On Thursday, May 10, all of the students from the Ed Brune High School were called to the cafeteria for a surprise assembly. Executive Director Gary Priour introduced a special guest, Dr. Nichols Grimes, President of the Harvard Club of San Antonio, to make a presentation.

Dr. Grimes is also Chairman of the Harvard Prize Book Committee for Central and South Texas. The Committee looks for students, teachers and administrators who exemplify the best of character and academic accomplishment in secondary education, and gives an award called the "Harvard Prize Book" – a collection of great writings by graduates of the nation’s most prestigous university – inscribed with the receipient’s name and accompanied by an encomium describing the person’s attributes.

The Committee chose to give all three awards at EBCS for the 2006-2007 school year, a rare event in itself. Student Joseph Hernandez, a junior, received the student award. Dr. Grimes explained that the award recognized a junior student who "has demonstrated attributes that Harvard fosters in its own students," including outstanding character and academic achievement. Dr. Grimes added, "The student must show a passion to grow intellectually, morally, aesthetically, physically, and socially." According to the teachers who nominated him, Joey has demonstrated all these qualities consistently.

The HPB Committee also made an award to Lew Davenport as an outstanding teacher who "inspires his students and kindles a love of learning." Dr. Grimes concluded, "Students never forget such teachers. Memories of them are ever-present in students’ minds, spurring them to greatness."

Dr. Grimes also presented a Harvard Prize Book to EBCS Superintendent Mike Wood for his outstanding leadership and vision, adding, "The attributes of leadership include the ability to engender high academic and ethical standards. These are the men and women who bravely and enthusiastically kindle the flame of our civilization."

We are proud that such excellence has been rewarded in this way.