In The Spotlight
• The Lady Kats basketball team ranked seventeenth in the Class A, Division I Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll, which was released Jan. 13.
• Tiffany Wheat has been inducted into both Alpha Chi and Kappa Omicron Nu at Tarleton State University. Alpha Chi is a national honor society for the top 10 percent of the junior and senior classes at smaller universities and colleges; Kappa Omicron Nu is an honor society for Tarleton’s Human Science Department. Wheat, who is student teaching at Eastland High School, will graduate in August. She is the daughter of Kathy and Larry Wheat.
• Allison Jansa recently finished second overall in the 2002 Jingle Bell 5K Run in downtown Midland and was the top female finisher while beating 175 competitors for the runner-up honors. A state qualifier at the 2002 high school state cross-country championships, she finished the run with a time of 21 minutes, 15 seconds. Allison, a senior at GCHS, is the daughter of Allan and Lisa Jansa.
• Jason Fine, a 1999 GCHS graduate and son of Jimmy and Joyce Fine, graduated from Texas Tech University in December with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise and sport sciences and a minor in history. Fine is continuing his studies at Texas Tech in the teacher certification program.
• Chelsea Schwartz competed as Miss Texas American Teen in the Miss American Teen pageant in Orlando. She was named as a top 15 semifinalist from 60 contestants in her age group and placed third in the photogenic category.
• Lauren Wheeler, who plays trumpet, was named to the Junior High All-Region Band at the Region 6 Association of Texas Small School Bands contest. She will perform with the all-region band in concert in Crane Jan. 25.
• GCISD’S Students of the Month for January are Antonio and Ismael Ramirez, kindergartener sons of Tony and Elsa Ramirez; Amber Halfmann, fifth grade daughter of Nathan and Gena Halfmann; Taylor Niehues, eighth grade son of Rory and Tibby Niehues, and Megan Niehues, sophomore daughter of Rory and Tibby Niehues.