As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.
23 May 2001
Dallas Independent School District students Frank LoCrasto, Vernon Gooden and Daniel Keene, graduating seniors at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, have been named Presidential Scholars for the Arts.
There are two paths of accomplishment toward earning the honor of Presidential Scholar. The greater number of students, two per state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are chosen on the basis of broad academic achievement. A smaller number of students (up to 20) are selected on the basis of their academic and artistic scholarship in visual arts, performing arts, or creative writing. The students are selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of private citizens appointed by the President of the United States.
The three DISD students will join 17 other Presidential Scholars for the Arts from throughout the nation—along with scholars recognized for their academic achievements—in Washington, D.C. in June for National Recognition Week. Among their many activities, the students will be presented with the coveted Presidential Medallion at a special White House ceremony.
Presidential scholar Frank LoCrasto (jazz/keyboard) learned to play the piano at age six. "I am mainly a jazz pianist. My parents turned me on to music because they listened to music," he says. In 2000, he was named Best Blues, Pop Rock Soloist and in 1999 he was awarded with a Best Jazz Combo award by Downbeat Magazine. In 2000, at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, LoCrasto received two awards for Outstanding Musicianship. He has applied to New York University, the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School in New York.
Presidential Scholar Vernon Gooden, (dance, modern, jazz and additional dance forms), has an apprenticeship at the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, a full scholarship to the American Dance Festival, a full scholarship to Howard Intensive and a talent scholarship from the Dance Council in 2000. He is interested in pursuing studies in dance and physical therapy and has applied to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, the Juilliard School in New York and Florida State University. Gooden credits Booker T. Washington High School teachers Linn James and Lily Weiss for having significant influence on his development as an artist.
Presidential Scholars for the Arts Daniel Keene (dance/ballet) hopes to join the Stuttgart Ballet. In addition, he has applied to several universities including the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and the Juilliard School in New York.
Presidential Scholars are selected from a group of students who participate in the Arts Recognition and Talent Search (ARTS). This national program identifies and recognizes young people who have demonstrated excellence in the arts and identifies them for consideration by the Commission on Presidential Scholars. The following DISD students are 2001 ARTS Awardees. Their discipline, level and financial award received is listed. ( An (*) denotes the names of students who were named Presidential Scholars for the Arts).
(*) Vernon Gooden, dance, Level 1, $3,000; Honorable Mention,
(*) Daniel Keene, dance, Level 1, $3,000
(*) Frank LoCrasto, jazz, Level 1, $3,000
Brynt A. Beitman, dance, Level 1, $3,000; Honorable Mention, $100
Lewis Flanagan, III, theater, Level 2, $1,500
Julianne Harper, dance, Level 3, $1,000
Esteban Miguel Cruz, visual arts, Honorable Mention, $100
Daniel Quinn Erwin, visual arts, Honorable Mention, $100
Tiffani Marie Kennedy, dance, Honorable Mention, $100
Ruben Soto, dance, Honorable Mention, $100; Merit Award, $100
Alexis A. Tutson, dance, Honorable Mention, $100
Ashley Dawn Nicole Wilkerson, theater, Honorable Mention, $100