Lawrence College & Career Center

Nothing but a little arson investigation going on for the forensic science students.

Samad Farhat, LHS junior graduating early in May, was one of 100 students selected as Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship winners! The $40,000 scholarship is part of the Amazon Future Engineer program, a childhood-to-career program that strives to increase access to computer science education, as well as support students from underserved and underrepresented communities within computer science careers. In addition to the financial award, this scholarship includes a 12-week paid programming internship with Amazon to occur after Samad’s freshman year of college. Samad is also the first Kansan to receive this highly selective award!

Congratulations Samad!!!

Food Science had some fun with alginate! Experimenting with edible water. They did taste test their creations with some interesting reactions!

Food Science is experimenting with hydroponics (eventually would like to tie in aquaculture, fish loop) and growing some herbs. If all goes well they hope to scale up to a windowsill system that they will have to create! So far so good all herbs have sprouted!

Lawrence College & Career Academy Principal Dr. Bill DeWitt shared with the school board tonight a report about the first year of the program, which developed out of a grassroots effort to provide students an alternative to the traditional high school setting. The program serves students in grades 10-12 from both Lawrence high schools. The Academy opened in the Lawrence College and Career Center in March of 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of public school buildings in Kansas and a shift to remote learning.

The Academy prepares students for self-sustainability through learning academic, career, social, and emotional skills. It supports students through graduation, career path employment, and successful completion of a wide variety of post-secondary educational opportunities. By the end of the 2020-2021 school year, the program had served 67 students. At present, 80 students, including 37 seniors, are enrolled for the fall.

“Our goal is to graduate all seniors,” said Dr. DeWitt, adding that Academy students participate in daily wellness check-ins and flexible learning pathways while benefiting from community partnerships.

Three high school students shared with the board personal accounts of their positive experiences in the Academy. Issac Riffel, who is entering his third and final semester, said, “It is the best high school experience I ever had.”

Free State and Academy student Michael Douglas Winebrenner echoed those sentiments. “When I first joined this school, I felt an immediate sense of community, unlike my former schools," he said.

After entering the Academy ready to drop out of school, senior Gracyn Garrett said, “This place was my last resort . . . I didn’t expect to last the full semester.” Now Garrett is on track to graduate this fall with her ServSafe certification in food handling, Childhood Development Associate credential, Certified Nursing Assistant license, and her high school diploma.

“It is no flattery nor exaggeration to say that this school saved my life," said Garrett.

Read more about tonight's school board meeting at www.usd497.org/News.

When it comes to finals, most teachers have some sort of a test composed of many questions to test your knowledge of the subject, but this year Chef Camille chose to end the year in a different way. This year our culinary students worked together to make a gingerbread house from scratch. Not just any ginger bread house, a Baba Yaga inspired gingerbread house, complete with chicken feet to hold it up, a swamp mirror glaze, mushrooms from fondant and meringue, a chocolate tree, and poured sugar windows.
Did I mention it lights up?!

This year has been full of many highs and lows, but what thing is for sure our students work so hard everyday. This year we can proudly say we 18 students get their ServSafe certification. (16 Pictured). These students spent many hours studying and practicing how to handle and prepare food properly!

Way to go!!! We are proud of you!!!

Our Food Science Class has been learning about fermentation (respiration). They learned in 2 different ways, to make root beer and learned how to make pickles!! Today they get to try their creations! Yeast was used in the root beer. So far homemade root beer is not as enjoyable as commercial root beer! 😂

The culinary students were hard at work this week! They made Baked Alaska, mini key lime pie, mini chocolate pie, creme brûlée, and caramel apples to name a few!

*Mask was lowered for picture only
* Social distancing and proper mask wearing is strictly enforced.