School Board Approves Media Center Name Change to Honor Mr. A

Cheers erupted at the January 11th School Board Meeting after the School Board approved the senior class officers' request to change the media center's name to the "Lorimer Arendse Student Union."

“We wanted to rename the media center because we thought Mr. A’s legacy should live on,” senior class president Jose “Pepe” Alvarez said. “Our school will never be the same and it’s not because he’s gone but because he came and changed our school forever. He saw the light and believed in us when no one else did,” Alvarez said.

In 2013, Mr. A began his journey as a principal at the Young Men's Leadership Academy. He was named principal of Grand Prairie High in 2014 when the current seniors were just freshman.

“Mr. A impacted every student here and always wanted what was best for them,” vice president Destiny Velasquez said. “Changing the name of the student union to the “Lorimer Arendse Student Union” is a way for GPHS to always have a piece of him and the fact I was able to be a part of something that means so much to our school and his family means so much.”

Teachers have also reinforced the importance of the name change.

“Students and faculty alike will be inspired every time we see his name,” physics teacher Mr. Moffat said.

Ms. Grafflin agreed.

“What a wonderful honor for Mr. A,” she said.

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