Student Standouts and Faculty Feature for January 11

Student Standouts and Faculty Feature: Pronger `27, Zacks `21, Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball in the News, All-Metro Football Honors, Hockey Player of the Week, Varsity Girls Squash in the News and Kay

Congratulations to this week’s student standouts and faculty feature below. Way to go #RamNation! And as always, if you have a story to share, please email weeklynews@micds.org.

Lilah Pronger `27 is the Nationwide Grand Prize Winner of the National Geographic Lions Forever Almanac Challenge

Congratulations to fourth grade student Lilah Pronger ’27, the nationwide Grand Prize Winner of the National Geographic Lions Forever Almanac Challenge! Contest entrants created and submitted original 8.5″x11″ posters that included a lion conservation message. Lilah was first chosen by a panel of National Geographic Kids staff to be one of twenty finalists. In the final round, her work stood out as the Grand Prize Winning entry based on knowledge of the subject of lion conservation, creativity, technical execution, and representation of the conservation message. Donna Waters, Lilah’s fourth grade homeroom teacher, remarked, “Lilah is consistently amazing her classmates and me with her artistic abilities, and we are so proud her talent has been recognized at this level!” Lower School Art Teacher Sarah Garner added, “Lilah’s creativity inspires those around her, as she always strives to be a leader in the community and share her passion with others.” Along with receiving a monetary award and Almanac Certificate, Lilah’s work will be featured in an upcoming issue of National Geographic. Way to go, Lilah!

Jonah Zacks `21 Accepted into the Missouri History Museum's Teens Make History Academy

Jonah Zacks ’21 has been accepted into the Missouri History Museum’s Teens Make History Academy for 2019. During the eight-week program that runs from January through March, Jonah and other participants will get hands-on experience at the Missouri History Museum. He’ll meet staff from different departments, complete museum challenges, and prepare a capstone project with teammates. Students who complete the Teens Make History Academy are then eligible for the Teens Make History Apprenticeship, which allows high school students the opportunity to do further work in exhibits or museum theater. For more information, click here. Congrats Jonah!

Boys Varsity Basketball Team in the News for Win During Second Annual Sager Strong Shootout at MICDS

The Rams were featured in a St. Louis Post Dispatch article for their 63-44 win over Jerseyville in the Second Annual Sager Strong Shootout here at MICDS on December 8. The competition honors former sportscaster Craig Sager, who passed away in 2016 after a two-year battle with leukemia, and who was known for his outlandishly loud suits. Coach Matt Hixenbaugh and the coaching staff entered into the spirit of the event with some garish outfits of their own, and all proceeds from the gate and concession sales during the five-game event were donated to the Sager Foundation.

Jack Brooks `19 received special accolades in the article for his performance, including a quote from Coach Hixenbagh. “Jack is the type of player that’s so good for us in so many ways. Even when he’s not scoring, we’re still a much better team when he’s out there.”

Way to go Rams!

Girls Varsity Basketball Team in the News for Recent Win and Free Throw Performance

The Girls Varsity Basketball team was recently featured in a St. Louis Post Dispatch article for their 45-37 win over McClure North. Zaire Harrell `22 was featured in the article for her performance and focus at the free throw line. Coach Scott Small said, “We’ve been shooting a lot of free throws in practice…We’ve been talking about mental toughness and we’ve played some people close the past couple weeks and I thought we were ready to go.”

All-Metro Honors for Varsity Football Players Graham Bundy Jr. `19, Henry Carpenter `19 and Luke Bernstein `20

Three MICDS Rams varsity football players receive All-Metro honors featured in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Congrats to the following football stars!
1st team All-Metro — Graham Bundy Jr. `19 and Henry Carpenter `19
2nd team All-Metro — Luke Bernstein `20

Varsity Hockey Player Nick Mellanby `19 Named Missouri Player of the Week

Congrats to MICDS Rams Varsity Hockey Player Nick Mellanby `19 who was named the Missouri Player of the Week by the Mid States Club Hockey Association!

Girls Varsity Squash in the News for Tournament Win

The MICDS varsity girls squash team is featured in West Newsmagazine for winning the Flanagan Invitational in Mercersburgh, PA for the fourth consecutive year. Coach Robyn Williams said,”They are coming together as a team, working hard at practice, and having fun while they working hard. Their match play is getting stronger and the younger girls are gaining more match experience and exposure which is definitely needed for squash.” Go Rams!

Boys Lacrosse Coach Andy Kay Selected for Missouri Lacrosse Hall of Fame

Boys Lacrosse Coach Andy Kay was selected to the Missouri Lacrosse Hall of Fame yesterday. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on February 7th here in St. Louis. Tickets and event information are available here. All are welcome!

Kay’s inscription reads:
A Truly Great Coach: Andy Kay, a first ballot US Lacrosse Saint Louis Chapter Hall of Fame member, has led the MICDS Rams to an astonishing run over the course of the past decade. During that span, the Rams have become recognized as a national power, won 5 consecutive state championships, won an in-state record of 76 games in row, placed 7 Metro Players of the Year, numerous All-Americans, and dozens of All-State players. The Man of the Year in 2011 and 2013, the Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016, and the Men’s Commitment winner in 2017, Kay is known to be a maker of men, and his dedication to youth lacrosse in the area has extended to and influenced thousands of players. Known for his deep passion for the game, perhaps Kay’s greatest accomplishment is the deep connectivity that exists between him, his staff, his players, and their families.