Year End House Banquet

And the winner is…Altruismo!  In an unbelievably close contest, the winner of the 2008 House Championship goes to Altruismo (which means charity in Portuguese).  The contest was closer than anyone could have imagined, with Amistad, Isibindi, and Reveur within 3 points of each other on the last day of the year-long competition.   It is tradition at the Academy that on Friday afternoon one member from each house spins the Great Wheel in order to obtain extra points for his/her house.   After earning close to 4,000 points, we were all shocked that the final champion would be named by a wheel spin.  Reveur had been in the lead for over a month, and they earned the right to spin last.  Amistad spun first, tying with Reveur.  Altruismo spun next, taking the lead by 18 points.  Spinning the wheel on the last day of school is a great honor, and Mr. Clark chose Morgan Fambro to spin for Reveur.  He spoke of her courage and spirit and said she was the perfect member of his house, Reveur, to spin.  Tears rolled down her cheeks as the wheel went ‘round and ‘round.  Every house clutched each other and screamed with excitement.  As the wheel slowed, everyone held their breath.  Tic, tic, tic, and then…it stopped…on zero.  

Altruismo realized they had won the first ever RCA House Championship, but no one cheered.  All of the students started hugging each other and clapping for Morgan’s effort.  It was evident in an instant that all of the students had won.  After one year they were a family and they realized that lifting up each other uplifted themselves as well.   It was a beautiful moment.

To celebrate, an end of year awards banquet was held in honor of this outstanding group of students.

To recognize and celebrate Altruismo’s diligence and hard work, the banquet hall where the luncheon was held was decorated in black with accents of the winning-house’s crest on display.  Altruismo’s Faculty House Leader is Mrs. Kim Bearden; its Student House Leader is 6^th grader Tasleem Wilson; members of the house include: Osei Avril, Jacob Bonner, Ahjanae Colson, Maiya Eldridge, Laramie Ford, Mysty Frazier, Di’Tiffany George, Kennedy Guest-Pritchett, Christian Guarneros, Jordan Jones-Wright, Dasia Kirkley, Asia McWhorter, Reginald Prince, Estriana Ramsey, De’Anna Reese, Aujahuna Smith, Jai Springs, Willie Thornton and Jalen Tyler.

Individual medallions, plaques and certificates were also presented to those RCA students who demonstrated academic excellence throughout the school year.  Two very special awards were given to students who displayed positive attitudes and best-all around behavior; the Miss RCA award went to Zharia White; and the Mr. RCA award went to Osei Avril.  Christian Guarneros received an award for Best Character; and Seabon Davis was given the Most Improved Student Award.