SAISD Senior Spotlight: Jefferson High School senior Abigail Villarreal is the inaugural recipient of the first-ever Youth Champion Award from the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD). She will receive the award in Los Angeles in early June.

Villarreal was born with Phenylketonuria, or PKU, a rare disease that prevents her body from properly digesting protein. Most people haven’t heard of it, beyond knowing that babies get tested for it with a heel prick days after being born. Two years ago, she began her advocacy about rare diseases at Jefferson High School on Be Rare Spirit Day. She also took her advocacy off campus asking local businesses to “Light Up For Rare” by installing pink, blue green or purple lights on those evenings. Alamo Quarry, Frost Bank Tower, the convention center and hospitals were among those organizations that participated. Additionally, she received a proclamation from the City of Balcones Heights acknowledging National Rare Disease Day. Two members of San Antonio City Council also recognized her efforts. 

Villarreal graduates from Jefferson High School on June 6 and will be presented with the Youth Champion Award in Los Angeles on June 8.

Calendar items? 
 
May 17 (Fri) – Huppertz Elementary “Final Homecoming”
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Huppertz Elementary, 247 Bangor Drive, 78228
Huppertz Elementary is inviting all members of Cougar Nation to return to their old campus for one final Homecoming. Huppertz alumni are welcome to tour the school, walk the halls, take pictures and share their many memories with fellow Cougar students.
 
May 21 (Tues) – Head Start Teacher Surprise at J.T. Brackenridge Elementary
1 p.m. to 2 p.m., J.T. Brackenridge Elementary, 1214 Guadalupe St., 78207
Jaclyn Whiten, Head Start teacher at JT Brackenridge, will receive the Jule Sugarman Award during a student Head Start Award Ceremony. She will be surprised with this honor in front of her students, families, and staff. This award is named for one of the founders of Head Start, Jule Sugarman, and provides an opportunity for parents and guardians to recognize direct service staff who exceed expectations and contribute to the success and growth of the City of San Antonio Department of Human Services Head Start program every day.
 
May 22 (Wed) – Forbes Elementary Alumni Walk
4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Forbes Elementary, 2630 Sally Gay Drive, 78223
All former Forbes Elementary Bears are invited for a final Alumni Walk before the longtime campus closes. There will be vintage Forbes Elementary memorabilia and photos to relive school memories from the past.
 
May 23 (Thurs) – Dorie Miller Elementary Grand Finale
5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Dorie Miller Elementary, 207 Lincolnshire Drive, 78220
The Dorie Miller Elementary Mariner Penguins are opening their doors and inviting the community and all alumni to a grand finale celebration for the historic campus. Those in attendance will be able to look through yearbooks, old photos and other pieces of Dorie Miller Elementary history.
 
May 24 (Fri) – Baskin Elementary Cereal Box Domino Extravaganza
8:15 a.m., Baskin Elementary, 630 Crestview Drive, 78201
The Baskin Beagles set out to collect 1,000 cereal boxes to donate to the San Antonio Food Bank. The Baskin Elementary familia blew past that goal by gathering more than 1,300 boxes of cereal! One teacher came across a cereal drive domino chain on TikTok and turned that idea into the Baskin Elementary Gives Back event for the Spring. The Domino Extravaganza will kick off the inaugural Beagle Bash. The year end celebration will have Beagle students busy with jumping castles, foam party, neon dance party, bingo and much more! The top three classes who collected the most cereal boxes also won an ice cream party.
 
May 24 (Fri) – Nelson Early Childhood Education Center Walk the Halls event
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Nelson Early Childhood Education Center, 1040 Waverly Ave., 78201
The community is invited to Knox Early Childhood Education Center for a final “Walk the Halls” event. Families can enjoy some quality time on campus and in the classrooms with their children before the schools closes its doors.