Zulema Villegas
Giant Staff Member of the Month
Through a tough year, Zulema Villegas, prekindergarten teacher assistant at Bowie Elementary, has prevailed for her students. In the bilingual classroom, Zulema has worked relentlessly with students and their families for over 18 years. She is described as an inspiration to whoever has the opportunity to be around her. Her passion is students, and she is always smiling and beaming with positivity even during tough times. "Her heart of gold and love for children has made her a success. She pushes herself every day to be the best she can be." Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital sponsors the Giant Staff Member of the Month.
Dariana Zepada Torres
Giant Student of the Month
Dariana, our Giant Student of the Month for April 2021, is a junior at Sterling High School. She moved to the United States less than three years ago without knowing anyone and without knowing the language. She is described as an extremely hard worker and very determined. In her short time at Sterling, she has learned English and is now in the top 18% of her graduating class with a current GPA of 3.8. Learning a new language was not her only challenge; she was bullied at a young age and was extremely self-conscious about her dialect for a very long time. However, Dariana has a dream to become a human rights lawyer. She says, "I want to make a difference, help as many people as I can, and fight for equality. I truly believe that no matter how tall the mountain is, it cannot block the sun." She strives to help her peers and is even in the PALS class at Sterling. With the commons full of friends, family, and staff, people poured their love and appreciation for Dariana. Houston Methodist Baytown sponsors this award.
Charles Renfro
Giant Alumnus of the Month
Charles Renfro graduated from Robert E. Lee High school, where he was a four-year member of the REL band and played clarinet. He graduated from Rice University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Architecture. Charles earned a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University in 1994. Now, he is an architect and partner at Diller Scofidio + Renfro. He has worked on many projects significant to New York, including the redesign of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The High Line, and the renovation of MoMA; the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston; The Broad museum in Los Angeles; and academic facilities for the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University, Brown University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. Abroad, he led the design of the 35-acre Zaryadye Park, located adjacent to the Kremlin in Moscow, the Museum of Image and Sound in Rio de Janeiro, the Tianjin Juilliard School in China, and is leading the design of the Aboriginal Art and Cultures Centre-a new gallery in Adelaide, Australia. Renfro was the recipient of the Wall Street Journal Magazine's Innovator of the Year award. Charles is the Vice President of the Storefront for Art and Architecture's Board of Directors in New York and is a faculty member of the School of Visual Arts. He lectures widely at universities worldwide, with a focus on engaging the next generation of architects. Renfro continues to contribute to discussions in Texas, including as a member of the William Ward Watkin Council at Rice University, a former member of the Buffalo Bayou Public Art Program Steering Committee, and most recently, to present new ideas of urban regeneration to the Houston Parks Board. He is currently leading the renovation of the Kalita Humphreys Theater in Dallas; Frank Lloyd Wright's only built free-standing theater. Renfro was the recipient of the 2015 Texas Medal of Arts Award and the 2012 Rice University Distinguished Alumnus, making him one of the youngest alumni to receive this prestigious award and the first from The School of Architecture. Charles, an innovator, credits his childhood experiences in Baytown and Goose Creek CISD to much of his success. Thank you to Houston Methodist Baytown for sponsoring this award. You can find Charles' projects here:
https://dsrny.com/.