This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Elijah Kovatch from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/3aUK0BfryYQ?si=5XmtaOHV7Yn3bLQD
Elijah is a senior on the Broncos track team. He is a member of the Broncos Texas Relay 4x400 meter relay qualifier team.
Elijah is an AP student with a 3.67 GPA, and he has received the Academic Excellence award.
Elijah is a member of Burner Nation Track and Field Club.
Next year, Elijah plans to attend the University of Oklahoma to receive a degree in Construction Science.
That’s Elijah Kovatch from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is senior Carson Knight from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/V0_UxnorUnQ?si=1tbcNl0K393EzgWf
Carson is a 3-year member of the Varsity Mixed Choir and a 3-year member of Fusion.
He serves as a Student Director for the McKinney Boyd choir, and he is a
2-time All-State Tenor Bass Choir Member.
He also plays cello in the Orchestra.
Carson currently maintains a 3.3 GPA, and he is an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
After graduation, Carson plans to attend Texas Tech University to major in Music Education.
That’s Carson Knight, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
“I am the vehicle that just opens the door for them to serve, and Martin Luther King said, ‘What are you doing for others? How are you serving others?’.”
See video: https://youtu.be/2u_W1cUeBYM?si=hRmcKLhCGuKWtRfK
Katie Abel from McKinney Boyd High School is the 2nd Runner Up for the McKinney ISD’s 2025 Secondary Teacher of the Year. She serves as the PALS coordinator and teaches Partners Leadership, and she has worked as an educator for 18 years.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Madeline See from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/XE7e--GqDcc
Madeline is a senior on the Lady Broncos soccer team.
Madeline is a two-year varsity member, and she received the Bronco Way Team Award her junior year.
Madeline is a 3-time Academic Excellence recipient, AP Scholar with Distinction, and she received Academic All-District. She scored a 1500 on her SAT, has a 4.79 GPA, and is ranked 15th in her class.
Madeline is a member of the National Honors Society, Health Occupations Students of America, and PALS.
Next year, Madeline plans to attend Texas A&M to major in Biology in the Pre-Physical Therapy pathway.
That’s Madeline See from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Sophia Vlahos from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/jxz9VTYiO8Q?si=LM-4yCKgpWcHeEDy
Sophia is a senior on the Lady Broncos softball team. She was awarded team MVP, elected to First Team All-District and led District 5-6A in Runs Batted In in 2023.
Sophia has received the Heart of the Bronco award two years in a row, and she was selected to play for the Under 18 Greek National Softball team.
Sophia has received Academic Excellence and the Outstanding Student in Languages award. She has taken 9 AP courses, and she is ranked in the Top 22% of her class with a 4.0 GPA.
Sophia is a Youth Volunteer at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and she is a pitching and hitting coach for young athletes.
Next year, Sophia plans to further her education by pursuing a degree in Accounting. She would like to become a CPA and a CFO of a large corporation.
That’s Sophia Vlahos from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is Eli Worthy.
See video: https://youtu.be/prxna8KsYIU?si=ejU9Khqwil3MhXFV
Eli is a senior at McKinney Boyd High School where he is in the Broadway Broncos Theatre program. He received the Thespian Board Award in 2024, and he was a Group Musical Theatre National Qualifier in 2022. Eli previously participated in choir & band as well, and he was selected for the All-Region Choir from 2019-2022.
Eli currently has a 3.8 GPA, and he has taken 3 AP courses.
In his free time, Eli has earned the highest rank with Boys Scouts: Eagle Scout. He is a member of “The Order of the Arrow”, and he supports the non-profit organization, Carry the Load. Eli volunteers with Plano Parks and Recreation by assisting with dances for people with special needs, and he is a counselor-in-training for Collin County Adventure Camp.
After graduation, Eli plans to attend the University of Texas at Dallas to double major in Technical Theatre and Business. He would like to create his own business in the technical theatre industry.
That’s Eli Worthy, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
Preparing Students for Success – the AVID Program in McKinney ISD
“It’s the best program in the district!”
As an AVID instructor, Leslie D’Annibale may be somewhat biased, but her enthusiasm for the Advancement Via Individual Determination program in McKinney ISD is not overstated.
See video: https://youtu.be/66709GXiga8
AVID is transforming the way students learn and prepare for their future by helping students build strong study habits, manage their time effectively and prepare for college and beyond. From mastering study skills to tackling the SAT, AVID empowers students with the tools they need to succeed!
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is senior Emma Oba from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/6NMzgJlSHxI?si=EEPDCZSILwHfQNCP
Emma plays cello in the orchestra program, and she has been selected for All-Region Orchestra for the past 4 years.
She received Superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble, and she plays in a quartet that was selected for the UIL State Instrumental Chamber Music Competition.
Emma is also an accomplished pianist.
She has earned 1st place in the following: the Juanita Miller Concerto Competition, Baylor Waco Piano Competition, Texas Music Teachers Association, Dallas Symphonic and Dallas Solo. She won grand prize at the SMU Institute for Young Pianist Concerto Competition, and she was featured as a Rising Artist on WRR Classical 101.1 FM.
Emma has taken 9 AP courses, and she currently has a 4.44 GPA.
After graduation, Emma plans to major in Piano at the University of Michigan, UT Austin, Indiana University, TCU or UNT.
That’s Emma Oba, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is senior Rebekah Lessner from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/sKbxa5011Eg
Rebekah is a member of the Fusion Choir, and she is a 2025 Texas All-State Choir member.
She was selected for the Region 24 Choir the past 3 years, and she was a State Finalist for TMTA Vocal Competition. Rebekah received Superior score and Honors Recital performance for Vocal Solo & Ensemble contest, and she earned a Top Score on the PMTA Theory Test.
Rebekah currently has a 4.93 GPA with 9 AP classes. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the McKinney Boyd Track team.
In her free time, Rebekah participates in service work and mission trips through First United Methodist Church of McKinney. She is also a lifeguard and swim instructor for the City of McKinney.
After graduation, Rebekah plans to major in Political Science on the Pre-Law track.
That’s Rebekah Lessner, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Aniyah Johnson from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/InLnGgLYn5M?si=q3q0HcBE3iTZcvd0
Aniyah is a senior on the Lady Broncos Basketball team, and she is 3-time 1st team All-District selection and a 2-time varsity team captain.
Aniyah is an AP student, and she has taken 3 AP courses.
Aniyah is a member of the McKinney Boyd Black Student Union, and she is very involved with the Flow church community.
Next year, Aniyah plans to attend the University of Texas at Arlington to study Criminal Justice.
That’s Aniyah Johnson from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is Rylan McCollough.
See video: https://youtu.be/_0p4vCJs_ds
Rylan is a senior at McKinney Boyd High School where he plays viola & violin in the orchestra. He is a two-time Directors Award recipient, two-time All-Region Orchestra participant, and a UIL State Chamber Music Competition Finalist with the Cadenza Quartet.
Rylan has taken 8 AP courses, and he currently maintains a 3.977 GPA.
In his free time, Rylan is a member of the McKinney Boyd Chess Club, and he is an employee of Dallas Strings. Rylan performs as Principal Violist of the Greater North Texas Youth Orchestra and as a member of the Cadenza Quintet.
After graduation, Rylan plans to study Linguistics or Music Education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst or the University of Edinburgh.
That’s Rylan McCollough, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is Alyssa Mullen.
Video: https://youtu.be/YwEQPXggwA4
Alyssa is a senior at McKinney Boyd High School where she is in the Broadway Broncos Theatre program. She has performed with the All-Star Cast of the UIL One-Act Play, as well as several other productions including Big Fish, A Chorus Line and The Little Mermaid.
Alyssa is a National Qualifier for Soloist & Music Director for her work in The Ballad of Sara Berry, and she is a National Qualifier for Music Director for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Alyssa has taken 9 AP courses and 1 dual credit course, and she received the Outstanding Achievement award from NASSP in 2021. She is an AP Scholar with Honor and a National Indigenous Recognition Program Award Recipient. For the past 2 years Alyssa has been named the “Theatre Student of the Year” for McKinney Boyd.
In her free time, Alyssa volunteers with Creek Kids Drama Team, and she works with young children at Bible Scripture Memory Weekly Sundays.
She also participates in the Dallas Young Artists program and Moondance Theatre, and she is currently working on the Gold award in Girl Scouts.
After graduation, Alyssa plans to attend college and major in Fine Arts Acting with a goal of performing and directing plays on Broadway.
That’s Alyssa Mullen, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Parker Brown from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://tinyurl.com/52hfe3t6
Parker is a Senior on the Broncos Basketball team.
He has lettered on Varsity for 2 years.
Parker is a National Merit Scholar and received Academic All-State his Junior year.
Parker is a member of the Don’t Litter Club and the McKinney Boyd Black Student Union.
Parker participates in the McKinney Divertimento Orchestra, National Black MBA Association Leaders of Tomorrow Program, and Jack and Jill of America.
He has attended the Roc Nation Summer Music and Technology Academy.
That’s Parker Brown from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Josie Karry from McKinney Boyd High School.
See video: https://youtu.be/cVftdfadP38?si=mt1ZL21WQjuJbJXN
Josie is a Senior and Team Captain for the Broncos Cross Country team.
She was the 2023 Cross Country MVP and an Individual Regional qualifier.
Josie is an AP scholar with Honors and has taken 11 AP classes. She is ranked 16th for the class of 2025 and has a 4.73 GPA.
Josie is a member of the National Honor Society and has been named Academic All-District.
Josie is a volunteer for Baylor Scott & White and Meals on Wheels.
Next year, Josie plans to attend college to major in Nursing.
That’s Josie Karry from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Kyle Adams from
McKinney Boyd High School.
Video: https://youtu.be/A7cESvEDGAM?si=gsjGIeGofEXECAOo
Kyle is a Senior and Team Captain for the Broncos Cross Country team.
Kyle has received the AP Scholar and Academic Honors awards.
He has taken multiple AP classes and has scored a 3, 4, and 5 on the AP exams.
Kyle is a member of Tech Theater and is the President of his church's youth group.
After graduation, Kyle will take a 2 year church mission trip and then will attend college to study
Film Production.
That’s Kyle Adams from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar
Athlete of the Week.
McKinney ISD’s 1st Sensory-Friendly Performance
Video link: https://tinyurl.com/34xb39cb
The McKinney Boyd Broadway Broncos performed the musical The Little Mermaid last week, and one of their shows offered the audience a slightly difference experience. A sensory-friendly performance is a theater production that is modified to be more welcoming and comfortable for people with sensory sensitivities, autism, or other social, learning, or cognitive disabilities. These performances are designed to be a judgment-free experience for all audience members, and they are also suitable for young children or first-time theatergoers.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Grace Edwards from
McKinney Boyd High School.
Video link: https://youtu.be/w2zCNj92Ua8?si=FupIJeqGgwLPdq9-
Grace is a senior on the Lady Broncos Volleyball team.
Grace is ranked 49th in her class, and she has taken 4 AP classes. She is a member of the National Honors Society.
Next year, Grace plans to attend college and pursue a degree in Physical Therapy.
That’s Grace Edwards from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is Brooks Bell.
https://youtu.be/_RWH5CEvK1E
Brooks is a senior at McKinney Boyd High School where he plays percussion in the Bronco Band.
He has earned TMEA All-Region Band 3 years in a row, All-Area in 2024 and All-Region Orchestra in 2022 and 2024.
Brooks was selected as a McKinney ISD Concerto Contest Winner and as a Semi-Finalist in the Great Plains International Marimba Competition.
Brooks currently maintains a 4.42 GPA, and he has taken 10 AP courses.
He is a member of the National Honor Society, and he participates in Youth and Government.
In his free time, Brooks is a member of Vigilantes Indoor Percussion and Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps.
After graduation, Brooks plans to major in Music Education.
He is undecided on a college, and he is considering the University of Texas at Austin, Florida State University or Oklahoma City University.
That’s Brooks Bell, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is senior Amaya Allen from McKinney Boyd High School.
Watch video here: https://youtu.be/Wt5k2w6TRtM
Amaya is a 3-year Elite Team Member of the varsity Bailadoras Dance & Drill Team, and she is 1st Lieutenant.
She is a member of the 2023 National Grand Champion Team and the “Best of the Best” Dance Team at the American Dance Competition in 2023 & 2024.
Amaya is a Division 1 Rating Soloist, and she has received Bailadora awards for Most Motivating, Highest Merits and Honor Medal.
Amaya currently has a 4.235 GPA, and she has taken 7 AP Courses.
She participates in the Interdisciplinary Study and Mentorship program, and she has served on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council for the past two years.
Amaya is a member of the PALS mentorship program, as well as the Principal’s “Students Voice” meetings for the past 4 years.
Amaya is active with Hope Students at Hope Fellowship Church and with Believers International Ministries, and she volunteers within the South Oak Cliff community.
After graduation, Amaya hopes to attend LSU to study Architectural Design and Interior Design.
That’s Amaya Allen, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Maggie Celeste from McKinney Boyd High School.
https://youtu.be/WuQbQBmARM4
Maggie is a Senior on the Lady Broncos Tennis team.
She has been on Varsity for 2 years and was the MVP for Junior Varsity Tennis.
Maggie has taken 6 AP courses, 1 dual credit class, and qualified for National Hispanic Recognition and National Merit Award for PSAT.
She has received Academic Excellence for 4 years and she is ranked 25th in the class of 2025 with a 4.63 GPA.
Maggie is a member of the STEM club, National Honor Society, and is an AP Scholar with Honor.
She volunteers at church camp during the Summer, works at Pluckers, and practices the piano. Next year, Maggie plans to attend college to study Mechanical Engineering.
That’s Maggie Celeste from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
