A Brief History of IMPACTT

This is a brief history of the IMPACTT Program, a short introduction is followed by a journal of our activities. There are lots of links to pictures and other things. We hope you enjoy it.

IMPACTT (Integrating Multiple Perspectives Across the Curriculum for Today and Tomorrow) is an academy or school within-a-school at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside District 12 in Tucson, Arizona. The IMPACTT Program’s roots are in interdisciplinary projects conducted by Sunnyside teachers Terry Seward and Doug Cardell. Mr. Cardell was the head of the math department and Mr. Seward was head of the PE department. Mr. Seward had begun a new PE class called Outdoor Ed. It was his hope that this class would be able to team with others to provide a more enriching educational experience. Mr. Cardell had been very active in moving the math department and the state department of education toward a more applied rather than theoretical approach to mathematics instruction. During the 1998-99 school year Cardell and Seward collaborated with Cardell’s pre-calculus class designing a paraboloid greenhouse roof for Seward’s outdoor ed students to build. That greenhouse is still a key element of the ‘Habitat’, IMPACTT’s living laboratory to study earth science, environmental science, and biology as well as outdoor ed.

During the 1999-2000 school year Cardell and Seward again collaborated. Cardell’s calculus class designed a bridge to cross a planned stream for the Habitat. Due to funding and safety issues it was never built, but this project was very much in Cardell and Seward’s minds when Secondary Curriculum Director Arlene McCollum asked at a department chair meeting if any teachers would be interested in experimenting with an interdisciplinary program. Cardell and Seward stayed after the meeting and began to explain their idea for an interdisciplinary, multi-grade program much like a high-tech one room school. Ms. McCollum said she thought she could get funding to attend The Connecting Conference in Beaver Creek, Colorado during the summer if they could get a team of teachers together. She said some of the funds would probably need to come from the vocational area and suggested vocational teacher Linda George as a team member. Sunnyside Assistant Principal Chuck Jerz was asked to help choose team members and he suggested science teacher, Lisa Mooney, and Health and Careers teacher, Amanda Harris. Cardell chose English teacher, Barbara MacDonald.

During the spring of 2000 the team began planning meetings. They planned a fieldtrip for the first day of school the following fall. The team ordered digital cameras, GPS units, binoculars and field books to prepare for the event. The team began relationships with representatives of Tucson Audubon Society, Tucson Botanical Gardens, Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, and Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, to collaborate in environmental ventures. Ms. MacDonald went to the middle schools to present IMPACTT to prospective students. The students signed up on a first come, first served basis.

In the summer of 2000 McCollum, Cardell, MacDonald, George, Mooney and Sunnyside Principal Raul Nido went to Beaver Creek to attend The Connecting Conference. Unfortunately, Seward had a previous commitment with the football team. They were pleased to find lots of folks trying to do the same things, but were a little stunned to find out that they were trying as advanced an idea as had been tried to date so they really had no model to follow. Cardell was able to spend quite a while talking with keynote speaker Alan November and got a lot of great ideas from him.

Later in the summer Harris left teaching to go into business and Seward chose Luis Gomez to replace her. Then Ms. McCollum got a job offer too good to refuse, and left for the northwest and was replaced by Kathleen Hollenbeck. Brandi Smith was assigned as a student teacher. The group did a lot of planning in the week before school started. They decided that the teachers would teach two of their four or five classes each day in the IMPACTT program

The weekend before the first day of school the team had received their class lists and each teacher called a group of incoming students to warn them to wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and to bring water.

August 14, 2000 On the first day of school, August 14, 2000, the bus arrived to take the students to Sabino Canyon. It was August in Arizona, it was hot, and the teachers had overestimated the students’ hiking abilities. It became known as ‘the death march’. The overall effect though was what the teachers had hoped for, none of the students doubted that this was a new kind of program.

Late August 2000 Three weeks after the start of the semester the students whose parents didn’t understand when school started began to register at Sunnyside. Since many of the other classes were full an additional 20 students were ‘dumped’ into IMPACTT against their will. They had not been a part of the team building process and most weren’t too keen on being put in a high performance program with no choice. Ms. Hollenbeck brought in Stefani Hines from the Southwest Environmental Health Center at the University of Arizona into the mix. Ms. Hines brought in Rebecca Milholland as a CATTS fellow.

August 28, 2000 On August 28, 2000, the second field trip to the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum goes much better than the first. Everyone learned a lot and had a good time.

November 8-9, 2000 Ms. MacDonald had already established a relationship with Tobacco-Free Ways and they asked us to put on a teen health and tobacco conference. On November 8-9, 2000, the students (all freshmen) presented the First Teen Health and Tobacco Conference.. It also began a tradition of IMPACTT putting on conferences on a variety of topics. The conference was a big hit.

January 2001 At the end of the first semester a lot of the people who came in late were allowed to transfer out and that reduced the load. Ms. MacDonald was relieved of her other classes to handle the ballooning paperwork and Ms. Smith’s term as student teacher came to an end. Ms. Hines made an effort to seriously document what was being done and Mr. Cardell assumed the role of primary curriculum developer.

February 16, 2001 The next field trip was divided with different teachers taking different groups to different places to take place in the National Bird Count. Ms. MacDonald and Mr. Cardell took a group to Cardell’s ranch, it was an overcast day and birds were in short supply, but the group got to ride horse’s, hike, and explore Aravaipa Creek. Picture - Mr. Cardell teaches Katie to ride. Picture-Exploring Aravaipa Creek. Mr. Seward took a group to Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. Another group went to the Sweetwater Wetlands.

August 2001 By the end of the second semester, the teachers had decided to change the model. There would be no part time teachers, only full time. Mooney, Gomez, and George left the program and Mr. Cardell, Ms. MacDonald and Mr. Seward became full-time IMPACTT teachers. Cardell resigned as head of the math department and IMPACTT became a separate department. Nora Cecena joined as student teacher and Kathleen Ervin, Melanie Sarino, and Carlyle Begay joined as the new CATTS fellows. Wendy Burroughs and Barb Kelbs from Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, Mary Chassels from Tucson Botanical Gardens, and Suzanne Druv from the Tucson Audubon Society and her husband Eric took on major roles.

August 23, 2001 Marti Lindsey joined SWEHSC and became one of our partners bringing expertise in library science and computer applications.

October 5, 2001 The second fieldtrip to Sabino Canyon went much better than the first. October was a lot cooler than August. Suzanne Druv from the Audubon Society joined us on this trip.

October 2001 Wendy Burroughs of Pima County Parks and Recreation asked IMPACTT to help put on a Teen Summit to education Tucson area teens about the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and other local environmental issues.

November 2001 The freshmen presented the Second Teen Health and Tobacco Conference. The keynote speaker, Dr. Richard Carmona, was chosen by President Bush to become U.S. Surgeon General a few months later.

November 21, 2001 The students traveled to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge to search for endangered Pima Pineapple Cactus to protect it from a controlled burn and to remove almost a mile of barbed wire so the Pronghorn Antelope could more safely move about their range. Thanks to Barb Kelbs from Pima County Parks and Rec for providing the transportation.

December 7, 2001 The IMPACTT students presented the Las Posadas at Tucson Community Center. The students put on a wonderful presentation and help some of the special needs students hang the ornaments they had helped them make on the TCC tree.

January 2002 Terry Seward’s wife was in a terrible automobile accident, so Seward had to retire and was replaced by Nora Cecena. Ms. Hines and CATTS Fellows Ervin, Sarino and Begay really stepped up and helped fill the void left by Mr. Seward’s departure.

January 7, 2002 Wendy Burroughs announces that the IMPACTT sophomores will be the official organizers of the First Annual T.E.E.N Summit.

February 4, 2002 The students made mud balls full of native seeds in cooperation with the Native Seeds/SEARCH at the Tucson Audubon Society to reseed areas around Tucson with native plants and went to the Tucson Botanical Gardens for environmental study.

March 21, 2002 The students went to Cienega Creek with Tucson Audubon Society to collect water quality data for the University of Arizona. Mr. Cardell took some of the group on a five-mile hike, the longest one so far. Picture – Taking water samples. Another thank you to Barb Kelbs for the transportation and to Suzanne Druv and Stefani Hines for their help and equipment.

April 5, 2002 The sophomores led by Chairperson Aglahel Avilez, presented the First Annual T.E.E.N. Summit at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. They were featured on KVOA News that evening. The newscast focused on the original research the students had done about the Pima County Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. The sophomores surveyed over 400 randomly selected residents off Pima County about the plan. They found that most either weren’t aware of or misunderstood the plan. Only about thirty percent understood it. Almost half had never heard of it and about twenty percent thought it was designed to hurt the environment. These results were very surprising and indicated that more work was needed to educate the public about the plan. The freshmen presented the air quality research they had worked with Ms. Hines and freshmen Sarah Carmello and Zulema Guerrero presented a breakout session on air quality. Picture-Aglahel making a presentation.

April 10 & 12, 2002 The group took fieldtrips to Brown Canyon in the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge to write nature reflections and prepare for the ‘River of Words Poetry Contest’. Again, thanks to Barb Kelbs for the transportation.

April 22, 2002 IMPACTT and Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation presented Earth Day for Kids. The students help experts teach other students about preserving the environment. Thanks to Ms. Hines each student to got a T-shirt.

April 26, 2002 Dr. William Maxwell, convener of The First and the Eleventh International Conferences on Thinking came from Phoenix to visit and invites IMPACTT to become a sponsor of the Eleventh International Conference on Thinking (ICOTXI) in Phoenix in the summer of 2003. He agreed to allow students to be a part of the planning committee, a first for the conference.

April 2002 Mr. Cardell got approval from Dean Jim Lamb of Central Arizona College to allow the students to get credit for College Algebra during the 2002-03 school year in return for their writing an Online Modern Math course under Mr. Cardell’s direction.

April 30, 2002 The students convinced Dr. Maxwell that if they are to be effective in helping plan the conference some of them should attend the 10^th International Conference on Thinking in Harrogate, England in July 2002.

May 1-2, 2002 We went on an overnight camping trip with Tucson Audubon Society to do nature study at Aravaipa Creek. The students hiked, swam, rode horses, learned to rappel, did reflective writing, and did nature study. Picture-Cody rappelling. Picture-Students swimming. Thanks to Suzanne Druv of Tucson Audubon for providing food and equipment, Barb Kelbs and her group for transportation from PCPR, Eric Druv for help with the activities. Dean Jim Lamb from Central Arizona College joined us for breakfast Thursday. He welcomed the students to the CAC family and shared some of his insights and wisdom.

May 3, 2002 Mr. Cardell, Luis, Celeste, and Roxy went to Phoenix for ICOTXI planning. The planning committee agrees to send four students to England and approves spending $2500 for that purpose.

May 5, 2002 IMPACTT students are four of seven winners in Tucson’s River of Words Poetry and Art Contest. Martin Lopez won for his poem “Wonders and Memories”; Zulema Guerrero won for “The Symbol of Life”; Sarah Carmello won for “The Water Wonders”; and Wally Altamirano won for “Cienega Creek”.

May 6, 2002 The decision was made for four students to go to Harrogate, England. The students decided that everyone who wanted to go should write an essay explaining why they should be chosen. The teachers removed the names and gave the now anonymous essays to the class and the class voted on the four best essays. The sophomores chosen were Celeste Gonzalez, Terri Irigoyen, Mariel Loreto, and Priscilla Ortiz.

May 11, 2002 The students helped with Tucson Audubon Society's Ironwood Festival at Tucson Audubon Society’s Mason Center.

June 13, 2002 Mr. Cardell, Ms. MacDonald, Celeste, Terri, Mariel, and Priscilla traveled to England.

June 14, 2002 The group toured the British Museum in London. Then drove north to Harrogate and the cottage they had rented for the week. It was converted from a farm building built in 1496 as a part of one of the many farms run by the monks from Fountains Abbey. It still had the original stone walls. It borders Brimham Rocks National Trust. They saw lots of sheep and ponies that were kept on the property. Picture-Brimham Rocks.

June 15-19, 2002 The group attended ICOTX. They attended plenary sessions and breakout sessions. They were able to have private meetings with such luminaries as Dr. Eduardo de Bono, author of Lateral Thinking, The Six Hats, The CORE Curriculum, and about 60 other books, Howard Gardner, author of Multiple Intelligences, David Perkins, author of Smart Schools, Art Costa, author of the Habits of Mind series, and Jack Lochhead, author of Problem Solving and Comprehension. Everyone the students met was impressed with their maturity. Terri and Mariel were clearly the two best-dressed women at the conference in their stylish suits.

June 19, 2002 The group toured historic Yorvik, York, England. They visited thousand-year-old castles and minsters. Picture-Clifford’s Tower.

June 20, 2002 The group flies back to Tucson.

August 2002 Ms. Cecena left and was replaced by Ms. Huber. David Rainey joined as a student observer. Mario Teran, Kathy Likos, Jennifer Wagner, and Candice Marburger became the new CATTS fellows. Ann Hamilton volunteered to help. Ms. Hines left for a new job in New Mexico and was replaced by Marti Lindsey.

August 2002 - May 2003 Juniors and Sophomores are working on the College Algebra Project. They will receive for College Algebra in return for their writing an Online Modern Math course under Mr. Cardell’s direction.

October 2002 We went on a simulated Space Shuttle mission at Pima Air and Space Museum.

November 1, 2002 The freshmen invented and produced Sunnyside Meet Yourself, a community block party.

November 2002 The freshmen took an overnight fieldtrip to Greyhawk Nature Center on the San Pedro River near Sierra Vista.

October - December 2002 Several IMPACTT students made presentations in Mexico as a part of their cooperative venture with US and Mexican schools on improving environmental quality.

December 7, 2002 The IMPACTT students presented the Las Posadas at Sunnyside High School. The students put on a wonderful presentation.

February - May 2003 Several freshmen helped with the Tucson Urban Backyard Gardens Project. They created backyard gardens for community members.

January 2003 Mr. Rainey graduated from student observer to student teacher.

January 10, 2003 Mr. Rainey took Roxy, Celeste, and Aracely to the “We the People” competition at ASU in Phoenix to see if we might want to participate next year. Everyone had a great time and they will be discussing possible attendance next year with the class.

February 2003 Ms Huber resigned and was replaced, unofficially, by Rainey.

March – May, 2003 The students decided to create a movie to depict their feelings about the causes of the attack on the United States on September 11, 2001. The students formed groups of two or three and chose a time period from the time of Abraham to 9/11/1. Each student researched their time period and wrote a one minute dramatic monologue from the point of view of a Muslim, a Jew or a Christian of that time. They typically chose to represent feelings about contemporary conflicts. The students then each learned their scripts and delivered them on camera. Their performances were directed by Celeste Gonzalez (04) and Terri Irigoyen (04) and they were very moving. Watching the video does indeed give one a feeling for the nature of the enmity that divides our world.

April 8, 2003 Alda Franco (05) led the other sophomores in presenting The Second Annual T.E.E.N. Summit. It became an International Conference when they invited high schools from Sonora, Mexico to participate.

May 1, 2003 The freshmen presented the second Globe Earth Day for Kids.

May - July 2003 Students were asked by Dr. Maxwell to help him host a weekly radio show broadcast on KFNX radio in Phoenix, Arizona and simulcast on the Internet to a worldwide audience. The students interviewed experts from a variety of fields and again were able to astonish people with their maturity.

May 8, 2003 Interviewed Paul Cleghorn, educational philosopher

May 15, 2003 Interviewed Charles J. Arntzen, Inventor of the Year for 2001

May 22, 2003 Interviewed Goran Carstedt, expert in System Dynamics in business

May 29, 2003 Jesus, Terri, and Cody interviewed Stephen Brand, expert on inventing

June 5, 2003 Terri, Ramona, and Alex interviewed Holly Adkins, expert in systems

June 12, 2003 Terri and Celeste interviewed Robert Rosenthal, author of Pygmalion in the Classroom

June 19, 2003 Terri, Celeste, Aggie, and Luis interviewed Terry Hengl, expert in artificial intelligence

June 26, 2003 Terri and Luis interviewed Doug Cardell, educational philosopher

July 3, 2003 Terri interviewed Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline, and many other books

July 10, 2003 Jesus and Terri interviewed Russell and Gina Garcia, composer and environmental educators

July 22, 2003 Jesus, Mariel, Luis and Ramona helped Dr. Jack Lochhead present a math education demonstration at ICOTXI.

July 23, 2003 Aggie Avilez, Mayra Balmaceda, Celeste Gonzalez, and Terri Irigoyen became the first and so far the only high school students to present at an International Conference on Thinking. Their presentations, “Why School Sucks”, and “IMPACTT: A New Way to Learn”, were standing room only and received rave reviews.

August 2003 IMPACTT became a multilevel program with Cardell and MacDonald as the only teachers. It was based on the cognitive apprenticeship model created by Cardell and his colleague Jeff Uecker several years earlier and published in Changing the Faces of Mathematics: Perspectives on Multiculturalism and Gender Equity. Shelly Camp joined as sign interpreter for hearing impaired students.

September 30, 2003 Priscilla Ortiz (04) attended ‘The Color of Justice Conference at Superior Court’.

October 2003 Patrick Kyles (05) was chosen Youth Ambassador to Israel.

October 19-22, 2003 Aglahel (04), Celeste (04), Alda (05), Sarah (05), Zulema (05), Maggie (06), Markie (06), Ms. MacDonald and Mr. Cardell traveled to Washington, DC.

October 21, 2003 Spent the morning at the White House (no pictures were allowed). Had lunch in the Ronald Reagan Building and the students all made speeches. Received the President’s Environmental Youth Award from EPA Director Marianne Lamont Horinko. Picture-The group receiving the PEYA.

October 22, 2003 The group in Washington met with Hon. Raul Grijalva M.C. and Sen. John Kyle and attended a session of Congress.

November 2003 Mayra Balmaceda (04), Celeste Gonzalez (04), Priscilla Ortiz (04), Mariel Loreto (04, Jackie Soto (05) and Priscilla Morris (05) attended the Running and Winning Conference to learn about women’s roles in the political process.

November 18, 2003 Teachers from the Alhambra School District in Phoenix were so impressed with our students at ICOTXI last summer that they came here to visit, talk to the kids and see how things get done here.

December 18, 2003 State Representative and Minority Whip Linda Lopez came to visit. She participated in our Arizona House of Representatives simulation by chairing a meeting of the Education Committee. The students really enjoyed the added realism and she gave us lots of good tips on procedure and committee etiquette.

December 2003 A group presented the Las Posadas at Ocotillo Elementary School and a preschool. Maria Enriquez organized the event and Celeste, Terri, Alda, Priscilla participated in leading the children in songs and sharing the Las Posadas traditions.

December 2003 Mrs. Camp left for a new job and was replaced by several part time translators.

January 2004 Alda Franco (05) was chosen as an intern for Congressman Raul Grijalva.

January 2004 Terri Irigoyen (04) organized the first ‘student run’ field trip, to the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Ca.

January 2004 Wendy Burroughs came in a did a great workshop with the students on environmental art. This resulted in dozens of submissions to Tucson’s River of Words Poetry and Art Contest. Everyone had a lot of fun and some great art was produced.

January 17, 2004 Cody Whiting (04) spends a day with Fish and Game Ranger John Windes. Among other things they use radio telemetry to track bighorn sheep.

February 2004 Terri Irigoyen (04) and teacher Doug Cardell, published the pilot version of their personality test.

February 2004 Alda Franco (05) receives The President’s Volunteer Service Award from President George Bush.

February 14-18, 2004 British Education and Training Consultant, Paul Howard, came from London to learn about IMPACTT and write about the program..

February 21, 2004 Maria Enriquez (05), Veronica Borquez (06) and Terri Irigoyen (04) attended the Governor’s Youth Summit: Make A Difference Day. They were engaged in a full day of education, service learning, awareness, sharing, and fun! Scheduled activities included service projects, workshops, and giving feedback to the Office of the Governor on issues that affect young people. Service projects allowed students to have an immediate impact on the lives of local residents. They also participated in student sessions where they learned, discussed and provided insight on specific issues in their community that affect the youth in Arizona.

February 21, 2004 Jesus Lopez (04) attended the Mayors Healthy Tucson Fitness Conference.

February 2004 Jesus Lopez (04) and Joel Diaz (04) spend a day going to classes at the University of Arizona.

February 2004 A record 12 sophomores applied for the ACE Scholarship Program

February 29, 2004 Terri Irigoyen (04) was the guest of Representative Congressman Raul Grijalva at the “Local Legends, Changing the Face of Medicine” Awards Reception. This was a project between the American Medical Women’s Association and the National Library of Medicine. It gave Terri an opportunity to hear the accomplishments of several women doctors who were being honored.

March 2, 2004 Alda Franco (05) was nominated for a Congressional Intern Award from the Congressman Raul Grijalva’s Office. She was selected over the four University of Arizona interns. She had to decline when they realized that she is only 16 and you have to be 18 to qualify.

March 6, 2004 The fieldtrip Terri planned happened and Terri, Sarah, Jose, Yuvitza, Ms. MacDonald and Mr. Cardell go to the Salk Institute to tour labs and meet with Nobel Laureate Roger Guillemin. Professor Guillemin called Terri’s essay, The Sustainable Age, “superb”. IMPACTT was invited to attend annually. Picture-The group talks with Dr. Guillemin.

March 12, 2004 Terri Irigoyen (04) was nominated by Principal Nido for the Sunnyside Association All American Award.

March 19-21, 2004 Terri Irigoyen (04) visited Northern Arizona University where she plans a double major in psychology and biology. The STARS Program Advisor met with Terri about her outstanding record. Even though the deadline had passed, he decided to advocate for Terri’s admission to the program.

March 23, 2004 Terri Irigoyen (04) and teacher Doug Cardell, published the working version of their psychology of happiness test.

March 26, 2004 Terri Irigoyen (04), and Alda Franco (05), won the National Association of Social Workers Award for their volunteer work in human services.

March 31, 2004 The freshmen presented Kick Butts Day to encourage people to quit smoking or never start. They planted 4000 black flags, one for each of the toxic chemical found in cigarettes. State Representatives Linda Lopez cheered the group on and Alexis Ortiz (06), Maggie Cordova (06), Marisol Acosta (07), Alda Franco (05), Krizia Soto (07), Ms. MacDonald, and Mr. Cardell were interviewed on TV news by several television stations. Picture-State Representative Linda Lopez addressing the group.

April 1, 2004 Terri Irigoyen (04) won the All-American Award.

April 3, 2004 The sophomores presented the Third Annual T.E.E.N. Summit at Reid Park Zoo. It was a huge success. Catalina Foothills, Sabino, and Sunnyside High Schools were well represented. The poster session was fun, informative and well received by the public. Summit Chair Myra Loreto (06) did a super job as MC and Terri Irigoyen (04), Alda Franco (05) and Congressman Raul Grijalva gave inspiring keynote speeches. The breakout sessions were great. The students made lots of plans to work together this year to reduce the use of paper and plastic bags. Congratulations to Myra and her sophomore classmates on a job well done. Picture-Congressman Grijalva talking with students.

April 13, 2004 Alda Franco (05) gave a short speech at Congressman Grijalva’s press conference. During the Congressman’s speech he had high praise for the T.E.E.N. Summit and the inspirational speeches delivered by Terri and Alda. Veronica, Vanessa, Myra, Cameo, Andres, Jose, Yuvitza, Terri, Maggie, Celeste, Alexis, and Sergio were there to cheer Alda on.

April 16, 2004 Seven IMACTT students will be honored as regional winners in Tucson’s River of Words Poetry and Art Contest, a contest attracting 450 entries from our region. Priscilla Ortiz (04) was the Grand Prize Winner in Poetry for her poem, “Stay a While”. Martin Lopez (05) was the Grand Prize winner in Art for his Mixed Media, “Growing Moment”. The other winners were Mariel Loreto (04) for her poem, “Desert Night”; Alda Franco (05) for her poem, “My Desert Feeling”; Yuvitza Hoyos (06) for her collage, “Why Not?”; Cameo Hurtado (06) for her poem, “Greyhawk”; and Jaziel Ortiz (06) for his collage, “Wildlife”.

April 23, 2004 Five Sophomore Students attended the University of Arizona “Daughters on Campus Day” on April 23, Yuvitza Hoyos, Margarita Cordova, Alexis Ortiz, Cameo Hurtado, and Myra Loreto.

April 29, 2004 Terri Irigoyen (04) was selected as a 2004 National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnership Award High School Student Research Fellow. Twenty-five students and ten teachers are accepted for this program each year. They work full-time for seven weeks in various medical laboratories and clinics at The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, doing research on such subjects as cardiovascular disease, genetics, cancer, neuroscience, and preventive medicine. 

May 10, 2004 Sarah Carmello (05) and Zulema Guerrero (05) sold their first bar of homemade, chemical free, non-toxic soap and received orders for 4 more. They have ordered business cards and expect to be selling on the Internet soon.

May 13, 2004 Six sophomores, Markie Encinas, Eric Salazar, Yuvitza Hoyos, Jose Hoyos, Alexis Ortiz and Sergio Leyva have earned the ACE Scholarship, a full four year scholarship to Pima Community College and the University of Arizona.

Graduation 2004 7 of our 8 seniors were admitted to the university of their choice, Cody, Priscilla, Terri, Jesus, Mariel, Celeste and Joel. Mayra is planning to wait a semester before attending Emory Riddle. Cody, although admitted to University of Arizona and Pima Community College, plans to attend Eastern Oklahoma State College on a full scholarship and will be a member the rodeo team as a bull rider.

Maria “Terri” Irigoyen is the winner of the IMPACTT Outstanding Senior Award. Her amazing work not only earned her the award but also the honor of having it named for her. The IMPACTT Outstanding Senior Award will now be know as “The Terri”.

Summer 2004 IMPACTT students continued their learning and growth through the summer. The vast majority of our students took classes, attended conferences or did volunteer work in their likely career fields. Way to go!

Terri Irigoyen (04) our 2004 National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnership Award High School Student Research Fellow did research for seven weeks at The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center on Ultra-Low-Dose Naltrexone Plus Morphine Blocks Thermal Hyperalgesia and Attenuates Mechanical Hypersensitivity in a Neuropathic Pain Model.  Her supervisors were so impressed with her work that they tried to convince her not to go to NAU but to stay at UA and continue to work with them.

Patrick Kyles (05) on scholarship attended the University of Arizona Engineering Program

Jose (Martin Lopez) (05) on scholarship excelled in the Honors Program in Art at the University of Arizona

Alexis (Danette) Ortiz (06) attended Pima Community College’s Hospitality Careers Program.

Eric Salazar (06) and Ramon Salazar (07) participated in the Talent Search Program.

Priscilla Morris (05) took a Pima class in “Exploring Aviation Careers”

Gabriel Leon (06) took Pima College’s Auto CAD Class and on scholarship attended the University of Arizona’s “Writing and Thinking Across the Curriculum Class,

Margarita Cordova (06) on scholarship joined him in the writing program.

Maria Enriquez (05) with ambitions to become a pediatrician took Pima College’s early Childhood Education class and then was awarded for 100 hours of volunteer service to VA Hospital.

Yuvitza Hoyos (06), Cameo Hurtado (06), Myra Loreto (06), and Jackie Soto (05) enhanced their skills in the University of Arizona’s Career Camp. Yuvitza and Jackie were singled out for their power point presentation as the best of the best…

Jay Whiting (07) traveled to Durango, Colorado for the Southwestern Pro Bull Riders Association’s month long Bull Riding Series.
Veronica Borquez (06) was chosen to attend HOBY (Hugh O’Brien Leadership) in Phoenix. She is planning on putting together a CLEW a leadership conference at Sunnyside High School in November for Sunnyside Sophomores.

Myra Loreto (06) and Cameo Hurtado (06) attended the Teen Institute at the University of Arizona. This is a prestigious leadership-training program. They will be developing an information link for students to access information about many resources and opportunities for peers at Sunnyside.
Sarah Carmello (05) and Zulema Guerrero (05) both interested in the medical field volunteered at the VA hospital.

Alda Franco(05), Celeste Gonzales (04) and Jackie Soto (05) interned at Congressman Raul Grijalva’s office

Myra Loreto (06), vice president, Cameo Hurtado (06), Margarita Cordova (06), Andres Castaneda (06), and Jose Hoyos (06) worked for S.W.A.T. (Students Working Against Tobacco) with the Health Department. Their committee work culminated in a well-deserved break: a camping exploration trip in the White Mountains. This is a year long volunteer activity.
Andres Castaneda (06) worked as a pollinator for Native Seeds Search in Patagonia.

Rick Peru (05) worked at the Teen Institute as videographer.
Josue Valenzuela (08), Gabriel Leon (06), Annette Walker (07), are taking Electronics 101 from Pima Community College after school through the Career Center.

Maria Enriquez (05) looking for a career in medicine is job shadowing Dr. Sylvia Valenzuela at the Women’s Outreach Clinic. Her first experience was following the doctor from 7AM-9:PM while on call for labor and delivery.

Priscilla Morris (05) wants a career as a Physical Therapist and she is job-shadowing Sunnyside District’s Sherry Isman and Daniel Murray on a continual basis and is volunteering at Ocotillo in pool therapy.

Professor Kate Walker mentors Jose (Martin) Lopez (05) a promising art student. After school he is sitting in on her art classes and is meeting guest artists at the University of Arizona.

Patrick Kyles (05) is looking at a career in Computer Engineering and has applied to Dartmouth College’s Native American Fly In Program.

Carlos Lopez (05), looking for a degree in Biometry and Statistics, along with Patrick Kyles have applied to attend the Cornell Native American Fly Inn Program.

Ramon Salazar (07) applied for a position on the Latino-Jewish Coalition.

WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) is a mentoring program for girls: SarahCarmello (05), Zulema Guerrero (07), Maria Enriquez (05), Krizia Soto (07), Raven Garcia (08), Priscilla Morris (05), Kimberly Borquez (08), Yuvitza Hoyos (06), Sarah Mange (08) have applied.

Jose Hoyos (06) is on YAC (Youth Advisory Committee) for VisionMark. He is on the committee that will give out $50,000 in grant monies to deserving community organizations.

September 2004 The IMPACTT graduates of 2004 are all doing well. Terri and Celeste are attending Northern Arizona University and doing great. Joel, Jesus and Priscilla are attending University of Arizona and also doing great. There are the usual adjustments to college life but nothing they can’t handle. Jesus commented that while he didn’t usually enjoy the topics of the 3-4 page papers he was required to write for English, he was prepared. He said, “I laugh at only 3-4 page reports.” Priscilla writes, “English, pretty simple class, all we do is read, then write a two page paper (such a breeze) and talk about the reading the next day.” Cody is attending Pima Community College and is on the rodeo team and is also working construction. Tuesday and Mariel are planning to start college in January.

September 13, 2004 Vero Romo (08) planned a field trip for the freshmen to the Arizona Historical Society and the Arizona State Museum to work on their Arizona history reports. This was the first field trip for IMPACTT using city buses. It worked great! They caught the bus right in front of Sunnyside and took it straight to University and Euclid, two short blocks from the Society. The students were great, and Mr. Cardell and seniors, Martin Lopez and Priscilla Morris had no trouble supervising the freshmen. We learned a lot! Thanks to Vero for a great trip. Picture – Students at the Arizona Historical Society.

September 30, 2004 Freshman Margarita Hoyos (08) met with Leslie Gunatilaka, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the SW Center for Natural Products Research & Commercialization. She is interested in studying allelopathy and happily University of Arizona’s expert on the subject is just a few blocks from here. Margarita hopes to volunteer at the lab.

October 2004 IMPACTT and the American Lung Association present a Smoking Cessation Program. Freshman IMPACTT Students are working with Michael Hall, an intern with American Lung Association, presenting a program for students who want to stop smoking. Instrumental in the planning and ongoing help are students Raven Garcia (08), Rebecca Granillo (08), and Sarah Mange (08).

October 13, 2004 Congratulations to Rick Peru (05) for being one of 20 high school students selected for an after school job with VOICES: 110 degrees. 110 degrees is a publication for teens, by teens, included in the Arizona Daily Star. All the stories and photographs are created by high school students from around Tucson. Rick was one of 140 applicants for the job.

October 19, 2004 Beki Quintero from Community Stepping Stones was here to ask for our help with Manny Herrera "Peace Garden".

October 20, 2004 Yuvitza Hoyos (05) and Sergio Leyva (05) led a field trip to the Flandrau Science Center at the University of Arizona. They did all the organization and planning and we again took city buses. It was a great trip. It was made even better by meeting IMPACTT graduates Jesus Lopez (04) and Joel Diaz (04) on the campus. Everyone learned a lot and had some fun too. Thanks to Yuvitza and Sergio.

October 2004 Raven Garcia (08) and Sarah Mange (08) have started a Teen Court Program here at Sunnyside. They’ve been teaching other interested students and meeting with Pima County representatives.

November 6, 2004 Veronica Borquez (05) has a CLEW. Veronica was inspired by her leadership training at the HOBY this summer and decided to give something back by organizing and presenting her own Community Leadership Education Workshop (CLEW). She did all of the planning. She arranged for some excellent, dynamic guest speakers. She planned the menu, booked the facilities and prepared the agenda. She had more than a dozen high school students spend an entire Saturday improving their leadership skills. Great job Veronica!

November 16, 2004 Jackie Soto (05), Alda Franco (05), Priscilla Morris (05), Maria Enriquez (05), Sarah Carmello (05), Zulema Guerrero (05), Cameo Hurtado (06), Myra Loreto (06), Alexis Ortiz (06), Yuvitza Hoyos (06), Margarita Cordova (06), Vanessa Felix (06), Markie Encinas (06), Annette Walker (07), Margarita Hoyos (08), Kimberly Borquez (08), Veronica Romo (08), Sarah Mange (08), Rebecca Granillo (08), Cecilia Morris (08), Francisca Real (08), and Jahzeel Avilez (08) attended the Running and Winning Conference to learn how they might more effectively participate in the political process. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women and the Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission, the workshop brought together female political leaders to encourage girls to know that they can not only vote but run for office and win. Participants interviewed elected officials and then designed their own campaigns for U.S. senator based on their positions on the Patriot Act.

December 1, 2004 IMPACTT students, led by Maria Enriquez (05) and Raven Garcia (08) began collecting donations for the family of Lance Corporal Joshua Lucero, a Sunnyside graduate who was killed Nov. 27 in Iraq.

December 6, 2004 IMPACTT students led by Myra Loreto (06) and Cameo Hurtado (06) have adopted a Sunnyside family for Christmas. They have been collecting toys for presents, food, child-care supplies and stocking stuffers to help them have a Merry Christmas. Some of the students asked their parents to forgo giving them presents and to instead give presents to this family. We are so lucky to have the most wonderful students in the world in our program.

December 10, 2005 18 Junior IMPACTT Students participated in the elite Ignite Leadership Training Academy. This was the first of three all day training sessions. We are hoping to help prepare the students for even more responsibility in their senior year.

December 11, 2004 Sophomore IMPACTT Students have been working on The 4th Annual TEEN Summit. They are expanding it this year by having an earlier meeting to find out what other schools are doing about the environment and planning joint environmental restoration projects with other schools. These projects will include clean-up, removal of invasive species, and habitat restoration. They have been meeting with Steve Russell and Wendy Burroughs from Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation. They have been contacting schools in the area and emailing information.

December 16, 2004 ACE Scholarship Recipients (Yuvitza Hoyos, Jose Hoyos, Alexis Ortiz, Sergio Leyva, Markie Encinas and Eric Salazar) are finishing up their first semester of PIMA credits.

January 6, 2005 18 Junior IMPACTT Students participated in the elite Ignite Leadership Training Academy. This was the second of three all day training sessions. We are hoping to help prepare the students for even more responsibility in their senior year.

January 6, 2005 Ms. MacDonald and Evelyn Cirincione will be taking hearing impaired and deaf students from IMPACTT and the Sunnyside District to the production of Big River at Centennial Hall. This production is based on Huck Finn and incorporates sign as an integral part of the production.

January 2005 Freshmen IMPACTT students met with Dr. Nadja Anderson PhD. from the University of Arizona Biotech Program. Students are again participating in the Arabidopsis research. Students spent the day with her. She loaned 4 microscopes for student use.

February 10, 2005 18 Junior IMPACTT Students participated in the elite Ignite Leadership Training Academy. This was the third of three all day training sessions. We are hoping to help prepare the students for even more responsibility in their senior year.

February 17-19, 2005 Alda Franco (05) and Priscilla Morris (05) organized, coordinated and planned the day for the visit of teachers from Hermosillo, Mexico and Robin Zenger from the University of Arizona Latin American Studies Outreach Program.

February 24, 2005 SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco); President Myra Loreto (06), Vice-President Margarita Cordova (06), Secretary Cameo Hurtado (06), Andres Castaneda (06), Yuvitza Hoyos (06), and Jose Hoyos (06) decorated a wagon and rode in the Rodeo Parade.

March 3, 2005 Eight girls attended HER WORLD at DeVry Institute in Phoenix: Veronica Borquez (06), Alexis Ortiz (06), Margarita Cordova (06), Yuvitza Hoyos (06), Margarita Hoyos (08), Annette Walker (08), Jahzeel Avilez (08), Aglahel Avilez (05)

March 2005 Rick Peru received honorable mention for his entry at the Annual Center of Creative Photography Day School Day.

March 2005 Sarah Carmello (05) and Zulema Guerrero (05) renewed our relationship with the Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA and started preparing for a trip to the Salk’s Annual Science Day. IMPACTT is the only school outside of the San Diego area to attend. Sarah, Zulema, Patrick Kyles (05) and Margarita Hoyos (08), along with Mr. Cardell and Ms. MacDonald will be attending.

March 2005 Myra Loreto (06) has been selected to return to the Teen Institute to be held in July at Eastern Arizona Community College. Six students will be selected to join her.

March 4, 2005 Veronica Romo (08), Kimberly Borquez (08), and Francisca Real (08) attended the Intel Technology Day at Pima Community College, Desert Vista Campus to learn about careers in technology. They particularly enjoyed learning to solder.

March 5-11, 2005 Ramon Salazar (07), as our representative to the Jewish-Latino Coalition, visited Washington D.C.

March 15, 2005 Patrick Kyles (05) and Anthony Ortiz (05) have signed up to take the Advanced Placement Calculus test at the University of Arizona—a first for Sunnyside High School.

March 2005 Cameo Hurtado (06) and Myra Loreto (06) wrote a grant and received $1200.00 for a special project they are developing called OUR VOICE. They are part of Project YES.

March 2005 Myra Loreto (06), Cameo Hurtado (06), Zulema Guerrero (05) and Sarah Carmello (05) are planning a mini conference on teen issues for April.

March 2005 Pamela Cornell, STAR Academy Principal was so impressed with how articulate Priscilla Morris (05) and Alda Franco (05) were in meetings with the Leadership for Learning Academy she asked them to give a presentation to her staff on IMPACTT.

March 17, 2005 Twenty-one students will be attending the LULAC Conference: Jahzeel Avilez (08), Margarita Hoyos (08), Josue Valenzuela (08), Andres Castaneda (06), Margarita Cordova (06), Jose Hoyos (06), Yuvitza Hoyos (06), Cameo Hurtado (06), Gabriel Leon (06), Sergio Leyva (06), Alex Rodriguez (06), Jaziel Ortiz (06), Alda Franco (05), Jackie Soto (05), Carlos Lopez (05), Priscilla Morris (05), Aglahel Avilez (05), Joseph Gonzales (08), Myra Loreto (06), Eric Salazar (06), Kurt Frank (08).

March 30, 2005 The sophomores led by T.E.E.N. Summit chair Krizia Soto (07) and accompanied by Mr. Cardell, went on a field trip to a Tucson Audubon Society site several miles north of Tucson near the Santa Cruz River. Krizia along with Jay Whiting (07), Annette Walker (07), Ramon Salazar (07), along with several freshmen, Jahzeel Avilez (08), Margarita Hoyos (08), Francisca Real (08), Vero Romo (08), Joseph Gonzalez (08), and Josue Valenzuela (08) helped to construct artificial prairie dog burrows to be inhabited by burrowing owls that make their homes in abandoned prairie dog burrows. Everyone there was very impressed with the hard work and commitment of the group displayed. Picture – Students building a burrow. Picture – Taking a break along the Santa Cruz.

March 31, 2005 Myra Loreto (06), Jaziel Ortiz (06), Jose Hoyos (06), Markie Encinas (06), Kurt Frank (08) were notified that they will be honored as regional winners in Tucson’s River of Words Poetry and Art Contest, making this the third consecutive year IMPACTT students have done exceptionally well in this competition.

March 2005 Seniors Alda Franco and Jimmy Bush have been accepted to U of A and Carlos Lopez has won the Chancellor’s Scholarship to PCC.

April 2, 2005 Carolyn Campbell, Executive Director of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection has asked our students to present at a workshop on the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan at the Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference.

April 2005 Priscilla Morris and Alda Franco have been representing Sunnyside High School in the Leadership for Learning Academy. They have been attending monthly meetings and will be in charge of hosting the next meeting at SHS April 19.

April 9, 2005 Kimberly Borquez (08) participated in ConQwest and SHS came in second and received a check for $4,000 for the school.

April 13, 2005 Myra Loreto (06), Jaziel Ortiz (06), Jose Hoyos (06), and Kurt Frank (08) as well as Mr. Cardell and Ms. MacDonald attended Tucson’s River of Words Poetry and Art Contest award ceremony at the Tucson Children’s Museum. Jose Hoyos (06) was chosen the Grand Prize Winner for his poem, Sonoran Desert. He was asked to read his poem at the ceremony. He was the only student so honored. Myra Loreto (06) was chosen the Grand Prize Winner for her untitled pastel. Markie Encinas (06) was a regional winner for her poem, As I Walk Through the Desert. Jaziel Ortiz (06) was a regional winner for his pastel, Crying Rose. Myra Loreto (06) was also a regional winner for her poem, I Dreamt of this Reality. Kurt Frank (08) was a regional winner for his poem, Vision. This is the second consecutive year that IMPACTT students have swept the Grand Prizes in both categories.

April 15, 2005 Priscilla Morris (05) coordinated the IMPACTT student ushering for the 14th Annual Noche de Las Estrellas Mariachi Festival Student Matinee.

April 16, 2005 Sarah Carmello (05), Zulema Guerrero (05), and Ms. MacDonald attended Science Day at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California.

April 19, 2005 Ramon Salazar (07), Margarita Hoyos (08), Jay Whiting (07), Joseph Gonzales (08), Gabriel Leon (06), and Alda Franco (05), worked with Ms. Shelton's and Ms. Nices's classes special needs students on a field trip to the Pima County Fair.

April 19, 2005 Alda Franco and Priscilla Morris hosted the District Leadership Meeting at SHS.

April 22, 2005 IMPACTT students really stepped up at the First Annual Mario Castro Sr. Track Alexis Ortiz (06) and Joseph Gonzales (08) coordinated the parking, Ramon Salazar (07), Jay Whiting (07), Alex Rodriguez (06), Gabriel Leon (06), Markie Encinas (06), and Margarita Cordova (06) provided special assistance. Margarita Hoyos (08) and Jahzeel Avilez (08) worked on awards. Thanks for helping make this event such a success.

April 25 – May 6, 2005 At Sunnyside High School we have a school-wide daily educational experience called ‘The Weekly Objective’. The whole school works on daily exercises with the topic changing weekly. Aglahel Avilez (05) wrote and directed the first student produced weekly objective in SHS history. She was assisted in this effort by Rick Peru (05), Alda Franco (05), and Jahzeel Avilez (08). Their presentation, entitled ‘CSI: Sunnyside’ is a two week Enrichment Weekly Objective covering fingerprint, handwriting and DNA analysis. It has been lauded by teachers and students.

April 28, 2005 SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) officers Myra Loreto (06), Cameo Hurtado (06), and Margarita Cordova (06) presented at the Annual Ted Walker Youth Day at Old Tucson.

April 2005 Myra Loreto (06), Cameo Hurtado (06), Margarita Cordova (06), and Andres Castaneda (06), are part of the planning committee for the First Annual SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) a conference for students from all over Arizona to learn about the harmful effects of tobacco use. The conference will be held in May at the Holiday Inn.

April 29, 2005 Girl's Day at the University of Arizona was attended April 29, 2005 by Yuvitza Hoyos (06), Margarita Hoyos(08), Aglahel Avilez(05), Jahzeel Avilez(08), Alda Franco (05), Annette Walker (07), and Jackie Soto (05).

April 2005 Jay Whiting (07), and Ramon Salazar (07) join the group of IMPACTT students given a four year college scholarship, the ACE Scholarship (Achieving a College Education), bringing the total of IMPACTT ACE recipients to 8.

April 2005 So far, seven IMPACTT Seniors have been accepted at the U of A: Jimmy Bush, Zulema Guerrero, Alda Franco, Rick Peru, Anthony Ortiz, Patrick Kyles, and Sarah Carmello. In addition, Carlos Lopez has earned Pima Community College’s Chancellor’s Scholarship and Martin Lopez is recruited by the Art Institute.

May 5, 2005 Myra Loreto (06), Cameo Hurtado (06), SarahCarmello (05) and Zulema Carmello (05) are presenting a Conference on Women's Issues on May 5, 2005. They planned the entire agenda, contacted and recruited guest speakers, and sent invitations.

May 11, 2005 Patrick Kyles (05) has been selected as one of the 10 Most Outstanding Teens in Tucson by the Metropolitan Education Commission. Patrick will be honored today by the Tucson City Council and the Metropolitan Education Commission at the Crystal Apple Awards luncheon at the Doubletree Inn. Way to go Patrick! We’re REALLY proud of you!

May 2005 IMPACTT graduate, Celeste Gonzales (04) has been chosen for Presidential Honors at Northern Arizona University.

May 2005 Rick Peru (05) has been chosen as one of Sunnyside’s Arizona Daily Star/Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Class of 2005 Senior Achievers.

May 2005 Alda Franco has won the SHS senior speech contest and will be the SHS Class of 2005 Senior Dinner Speaker.

May 2005 Alda Franco, Patrick Kyles and Anthony Ortiz have been accepted to the summer New Start Program at the U of A

May 27, 2005 Our second class of IMPACTT students graduates! They graduate with an outstanding academic record. Our graduates are:

Aglahel Avilez

Jimmy Bush, Magna Cum Laude, Arizona State University Scholarship, Pima Scholars Merit Scholarship

Sarah Carmello, Summa Cum Laude, Pima Scholars Merit Scholarship

Alda Franco, Cum Laude

Zulema Guerrero, Summa Cum Laude, Pima Scholars Merit Scholarship

Patrick Kyles, Cum Laude, Tohono O’odham Education Scholarship

Carlos Lopez, Pima Chancellor’s Recognition, Tohono O’odham Education Scholarship

Jose Martin Lopez

Priscilla Morris

Anthony Ortiz, Summa Cum Laude, Pima Scholars Merit Scholarship

Rick Peru, Summa Cum Laude, Pima Scholars Merit Scholarship

Jackie Soto

Our 12 graduates are less than 3% of the student body, but our graduates received 15% of the scholarships awarded, and include 18% of the SHS students graduating Summa Cum Laude. This class has class!

Summer 2005 During the last weeks of the semester we learned that IMPACTT may not return for the 2005-2006 school year. The need to get more students to pass the AIMS test means the school needs to devote more teachers to that task. If nothing changes IMPACTT will not be returning. However, educators from all over the world have written to district officials asking that the program remain open. Mr. Cardell and Ms. MacDonald have met with administrators from other district sites to see if moving to a different venue is feasible. It is certainly possible that these efforts will bear fruit and IMPACTT be revived. Keep your fingers crossed!

Fall 2005 School has begun and the effort to renew IMPACTT has been unsuccessful. IMPACTT will continue as a club at Sunnyside High School under the sponsorship of Ms. MacDonald. Mr. Cardell has retired and will be pursuing other projects but he will attend club meetings from time to time to keep in touch. It’s been a great five years and who knows what the future will bring.

Some samples of Student Work.