June
6, 2005
Local
high school student
to appear on reality
TV show The Scholar
By
Stephanie Myers, MyersS1@mcsk12.net
Memphis,
Tenn. — This summer
will be a relaxing one
for White Station High
graduate Davis Lawyer.
He’ll hang around
home, take a trip to Europe
and maybe watch a little
reality television. But
while other viewers are
following the lives of
people they don’t
know, Lawyer will be watching
himself.
Lawyer,
one of Memphis City Schools’ own
graduates, is one of 10
contestants (the only one
from the Mid-South) to
appear on The Scholar,
which will premier on ABC
Monday, June 6 at 7 p.m.
“It’s
been a surreal experience,
with all the media attention,” Lawyer
said. “It was definitely
a growing experience.”
The
Scholar pits 10 qualified
high school seniors from “economically
disadvantaged backgrounds”
against each other to demonstrate
excellence in the areas of
academics, leadership, creativity
and community service for
the chance at a full scholarship,
a prize that could be worth
as much as $240,000.
The
winner receives a college
education to the top-rated
school of their choice.
The college scholarship
will be donated by The
Broad Foundation. And winners
of different levels will
be receiving scholarships
of up to $50,000 apiece
from Wal-Mart. Filmed on
location at the University
of Southern California,
The Scholar is the first
show to celebrate higher
education as the ultimate
American prize, according
to ABC.
An
ABC synopsis of the program
says that Lawyer is “perceived
by some as ‘cocky’
and others as ‘confident;’ he
knows his strong personality
can sometimes be his demise.” Lawyer
may have reason to be “cocky” though.
He graduated with a 4.7 grade
point average and scored
a 35 out of 36 on the ACT.
As a White Station High student,
he served as editor-in-chief
of the school’s newspaper
and president of the Junior
Statesman Club. He is also
a high-ranking Eagle Scout.
Lawyer
heard about the show’s
search for “students
of need” and completed
a 16-page application and
10-minute video, taking
the angle that because
his parents make enough
money to disqualify for
need-based financial aid,
his family is stuck paying
$40,000 in tuition every
year.
Evidently,
the producers of The Scholar
thought that was an interesting
angle. After a series of
phone interviews and interviews
in Atlanta and Los Angeles,
Lawyer was told that he’d
be on the show. He spent
two weeks filming in California
in April.
“The
whole time, the only thing
going through my head was
just winning,” Lawyer
said.
“But of course, I can’t
talk about who won.”
The
Scholar contestants include:
Max C., Oakland, CA
Alyssa D., Yuba City, CA
Amari H., St. Charles, MO
Melissa H., Tarzana, CA
Davis L., Memphis, TN
Scot P., New Freedom, PA
Gerald T., Commerce, TX
Jeremy T., Westminster, CA
Liz W., Buhl, ID
Milana Z., Fresh Meadows,
NY
The
Scholar is produced by
Bunim- Murray (Real World),
Martin-Stein and Carsey-Werner
(That
‘70s Show, The Cosby
Show, Roseanne, 3Rd Rock
From The Sun).
June
6, 2005
MCS
to hold Blue Ribbon Parent
Summit to discuss behavior
Memphis,
Tenn. — With the
November 2004 Board of
Education vote to abolish
corporal punishment in
Memphis City Schools, district
officials have created
the Blue Ribbon Plan to
monitor and improve student
behavior in the schools.
A key to the plan is parental
involvement, which district
officials hope to generate
with a special Blue Ribbon
Parent Summit next week.
Memphis
City Schools will host
the Blue Ribbon Parent
Summit on Tuesday, June
7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
at American Way Middle
School, 3605 American Way.
The event will train parents
on positive behavior strategies
and will also feature keynote
speaker Mychael Wynn, a
nationally recognized expert
on issues related to student
achievement in public schools.
“Through
input from the community
beginning with our community
conversation on behavior
in February, as well as
through feedback throughout
the progression of this
plan, we have developed
what we believe to be a
very comprehensive and
proactive approach to addressing
behavior in Memphis City
Schools,” said Dr.
Carol R. Johnson, superintendent
of Memphis City Schools. “Parental
involvement is a key part
of this plan, so we hope
to have a large turnout
at the summit.”
The
Blue Ribbon Plan involves
the following:
