Frisco ISD is proud to applaud students and staff for the special awards and recognition they have received recently. Remember to share your congratulations with them!
By Frisco ISD Communication
Speech and Debate Students Compete at Nationals
This summer, a team of speech and debate students from Lebanon Trail and Centennial high schools traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in the National Speech and Debate Tournament, earning several recognitions. Lebanon Trail students competing at nationals included Vaishnavi Putla, Jake Malan, Raghav Pillai, Jasleen Kaur and Purnave Reddy Karnati. Additionally, Arshia Gottipati from Centennial High School joined the team, qualifying in oratory. These students had an outstanding showing at the national competition: Purnave advanced to the out rounds of extemporaneous debate, and Jake and Raghav won eight ballots each in policy debate. Congrats!
AVID Students Shine at Summer Institute
This summer, Hunt Middle School and Frisco High School proudly sent several outstanding AVID students — including Kylie Pelzel, Yoan Feune Kenfack and Lanay Reynolds — to serve as student leaders at the AVID Summer Institute in Dallas. Alongside peers from across the nation, they presented to educators from around the world, sharing their experiences and demonstrating the impact of AVID strategies on student success. A highlight of their week was participating in a live Socratic Seminar on the main stage during the General Session, where they modeled critical thinking, collaboration and public speaking in front of thousands of educators. Congrats!
CTEC Teachers Attend Summer Externship Program
Five Career and Technical Education Center teachers took part this summer in the inaugural Teacher Externship Program, designed to enhance CTE education in area high schools. This new initiative from Collin College, supported by grant funding from the Texas Workforce Commission, provides educators with hands-on experience that will bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world industry skills. CTEC teacher participants were Peili Ho, Danny Blackwell, Elizabeth Gray, Kyla Heffernan and Valentin Cardenas.
District Recognized for 25-Year Partnership with Collin College
Collin College recently recognized its 25-year partnership with Frisco ISD at a summer learning institute. Dr. Neil Matkin, Collin College president, presented Frisco ISD administrators with an award recognizing the partnership at the first Collin Administrator Symposium.
Students Participate in Summer Leadership Academy
Over 20 Frisco ISD students spent part of their summer developing their leadership skills at the 2025 Lone Star Leadership Academy. Students participated in the Education in Action program based on their academic success, demonstrated leadership ability, school involvement and community activities. Lone Star Leadership Academy participants develop leadership skills as they learn about the great state of Texas and its leaders, as well as visiting significant historic sites across the state. Find a full list of Frisco ISD participants.
Also around Frisco ISD …
Kaira Ananya Ganesh, a fifth grader at Wortham Intermediate School, earned silver for the United States in the Under-10 Rapid section at the 35th Pan American Youth Chess Festival in Lima, Peru, this summer. She tied for gold with Peru with the same points but received silver due to a tie break.
Deidra Rucker, associate director of athletics, was chosen to participate in the 2025-26 cohort of the SMU District Leadership Fellows program, a hybrid in-person and online strengths-based leadership development program run by the Institute for Leadership Impact at Southern Methodist University.