The Amarillo area now has two students who have officially been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists this year.
The Amarillo Independent School District said Tuesday that Amarillo High School senior Jason Vo has been named a 2025 National Merit Finalist, advancing in the scholarship competition.
Earning the title of National Merit Finalist places a student among the top score earners in the country on the PSAT test, representing less than one percent of graduating seniors. Vo will continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered in the coming months, AISD said.
Additionally, six AISD senior students earned 2025 National Merit Scholarship Commended honors. More than 100 AISD students have earned a National Merit scholar designation in the last 10 years, the district noted. The 2025 National Merit Commended Scholars include Lance Dykhouse, Elizabeth Griffin, Elizabeth Lewis, Nathanael Smith and Peyton Thompson of Amarillo High School, and Erik Foster of Tascosa High School.
AISD said high school juniors entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants.
The AISD news follows the recent announcement for another area student, Ascension Academy senior Case Moorhouse, also being named a National Merit Finalist for the Class of 2025.
Moorhouse was announced a semifinalist in September and has attended Ascension Academy College Preparatory School since the sixth grade. He participates in the Advanced Orchestra, the Orchestra Ensemble, Chess Club, TAPPS Academics, Science Bowl, Ascension Ambassadors, and serves on the Ambassador Leadership Council.
Both Vo and Moorhouse were among participating teams in this past weekend’s 2025 Pantex Regional Science Bowl title at AmTech Career Academy.
The League of Women Voters of Amarillo will offer an expanded version of their Civics 101 Class that will now include school board and community college units in addition to the city, county, special districts, and state units taught last year. The first presentation of the new version will be noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at the downtown library, with a light lunch served. In addition, the class will also deal with information potential candidates running for office would need to know to serve in these levels of local government. Reservations are not required, and the workshop is free. For more information, contact Claudia Stravato, 806-626-2452 or Katie Paul at 806-433-1607.
AmTech Career Academy robotics teacher Armando Guerrero was selected as one of 10 STEM educators from across the nation to serve on the inaugural WM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educators’ Council, launched by WM Symposia, Inc. to support educators as they prepare students for potential careers in the nuclear industry. Also selected as inaugural members are Van Herd of Amarillo College and Joy James-Foster, STEM Education Outreach Lead for WIPP, Carlsbad, New Mexico. The council provides its members with a venue to network, share best practices, and access resources such as subject-matter experts, teaching materials, and classroom enhancements. Jay Barrett of AmTech is among members of the steering committee who helped develop and launch the program. Educators’ Council membership is open to U.S. and international educators in K-12 as well as higher education.
The ASPCA Furry Friend of the week is Brody, a 6-year-old Heeler/Dalmation mix. “Brody is good with most other dogs, and is active and playful. Brody seems to like both children and adults, but a bit apprehensive around men, at first. He may need some instruction in being house trained.” APSCA adoptions can be made at the shelter, 11901 S. Coulter, noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more info, call 806-622-0555, or visit www.amarillospcashelter.com or www.adoptapet.com.
In library honors, the Amarillo Public Library earned the Achievement of Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association for the tenth year in a row. The Canyon Area Library also earned the award for the second year in a row. The two area libraries were among the 102 out of 542 total public libraries in the state to receive the 2024 award.
Wildcat Bluff Discovery Center, in partnership with Ogallala Life Conservation Inc., is continuing its restoration efforts for West Amarillo Creek. Building on the foundations laid in 2024, the project will expand upon previous work installing check dams or natural infrastructure in dryland streams. “We’re making real progress, but restoration isn’t a one-and-done project,” said Will Masters, co-founder of Ogallala Life. “We need time, patience, and continued community involvement to support this land’s recovery.” Wildcat Bluff, originally established as a nature center in 1992, merged with the Don Harrington Discovery Center in 2021. Community members interested in volunteering can contact the Discovery Center Collective’s Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@dhdc.org or sign up via Hands On Amarillo.
The City of Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare Department (AAMW) is warning Amarillo residents dealing with a missing pet to be aware of scam artists posing as animal control officers. AAMW said it does require a reclaim fee for lost or missing pets; however, this fee is only applied at the shelter when pets are reclaimed, and AAMW only accepts fee payments in-person at the AAMW shelter — not online, by phone or from AAMW officers in the field. Pet owners are welcome to contact AAMW for information on lost/missing pets at (806) 378-9032 or by email at animals@amarillo.gov .
