Sending to Neighbor Plus

To submit photos and information recognizing your friends and neighbors for their accomplishment, e-mail Community Editor Ken Sury at ksury@wacotrib.com or call 757-5750. Not all photos can be used; please provide contact information.

Students venture to Costa Rica

Seven Crawford High School Students participated in tours, educational excursions, as well as white-water rafting and zip-lining during a weeklong trip to Costa Rica.

The students were accompanied by their science teacher, Toni Greene.

The trip and course curriculum was provided through WorldStrides, an educational student travel program.

The students gained knowledge about the Sarapique rainforest while visiting the Tirimbina Rainforest Center, explored an active volcano in Arenal and traveled through a cloud forest in Monteverde.

Taking a photo op near the Arenal volcano are (kneeling, from left) Tyler Nemec, sponsor Sherri Farmer, Derrick Christensen, Rachel Hammons, sponsor Laura Nemec, science teacher Toni Greene, (standing) Fisher Smith, Jonathan Moore, Garrett Dunn, Katie Farmer and tour guide Tony Munez.

Photo submitted by Sherri Farmer

Headed to college early

Courtney Kusler, of Woodway, will start her junior year of high school this fall on the University of North Texas campus in Denton through the Texas Academy of Math and Science.

Courtney, who completed her sophomore year at Valley Mills High School (her mother teaches in the district), is one of 200 high school-age Texans selected for the academy. With her parents, Michael and Angela Kusler, they started the application process around Christmas.

It included taking the SAT as a sophomore. Courtney scored higher than 90 percent of graduating seniors on two of the three sections. Applications, teacher references, math tests and an interview at UNT was part of the process.

In April she learned she was selected, which includes a scholarship for all tuition, books and fees for the two years. Her parents will pay for room and board while Courtney lives in a dorm at UNT while earning a minimum of 60 college hours.

She is the only junior or senior selected from McLennan County.

Courtney received advice from Brandon Wilcoxson, of West, who graduated from the Texas Academy of Math and Science in 2007. He recently graduated from Texas A&M University and will attend medical school in the fall.

Courtney’s goal is to become a pediatric dentist. She was inspired by a gifted-and-talented trip through Midway ISD in the fifth grade. Waco dentist Dr. Amanda Trotter has served as a role model, allowed Courtney to observe her the last several summers. She has attended the Brazos Area Health Education Center careers camp at Baylor University the last two summers.

She hopes to attend Baylor in the fall of 2013.

Axtell High School in New York City

A group of Axtell High School students and parents took a bite out of “The Big Apple” — New York City — in late June.

They toured Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Statue of Liberty and Ellis island.

The group was on the “Today” Show. They also took in “The Lion King” on Broadway and visited Times Square.

Other stops were Greenwich Village, Chinatown and Little Italy. The group saw ground zero and the new World Trade Center being built.

Trips on the subway were quite an experience for the group, which also walked across the Brooklyn Bridge at night.

Stops along Wall Street and a number of famous churches and cathedrals were all part of the visit.

Gathered for a group photo in Times Square are (front row, from left) Amy Poteet, Katherine Reynolds, Stefannie Denton, Rachel Reynolds, Samantha Stanley, McKenzie Kroll, (middle row) Tyler Pope, Garrett Saucedo, Travis Martinez, Braxton Stefka, Tyler Martinez, (back row) Erin Poteet, Rusty Reynolds, JoEllen Skinner, Ernie Martinez, Susan Martinez, Debbie Denton, Tammy Stanley, Ann Poteet and Rae Pope.

Photo submitted by Rusty Reynolds