Montgomery School

Cowboys second-year receiver Dez Bryant said he’s ready to step up as a starter now with Roy Williams having been released Tuesday.

Bryant, speaking after the Cowboys’ first walkthrough practice of training camp Thursday morning at the Alamodome in San Antonio, said he’s ready to take his game to the next level.

“I hope for the best. It’s going to force me,” Bryant said. “I really learned some great things from Roy. I feel like I’m ready to fill that spot and we’ll go from there.”

Asked why he feels like he’s ready, Bryant said because of his “passion and love I have for this game.”

Bryant said Thursday morning wasn’t your typical first-day walkthrough.

“We were going little bit fast and coaches had to calm it down a little bit because we were so anxious to get back on the field,” Bryant said. “Yesterday we did our conditioning tests and everybody passed and from the looks of it everybody stayed in great shape. I don’t think that’s a big factor. I feel fine. You see me running around having fun. It feels great to be back and part of the team. We’re all back as one and looking forward to training camp and the season.”

We love it when celebrities advance in their education, such as country star Garth Brooks, who earned his master’s degree this year from Oklahoma State University. (And we checked – it wasn’t his old rock alter ego Chris Gaines who earned the degree).

In honor of Brooks – the No. 1 selling solo artist in U.S. history – we had fun taking a look back at some of his famous song titles and connecting them to the life of students in school.

“Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up)”: Those nonstop study sessions or remaining hours until a project or paper is due might have you staying up all night to make the grade.

“Friends in Low Places”: You may need to be the one to encourage your classmates, if they get down about the amount of work needed to complete their degree or if they don’t perform as well as they wanted to on an exam.

“If Tomorrow Never Comes”: Sure this is intended to be a love song, but you may feel overwhelmed by so many exams, like tomorrow will never come. But don’t be discouraged. You’ll get there!

“Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”: If you’re in a class with younger students, or “tougher broncs,” as Garth says, you may start out the semester feeling your age. But recognize that your life experience can be a plus in school, and you have learned what it takes over the years to persist and be successful.

As a student, whats your school theme song? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook, or Twitter.

“You don’t have to be a professional writer to tell a story. So go out and tell a story!” Maya Soetoro-Ng told a group of young students gathered for EDs third installment of its summer series.

Soetoro-Ng, an author and half sister to President Obama, joined former Washington Redskins linebacker Chris Draft, Top Chef alumnus Spike Mendelsohn, Corporation for National and Community Service CEO Robert Velasco II, and EDs deputy chief of staff Eric Waldo at ED headquarters to encourage young students to be physically active and to keep reading.

Following the portion of the event, the students joined Draft and YMCA staff in navigating an obstacle course and other physical activities during the segment. The fitness activities are part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to emphasize the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle.

The final event is scheduled for July 26.

Dillard defensive back Wayne Lyon, has been named a SAMMY (Scholar-Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year) got milk? winner and there is a contest for one of the winners to be named MVP. $5,000 will be donated to “Make A Wish” Foundation on his behalf if he’s selected SAMMY MVP. Voting will be from 5/20/11 – 6/20/11 with only one vote per day.

The month of July is almost over, but those applications are still sitting in a pile on your desk, unopened.  You may have printed them out and taken a glance at them, but its time to start filling them out!

Luckily, you have a few more days to take advantage of Accepted’s 10% discount on any of our MBA, law, or grad admissions consulting & editing services,* through July 31, 2011. To receive your discount, just enter JL11 at checkout.

There are 3 days left to make use of this great opportunity and start writing essays that will knock the socks off the acceptance committee at your top choice program!

*Discount not valid on rush orders.