Spirit Bell Helps Unite Magnet Programs

By Emarald Robinson | Photos Courtesy Russ Claughton

 |

For Phu Trinh, there used to be rivalry. But that was before this year.

The school’s two magnet programs, Design and Technology Academy and Engineering Technology Academy, are starting to have more activities together. One program is the Spirit Bell, brought to the campus by new DATA Director Russ Claughton.

Sweet Sarah, the Spirit Bell, was bought to symbolize unity between the magnet students. She got her name from Claughton’s daughter who is currently attending Texas Tech. Claughton’s mother bought the bell from Tech and donated it to the school, to be used with a spirit group between ETA and DATA. ETA Director Bill Sturgis built the trailer Sweet Sarah rides on. The schools took the bell to the pep rallies and football games to cheer on the football team, which has players from both schools and the Roosevelt campus.

“In my eyes we’ve always been in rivalry with ETA since my freshman year, but this year it seems that we are coming to be closer,” said Trinh, the commander of the Spirit bell, and also a student at DATA.

DATA opened in 1999, and currently enrolls over 300 students. ETA has nearly 400 students.

“We tend to focus on technology, what would engineering be without technology, and what would technology be without engineering,” said Sturgis.

The bell became recognized by KSAT-12 for its great meaning.

“The spirit bell is made to bring people together and is a constant reminder for DATA and ETA and how they became so close,” Claughton said.

Both programs now include each other in trips, and after school activities.