I have gathered here, and in a few years I will look at them to help me recall the memories that will be left and to see how I truly changed.

Page 3The Chinquapin School News

Homecoming 2010October 15thHomecoming Dinner – prepared and served by current Chinquapin students, featuring guest speakers and followed by an all school 70s disco dance.

October 16thHomecoming events, class cheer competition, alumni of the year award, recognitions, and homecoming games for the girls varsity volleyaball and boys varsity soccer teams.

DANIELA BARAJAS NAMED GATES MILLENIUM SCHOLAR

Dr. Ray Griffin is proud to announce that senior Daniela Barajas has been designated a Gates Millennium Scholar by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for 2010-2011. The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) is the nation’s largest and most successful scholarship program and covers tuition, room, board, and other college expenses. In addition to financial assistance, Gates Millenium Scholars receive academic support, mentoring and leadership training.

Only 1,000 scholars were selected from over 20,000 students from low-income families. Daniela will be attending Middlebury College in the fall. The process seeks to identify the most talented, economically disadvantaged students in the United States who will prepare to be leaders in their communities. The award is based on academic achievement, community service, and leadership potential.

Students are eligible to be considered for a GMS scholarship if they:

• Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American;

• Are a citizen/legal permanent resident or nationals of the United States;

• Have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (un-weighted);

• Will be enrolling for the first-time at a U.S. accredited college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student in the fall of 2010; or GED;

• Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities;

• Meet the Federal Pell Grant.

The 5,000 current Gates Scholars attend over 900 schools, including Ivy League colleges, flagship state universities and UNCF member historically black colleges (HBCUs). Gates Millennium Scholars recipients have an average graduation rate of almost 80 percent, higher than the graduation rate for all college students, and higher than the rate for high-income students.

Page 4 Spring 2010 Newsletter

Senior Name Attending College Award Amount Grant/ScholarshipDaniela Barajas Middlebury College $50,000

$3,000University GrantPhi Beta Kappa ScholarshipGates Millennium Scholarship

Tianna Marie Bruno Texas A&M University $2,000$2,150$1,000$2,000$500

Texas Public Education GrantSchlumberger Co.Heinzerling ScholarshipZuber ScholarshipScience Award

Yesenia Chavez Our Lady of Holy Cross $200$1,000

Pilot Club of BaytownBob & Maxine Moore Scholarship

Abigail Cisneros Houston Baptist University $3,800$1,000$9,500$1,000$600

Texas Equalization GrantMoore ScholarshipUniversity GrantArrazolo ScholarshipClass of 1995 Scholarship

Lauren Clemons The Art Institute of Houston

Tracy GarciaOccidental College $37,000

$2,000$500

University GrantHighlands Rotary ClubInteract Club

Rykeem Hackett University of Houston $500 Interact Club

Marcell Johnson Houston Baptist University $3,800$8,700$2,000

Texas Equalization GrantUniversity GrantAnn Smith Scholarship

Ivan Loredo University of Texas at San Antonio $800$500

Texas Public Education GrantHeinzerling Scholarship

Dimonque Lott Occidental College $40,000$500

University GrantUniversity Area Rotary Club

Javier Macias Montemayor University of Houston $500$1,000$1,000$500

Interact ClubNickson Family ScholarshipAlumni ScholarshipUniversity Area Rotary Club

Nailah McFadden Lamar University

Luis Manuel Navarro University of Houston $1,000 Alumni Scholarship

Marixa Rodriguez Occidental College $37,000$500$500

University GrantInteract ClubHaydee Mendez Valdez Scholarship

Kersia Mercedes Salazar University of Texas at San Antonio $2,500 University Grant

Mauricio Vazquez Texas Tech University $6,700$500

Texas GrantDruck Family Cash Award (SAT)

Johnathan Nelson Vela University of Houston $4,000$1,000$1,000

University GrantFrancisco & Lupe Garcia ScholarshipHeinzerling Scholarship

CLASS OF 2010

Page 5The Chinquapin School News

Academic Excellence AwardsAwarded to the students with the highest grade point average.

Middle School (Grades 6-8)Awarded to: Gabriel Higuera, Karely Osorio and Raymundo Pacheco

Upper School (Grades 9-12)Awarded to: Destiny Davis, Kevin Euceda, Jasmine Rangel and Elber Reyes

Frank Aleman Memorial Award Awarded to the high school student who has made exceptional progress in the setting of his personal goals during this past year.

Awarded to: Johnathan Vela

Dillon Anderson Memorial AwardPresented to the student of the Chinquapin School who, during the past year, has experienced the greatest awakening of his spiritual, academic, and intellectual powers.

Awarded to: Nicholas Saenz

Albert H. Herzstein Memorial Award Given to that student who best exemplifies those qualities of drive, determination, and desire to succeed that were so clearly demonstrated in Al Herzstein’s life.

Awarded to: Elber Reyes

Angel Nolasco Memorial Award Awarded to the student who, like Angel, has demonstrated kindness, compassion, and unselfishness, and who has proven to be an inspiration and model for his/her fellow students.

Awarded to: Brenda Salvador and Marcos Montalvo

Science AwardA $500 Science Award is given each year to the outstanding senior science student.

Awarded to: Tianna Bruno

President’s AwardHonoring an outstanding graduating senior.

Awarded to: Daniela Barajas

Page 6 Spring 2010 Newsletter

The Chinquapin School had a very successful year with our athletic programs. Three out of our five major varsity sports teams made it to District playoffs. Varsity soccer continues to be our blue chip program here at Chinquapin. The varsity team has made it to playoffs for the fifth year in a row. Under the guidance of Jeremy Duncan and Carl Abramowitz, the varsity soccer team was a perfect 8 - 0 in District play and brought home a first place trophy for TAPPS 2A District 7. The Burrs led all teams in District and State nominations. We even had the MVP of the District in senior Ivan Loredo. The returning members of the Burrs’ varsity soccer team are extremely eager for a chance at State next year.

The boys’ varsity basketball and the girls’ varsity volleyball teams followed the success of the soccer team by making it to district playoffs for the second year in a row. Led by Michael Scrutchin, the varsity basketball team came in fourth place in TAPPS 2A District 10. We garnered two second team All District nominations and one first team All-District nomination. Although the varsity boys’ basketball team lost six players due to graduation, there is still a core group of rising players who are ready to take on the leadership responsibilities for the team. Our varsity volleyball team, led by Mily Perez, also lost four senior starters, but continues to develop with promising underclassmen. Senior Nailah McFadden made second-team all-district.

Our track team, led by Dorothy Scrutchin and David Heinzerling, had three athletes go to Regionals in track events. Our varsity baseball team was led by Jeremy Holman. Jeremy took a very young and inexperienced team to the first round of the playoffs in Chinquapin’s first year of the baseball program’s becoming part of TAPPS District. Jeremy spent countless hours reconstructing and maintaining the baseball diamond. The varsity baseball team received two first team All-District nominations and one second team All District nomination.

The Chinquapin School is also proud to announce the addition of several non-core sports to our athletic program. Those sports were cross-country, golf, bowling, and tennis. Sports here at Chinquapin continues to be an enriching outlet for our students. Our sports programs provide various opportunities for character building and leadership roles. The skills provided by our coaches can be transferred from the field of play to all realms of leadership possibilities.

BURRS’ SPORTS REPORT

The Chinquapin Urban Teaching Fellowship Program

The Chinquapin Urban Teaching Fellowship program has been created for new and recent college graduates seeking a career in education serving urban American students. The urban educational crisis is an urgent problem attracting many of today’s most talented college graduates. Dr. Ray Griffin believes, “The interest in this type of service is a trend that we are seeing in public service organizations such as Teach for America.”

Dr. Griffin goes on to say, “Chinquapin has been an extremely successful educational enterprise. Since our early days, we have made the concept of acceptance into a four-year college or university a requirement for graduation. One hundred percent of our graduates matriculate to college, and 85% of them graduate.” Thus, Chinquapin’s success makes it an ideal training ground for people who desire careers in education.

The announcement of the fellowship in early 2010 attracted hundreds of applicants from around the country. Dr. Griffin says, “We have awarded fellowship positions for the 2010-11 school year to four of the best young teaching prospects I have seen in my 30 years in the field of education.”

Profiles of fellowship recipients who will be joining The Chinquapin School in August 2010 follow.

Page 7The Chinquapin School News

Lauren Vargas

Though born in California, I was raised in Minnesota, where I attended Breck School with my two brothers. Graduating Cum Laude in 2006 from Breck, I joined the Harvard class of 2010. At Harvard, I studied Government and Film Studies. I also followed my passion for teaching by working with a SAT Prep organization. In 2009 I received a fellowship from the Center for American Political Studies to conduct archival research for my undergraduate honors thesis.

I applied for the Chinquapin Urban Teaching Fellowship because I wanted to be challenged and make a difference. I wanted to work with students who were motivated to learn and wanted to push themselves. Ideas about education are changing to keep pace with the 21st century, and Chinquapin is poised to be a major part of that change.

In the next year I hope to bring innovation and energy to Chinquapin. My goal is to help my students prepare for college by focusing on core academic tools: how to prepare for a test, take notes, write persuasive essays, and research and produce scholarly papers. These tools are applicable to any major or career path and will prepare students for college-level academics. In addition I hope to help make history and civics more accessible and engaging. By integrating social, political, and cultural aspects together, history becomes more than dates and facts; it becomes a discussion of major themes like freedom, equality, progress, and democracy.

Molly Socha

I was born and raised in the Chicago area, and went off to college at the University of Dayton, where I graduated with honors in May of 2009 with a BA in English and a BS in Education. Upon graduating, I received my teacher certification for the state of Ohio. My licensure area is adolescent to young adult integrated language arts.

In college, I was involved with a number of different organizations. I was the founding member for the Alpha Gamma Theta Chapter of the international English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta. I was also on the staff for the University of Dayton’s literary magazine, Orpheus. I was a founding member of the University of Dayton’s women’s club softball team, on which I played for two years. My love for the sport led me to work as a volunteer coach for the girls’ softball program at Northmont High School, where I completed my student teaching. I also gave my time frequently to wonderful charitable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

I have known for most of my life that I want to teach. I come from a family of teachers. My mother is an itinerant teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing, and my sister works in an enrichment program at a nearby school district. I worked as a summer camp counselor for the last five summers, and it was there I found my passion for working with youth. Upon admission to the University of Dayton’s School of Education, I had the opportunity to observe a variety of different school environments, and I found myself wanting to devote my career to helping all students succeed in academics every time I entered a classroom. I want to share my passion for literature and writing with younger generations, and I want to encourage and develop student appreciation for language arts. The Chinquapin School is the ideal atmosphere to achieve my career goals. The progressiveness of the school is an environment I will flourish in as an educator and a creative personality.

Amulya Iyer

I grew up in Needham, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, and graduated from Needham High School in 2006. I then attended Williams College, where I majored in biology and was a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team and the head admissions tour guide. While at Williams, I also cultivated a love for the outdoors through numerous backpacking trips in the Berkshires. I hope to bring all these interests and more to Chinquapin next year.

Page 8 Spring 2010 Newsletter

As a teaching fellow, I’m excited to work with students and help them mature both in and out of the classroom. Throughout high school and college, I have been fortunate enough to have many excellent teachers, and I hope to give back by being a positive role model in the Chinquapin community. My academic passion has always been the sciences, whether I was teaching 1st-grade science at the local elementary school or working on my microbiology honors thesis this past year. I’m really looking forward to sharing this love of science with the students at Chinquapin and helping them enjoy learning as much as I do.

In the next year, I also hope to form and develop my own personal teaching style while working closely with the other faculty members and Fellows at Chinquapin. I know this will be an incredible way to begin my career as an educator, and I cannot wait to get started.

Andrew Prince

I was born in Alameda, California, and after spending five years in Arlington, Virginia, moved back to Oakland, California, which I consider to be home. I attended Bishop O’Dowd High School and graduated as the class Salutatorian. After O’Dowd I was recruited to play baseball at Harvard, which I did until I was sidelined by hip surgery in my junior year. While attending Harvard, I have studied Government and Moral and Political Philosophy.

I applied to the Chinquapin School because I am convinced that it will be a great opportunity to work with some fantastic kids in an effort to get them ready for college. A college education is a prerequisite for success in our day and age, and the opportunity for a college education is something that we owe all children.

While at Chinquapin, I hope to prepare students for college by helping them learn certain skills and also an appreciation for the relevance of the material presented to them. Critical thinking,

writing effectively, and public speaking are all skills that will be of importance to our students as they prepare for college and life beyond school. And an appreciation for the relevance of the material, knowing what a given lesson means to them, will help the students learn while also instilling in them a desire to learn and discover more.

As the Jeremy S. Davis Teaching Fellowship recipient, Andrew will specialize in history, government, and economics.

Sixth-Grade Students Selected to Participate in Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP)

Twelve of our twenty-three sixth-grade students at Chinquapin have been selected to participate in the TIP program. As a result of scoring in the top 5% of all students on a nationally normed assessment, the twelve Chinquapin Students will be notified by letter later this summer that they may take the SAT examination along with high school juniors and seniors. This participation by our students at such an early age will send signals to colleges and universities around the country that Chinquapin is a school that has the kind of academic talent they are looking for. Families will start to receive information from many colleges and universities. If the students score at high levels on the SAT for twelve-year-olds, they will be invited to participate in summer enrichment programs, including courses at Duke University in the summer of 2011. These programs have significant financial aid and scholarships.

Congratulations to our Chinquapin TIP students!

• Erick Badillo• Joseph Cardoza• Christian Garcia• Amber Garza• Joseph Garza • Dezirae Gomez

• Luke Griffin• Kevin Leon• Daniel Phillips• German Romaldo• Juan Sanchez• Josue Soto

Development Department Report for 2009-2010

As anticipated, Chinquapin did experience some of the continuing effects of the nation’s economic downturn. However, thanks to the continued support of our generous donors who have historically shown their confidence in our program, we will be on budget when our fiscal year ends on 6/30/10. Our board members, who are always directly and indirectly involved with fund raising and development, deserve much of the credit for this success. For example, at the end of this school year, Board President Jen Pickering pledged $5,000 to help fund the underwriting of a much needed Long Range Plan. In less than 24 hours, Board and Advisory Board members had stepped up to underwrite the entire amount necessary to hire Sterling & Associates to guide us in creating a plan for the direction of our school for the next 10 years!

This fund-raising year was off to a great start thanks to a generous gift from the Margaret Elkins Carl Estate of $442,000 in unrestricted funds. We continued to move forward with our successful “Heart & Soul” gala dinner in February, which netted $290,000. The Chairmen, Sarah & James Baker and Kelly & Jay Cliburn, worked tirelessly to entertain over 300 guests with an exciting evening at the Hotel ZaZa. The spring followed with Chinquapin’s Third Annual Bocce Ball Tournament at Pecan Acres in Simonton. The number of guests and players doubled last year’s count and everyone, including lots of toddlers, enjoyed a day in the country. Many thanks to the McAleer family and Jay Cliburn.

Jen Pickering has done an incredible job of steering us through the two years of transition as Bill and Kathy Heinzerling retired and Ray Griffin took over as Director of the School. Leon M. Payne, Jr., took the reins as Board Chairman for 2010-2011 at the June 2, 2010, board meeting and welcomed eight new board members: Sam Bowen, Jr., Christine Hollinden, Mavis Kelsey, Jr., Lisa Neblett, Robby Nelson, Kenny O’Donnell, Sharilyn K. Tesson, and Payson Tucker. I am grateful to everyone for their support and confidence in our program as we look forward to the 2010-2011 school year.

– Betsy Phillips

NEW CHINQUAPIN WEBSITE COMING SOON

Check out our new Chinquapin website launching on July, 1, 2010.