News, Events & Stories
TASIS Dorado's Alana Fuentes Lartigaut' 24 Completes National Program Requirements to be named a National Student Council Distinguished Student Leader
Dorado, PR - Alana Fuentes Lartigaut, a 2024 student at TASIS Dorado, has successfully completed the NatStuCo Student Leaders Program, earning national recognition as a National Student Council Distinguished Student Leader. She is one of approximately 800 students nationwide to achieve this recognition, becoming a highly sought-after honor by student leaders nationwide. Sponsored by the National Student Council (NatStuCo) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the Student Leaders Program serves to:
● Give schools a tool to enhance and improve their efforts to develop student leaders.
● Challenge students to work for recognition that is based on their abilities and knowledge in the area of leadership.
● Create an award that provides authentic assessment and recognition based on a student's demonstration of skills and knowledge.
● Support the standards and goals of the National Council of Excellence Awards and missions of National Student Council and NASSP.
Alana Fuentes '24 has been a proud TASIS Bear since PPK. She's been an active member of the Student Council's class boards since 7th grade and an Executive Board leader for the past three years, including secretary, treasurer, and now president. Throughout the years, Alana has embraced a collaborative approach to improving the TASIS Dorado experience. Alana is passionate about creating a supportive community, evident through this year's StuCo theme, LEAP -- Let's Embrace Authentic Personalities with the slogan "Student by Chance, Family by Choice." Determined to ensure all TASIS Dorado's student body members feel welcome, accepted, and supported, she believes it's essential to be an approachable leader to create a cohesive school culture.
Alana is also a leader and member of various extracurricular clubs and activities, including the Spanish Honor Society, Club Comidas Comunitarias, National Honor Society, French Honor Society, Leadership Academy, and Peer Tutor. Through these experiences, Alana has learned the importance of paying it forward. As the former president of Club Comidas Comunitarias, Alana led many food drives for nearby communities. Through her role in the Leadership Academy, she organized a Beach Tennis Tournament for a public school specializing in education for students with disabilities. The event raised $20,000 for school resources to provide a better education and a more comfortable learning space. Overall, Alana remains focused on creating a supportive school culture while helping local schools afford the resources needed to improve their educational opportunities.
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Alana, whose school is a National Student Council member, completed a series of required tasks and activities in order to complete the program and become a certified student leader. The rigorous application process involves the creation of a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates completion of a number of activities inclusive of modules on leadership, goal setting, team building, decision making, problem-solving, group dynamics, time management, and personal organization, meeting management, communication, evaluation, service, civic engagement, and personal leadership philosophy. Applicants must also participate in an assessment meeting with their advisers and principals to verify completion of the requirements. Student portfolios and applications are then forwarded to NatStuCo for a final review. Upon successfully completing the program, students are recognized as Distinguished Student Leaders.
For more information on the National Student Council Distinguished Student Leaders Program, visit www.NatStuCo.org.
About National Student Council
The National Student Council™ (NatStuCo) provides resources, programs, and recognition to develop and support student council leaders and advisers. NatStuCo believes that student council is the voice of the student body and is dedicated to preparing and empowering student leaders to serve their schools and communities through leadership, service and civic engagement. For more information, visit www.NatStuCo.org.
About NASSP
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States and 35 countries around the world. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high-quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council.
Wellness & Athletics Center Grand Opening
The ceremony started with remarks from Federico Stubbe, Jr., President of the Board of Directors, Deborah Monroe, Head of School, and Betzy García, Chair of Institutional Advancement.
Federico highlighted the years of blood, sweat, and tears that made this dream a reality, thanked the original visionaries of our school, Friedel Stubbe, Fernando González, and Maritere Matosantos, and shared who it's all for, "We did this for you, our dear students, who bring TASIS to life every day."
Afterward, Deborah gave shoutouts to both the Athletics & Counseling Departments, including the announcement of Suzette "Pochy" Melendez as the Wellness Director and Samuel Pino as the Athletics Director. Betzy closed the program with gracious thanks to the donors, Leadership Committee, and Advancement Team.
Literal sparks burst through the air as the entire Board of Directors gathered for the ceremonial ribbon cutting to commemorate the occasion. School spirit raced through the entire room as student leaders Edo Cortés and Charlie García led the audience in a school cheer. "Let's Go, BEARS, Let's Go!", the sounds of cowbells, and batucada drums rang through the entire building! Elementary and Secondary teachers and staff then closed the program with a surprise flash mob choreographed by drama teacher Edwin Colón and kinder teacher Michelle Latour.
After the ceremony, parents and students toured the incredible facility while many students flocked to the new spirit gear store, fondly named BEAR CAVE, to check out the new TASIS gear they plan to sport soon!
Thank you to the incredible teams at PRISA Group and TASIS Dorado, our donors, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends who made today possible! The pictures and videos say it all.
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY:
https://tasisdorado.smugmug.com/2023-2024/TASIS-Dorado-Wellness-Athletics-Center-Opening-Ceremony/