Talented artist.  Golden Key recipient in the 2009 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
Academic star.  National Hispanic Scholar and National Commended Scholar
Tech guru.  Created numerous own websites, blogs, and layouts.

Meet Kennedy Cooke-Garza.

A senior at a Texas high school, Kennedy demonstrates excellence and passion in arts, academics, and technology, and the Discus Awards recognize Kennedy for her remarkable accomplishments inside and outside the classroom.

Kennedy is the winner of the April 2010 Discus Scholarship, a scholarship presented to one select Discus Award winner every month of the school year. From among thousands of Discus Awards winners and accomplishments in 10 attribute categories, a panel of judges has chosen Kennedy as the recipient of the $2,000 college scholarship.

The Discus Awards, a high school awards program honoring students who excel in and out of the classroom, look beyond grades, scores, and win-loss records and recognize students for their multi-dimensional talents and passions.

Kennedy is actively pursuing her passions and beliefs, and the Discus Awards are honored to shine the spotlight on her.

		Arts
		“I am adept at drawing, painting, and digital art, and have been taking commissions for artwork for the last four years. I have created numerous murals, logo and T-shirt designs for people and businesses in my community.” Kennedy has a gift. A two-time SemiFinalist in the Illustrators of the Future Competition, Kennedy had her own booth at the Texas Art and Book Festival. She also plays multiple instruments, is an accomplished writer, and received the All-Star Cast Award for her performance in a One Act Play.  Kennedy already has tremendous artistic ability and she continues to work hard to hone her craft.

		Academics
		“I attended the Texas Governor's School at Lamar University in 2008, where I took several college-level courses including Simulation Design/Programming and Mandarin Chinese for three weeks.” Kennedy is not just smart, she's smart in multiple languages. Fluent in English and Spanish already, she is currently teaching herself French and has taken a sign language course as well. She has already completed 12 college credits and made the Presidential Honor List while doing so. Kennedy continues to challenge herself in the classroom and expand her academic pursuits beyond.

		Technology
		“I have directed and edited several music and comedic videos, one of which was commissioned by Christine Granados and published in Literary El Paso's online magazine. I am also the Creative Director of the Rockdale Robotics engineering team, whose website, T-shirts, and logo I designed.” As a summer job, Kennedy worked as the Website Manager for her local newspaper. She has worked with 2D and 3D animation, and has taken a college-level course in computer game creation.  Kennedy is a tech-savvy teen who continues to explore new programs and enhance her technical knowledge.

Learn more about Kennedy Cooke-Garza and other Discus Awards winners