Eastside Memorial wins Rather Prize

Eastside Memorial High School has won $10,000 in the statewide competition for the Rather Prize, co-founded by news anchor Dan Rather and his grandson Martin Rather. The prize goes to the school that proposes “the best idea for improving education,” according to an announcement from the Austin Independent School District. Called the “STEP Up Challenge,” the winning idea proposed by Eastside students and staff “includes academic counseling, worksite experiences and college readiness workshops to motivate high school students to step up to, accept and overcome the challenges presented to them,” says the announcement. Students and staff will present their idea at SXSWedu, and the Rice University Center for Civic Leadership will conduct a feasibility study of the proposal.