Sherry Sargent was at the PIN brunch to congratulate students who were given scholarships in her name. She is picture here (left) with Cherokee Trail High School senior and scholarship winner Devin Bell (right).

A Cherokee Trail High School senior who is on his way to the U.S. Air Force Academy after graduation was honored with a Sherry Shepherd Sargent Scholarship at the Parent Information Network’s annual brunch on May 1.

The student is Devin Bell and he’s outstanding in every way. Bell said he, “takes strong values for God, family and service,” with him as he looks to his future at the academy. Bell is a senior class representative at Cherokee Trail, a Student Forum Latino Leader, and a co-captain for the track team.

Cherry Creek High School senior Sarah Couch was also granted a Sherry Shepherd Sargent Scholarship.

PIN
PIN is a CCSD parent organization that features monthly presentations on a variety of topics that impact youth and parents. Sherry Sargent started PIN more than 33 years ago with a group of involved mothers. She is still an active member of the PIN board and was in attendance at the brunch to recognize the scholarship honorees. PIN started the scholarship in Sargent’s honor to give tribute to her for all she had done for parents and students in the community.

Michael Gurian
More than 350 parents and educators were in attendance at the PIN brunch to hear nationally-renowned author Michael Gurian speak about the different learning styles between boys and girls. His popular book, Boys and Girls Learn Differently!, was published in 2000. Since that time, “the premise exclaimed in the book’s title — that boys and girls learn differently – has now become generally accepted as reality,” Gurian said.

Gurian promised the audience they’d, “laugh and cry” during his presentation, which proved to be true. The audience chuckled when Gurian explained that after a hard day of work, women generally preferred to talk to their husbands to unwind. In contrast, men generally wanted quiet time to allow for a “brain break.”

The crowd ‘s mood grew somber when Gurian showed a video that featured statistics demonstrating how many boys were struggling in school. For example, one of Gurian’s slides said “boys earn two-thirds of the Ds and Fs in school, but less than half of the As.”

Gurian signed books and talked one-on-one with parents after his presentation.

Asset Champion

Aagje Barber was honored as an Asset Champion by the Community Asset Project at the brunch for her hard work on behalf of CCSD students. Barber served on the CCSD Board of Education for 11 years. In that time the district grew from 39,400 students to 50,470 students.

Steve Cohen, a member of the CAP board who presented the award to Barber, credited Barber for making tough decisions based solely on what was best for students, not on politics or what was popular.

“Your leadership and clear vision for the future will be your lasting legacy for generations of Cherry Creek students to come,” Cohen said.

Aagje Barber (left) looks at the Asset Champion award given to her by Steve Cohen (right) oh behalf of the Community Asset Project.

Aagje Barber, brunch, CAP, Cherokee Trail, Cherokee Trail High School, cherry creek, cherry creek school district, Community Asset Project, CT, CTHS, Devin Bell, Gurian, Parent Information Network, PIN, Sherry Sargeant, Sherry Sargent