Laurel Moore Attends Harvard Crimson Coaching Academy

[Story of the Week for Sept. 7 - 12]

It was rigorous, it was demanding, it was challenging. And she loved every minute of it.

    “It was so cool and so much fun,” said Page High School junior Laurel Moore. 

    Moore is referring to the week she spent at Harvard this past summer attending the Harvard Crimson Coaching Academy. Its mission is to help high school students achieve their highest potential as they prepare for college. It’s designed for students who want to attend America’s top tier universities – such as Harvard, Yale, MIT or Princeton – and educate and prepare them for what that will involve.  The first step in attending the prestigious academy is being recommended by a teacher or school official.

    Ermenia Tenpenny, PUSD’s EL & Gifted Coordinator, nominated Moore for the weeklong course. 

    “I recommended her because she’s been a high-achiever, really enjoys being involved in school and has expressed interest in attending college or university after high school,” said Tenpenny.  

    “The Academy is a booster to get them set into college, such as how to do applications, what to expect when you get there. This helps pave the path to get her there.”

    Moore is a junior at Page High School. As you might expect from someone reaching for an Ivy League university, Moore is ambitious, driven and well-organized. She is junior class secretary. She is also on the girls soccer team. In previous years she was also on the cheer team, choir and acted in the fall musical. 

    She was a student council Representative last year. She was part of a committee in charge of the school spirit around campus, promoting spirit week, dances, sport game themes, and more. Outside of school, she is also involved in Girl Scouts and 4H, soccer, and cheer. This year she will drop choir and theater and will fill her free time taking a systematic theology class. After graduating from Page High School, Moore wants to attend Princeton University and major in Theology. Following college, she’d like to be a pastor or traveling minister. 

    The Academy began Sunday, July 19 with an on-campus orientation. Classes started the next day and ran through Friday, July, 24. The classes took place on the Harvard campus and Moore and the other students stayed in student dorms.

    The Harvard Crimson Coaching Academy is a very challenging program. The day begins early. After breakfast, Moore attended classes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour lunch. There was another break for dinner. Dinner was followed by homework 6:30 p.m. until lights out at 11. 

    But some fun activities were added between the classes and homework. Monday night they did a group scavenger hunt, which was designed to help them learn their way around campus. Another night was movie night, another night they painted tote bags and another night they decorated cookies. 

    The main goals of the Crimson Coaching Academy was teaching high school students how to fill out college applications, complete interviews, write personal statements, supplemental essays and things to be aware of financially when considering schools. One of classes Moore found very helpful was having mock interviews with the admissions counselors at Harvard and receiving feedback from them.

    “I got a lot of great advice from the counselors,” Moore said.

    Moore is very glad she went.

    “It was very helpful,” she said. “We spent an entire day just on scholarships. The people teaching the class were university admissions officers. They told the students what they as admissions officers looked for, what made an application stand out, what red flags to avoid.

    “The best advice I received about that was to keep it relatable to myself,” said Moore.

    The classes and exercises were all very practical, but the experience was also very inspirational. Moore feels like her week on campus gave her a good taste of what college will be like. Her favorite part of the week was making new friends with the other people in her program.

    “I got really close to all the people there,” she said. Since returning home, she has stayed in touch with them through group chats and texting.

     Moore is the daughter of Kyle and Caitlyn Moore.

Cadet Blackhorse Awarded JROTC Challenge Coin

[Story of the Week for Aug. 31 - Sept. 4]

Congratulations to Ashineh Blackhorse who became the first student to be awarded a Challenge Coin in Page High School’s newly-established JROTC program.

    Cadet Blackhorse is a ninth grader. She was given the Challenge Coin by Chuck Sharp during a ceremony last week. Cadet Blackhorse joined the JROTC because her father, Chris Benally, is in the military.

    A military challenge coin is a small, custom-designed medallion bearing a unit's emblem, insignia, or motto. Leaders hand them out to reward hard work, mark special achievements, or welcome visitors. Carrying one builds team spirit and shows pride in a specific branch or mission. 

    Receiving a Challenge Coin is a high honor. Typically, only two or three Challenge Coins are given out per year. Sharp presented the Challenge Coin to Cadet Blackhorse for her exemplary demonstration of military customs and courtesies, and showing leadership skills.

    Page High School started the JROTC program at the beginning of 2026-27 school year.