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The Austin Voices Shout Out Awards honor those individuals who are taking action to strengthen public schools in Austin. Austin Voices for Education and Youth has awarded four scholarships to celebrate some of the unrecognized champions of public education in our community. The finalists, including two students and two parents, were publicly recognized and each honoree is being given a $1,000 scholarship award which can be applied to education-related expenses that can include a contribution to a college fund, certified job training, continuing education, or a donation to their child's school. The student winners of the 2008 Shout Out Awards are Maria Elizabeth Gomez, a graduating senior of LBJ High School, and Jermiah Wooley, a rising senior of Reagan High School. The parent winners are Irma Rosas, of Reilly Elementary and Sandra Cantu, of Austin High School and Zavala Elementary.

The first annual Shout Out Awards was an incredible event! The Mexican-American Cultural Center was a beautiful setting and the festivities were like no other. This was Austin Voices’ first large-scale fundraising event and it was a huge success, with over 200 guests in attendance. As we celebrated the work of Austin Voices, we awarded the scholarships to remarkable parent and student leaders making a difference in our schools. Many people were especially touched by parent winner Sandra Cantu’s comments:

“I have been thinking of going back to school for many years now, and at times I did not think it would ever be possible. My life has not been such an easy one. For my family, I have had to put education aside. I have chosen to show a strong front in order to be strong for my family’s needs. In my eyes, life takes endurance and belief in the things that matter. This is the first time in my life that I have received anything, the first time that the light is on me. Because of Austin Voices, I will have a chance to better my life and put myself first. For the first time!”

Following the awards presentation, everyone had a fun time playing “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader” along with the celebrity guests Elizabeth Avellan, Joe Bickett, and Sara Hickman. There was much controversy about prime numbers, and in the end many guests sadly concluded that they were NOT smarter than the fifth grade students from Hill and Mathews Elementary Schools!

During the event, several popular Austin restaurants served their versions of up-scale cafeteria food while competing for the “Golden Hairnet” and “Mikey Likes It” Awards. Guests voted on the five restaurants’ courses and the “Golden Hairnet” was awarded to Ciao Chow Catering. The competing fifth graders chose Whole Foods to receive the youth pick, the “Mikey Likes It” Award.

If you missed the event this year, keep your eyes and ears open for the 2009 Shout Out Awards!