The Parents’ Association of St. Mark’s School of Texas pulled some strings for their 2012 Celebrate event. Ben Stiller will be the celebrity guest of honor, and The Spazmatics will perform for the Feb. 18th function.

Located at the Omni Hotel, the event includes  food, music, and an auction, with all proceeds benefiting The Parents’ Association Endowed Teaching Fellowship Fund.

Ginger Geyer works in her studio at the Fairmont.

St. Mark’s alumni of a certain age may remember Ginger Henry Geyer. According to the bio on her website, she met her husband, Rick Geyer, while student teaching at Dallas’ most prestigious school for boys. For three months, she has been living and working at the Fairmont Dallas hotel as part of its Artist in Residence program. Geyer’s term will culminate with an exhibit at the hotel’s Ross Akard Gallery. The opening reception is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Ty Montgomery had a big game for Stanford in last night's Fiesta Bowl. (Staff photo: Chris McGathey)

Former St. Mark’s wide receiver Ty Montgomery stepped into the national spotlight last night during the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.

Montgomery, now a true freshman for Stanford, scored the first touchdown of the game when he hauled in a 53-yard pass from Andrew Luck, who will likely be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in April, in the first quarter. Montgomery led the Cardinal in receiving for the game with seven catches for 120 yards. He added two kickoff returns for 98 yards.

Montgomery also had another interesting moment during Oklahoma State’s 41-38 overtime win. After fielding a kickoff in the end zone and starting to bring it out for a return, Montgomery was stopped by teammate Jeremy Stewart, who tackled him before he could get out of the end zone.

Montgomery started just four games this season, but he was the team’s top kickoff returner and set the tone for possibly stepping into the starting lineup next year.

Colin Neuhoff

Did you notice today’s date is 11/11/11? That’s pretty cool. You know what’s cooler than that? Celebrating your birthday on 11/11/11. You know what would make it even cooler? Celebrating your 11th birthday on 11/11/11.

Let me introduce you to Colin Neuhoff, a lifelong Preston Hollow resident whose life began on Nov. 11, 2000. A fifth-grader at St. Mark’s, he’s turning 11 years old today. Happy birthday, Colin!

In his honor, please watch this clip from This is Spinal Tap, a film that I saw for the first time when I was 11.

Today’s issue of Preston Hollow People includes a look at how things have changed in the 12 months since voters approved permits for beer and wine sales in stores. The chart accompanying the story said six stores in the area have acquired such permits, while a seventh — the Walgreens on the southeast corner of Preston and Forest — has applied for one.

Make that eight. I just found this on the agenda for Monday’s City Council meeting:

A public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and a resolution granting a variance to the alcohol spacing requirements from the St. Mark’s School of Texas required by Section 6-4 of the Dallas City Code to allow a wine and beer retailer’s off-premise permit for a general merchandise or food store greater than 30,000 square feet on property on the southeast corner of Preston Road and Royal Lane

I assume the store in question is the new Central Market.

Oladunni Ogundipe of Hockaday, Spencer E. Williams of St. Mark’s, and Monica Ohawke of Ursuline are among the more than 1,600 black high school seniors who have been designated semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. These students now have an opportunity to compete for approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship awards worth more than $2.4 million.

The National Achievement Scholarship Program, conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., was initiated in 1964 to recognize academically promising black students throughout the nation and to provide scholarships to a substantial number of the most outstanding program participants. More than 31,100 young men and women have received Achievement Scholarship awards worth more than $98 million.

College. The one word that no doubt has crossed every high-school student’s mind. This one word raises anxiety and thousands of questions. Big campus or small campus? In state or out? And of course the ultimate question, which one is the best fit. Ready for some answers? So am I.

This Saturday, explore and learn about more than 200 colleges at the St. Mark’s College Preview. At the St. Mark’s School of Texas representatives from these colleges will provide information and answer questions about their school. Bring your parent or child from 1 to 3 p.m. and explore the showcase of colleges. Don’t forget to bring your open mind. Who knows what college you could stumble upon? 

We’re developing a story about graduates of Preston Hollow schools who come back from their prestigious colleges to tutor local kids during the summer. Names of two such students (Connor Watumull of St. Mark’s and Kimberly Gonzales of W.T. White) have already flown into this reporter’s inbox, but we’re looking for more.

Know of any high school graduates offering their sage advice by the hour?

Four Preston Hollow-area students were among the more than 2,900 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities announced today by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

• The University of Alabama awarded scholarships to Ursuline senior Haley Malin and homeschooler Sara Omador.
• Kenyon College awarded a scholarship to Greenhill’s Erin Ginsburg.
• The University of Chicago awarded a scholarship to St. Mark’s senior Shashank Mittal.

The 8.9 earthquake in Japan and the ensuing tsunami and nuclear disaster captivated the world’s attention in March. And while many of us texted our donation to the Red Cross in the initial months, the problems persist. To help the victims, a group of St. Mark’s and Hockaday musicians are starting off the summer with a free orchestra concert on May 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. in St. Mark’s Decherd Auditorium. Donations for Second Harvest Japan will be accepted at the door.

Performers include: St. Mark’s String Quartet, St. Mark’s and Hockaday Trio, harpist Naoko Nakamura Stromberg (a native of Yokohama, Japan and a member of the Dallas Wind Symphony), violinist Kaori Yoshida of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, world renown pianist Christina Long, and associate concertmaster at Dallas Symphony Orchestra Motoi Takeda.