Category Archives: River Place

Vandegrift named one of the top 100 high schools in Texas

By SETH LUSTER, Hill Country News

Antonia Denison looks into the crowd at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park during the 2018 Vandegrift graduation ceremony last June while Anna Fletcher looks on. Vandegrift is one of the top high schools in Texas. COURTESY LEANDER ISD

Vandegrift High School is one of the top 100 high schools in Texas and part of the top 1,000 in the nation, according to a newly released ranking of high schools. The list, created by U.S. News & World Report, placed Vandegrift at 74 out of 2,059 charter, magnet, and traditional high schools in Texas. Nationally, the school was placed 509 out of over 17,000 high schools across the country.  

“It’s an honor and source of pride to be recognized by their program,” said Charlie Little, VHS principal.

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Lady Viper golf places 7th at 6A state tourney

The Vandegrift girls golf team advanced to the UIL 6A State Golf Tournament May 13 -14 at the Legacy Hills Golf Club in Georgetown.

Tee times started at 8 a.m. with Hailey Derrickson and subsequently hit every 10 minutes after with Abby Zoller,  Kaylee Vesely, Nicole Vivier and Jensen Jalufka.

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Vipers place in four track & field events at state

Vandegrift junior Anthony Monte placed at state in both the 1600-meter and 3200-meter races on May 11 and broke school records in both. Photos by Katherine Mathis

Three Vandegrift athletes placed within the top 10 in four events at the UIL State Track and Field Meet on May 10 – 11 at the University of Texas Mike A. Myers Stadium. Vandegrift junior Anthony Monte competed in 3200-meter race at 9:40 a.m. and then about 12 hours later at 9:35 p.m. he competed in the 1600-meter race on May 11. He broke school records in both, placing 4th at state in the 3200 and 8th in the 1600. “Anthony has been on quite a roll ever since he qualified for Nike Nationals back in November,” said VHS coach Colin Sully. Vandegrift senior and Abilene Christian pledge Kyla Peeples returned to the state meet a er a one-year absence, qualifying with a jump of 5 feet, 6 inches. Peeples placed 7th in the high jump on Saturday morning. Jordan Mathis, junior, ran in the 3200-meter run for the Vipers at state and placed 9th on May 11. “Jordan and Kyla weren’t too pleased with their performance, but they represented us well and we are very proud of them,” Sully said. Other Leander ISD athletes from 5A Cedar Park, Glenn and Rouse high schools also competed in the state meet, which included thousands of students.

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H-E-B awards $2,500 grant to LISD foundation

Inside the giant H-E-B shopping cart (left to right) are Dawn Flores, Tamra Jones, TJ Jaquez, Coleen Brighton, Kurt Greenacres, Gary Hestand, store director, Jack Barton, Joe Brune and Xavier Vasquez.

During H-E-B’s 20 year celebration in Four Points, the grocer awarded the Leander ISD Educational Excellence Foundation a $2,500 grant on May 7.

“LEEF is grateful for our partnership with H-E-B and their commitment to community and education,” said Coleen Brighton, LEEF board member and part-time employee of the foundation. “These grant funds will go back to directly benefit our Leander ISD students and teachers in books, teaching grants and college and career readiness programs.”

“LEEF was the only non-profit they were awarding the grant so it was really special,” Brighton said. “I think it’s a pretty big deal to be selected by HEB as their grant recipient.”

H-E-B hosted several events this past week to commemorate its two decades in Four Points including balloon twisting, juggling, treats, giveaways, raffles and a live taping with H-E-B’s celebrity chef Emily.