June has arrived to officially kick off summer as we celebrated the end of the 2024-2025 school year. In this month's update, Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens shares the latest news from across the district, including highlights from the Class of 2025 graduations, LEAF's "Surfs Up" fundraiser, and details about summer programs.

On May 4, H-E-B announced statewide winners for the 23rd annual 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards during a ceremony in Austin. The event brought together hundreds of educators, education officials, and other leaders from across the state, including the elected members of the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees, who were named this year’s top winning school board and recipients of a $25,000 grant for the district. 

During the awards ceremony, a total of $480,000 in cash and grants were awarded to six teachers, two counselors, two principals, one early childhood facility, one public school board and two school districts.  

For more information about the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program – including a full list of this year’s winners – click HERE.

Following the May elections, three new members joined the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees:

Monica Henderson, District #2 

Vanessa Marsters, District #3 

George Arroyos, District #6 

Additionally, Zach Lambert, District #1, was re-elected to represent his district.  

During the May Board meeting, Jacci Hotzel was named President, Jon Welch was named Vice President, and Suzanne Box was named Secretary.

During the regular monthly meeting on May 20, the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees recognized the following students:

Valedictorian Michelle Chen

Salutatorian Liliana Kovar

Valedictorian Ava Kanthack

Salutatorian Swayam Shiroya

Valedictorian Elizabeth Pham

Salutatorian Rachel Le

Valedictorian Nhu Vo 

Salutatorian Chase Cheng

Valedictorian Alwin Angelo Arellano

Salutatorian Layla Isabelle Lawhern

Valedictorian Benjamin Watkins 

Salutatorian Noor Sallam

Brielle Lawson

Elaine Mischler

Emilio Armijo, Luke Brock, Joseph Le, Elvina Lin, Eli Newlin, Elizabeth Pham, and Daphne Seraphim 

Vaishnav Abburi, Bisan Abdalla, Jose Bernal, Mason Bird, Sesandi Devanrayana, Ishita Jain, Dhruvi Mistry, Brianna Molina, Mauricio Morafiallos, Grant Nowotny, Raquel Ortega, Kamila Porras, Jeffrey Rapacki, Daniel Tiffan, and Linda Wang

Daughtry King and Victoria Ramirez

Aren Garcia, Angel Huynh, Cesar Alanis Iracheta, Dave Thandani, Joshua Thomas, Gheed Aldandashi Vargas, and Nhu Vo 

David Douglas, Shanna Jaime, Ava Morse, Temi Ogunsuyi, Nkenna Orizu, Sofia Shafique, Aisha Tekin, and Audrey Wood

Muhammad Alie, Ahmad Hazaimeh, Darsh Patel, and Ayaan Rupani 

At the same meeting, sixth-grader Khalil Muta from Ryon Middle School had the opportunity to recite the pledge. He enjoys playing the trumpet, basketball, baseball, and video games.

Lamar CISD proudly celebrated 3,256 students as they walked across the stage from all six high schools.

Lamar Consolidated High School - 423 graduates

George Ranch High School - 621 graduates

Terry High School - 378 graduates

Foster High School - 620 graduates

Randle High School - 414 graduates

Fulshear High School - 800 graduates

Principal

Adolphus Elementary School

Chad Davis has been named the new principal of Adolphus Elementary School, bringing nearly 20 years of educational experience. He previously served as a teacher and held leadership roles as assistant principal at Thurgood Marshall and Kempner High Schools and as associate principal at C.E. King 9th Grade Campus. During the 2023-2024 school year, he was appointed principal at Garrett Elementary. Mr. Davis holds a master's degree in educational administration from Lamar University and a bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas. He is pursuing a Doctorate in Education at the University of Houston–Clear Lake. Mr. Davis is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all children and looks forward to joining Adolphus Elementary and Lamar CISD.

Principal

Travis Elementary School

She’Nee Young-Baker has been named the new principal of Travis Elementary School. Now entering her 20th year in education, Mrs. Young-Baker began her career as an English/Language Arts teacher before earning a master’s degree in School Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University. She has served as a licensed specialist in school psychology, a district coordinator supporting academic and behavioral interventions, and, most recently, as an elementary campus principal for the past four years. Mrs. Young-Baker looks forward to working alongside the dedicated team at Travis Elementary to build strong relationships with students, families, and Lamar CISD staff.

Lamar CISD hosted the 2025 Parade of Champions, honoring the Randle Football State Champs, Randle Royals National Champs, and the Fulshear Cheer repeat National Champions. Several student organizations from across the district joined the parade, including national and state accolades, academics, athletics, arts, and more.

Lamar CISD community members lined the streets and celebrated the hard work of students and coaches. The parade began at Mustang Avenue, the heart of our district, and ended at Traylor Stadium.

The Lamar CISD Performing & Visual Arts Department hosted the second annual Journey Through the Arts festival at the Fort Bend County Epicenter.

Lamar CISD families attended a vibrant event, which showcased student work and performances from various programs across the district, including music, art, theater, dance, and journalism.

Richard Embrick, a science teacher at Wright Junior High School, was one of three educators nationwide to receive the McGraw Hill Pathfinder Award. Each year, McGraw Hill recognizes educators for their innovative teaching methods and creative, positive student learning opportunities.  

Mr. Embrick is a former business executive turned STEM educator. He inspires students to excel in science and math through immersive, hands-on learning and story-based interactive labs.

Lamar CISD staff members and community partners gathered at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds for the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) annual 'Surfs Up' fundraiser.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the foundation's dedication to supporting Lamar CISD students and staff, and Surfs Up has become one of its most cherished traditions. The event has steadily grown, reaching a new milestone in 2025 by raising $312,000 – a full $65,000 more than the previous year, and a new record.

The Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) offered a variety of scholarships to Lamar CISD students the spring semester. The scholarships are designed to recognize and support students who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement. They aim to empower students as they continue their educational journey and pursue their career aspirations beyond Lamar CISD. The following students were selected:

The 2025-2026 Student Transportation Form is now available to complete in Skyward Family Access. This form provides our transportation department with important information to organize bus routes for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.  

Each student, no matter their form of transportation, must have a submission form completed by their parent or guardian before the start of the next school year. Log into Family Access to fill out and submit the form. Contact your student's campus for more information. 

Prepare for the upcoming school year with the school hours and instructional calendars. For questions, contact Info@LCISD.org.

Lamar CISD offers a variety of summer programs. Learn more by visiting LCISD.org.

The Lamar CISD Child Nutrition Department offers free meals for students during the summer time. There is no registration to receive student meals.

The Lamar CISD Police Department is offering a R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Women's Self-Defense Class this summer.

Date: June 23 - June 25

Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: Briscoe Junior High | 4300 FM 723, Richmond, TX

The event is open to women ages 13 and up. It's led by trained Lamar CISD Police officers. This class will teach situational awareness, personal safety tips, and basic self-defense techniques for all skill levels. Spots are limited, email LCISDPDRAD@LCISD.org to register or call 832-223-0700.