2020 Grayson County Graduation Magazine

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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08 B E L L S 12 16

COLLINSVILLE DENISON

25 P A T H W A Y S

26 G R A Y S O N C H R I S T I A N 28 G U N T E R 32 H O W E 36 P O T T S B O R O 42 S & S C O N S O L I D A T E D 46 S H E R M A N

58 P E R R I N L E A R N I N G C E N T E R 60 T E X O M A C H R I S T I A N 64 T I O G A 68 T O M B E A N 72

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84 W H I T E W R I G H T The information provided to Texoma Marketing & Media Group for publication in the 2020 Grayson County Graduation magazine is for general informational purposes only. All information in the magazine is provided in good faith, and TMMG has made every attempt and effort to contact each of the schools listed in the magazine to obtain pertinent information before the magazine’s publication. In addition, every attempt and effort was made to contact each of the students listed in the magazine so that they may provide a senior quote. If any school-related information has been omitted from this publication, including senior quotes, it is due to said information not being provided to the TMMG team by the deadline given to each of the schools/students.

This magazine is a publication of Texoma Marketing and Media Group, a locally operated member of Gannett Media. For questions or to subscribe, call 903-893-8181. Š 2020 Gannett Co., Inc.

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CLASS OF 2020 The Class of 2020 will be remembered for many

seniors is their willingness to help others,”

things. The first set of high school graduates born into

Grayson Christian School Principal Greg

a post-9/11 world, this year’s senior class didn’t know

Rostyne said. “This group of young ladies

the world before the turn of the century.

and men have led their peers by example of

Now, this group of young adults will enter into a post-COVID-19 shutdown world. With their strength and resilience, the more than a thousand 2020 graduates from Grayson County schools have a lot to celebrate.

“Our seniors showed that if you keep pushing and

their spirit and actions in the classroom, on the field as well as on the court.”

More than 40 percent of the Tioga High School Class of 2020 has already earned an associate’s degree from Grayson Col-

give all your heart to something, nothing can stand in

lege through the Early College High School

the way of you reaching your goals,” said Bells High

program.

School Principal Clay Rolen.

Van Alstyne seniors acquired more than

noting

Gunter High School senior class had the largest

$2.5 million dollars in awards and scholarships, served

that these are the two things that will affect their rela-

class in school history. They were state champions in

more than 10,500 community service hours and earned

tionships and success in life more than anything else.

football, third in State UIL Spirit, and are currently first

more than 1,000 hours of dual credit through Grayson

in the Lone Star Cup.

College.

Over in Pottsboro, seniors were state qualifiers in

“Certainly the class of 2020 will be greatly missed

“There has never been a time in education that students were not allowed to finish their senior year and enjoy the highlights and pitfalls of school,” Whitesboro

golf, track, football, FFA competitions and debate, and

and most of us can testify to their incredible academic

High School Principal Steve Morrow said. “This class

have had multiple Regional and Area appearances in

achievements, passionate performances in the arts

has students that will be attending colleges all over

band, theater, basketball, volleyball, softball, culinary,

and memorable competitions in athletics,” Sherman

the country, maintained academic standards despite a

and cross country. The school boasted $817,537 in

High School Principal Jenifer Politi said. “If those were

global pandemic, and remained strong and confident

scholarships with $34,950 being local scholarships.

the only memories we had of this class it would be

throughout it all.”

“This has been a year of adversity and persever-

enough to place them as one of the all-time finest

Collinsville High School Principal Kim Patterson had

ance,” Howe High School Principal Phil Kempson said.

groups of students to complete their education at

some pretty simple advice for her group: “In all things,

“I really feel for the seniors of 2020 for the loss of

Sherman High.”

leave it better than you found it,” she said.

activities and traditions that will be missed. That being

Principal Sara McCarty of Tom Bean wants her

Pathways High School seniors logged more than

said, I think this whole experience will be a lesson that

former students to remember their uniqueness is

500 hours of college credit, earned 14 FFA competition

will carry them forward through their life— the lesson

important and should be celebrated.

banners and had three state qualifiers. More than 30

of not taking things for granted and the understanding that there are no absolutes in life.”

“Be yourself,” she said. “The person you are today

students qualified for the National Beta Convention

may change in the next few years as you try new things

and District, bi-District, and Area champions in football

Denison High School Principal Cavin Boettger’s

and go through new experiences. But be yourself,

and girl’s basketball. They were Bi-District qualifiers in

advice to seniors is to always remember the positive.

no matter who that person is, and be sure to love

volleyball and boy’s basketball and had multiple Region

yourself.”

and State qualifiers in cross country and powerlifting.

“What I will remember most about this group of

S&S Principal Mark Youree’s advice is for students to always work on growing their work ethics and attitude,

“Stay focused on your goals,” Perrin Learning Center Principal Jim May said. “Don’t let your current circumstances distract you from your future.”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY BUZZ PHOTOS]

Bells

HIGH SCHOOL

HALEY ARLEDGE

VICTORIA AZEVEDO

MARCUS BALL

DEVIN BATEMAN

ROBERT BERGHIAN

BEN BRANAM

LANE BROWN

KAITLYN BURGESS

MAKAYLA CAPPS

CHRISTOPHER CIACCIO

MARKASIA COOPER

JONATHAN CORK

DALTON DAVENPORT

COURTNEY DAVIDSON

JOSHUA DEEN

CADE DOGGETT

VANESSA FLORES

CHEYENNE FLOYD

BRANDON GARCIA

DYLAN GARD

DATHAN GLASS

ARIANA GONZALEZ

HANNA GONZALEZ

JOSSELYN GROVE

CADEN HAMNER

TYLER HAWTHORNE

EMANUEL HERNANDEZ

HUNTER HOWARD

STEVIE JAMES

RACHEL JONES

BRANDI KEITZ

COLE KENDRICK

MACI KENNER

RHYAN KRUEGER

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY BUZZ PHOTOS]

GARRETT KYLE

REANNA LAMPKIN

SUMMER LANE

HAYDEN LEROND

MADISON LEWIS

JAYCEE LITTLE

AUSTIN MARTIN

MARLEE MARTIN

VICTORIA MONK

DAVID OLFERS

BRADEN OLIVER

ALEX ORR

AUSTIN PERKINS

BLAKE PETTERS

AUSTIN PIERCE

HATTIE POWELL

WRANGLER PRIEST

HALLIE RICHARSON

MACKENZIE ROBINSON

ROSALIND ROSS

ANGEL SANCHEZ

TY SANDERS

SEVANAH SHRUM

BELLA SMITH

DRAKE SPEARS

ZOE SPRAYBERRY

JILLIAN SQUARE

SCOTTY STRAW

ADDISON WEGLEY

DYLAN WILLISTON

MATTHEW WILSON

JONAHTAN WRIGHT

Principal

C L AY R O L E N

“

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

The perseverance of our seniors to see their goals completed through a pandemic, (school) closure and social distancing. Our seniors showed that if you keep pushing and give all your heart to something, nothing can stand in the way of you reaching your goals.

Congrats Graduate

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Stay true to yourself, live life to the fullest, see everyday as a gift, and wherever you go, make it a better place than what is was before you got there. Remember to learn, work, serve and respect everyday. That’s the Panther Way.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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A FEW WORDS FROM

“

Valedictorian

C O U R T N E Y D AV I D S O N

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Never take anything for granted.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Emory. She always put her students first and would do anything in the world to help us succeed.

Favorite class/subject?

Calculus.

Hardest class/subject?

Also calculus.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

University of Texas at Austin.

Psychology.

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

In five years, I plan on being in

I will be a practicing psychiatrist.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Always look for the positive in every situation. With an optimistic attitude, you can handle any curveball life throws you.

medical school. Within ten years,

Salutatorian “ What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Don’t take anything for granted and enjoy the time you have with others.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Neal, because she genuinely cared for her students and was passionate about her job. Thanks to her, she helped shape my perspective on World History, U.S. History, and government. There is no other teacher I would rather have for three years.

HALEY ARLEDGE

Favorite class/subject?

Mr. Deen’s 6th period Physics class.

Hardest class/subject?

AP Calculus.

Where are you going to college?

What will you study?

Howard Payne University to study Biomedical Sciences.

obtaining my doctorate degree to become a pediatrician.

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

I will be in medical school,

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Don’t be afraid of failure.

Class President

BEN BRANAM

What are your future plans?

I plan on attending Texas A&M University to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Let’s keep our heads up. This year has been different, but I’m hopeful for the future⁠— and don’t see a reason for any of us not to be.

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

Collinsville

HIGH SCHOOL

JACK BOSWELL

JAKE BOSWELL

MASON CATES

GRACIE CAVIN

KATELYN CLAYTOR “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good ol’ days before you’ve actually left them.”

- Andy Bernard

MAKAYLA DAUGHTRY

JESSICA DUMAS

MAGGIE EELLS

BRITTNEY FIELDS

CADE HALL

DREE HAMPTON

THOMAS HAVILAND

RACHEL JARESH “Broken crayons still color.”

MICAH JENKINS

ATHENA JOHNSON

CARRIE JOHNSON

DAVID JOHNSON

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

“Life is not a game of luck. If you wanna win, work hard.”

AUSTIN KEMP

KEVIN LEYVA-HERNANDEZ

LEXIE MARTIN

DAVID MENDELL

FAITH PERRY

JEFFERY ROBISON

KAITLYN RODRIGUEZ

EMILY ROLLINS

“Everything has changed.”

“Honestly, I didn’t expect some of you to make it this far.”

- Albus Dumbledore

- Albus Dumbledore

JULIAN MENDOZA

JORDAN PALMER

JENNIFER PEREZ

OSVALDO PEREZ “There’s lots of fish in the sea... but most of them are Magikarp.”

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- Taylor Swift

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

P I R AT E S TREY SHELBY

MATT SHEPPARD

COLBY SHULL

RYLEE TAYLOR

“You either crank that Soulja Boy in life, or life will crank you!”

“God helps those that help themselves.”

LINDSAY VANNOY

- Bob Marley

Principal

K I M PAT T E R S O N

“

Accolades of the graduating class?

35 graduating seniors.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

The kids prevailed!

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

In all things, leave it better than you found it.

Class President

K A T E LY N C L A Y T O R

What are your future plans?

I plan on attending Texas Woman’s University to earn my master’s degree in Nursing. I am interested in working in labor & delivery or pediatrics after I graduate.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

I want to encourage everyone to just do what makes them happy. It won’t be long before we’re all on our separate pathways in life, and I hope that no matter what you do, you cherish it. Find what makes you happy and surround yourself with it.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

”

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A FEW WORDS FROM

“

Valedictorian

K A I T LY N R O D R I G U E Z

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Become involved in a lot of things so you can find things that you truly enjoy. I was involved in so many different clubs during my four years, and I found a love for community service, theatre, and many other fun activities I would have never thought to try.

Most influential teacher?

Haley Crowe, my theatre teacher during my sophomore and junior year. Being a part of One Act Play, I got to spend a lot of time with her inside and outside of the classroom, and I had known her for years prior to her becoming a teacher. We shared similar life experiences and I really look up to her. She always pushes me to follow my dreams, and not let anyone hold me back from doing what I want to do.

Favorite class/subject?

Theatre. It’s where I found most of my friends and was a class that I could really express myself in.

Hardest class/subject?

The hardest class for me was U.S. History.

I had a teacher that liked to push us hard, but I’m thankful he did because I got a lot out of that class.

Where are you going to college?

What will you study?

I’m going to Abilene Christian University to study Environmental Science.

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

In five years I will have just finished my bachelor’s degree, and I may go on to get my masters. In ten years, I see myself work-

Salutatorian What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

I will forever take with me the memories I have made in the classroom, on the court, and on the field. I have met amazing people at Collinsville that will be with me forever, and that’s one of the most amazing gifts I could’ve gotten from this school.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Flanery is definitely known around Collinsville for being extremely influential and helpful.

Her classes involve us applying

14

for college, scholarships and jobs, and she makes sure each student is provided with the best possible opportunities. Mrs. Patterson has also been influential, especially with our class. Most of us have had her almost every year since 7th grade so she’s always been there with us.

Favorite class/subject?

Child development was probably my favorite because of all the activities we got to do, like cooking meals and taking care of flour babies.

ing alongside other professionals in my field as we work toward saving our environment.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

I urge you to seek happiness in everything you do. If you get knocked down by the troubles of the world, get back up with your head held high, and where you find your light, follow it.

K A T E LY N C L A Y T O R

Hardest class/subject?

Definitely statistics!

Where are you going to college?

What will you study?

I’m attending Texas Woman’s University where I will earn my Master’s degree in Nursing.

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

The things I value most in life are family and home, so I can safely say I will be around here, perhaps work at a hospital in the metroplex. Other than traveling for vacation, I never want to leave this

area.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

I want to encourage them to surround themselves with people they love and people who make them happy. The people are what make life amazing.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

”

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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Denison

HIGH SCHOOL

ADDISON ACOSTA

JENNA ADDINGTON

YESENIA AGUILAR

KIRA ALLEN

HUNTER ANDERSON

JACOB ASHER

SAAD ASIM

JADA AULDRIDGE

AMBAR AZIZ

MASHAAL AZIZ

PHOENIX BABB

MYCHAELA BLAKELY

HAILEE BLASINGAME

BLAKE BLUNT

BLAKE BOUNDS

EMMIT BOWLING

LOWELLAUS BOWMAN

KONNER BRIDGES

JAYLEN BRISCOE

TEZEVIYON BRISCOE

ADAM BROCK

CLAYTON BROOKS

MEGHAN BROOKS

LAITH BURNHAM

BREYLIN BUTLER

MALIYAH BUTLER

TREYLIN BUTLER

DELANEY BUTTERWORTH

RYLIE BUTTRILL

JACKSON BRANDT

MASON BRANUM “This is one of those experiences where you’ll sit back and say ‘Oh yeah, I remember that.’”

WESLEY BROOKS

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PHILLIP BROWN

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[ S E N I O R F O R M A L P H O T O S BY L E GACY S T U D I O S ]

ALLAYAH BRIAN BENDER-HOWARD BERMUDEZ-PEREZ

KARLA MARIA BARRON-HERNANDEZ BARRON-HERNANDEZ

SPENCER CAGLE

LANDUS CAMERON

LAYLA CANADAY

SARAH CAPPS

ETHAN CAPSHAW

MADISON CASAREZ

EMILY CASTRO-FLORES

HUNTER CAUGHEY

MARLEEN CHERRY

THOMAS CLAYTON

BLAKE COLE

KIRSTEN COLE

SHEMAR COLLIER

JAGGER COLSON

KYLE COLV IN

JACK CONDIT

[ S E N I O R F O R M A L P H O T O S BY L E GACY S T U D I O S ]

“Everyday is the start of a new opportunity.”

JOSE CONEJO

CONSTANCE CORBETT

KEELY CORNELL

MATTHEW COUCH

SHYANN COURTROUL

DONALD CRABTREE

FERNANDO CRUZ

DYLAN DAVIS

LINDSEY DAWES

JACKELINE DELGADO-VALDEZ

BLANCA DIAZ

NELSON DIAZ

KALI DITGEN

MASON DOYLE

DAKOTA EACHEN

LILLIAN EAKLE

CAYDEN EARNHART

KEGHAN EDGETTE

ALEXANDER EMERT

LUCAS EMERT

JOHN ESKUE

ETHAN EUBANK

CALEB FARRINGTON

CARMEN FINLEY

ALYSSA FINLEY-LYNCH

GRANT FLATTEN

JADEN FLEMMINGS

TAYLOR FLINN

KYLEE FORD

ABIGAIL FRAGA

NANCY FRANCISCO

LENNIE FRISBEE

JORDAN FROST

TARRENCE GAINES

TARYN GAINES

MADISON GALARZA

ERIC GARCIA

JACI GARVIN

JAKLYNN GARZA

HANNAH GEMMELL

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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DENISON KAITLIN GILLESPIE

MARY GILLESPIE

NADIA GONZALEZ

CHRISTOPHER GOODMAN

KAITLYN GRAHAM

JACOB GRAVES

NICOLIE GREEN

CANDY GUERRERO

BRIAN GUTIERREZ

DOMINIC HADEN

DELANIE HAJKOWSKI

KEANU HALL

MARARIGTTE HALL

CHRISTOPHER HAM

JACOB HARRIS

JULLIAN HARRIS

KIANA HARRIS

SHERMAN HASKINS

LUKE HAVENS

LAYNE HENSLEY

CHRISTINA HERNANDEZ

ISABELLE HERNANDEZ

HARLIEGH HOLDER

JENA HOPPERT

DALTON HOUSE

DEAN HOUSE

SYDNEY HUFF

JORDIN HUNTER

THOMAS ISBELL

MADISON JACOB

HANNAH JANSEN

LABRASHA JOHNSON

BAILEY JOHNSON-WEISS

LANCE JOHNSTON

TANNER JOHNSTON

THOMAS JONES

GRACE JOSEPH

DALTON JOUL

RYLEE JOUL

JOSLYN KEEL

DAYNE KELLEY

JAXTON KILPATRICK

DONOVAN KING

REECE KING

HALEY KINSEY

SABA KIRAN

LUKE KIRKBRIDE

HANNAH KOCH

CALEB KUPFERSCHMID

AMILY LAZCANO

ISABELLE LEWIS

JAYDEN LINDSEY

ELIZABETH LINWOOD

CELSO LONGORIA

LAWREN LOUIS

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[ S E N I O R F O R M A L P H O T O S BY L E GACY S T U D I O S ]

WYATT GIDNEY

JASMINE LOVE-OWEN

LINDSEY LOVELL

KAYDEN LOWERY

JOSEPH MALLILLIN

ALEXIS MANDEVILLE

ISAAC MANRY

ALBANY MARTIN

KARIN MARTINEZ

JACQUELYNN MATTHEWS

COULTER MAXSON

REGAN MCCLURE

GAVIN MCKEE

“Avatar: The Last Airbender, Season 1, Ep. 5, Minute 2:20.”

COBY MASON

ZOE MASSIE

AALIYAH MATHIS

JOHAN MATIAS

“Just keep swimming.”

[ S E N I O R F O R M A L P H O T O S BY L E GACY S T U D I O S ]

- Dory

ALLEN MCKISSICK

MATTHEW MCLAIN

JACOB MEANS

ASIA MEDLIN

ANTONIO MEDRANO

ANTHONY MELTON

EDWARD MICKLE

JESSI MIRELES

TATE MOBLEY

MADELEINE MONSIVAIS

JAQUELINE MONTANO

ZOEY MOODY

KIRRA MOORE

MARTIN MORALES

DAMIAN MORENO

YTZEL MORENO

COLEMAN MUIRHEAD

SARA MULLENS

ROOTHLEY NARCISSE

JOSHUA NELSON

ZAKERRIAH NELSON

ALLIE NOBLES

JADIEN ORR

JOSE ORTEGA

ZACHARY OWENS

JESSICA PANTOJA

FAITH PARUM

AUSTEN PATTERSON

DONNELL PATTERSON

RILEY PEACOCK

JACOB PENDLETON

MIA PIERCE-TRIESTA

“There are some good people out there, but there are also some annoying people out there. Sadly, you have to be nice to both.”

“The fear of failure is the only thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve.”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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KAMBRI PLUMLEY

GARRETT POE

PAISLEE POWELL

PEYTON POWER

YARELI PRADO

LUCIA QUIROGA-NAVA

CALVIN RADICK

“Gig’em Aggies.”

ZOJA RAKA “To fully appreciate the beautiful destination, one must acknowledge the harsh journey.”

ZANDER RAMEY

DAITZA RAMIREZ

SAWAIRA RAZAQ

KENDALYN REDING

TATE REDING

BENNY RELFORD

GEORGIA RENFRO-BUTLER

HUNTER RENO

TA KIYA RIDDICK

AINSLEY ROBERTS

SEVANNAH RODRIGUEZ

ABBIE ROGERS

JAMIE ROGERS

STEPHANIE ROSAS

ZHANEYA ROSSER

DYLAN RUCINSKI

“Our families are extremely proud of us all. You can’t imagine their sense of relief. This would be the most opportune time to ask for money.”

- Gary Bolding

THOMAS RUCKER IV

ALANA RUSHING

JAYNA RUSHING

JENNA SADLER

ELIZABETH SAN MILLAN

DANIELA SANCHEZ

YASMIN SANCHEZ

ELENA SANTANA-TELLO

JONATHAN SCHAFER

CHRISTIAN SEDMACK

JEDIDIAH SELF

NISBA SHAHZADI

MOLLIE SHEFFIELD

CHRISTIAN SMALLWOOD

ROXANNETTE SMITH

NYDIA SORIANO

ADDISON SPARKS

MIKKA SPENCER

KRISTOFER STEPP

GABRIEL STREUN

CORI SUTTON

ZYIEN TATUM

CRIMSON TAYLOR

CYNTHIA TAYLOR

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[ S E N I O R F O R M A L P H O T O S BY L E GACY S T U D I O S ]

YELLOW JACKETS

[ S E N I O R F O R M A L P H O T O S BY L E GACY S T U D I O S ]

Principal

D R . C AV I N B O E T T G E R

“

Accolades of the graduating class?

The Class of 2020 has faced and overcome the greatest challenges of their generation.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

I will remember this class as one that overcame significant and unique challenges.

[ S E N I O R F O R M A L P H O T O S BY L E GACY S T U D I O S ]

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Remember the positive!

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

21

JESUS TELLO

ESLI TORRES-GONZALEZ

CARSON TROTTER

ALEX TURNER

NATE UBER

KYLER VAN NORTWICK

ASHLYN VOIGHT

SYDNEY WAGNER

A’JA WARD

AARON WEBB

KYA WELSH

COLBY WESSELDINE

MORGAN WHITE

BASHARIE WHITFIELD

MASON WILEY

DREW WILLIAMS

WARREN WILLIAMS

ANNA WILSON

CHASE WILSON

GARY WILSON

SAMANTHA WILSON

ZAELIN WIMBISH

DYLAN WOLFE

SKYLAR WOOD

CAMERON WRIGHT

ALEXA YANDELL

DAMIAN YEAGER-SPRINGS

DAVID CHICK

“

Alexis Eyvonne le Ann Mandevil

22

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

MADELYNN WINGLER-JONES

[ S E N I O R F O R M A L P H O T O S BY L E GACY S T U D I O S ]

JHONATHAN TELLEZ-DELGADILLO

A FEW WORDS FROM

“

Valedictorian

J A C Q U E LY N N M A T T H E W S

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

The importance of staying true to myself and not being scared to pursue my goals, even if others don’t think it’s possible.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Hricko for Pre-AP English II and AP English Language. Having her in class shaped me into the student I am today, but she’s more than just one of my English teachers. I’ve shared

Hardest class/subject?

AP Biology with Mr. Terry during my sophomore year. I loved having Mr. Terry as a teacher, but spent many late nights finishing lab reports, writing essays, and doing his long homework packets that anyone who has had him can remember.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I’ll be attending Baylor University in the fall. I

a love for learning, laughed a lot, and cried way too many times to count with Mrs. Hricko.

She’s been there for me in my best and worst moments, and I’m thankful to have her as a mentor!

was accepted as one of ten students into the Science Research Fellows major and plan on concentrating in microbiology and genetics. I’ll also be on the pre-medicine track and in the honors program.

Favorite class/subject?

AP Chemistry during my junior year. We were a very small, close-knit group, and had a lot of fun in the lab with Mrs. Ascher.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In five years, I hope to be finishing my first year at my top choice medical school and happily pursuing my dream of becoming a pediatric surgeon. In ten years, I hope that my dream has come true and that I’m practicing as a

Salutatorian

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Life moves fast. Sometimes the best choice you can make is to just stop, take a breath and enjoy the present. Although it’s important to study hard and prepare for the future, you’ll find the most fulfillment in building relationships and making each day its own lifetime.

no matter how ridiculous, and be treated like a peer rather than a child. Because of this, I was able to form my own opinions and see the world from a new perspective.

Most influential teacher?

Staci Schneider. She gave me a new outlook on how to view life and the world around me. I knew I could always go to her, ask any question

Where are you going to college?

What will you study?

I’ll be attending Texas Woman’s University in the fall to study Kinesiology.

Favorite class/subject?

AP World History.

Hardest class/subject?

AP Calculus.

resident in a top-tier children’s hospital while continuing to learn and make a difference in children’s lives.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

It’s impossible to live without experiencing setbacks. There will be times when we ask ourselves, “Why is this happening to me?” as we struggle in the face of defeat. Realize that everything has a purpose. By seeking out the answer to this question you’ll grow from every experience, no matter how difficult.

JOSEPH MALLILLIN

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

In 5 years, I plan to be finishing my first year of graduate study to become a physical therapist. In 10 years, I hope to have completed my doctorate in Physical Therapy.

From there, I want to work in a rehab center or in my own practice to help patients regain control over their bodies and by extension, their lives.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Don’t let this be your peak. We all

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

have so many talents and aspirations that it would be a waste of potential to let this be our defining moment. Keep moving forward, don’t let anything get in the way of pursuing your dreams, and know that you’ll always have a home with the Denison Yellow Jackets.

” 23

Class President

HAILEE BLASINGAME

“

What are your future plans?

Excerpt from commencement

Sherman football field at BOTA,

never wish away any time spent

To attend Tarleton State University

speech:

getting lost in the senior parade on

under the Denison School District. It

and obtain a degree in business.

As most of us were crushed by the

the way to the first day of senior

goes by faster than toilet paper on

news that we wouldn’t be returning

year, Mrs. Schneider dancing to

a Walmart shelf.

to DHS, we couldn’t be too sure

Pitbull at one of our last pep-rallies,

of the future, either, which is why

winning BOTA for the seventh year

we’re so grateful our school board

in a row, or walking out for the last

came to the decision to have a

time thinking we were just leaving

commencement. This night is a light

for spring break. We hold on to all of

in the midst of all of the darkness,

these memories tightly as we take

and we thank you for giving us that

our next steps.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Never let your bad hours turn into bad days, or your bad days into bad weeks. My challenge to all of you is to wake up everyday and have the best day ever, because you never know when your last day will be. So when you take on the world, graduates, make sure you have trustworthy people by your side. Never sweat the small stuff and continue to love, laugh, and live your best life.

Godspeed, class of 2020.

24

light. We are left with the memories, all leading up to this moment. Our first high school football game, the first time we got to park in the student parking lot, classroom chats with our favorite teachers, a certain sophomore sticking our flag in the

As my final address to the class of 2020— we made it. It’s clear now more than ever that you are all unstoppable. So break boundaries, chase your dreams, and follow your arrow. Congratulations to the graduates. I’m going to leave you with

With all of these different paths

the words of music icon Pitbull: “This

we’re about to take, we’ll always

is for anybody going through times/

be known as a class that overcame

Believe, been there, done that/But

boundaries that nobody could have

everyday above ground is a great

predicted. And for the underclass-

day, remember that.” And as always,

men that are looking for advice,

it’s great to be a Yellow Jacket.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

Pathways MAKENZIE BROWN

HUNTER CAUGHEY

MARGARITTE HALL

SABA KIRAN

ZAKERRIAH NELSON

SAWAIRA RAZAQ

GEORGIA RENFRO

NISBA SHAHZADI

WARREN WILLIAMS II

DYLAN WOLFE

Principal

A FEW WORDS FROM

“

LANCE SAN MILLAN

Accolades of the graduating class?

We had two students selected as outstanding students: one for fall and one for spring. The selection is based around credits earned with courses being completed. These students were the leaders for each semester. We also had seven students receive service league scholarships and two students earned scholarships from Grayson College. Over 500 hours of college credit completed by our seniors.

14 FFA competition banners and three state qualifiers. Over 30 students qualified for the National Beta Convention. District, Bi-District, and Area Champions in football and girl’s basketball. Bi-District Qualifiers in volleyball

HIGH SCHOOL

and boy’s basketball. Multiple regional and state qualifiers in cross country and powerlifting.

What will you remember about the 20192020 school year?

This class will be remembered as the class that had the most students come out of their shell. Several of these students had put up pretty thick walls around themselves. We make it a point to bring these walls down and build relationships. It was an amazing year to see the turn around that some of our students went through. They have learned to trust again and that will benefit them down the road.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Class of 2020, you have made the accomplishment of completing high school and earning your diploma. I have great news because of this! You really can go and do anything now; you simply do what you did to earn this honor. You make a plan, follow the plan, make adjustments to the plan, see it through and do it all over again for whatever you want to achieve. Congratulations to you all and always remember you can give us call and we are here to help you.

25

Grayson Christian

SCHOOL

CHANDLER HAMILTON

JUSTIN HARRINGTON

KENNEDY HOWERY

KAYLEE SUTTON

BRENDAN YARBOROUGH

S20 Ep. 20 “The one where they were quarantined”

“Freedom isn’t free, and I’m gonna do my part.”

“It’s never too late to learn that growing old doesn’t mean growing up.”

“Hey Look Ma, I Made It”

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

- Panic! At The Disco

- Alex Hirsch

“

Principal Accolades of the graduating class?

Justin Harrington - Valedictorian, graduated with Honors, Honor Roll, member of American Association of Christian Schools Honor Society, recipient of the Almond Leadership scholarship; Kennedy Howery - Salutatorian, graduated with Honors, Honor Roll, member of American Association of Christian Schools Honor Society, recipient of the Almond Leadership scholarship; Chandler Hamilton - Honor Roll, member of American Association of Christian Schools Honor Society, recipient of the Spenser Stine Student Leadership award,

26

- JFK

amassed over 100 hours of community service; Brendan Yarborough - Two-time State Champion and National Qualifier for the American Association of Christian Schools for Brass Solo.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

What I will remember most about this group of seniors is their willingness to help others. This group of young ladies and men have led their peers by example of their spirit and actions in the classroom, on the field as well as on the court. The leadership of these seniors produced on the athletic side of GCS two state champion-

GREG ROSTYNE

ships, two state runner-ups, and a final four in their respective sports in the 2019-2020 school year. I certainly cherish the joys shared in their moments of triumph and have felt their pain in times of defeat. The 2020 class of Grayson Christian has the tenacity and fortitude to go forward and accomplish great things, no matter what challenges come their way. I am proud to have had a small part in each of their lives.

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

You matter, and what you do matters. God has created each of you with a specific purpose.

Seek Him and find your purpose, then do it with everything you’ve

got! There will always be critics, but remember God is your biggest fan. Never be afraid of adversity; in those moments you can discover your greatest strengths.

Remember there is nothing you can do to make God love you less, and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more than He already does.

Make sure every “Next Step” you take starts with Him. Jeremiah 29:11.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian

JUSTIN HARRINGTON

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Leadership.

Most influential teacher?

My history teacher, Mrs. DeAnn Drewry. She always made it a fun class.

Favorite class/subject?

History.

Hardest class/subject?

Precalculus.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

Community College of the Air Force/Criminal Justice.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In five years, serving in the U.S. Air Force. In 10 years, I’m unsure.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

The same thing I’ve been told many times: keep the Lord first and always trust Him.

Salutatorian

K E N N E DY H O W E R Y

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

What I will take away most from high school is the friends I’ve made and the important truths about life that I’ve learned. I know that wherever life takes me I have the tools and confidence to accomplish my goals.

during chapel have made a lasting impact on me. He not only taught us God’s word, but showed it by example.

Hardest class/subject?

Math.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Believe in yourself! We are each

Most influential teacher?

I would have to say my most influential teacher was Bro. Greg. Although he never taught one of my classes, his talks

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I’m going to attend Grayson College to get my basics and then attend vet school

fearfully and wonderfully made by God with unique talents and gifts. Live each day for His glory and enjoy it to the fullest!

Favorite class/subject?

Science.

at Texas A&M. Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

I hope to be finishing up vet school.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

”

27

Gunter CASSIDY AHLMEYER

KYLE BALL

KYLIE BAYRD-HANKERD

WILLIAM BLANSETT

HIGH SCHOOL

LANIE BREAUX

“Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”

- Kevin Durant

MACIE BUCKNER

“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.”

“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”

- Charles Dickens

- A.A. Milne

CADE CARRUTHERS

NANCY CASTORENA

PEYTON BUCKNER

JAMARCUS BUTLER

RYAN BUYSSE

BROOKS CAPLE

ZOE CARLILE

“This is only the end of the beginning.”

“Life’s not always easy, but make it fun.”

“Peace out!”

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”

MICHAEL CLARKE

CHANNING CLEMENT

TRISTAN COCHRAN

CASSADY CRADDOCK

JONAH CRUZ

“Adoption was the move.”

“Everyday is a holiday.”

“Change the things you can’t accept and accept the things you can’t change.”

-Tim Hardy

BRIANNA CARR

KARA CURTIS “If you ever get to the place where injustice doesn’t bother you, you’re dead.”

- Molly Ivins

DAVID DENTON

28

BLANCA ESCALERA

DIEGO ESCALERA

HARRISON FOX

MITCHELL FUGETT

“Life is though, but it’s a lot thougher when you’re stupid.”

“High school was easy.

It was like riding a bike.

Except the bike was on fire and the ground was on fire and everything was on fire because it was hell.”

JACQUELYN GALVAN

ANTHONY GARCIA

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

BRANDON GUNTER

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

ASHLEY BRUNER

BRENDAN HARRIS

JESSICA HAWK

NATALEE HAYES

MAKENTRY HINKLE

“Why make excuses when you can say deuces?”

“I’m not actually funny. I’m just mean and people think I’m joking.”

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

ALYSSA HINKLEY

KOLTON HINTON

JERAD LARRA

“When the going gets tough, get tougher!”

ELIZABETH LODICO “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get!”

- Forrest Gump

PEYTON LOWE

WILLIAM MAGERS

BONNIE MANN

SCHUYLER MARSHALL

WILLIAM MARSHALL

HARLIE MARTIN

DAVID MARTINEZ

MIGUEL MARTINEZ-DIAZ

ZACHARY MAYNARD

JULIA MAZEY

GRANT MCAFEE

JESSICA MCQUILLAN

TRISTAN MEADORS

COLTON MERCER

RYAN MORRISON

“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away.

What other answer would suffice?”

“Those who dance are considered insane by those who can’t hear the music.”

“Finally released from my four year sentence.”

DANIEL MAYFIELD

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

“Through tumultuous times, the best we can do is be patient.”

- George Carlin

- C.S. Lewis

LAUREL MULKEY

JAKE OSBURN

BLEIZE PARKER

“We are all part of the same story, each of us different chapters. We may not have the power to choose setting or plot, but we can choose what kind of character we want to be.”

ANGELICA PELLEY

TREY PHILLIPS

“God is able.”

“The Grind.”

CADEN SANSONE

SETH SCHROETER

RANDALL REED

ALEXA REICHERT

BRYSON RIGSBY

“Work on your strengths and perfect your weaknesses.”

“Nothing worth having comes easy.”

JACK SHIRLEY

SIENA SICILIANO

- David Arnold

ERIN ROBERTSON

JOSHUA ROGERS

“If we all gather our embarrassment together, it’ll become confidence.”

“Can’t never could do nothing.”

ABIGAIL ROSAS

BOONE SELF

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

29

GUNTER ZOEY SINGLETON

BRADEN SLOAN

“Psalm 46:10”

ETHAN WATSON

REAGAN SPENCER

KEATON STEPHENS

“Whatever he said.”

KYLE WATSON

MATTHEW WATSON

GABRIEL WELLS

“Never, never, never quit.”

“I’m my own worst enemy, but there’s about five people tied for second.”

- Winston Churchill

AINSLEE STOVALL

ZANDER TURNER

“Let today be the beginning of a great adventure as you step into the gifts He’s given you.”

“We made it.”

MACK WHITTEKER

HAILEY WILDE

MONIQUE VILLANUEVA

KEELY WARD “Ohana means family.

Family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten.”

- Lilo and Stitch

CALEB WILSON

“Deuces.”

SYDNEY WRIGHT “Colossians 3:17”

SCHUYLER MARSHALL Our paths will split from here all across the world. But that doesn’t change where we have come from or where our paths started. Gunter High School. Throughout each path, this foundation will help us seniors be able to accomplish our dreams and be quality members of society.

What are your future plans?

Texas A&M, studying Computer Science.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Believe in yourself. You can do much more than you may think. It’s a scary time, but we will get through this.

Excerpt from commencement speech: “The next chapter is here. A new story. A new journey for each and every one of us.

30

I want to tell you a quick story. My parents had moved me to a new school. I was scared. Scared I wouldn’t meet any friends. Afraid I wouldn’t fit in. I put myself out there and got involved in anything I could. It took a little bit, but when I started meeting everyone, I realized Gunter ISD was like a home to me. I loved the attitude and spirit to try to win, whether it was with sports or academics. Thank you, Gunter, for

allowing me in your wonderful community.

I want to give a big thank you to the Gunter ISD staff. The teachers, administrators, maintenance workers, cafeteria workers, everyone. The amount of extra hours, extra effort, and extra love I have seen you put into your jobs is truly exceptional, and this campus would not be the same without each and every one of you.

Many of the unique relationships I have had with the staff has made this town something unforgettable.

I want to leave you with a quote. “The man who says he can, and the man who says he can’t are both correct.” Be the one who can.”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

Student Council President

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian KARA CURTIS

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away

needed an arts elective. From day

Hardest class/subject?

from your time in high school?

one, she taught me how to be a better

AP Calculus. I thought my brain was

Always say yes, even when you want

singer, student and person than I ever

going to melt out of my ears.

to say no. “No” might be a safer place

thought I could be. During a time in

for you, but the memories you’ll make,

my life where I was trying hard to be

things you’ll discover, and the unex-

invisible, Mrs. Kulbeth pushed me to

pected joy you can find comes only

stand out. She taught me how to live

from saying yes. Rarely is the peace of

my life with confidence, kindness and

mind that comes from turning down an

a charitable spirit. I would be nowhere

opportunity or refusing to get involved

near the person I am today without her

worth what you are giving up in return.

influence.

Don’t be afraid of saying yes!

Where are you going to college?

What will you study?

Elizabeth Kulbeth. When I moved to

listen to my opinions under the guise of

Gunter, I only took choir because I

writing an essay.

Salutatorian

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

science teacher at Gunter, because she and the classes she taught are what inspired me to pursue a career in nursing.

Favorite class/subject?

Health Sciences.

Hardest class/subject?

Calculus.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I’ll be attending Texas A&M University and plan on studying nursing.

Principal

CHRISTOPHER DODD

tional Political Economy and minoring in music.

years?

Favorite class/subject?

English, because I can force people to

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Clarke, the head health

Dallas, where I’ll be studying Interna-

Where will you be in five years? 10

Most influential teacher?

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

There were many things that we missed out on as seniors, but if there’s one good thing in all of this chaos, it’s that we all learned valuable lessons. One thing I’ll take away from my time in high school is to always cherish every moment and to never take anything for granted.

I was given a full ride scholarship to UT

“

In five years I hope to be starting law

corporate law firm, with time for pro bono immigration law cases on the side.

school at a highly ranked law program.

What’s one piece of advice you’d

In 10 years I hope to be working in a

give to your fellow graduates?

A dream without goals is just a dream.

J A C Q U E LY N G A LV A N

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In five years, I will have hopefully graduated with my BSN and starting my required two years of experience in my nursing specialty, so that I can apply to a graduate program to become a neonatal nurse practitioner.

In ten years, I will hopefully be a neonatal nurse practitioner working in a NICU, helping the youngest of patients and giving them their best chance of liv-

ing a healthy life.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Never give up, even when it seems like it’s the only option.

Accolades of the graduating class?

Largest Class in School History (87); 40% earned honors (3.5+ GPA), 3A Division 2 State Champions in football, 3rd in State UIL Spirit, currently 1st in Lone Star Cup.

”

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

One of the best years in school history. We believed an enormous amount of Spring success was to come.

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Take nothing for granted. The greatest gift you can give is TIME.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

31

Howe CASSIDY ANDERSON

NAYELY AYALA

JOHNATHAN BAILEY

KADEN BATEMAN

“The only time I set the bar low is for limbo.”

IVONNE DELGADO

ELIZABETH BOLLIN “They all doubted and said I couldn’t... look at me now.”

- Michael Scott

BAILEY BOND

HIGH SCHOOL

SOPHIA BOUCHER

JANFRAILYN DILONE

HUNTER BRUSSOW

SARA DRIGGERS

IRELAND BRYANT

ETHAN CHAMBERS

CONNOR CHRISTIAN

“I’ve learned the hard way that I can’t control everything... actually, yes I can.”

“Would things be easier if there were a right way? Honey, there is no right way.”

- Blair Waldorf

- Hozier

LAYTON ELVINGTON

KARSYN FLEMING

BRYAN FLORES

“Do you want to be friends?”

LANE GRIFFIN

GARRETT GRIGG

RYAN HAILE “Do what is right for your spirit and all things will work for the good!”

32

JADE COX

PAETYN FORD

ZOIE DEFRANGE

ANA GARCIA-POSADA

“The overused cliche expression ‘time flies’ is real.”

CAIDEN HARMON

JACOB HARTLINE

ALLY HARVEY

JOHNATHAN HELPENSTELL

“Don’t take things for granted. Tomorrow’s not promised.”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

JOZI HOKET “Snorts & Dabs.”

JENNA HONORE

KYLIE HOPPER

MIKAYLA HUDEK

JARRON ING

DEREK KIRSCHNER

VALERIE LANGFORD

KOLBE LAPPIN

ARTURO LOWDER

MATTHEW ROBISON

“I live my life through fear. If I’m afraid of it, I’ll do it just so I’m not afraid of it anymore.”

“2020 definitely came in like a curveball.”

- Jeremy Renner

MIKAYLA MCGUFFIN

AMANDA MILLER

KACIE MORGAN

JODEE NEWLAND

AYDEN NORTON

ABIGAIL NUNN

DYLAN PEACOCK

“It’s great to be a blonde. With low expectations it’s very easy to surprise people.”

“That’s what she said.”

“Free is the best.

Anything free is good.”

- Sandra Bullock

“Jesus did not come and die for me so I could live a defeated life.”

BRIAN TIMMONS

CINDY TORRES

- Pamela Anderson

JACOB ROPER

KASIE SEGLESKI

CADEN STEWART

JAMIE TAYLOR

COLTON THURMAN

“Hindsight is 20/20 but the future is filled with possibilities.”

KADEN TURNER

“I close my eyes to old ends and open my heart to new beginnings.”

- Nick Frederickson

RILEY UNDERWOOD

HAILEY UPCHURCH

BETHANY VAN DEREN

GERARDO VAZQUEZ

MICAELA WADE

ASHLYN WAHRMUND

JACKSON WILSON

MOLLY WILSON

KOLBY WINDON

“My senior year has been one big ‘bruh’ moment.”

“Being part of something special does not make you special; something is special because you are a part of it.”

STEVEN WALDRIP

VICTORIA WALKE

“Bye, Howe High School. Little bro, you’re next.”

ZIMRY WEATHERSPOON

MITCHELL WEBB

KIRSTYN WHEELER

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

33

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian +

Student Council President M O L LY W I L S O N

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

The irreplaceable friendships I’ve formed.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Blum, because she’s prepared me for my future after high school and has been my role model for the past four years.

Favorite class/subject?

English.

Hardest class/subject?

Science.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

Oklahoma State University.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In five years I hope to be studying in law school, working toward my degree in

agricultural law.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Remember to always be the good you want to see in the world.

Principal “ 34

PHIL KEMPSON

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

This has been a year of adversity and perseverance. I really feel for the seniors of 2020 for the loss of activities and traditions that will be missed. That being said, I think this whole experience will be a lesson that will carry them

foward through their life— the lesson of not taking things for granted and understanding that there are no absolutes in life, that we should all be ready for whatever comes our way. Most of all, the seniors of 2020 will be remembered for their character and class. This group was a very hardworking,

dedicated and talented group that will be missed by the community, faculty and entire Howe ISD family.

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Keep striving for your goals. You can do anything you set your mind to.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

Salutatorian What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

The overused cliche “time flies” is a real thing.

Most influential teacher?

Honestly, all four of my high school English teachers (Nail, Pilk, Floyd and Ciani) were amazing.

I have always struggled the most in that subject and they helped me grow the most. I am now con-

PA E T Y N F O R D

fident and don’t want to break down every time I had to go to that class. They also have been outstanding in ensuring their kids’ comfort and maintaining positive levels through this crazy mess of COVID-19.

Favorite class/subject?

Math.

Hardest class/subject?

English.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

Texas Tech University. Nursing.

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

Traveling the world as a travel nurse.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Difficult challenges arise even greater opportunities.

”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

35

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY JOSTENS]

Pottsboro

HIGH SCHOOL

EMMA AKIN

JUSTIN ALES

ADDISON ALLEN

NORMA ALMAZAN

LAURA ANDERSON

AVERY BECKHAM

CHLOE BENTLEY

“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.”

JACKSON ANNA

MARRIE BALDWIN

CARISSA BATES

“If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want will become the sacrifice.”

RHEAGAN BROWN

ERIN BURTON

LANDON BOEHMISCH

JUSTIN BOWEN

KASSANDRA BREIHAN

KOBY COPLEY

CAROL DAUGHERTY

“Life is too short to dwell on the past.”

CARLEY BYRUM

AUSTIN CATES

MADISON CLEMENT

KASEY CONDRON

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

“My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.”

- Dr. Seuss

- Samuel 22:3

RILEY DEATON

ADRIAN DELACRUZ

CARSON DESOUZA

JEROLD DODDS

RYLEE DRIGGS

NICKOLAS DRINNON

TRISTAN EDWARDS

KAYLEE EITELMAN “Life is short, so take those chances and go out of your comfort zone. You may be surprised by what happens.”

36

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY JOSTENS]

KEATYN EITELMAN

GABRIELLA ELIZONDO

SANTIAGO ESPARZA

“Luckily the virus doesn’t affect rats or snakes, so most of y’all are safe.”

TUCKER GATTIS

CORA GATZ

HENLEY FOSTER

EZRA FRITTS

HUNTER FULTON

JAVIER GARCIA

MARSHALL GRAY

BRIANNA HAINES

“Work hard in silence.

Let your success make the noise.”

“Sorry, can’t.

On the boat.”

- Frank Ocean

HANNAH GEORGE

ROBERT GOINS

COLTON GOLDSMITH

“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

- Thomas Paine

MASON HALL

LAKLYNN FULENCHEK

HANNAH GRALEY “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

- C.S. Lewis

HANNAH HARDER

SAWYER HARDIN

DEVIN HILL

HAYLEE HILL

TRAVIS HIX

JASEK HOOKER

MEGAN IRION

JAKE JONES

PAUL JOSLIN

KYNDAL KELSO

ETHAN KRIDER

ETHAN LONG

ANNELIESE MARTIN

LINCOLN MATTESON

“If I don’t have some cake soon I might die.”

- Stanley Hudson

CAILEY JONES

“Who knew that some of our lasts would not happen, but many firsts instead. Hopefully these many firsts would be last so others would not miss their senior year.”

MERCEDES MATTHEWS

OLIVIA MILLER

MYLANI MONAHAN

SYDNEY MORRISON

HALLEY MURPHY

JOSILYN NASSOY

LAUREN NEAL

CALEB NEUMANN

“Remember, if people talk behind your back, it only means you are two steps ahead.”

- Fannie Flagg

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

37

POTTSBORO BLAKE NIBLETT

CAROLINE NIX

WILLIAM NORRIS

“Don’t be afraid of anything in the present. Think about future success.”

MADALYN PITTMAN

BRETT OLMSTEAD

HAVEN PARFAIT

HALEY PETTY

CONNOR PILKILTON

WAYLON RAU

JAXON RECER

TATUM REKIETA

LOGAN SIMS

CAITLYN SMITH

SAVANNA SMITH

“Learn to just ride the waves because you never know what life may throw your way.”

KATE POE

JACOB PRICE

“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”

KENDAL RAINEY

HARLEY RAMSEY

“This isn’t a question of what I am not. This is a question of who I could be.”

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”

- Ms. Marvel

- Dr. Seuss

ISAAC ROBLES

JOSE SALAZAR

SEBASTIAN SAMPSON

JESSE SCHMIDT

CY SHOPE

“If every pork chop were perfect we wouldn’t have hot dogs.”

GABRIEL SO

SIERRA STAND

ZACHARY TALLEY

GARRETT TOWNSEND

“If your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough.”

HUNTER TROXTELL

NICHOLAS TURNER

JACIE VARNER

SAMANTHA WALLIS “Always strive for what you want and not what other people want of you.”

DOUGLAS WATERS

38

ZACHARY WIDEMAN

ELIZABETH WILLIAMS

JACOB WILLIAMS

CHASE WOODRUM

ADDISON WRIGHT

NATHAN HALFMANN

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY JOSTENS]

GIAU NGUYEN

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY JOSTENS]

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian

JACOB WILLIAMS

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Enjoy the things you love while you have the opportunity.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. McLaren. She has helped me in every way she can and wants to help all her students succeed and reach their goals.

Favorite class/subject?

AP Calculus.

Hardest class/subject?

AP Physics.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I’ll be attending Oklahoma Christian University to play baseball and major in Biology, with hopes of attending medical school.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In five years, I hope to be finishing up my first year of medical school. In ten years, I

Salutatorian

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

It’s worth it to take the time to do the right thing or put in the extra effort. Doing all the little things right can pay off big.

Most influential teacher?

I’ve been blessed to have a handful of teachers who made significant differences in my life, but Jason Gattis was able to convince me to join the Policy De-

bate team (not an easy task). My participation in debate was truly life-changing. He gifted me the ability to see things from a new perspective as well as the ability to advocate for myself and others.

Favorite class/subject?

AP English III. Hardest class/subject?

Spanish III. Where are you going to college? What will you study?

Student Council President “ What are your future plans?

To pursue a degree in Agriculture Education from West Texas A&M University.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

As we all move in new directions in our lives, cherish each day that you got to spend at PHS.

hope to be completing my residency and on my way to becoming a doctor.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Congratulations on your accomplishments, but don’t stop just yet. Keep working hard to make your dreams become a reality.

KENDAL RAINEY

Next fall I plan on going to Hendrix College to major in Biochemistry.

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

In five years I expect to see myself in medical school earning my M.D., and in ten years I’ll most likely be in the middle of my residency.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

In the past four years, I’ve learned

that you have to find a bigger picture to believe in. You have to work for something bigger than yourself, otherwise you risk valuing your comfort zone over a greater success.

”

T U C K E R GAT T I S

Excerpt from commencement speech: “Every day we find ourselves challenged to do better and do more and to make the most of what we’ve been given. This can be hard— but we mustn’t allow ourselves to vanish into the shadows. We mustn’t allow ourselves to be forgotten or to forget. This

and now we’re facing the largest one of all. We’re challenged to keep advancing, to keep pushing forward despite all of the forces urging us to fall back. We owe it to this school that has given us so much; to this community, who has supported us through thick and thin; to our families, who have stood by us from the beginning;

class has had many challenges,

to Nathan and to Will, to finish our

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

journey, as they never got the chance to. We owe it to ourselves to make the most of our lives.

I leave you with this: a reminder to have the right attitude and to achieve your goals.”

39

to our

Pottsboro Cardinal grads!

6 1 5 H i g h w ay 1 2 0 E a s t • P o t t s b o r o , T X 7 5 0 7 6

9 0 3 . 7 8 6 . 6 3 7 1 • w w w. p o t t s b o r o c h a m b e r . c o m 40

GRAYSON GRADUATION CO. GRADUATION 2020 2020

Principal

Accolades of the graduating class?

The Seniors at PHS have had four years of high achieving and record-setting moments, both academically and athletically. Several seniors played a vital role in implementing our PALS program that has made a difference not only in their lives but the lives of many elementary students in our community.

percent of our seniors will attend a four-year university, with three enlisting in the military and many others going to technical schools to continue serving our community.

Having high expectations, being a well-rounded person, and reaching goals is nothing new for this group and I couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve represented PHS and our community.

Due to being so brilliant, the senior class was awarded $817,537 in scholarships, with $34,950 of that being local scholarships from a community that has fully supported this group of seniors in so many ways over the last four years. 50

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

This graduating class will always be so special to me because as a first-year high school principal this is my first group of seniors.

This group has embraced me and

DR. DANIELLE CURRY

my leadership style and endured a lot of changes I made with grace and grit. They worked hard, showed compassion and kindness, and expressed their talents and individuality while also embracing the differences in others with a tremendous amount of respect and compassion. What they’ve endured this year has shown their leadership skills and that they’re capable of not only dealing with adversity but using that adversity to see the positive in any situation and grow despite significant challenges. The PHS class of 2020 are an exceptional group of people that I will miss so much.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Never stop believing in yourself. If you can identify your “why,” you’ll find that your life is happier and you’ll become more passionate about your work. Life and circumstances are ever changing. If you will stay positive, be proactive and focus on your passion, you’ll find success. I believe in you and always will.

”

41

S&S

C O N S O L I DAT E D HIGH SCHOOL

SHAIANN ADAMS

TRINITY ARRINGTON

MATTHEW BILLMEIER

KINZI BIRD

NOAH CANADY

HUNTER CASH

KATHRYN COKER

JAYCE CROSS

TAYLOR CROSS

REYNA CRUZ

EMILIE DAVIS

MADISON DYKE

HANNAH EVANS

KARISSA EVANS

EMILY FIELD

ALEX FLORES

MASON GILES

MARGUERITTE GLASS

TARAN GOUARD

TANNER HARPER

MA’ALIYIAH HARRELL

TAMBRESHIA HARRIS

JAMIE HARRISON

ELYJAH HERRIN-BAZE

TYLER HOLBROOK

DEVIN JACKSON

JERRY JACKSON

LAUREN JARESH

HUNTER JONES

KAYLEE LAYTON

ACE MABRY

JACIE MARTIN

CHELSEA MCDONALD

BRENDAN MCMILLAN

LAKELYNN MERCER

CHLOE MITCHELL

42

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

KALEB ADAMS

S&S TAGAN MITCHELL

HAYLEY MORGAN

JAKOB MORRIS

EMILY PETTY

EMILY PINNELL

CHANCE PITTNER

REBECCA REED

HALEY RICHARDSON

ZACKERY RICHARDSON

MARY ELIZABETH ROBINSON

JENNIFER SARTOR

ANDREW SELLERS

KRISLYN SHAVER

SHELBY SMITH

SARAH STEWART

MARCELLA TAPIA

RUTHA ULMER

KYLER VAN NORTWICK

TRISTAN VIDRINE

HALEY WALKER

GABRIEL WILLINGHAM

DAYEN WILLIS

SHELBY WRIGHT

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

Principal “

Accolades of the graduating class?

The seniors have made tremendous gains in maturity, handling responsibility, and continuous improvement throughout high school. They have adapted and accepted the challenges of the coronavirus and finished the year strong.

What will you remember about the 20192020 school year?

Even though we had a really good year up to our spring break, the changes caused by the coronavirus will be the main thing that lingers in my mind. I am also impressed with

ADAM RESKE-SIMMERS

M A R K YO U R E E

the way teachers and students stepped up to these changes and made the best of the situation.

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Continue to work on your work ethic and attitude. These are the two things that will affect your relationships and success in life more than anything else.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

43

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian

LAUREN JARESH

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Don’t procrastinate.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Terry, my English teacher for my first three years of high school.

She was an amazing teacher and an even more amazing person. I am a completely different writer now than I was freshman year and I owe it all to her.

Favorite class/subject?

English or World History.

Hardest class/subject?

PreCal. Where are you going to college? What will you study?

St. Edwards University, majoring in either Marketing or Finance.

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

I don’t know what specific career

Salutatorian

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

All of the memories I’ve made and the friendships that have grown over the years that will last a lifetime.

Most influential teacher?

Mr. Lyons. Not only was he my teacher for four consecutive years, he always taught me life lessons every chance he got. From

the beginning, he believed in my academic potential and pushed me to live up to that potential.

Thank you, Mr. Lyons.

Favorite class/subject?

My favorite subject is math, specifically algebra.

Hardest class/subject?

History.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

44

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Try to have fun and enjoy yourself during high school. It’ll be over before you know it.

H AY L E Y M O R G A N

I will be attending Texas Tech University and majoring in Kinesiology.

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

In five years, I will have graduated from college and starting my career. In ten years, I will hopefully be married and still successful in my career.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Class President “

I want to pursue yet, but in the future I just want to be financially stable and happy.

One piece of advice I would give to my fellow graduating class is to follow your dreams to the fullest and to be unafraid to make mistakes.

”

ZACKERY RICHARDSON

What are your future plans?

Attending Dallas Christian College and majoring in Sports Psychology, while also running for the DCC cross country and track teams.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Never let the fear of failure detour you from a path of greatness.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

YOU ARE THE BEST! YOU ARE THE BRIGHTEST! YOU ARE BEARCATS!

�

#BuildingBearcats

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

45 #BuildingBearcats

Sherman

HIGH SCHOOL

COURTNEY ACKER

ARIEONNA ACOBA

DEVIN ACOSTA

RAMON ACOSTA

SHAIANN ADAMS

MADISON ALEMAN

KAYLAN ALEXANDER

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”

- Sun Tzu

JAZMYNE AGUILAR

FUJIKO AILEONE

AARON ALDACO

BLAKE ALMON

JONATHAN ALVAREZ

“I wish there was a way to tell you’re still in the good old days before they’ve already passed.”

“Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, it becomes your character.

And watch your character it becomes your destiny.”

RACHEL ANDERSON

ARVIN ANTONIO

LUKE ANDERSON

- Andy Bernard

NICOLE ANTONOV

WARNER ARANA

PEYTON ARNOLD

ESTEFANY ARREDONDO

DANIELLA ARROYO

JUSTIN ARTEGA

“Cheers to senior year.”

FABRIZIO AVILA

SILVIA AYALA

DAX BAKER

STORMIE BALLARD

SHEALLY BARNARD-GALAVIZ

SARAH BEAVER

ETHAN BEDGOOD

“If you ain’t first, you’re last! Shake and Bake.”

46

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

JESSICA BELTRAN-DIAZ

DARION BENNETT

TERAH BENNETT

FALLON BERRY

WILLIAM BERRY

OLIVIA BINDEL

KELBIE BLACK

KENNEDIE BLACK

DAJAYVIA BLAIR

ASHLEY BOATWRIGHT

SAVANNAH BOEHM

JESSICA BOOSAMRA

EVA BOST

NATHAN BOWLES

TRE BOYD

ELIJAH BREWSTER

KAYSON BRIDGES

EMMA BROCKELMAN

CALEB BROWN

KYLAR BROWN

MIKETAVION BROWN

MANUEL BUENDIA-SIBRIAN

GABRIEL BURGESS

JACOB BURLESON

ALANA BUTLER

“Calm down, have some rice.”

“Dear future self, always remember who you are and where you come from. God, Family and Faith.”

ROWDY BUTLER

DADRIEN CALHOUN-MOORE

ROBERT CALLEJAS

IVAN CALVILLO

CESAR CAMACHO-MEDINA

MACEY CARDER

SARAH CARR

JOSE CARRASCO

“Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini tuo da gloriam.”

“Push your limits and outwork the competition, it’s the only way.”

ADAMARIS CARTAGENA

ANTONIO CARTER

DYLAN CASSADY-HORTON

LEVI CASTANEDA

ARACELI CASTILLO

CALEB CASTILLO

KAITLIN CAVER

HECTOR CENTENO

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

47

SHERMAN THA CER

DYLAN CERNERO

ISMAEL CERVANTES

LATRONE CHAMBERS

CIERSTYN CHANEY

AVERY CHARSKE

JESUS CHAVEZ

SHAWN CHERRY

CHRISTIAN CHINCHILLA-NAVARRO

TRISTAN CHURCHWELL

CLARISSA CLARK

GERALD CLARK

JOSHUA COLE

DAMIAN CONRAD

DEANTE COOK

LESLIE CORNEJO

TIANIE DACOSTA

JOHN DANTZLER

MACKENZIE DELIVAUDAIS

KATHERINE DENTON

“Follow me on Instagram: @cadec0le.”

BENJAMIN COWIN

KEYERA COX

JASMIN CRISTI

JUSTIN DAVIS

ILARIA DE BENEDETTO

OSCAR DE LA CRUZHERNANDEZ

LESLIE DIAZ

48

JULIO DOMINGUEZ-LOYA

JORDAN DOUGLAS

CITLALI ELIAS DAISY CRUZ-FRANCO CRUZ-HERNANDEZ CRUZ-MEDINA

GRACE DEFFIBAUGH

AMIAH DEHORNEY

JOSE DELGADO “I didn’t get to go to prom, but at least I got a really long Spring Break.”

KYLEE DUNBAR

SYDNEY EASON

EMERY ELKINS

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

- Psalm 119:105

NATAVIA ELLIS

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

LLUVIA ERIVES

PAMELA ESPINOZAMALDONADO

NICHOLAS ESTES

SHELBY FARMER

STEFANY FARMER

KENNA FERGUSON

DAWSON FITZSIMMONS

JASON FOLKS

NICHOLAS FORAN

JA’DYNE GATEWOOD

“This quarantine was a blessing. I’m not even mad.”

DEVYON FRANKLIN

AUTUMN FRAZER

ISAIAH FRITH

QUINTASIA FUTRELL

MASON GABRIEL

GABRIEL GARDNER

CONOR GARRISON

COLE GIBSON

JACOB GIBSON

ISSIAH GILLIAM

KATHERINE GIONFRIDDO

EMILLION GODWIN

NICHOLAS GOLDSTON

RAUL GONZALEZ

CONNER GRAY

LAQUEVEAN GRAY

MARTIN GRIJALVA

ETHAN GRISSOM

BAYLEE HALCOMB

SAVANNA HALL

JOHN HARRIS

TANIA GONZALEZ-FLORES

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. But mostly the best of times. Peace out Girl Scouts.”

DIANA GONZALEZ

JAVIER GONZALEZ

JOSUE GONZALEZ

CALEB GRAHAM

“Go forth and set the world on fire.”

JONAH GUEDEA

FABIAN GUERRERO-ALVARADO

YANALET GUERRERO

RACHEL GUEVARA

RIELLY GUINS

“I’m gonna miss some people here, not so much the school.”

“The future belongs to those who will believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

- Shoyo Hinata

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

49

DIEDRA HART

LUIS HERNANDEZDEL CARMEN

ALEJANDRO HERNANDEZ

DAVID HERNANDEZ

JAZMIN HERNANDEZ

MARCO HERNANDEZ

NICOLE HINOJOSA

CODY HOAGLEN

ALEXANDER HOFFMAN

ANTHONY HOLLAND

CHANTEL HOWARD

MADELINE HUCKESTEIN

AYDEN HUME

LEXI HUNNEL

HADLIE HUNTER

ETHAN HUPPERT

BRAYAN JARAMILLO

OMAR JARAMILLO

CHLOE JARVIS

EMILY JOLLY

BRADLEY JONES

MICAH JUSTICE

KAYLIN KELLEY

JOHN KEPPLER

NIKITAA KEWALRAMANI

DAVID KIM

HALEY KLAS

SAMUEL KRATOCHVIL

JORDAN LAMONDUE

ZACHARY LANDHAM

MARIA LARA

DYSTAN LE

VAN LEN

ANNALYSSA LEWIS

“Opinions are like mixtapes: I don’t want to hear yours.”

AARON INGRAM

KYLIE JACKMAN “Do your best and forget the rest.”

HUNTER KELLEY “Don’t ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance, or my kindness for weakness.”

COOPER LANDERS

MANUEL NATHANIEL LEDEZMA-RODRIGUEZ LEACH

“A daisy might not be the prettiest flower in a field of roses, but I’m happy being the one in a million.”

50

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

B E A R CAT S JULIAN LIRA

NATHAN LOHR

JEREMY LONG

MAXWELL LOOP

JANIE LOPEZ-GARCIA

NORMA LOPEZ-SANCHEZ

KAREN LOPEZ

KAREN LOYA

JASMYN LUPER

MEGAN LYNCH

JONATHAN MANZANALES

ELIJAH MARTINEZ

MADELINE MARTINEZ

LUZ MATA

JACOB MATHES

JACLYN MCCOLLUM

“Imagine what you’ll know tomorrow.”

- Tommy Lee Jones

MADDISON MCELYEA

SARAH MCGINN

AJAYSIA MCKINLEY

ALYSSIA MCKINLEY

MATTHEW MCMENAMY

MARISSA MCNIEL

MADISON MCWATER

IZAK MEJIA

ERVIN MENDEZ

JAYSON MENDOZA

JOSHUA MENDOZA

JULIETA MENDOZA

JAYLYNN MICHAEL

BRENNA MICHAELSEN

RAMIRO MIRAMONTES

NAYELI MONTERROZA

YADHIRA MURILLO

JOSE NANDIN

“Just keep swimming!”

YESENIA MONTES

ALEXZANDRA MORGAN

AUSTIN MORGAN

HUNTER MOUNCE

YUSLEIDI MUNIZ-MORENO

JOSE MUNIZ

“With God all things are possible!

Especially through this coronavirus crisis.”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

- Jeremiah 29:11

51

SHERMAN MYA NASH

BLADIMIR NAVARROARREDONDO

MCKENNA NELSON

AMY NEVAREZ

DESTINY NICHOLSON

KOLTON NIETO

DYLAN NIX

OLUWASEUN OGUNSANYA

BRIAN OLEA

NATANAEL OLGUIN-MEZA

DANIEL OMAYEBU

KATHERYN ORELLANA-SANCHEZ

DONJZA ORR-KNIGHT

RYAN ORTIZ

MICHA ORUM

LANDON OSBORNE

“Things in the past can leave a scar, but it’s what you do in the future that can heal you and enrich your heart.”

“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish!”

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

- Helen Keller

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

ANDREA OSORIO

ROSE OSORIO

GABRIELA PADRON

MIRIAN PANTOJA

ISAIAH PAREDES

ASHLEY PARTRIDGE

DESTINY PATT

NANCI PAULIN

ANTHONY PENA

OSVALDO PENA

JUAN PEREA

HAYDEN PESINA

MADISON PINEDA

DYLAN PIPER

ALEXANDER PORTILLO

MIKAYLA POSADA

GREGORIO QUINTANA-MARQUEZ

JONADAB QUIROZ

“Nothing in life is impossible as long as you take that first step.”

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.”

- Eeyore

AARON PRADO

CLARABELLE PRADO

KAYLEE PRITZ

BLU QUALLS

CANE QUALLS

SYDNEY QUALLS “Do you want to get Chick-Fil-A after school?”

52

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

ISELA RAMIREZ

SANDRA RAMIREZ

MARIO RAMOS

DIAMOND RAYFORD

ROBERT RAYFORD

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

“Cuando me vean volar, recuerden que ustedes me pintaron las alas, Gracias a ustedes mi corazón late en dos idiomas. Thank you, Mom & Dad.”

XZAVIER ROBERSON

BROOKE ROBINSON

NELSON REYNA

- Nelson Mandela

NYLA ROCKINS

LAUREN RODGERS

AINSLEY RICKETTS

DYLAN ROBERSON

“When people ask me how I spent my day, I tell them I spent it eating food.”

CARLOS RODRIGUEZ

GUSTAVO RODRIGUEZ

YAJAIRA RODRIGUEZ

MEGAN ROSE

“Catch you on the flippity flip.”

- Michael Scott

BRYCE ROWLAND

LAYLA RUSSELL-CORTES

JOVAN SALAZAR-RAMIREZ

GRISELDA SALAZAR

LARAISA SALAZAR

PARKER SAMUELSON

ANTHONY SANDERS

DETOURIA SATTERWHITE

CHRISTIAN SEDMACK

CARL SETTLE

CHANNING SHEA

RANDALL SHELTON

SAMUEL SIMON

JOLEA SISEMORE

ALEXIS SLOAN

GAGE SMITH

“F.E.A.R. has two meanings: Forget Everything And Run, or Face Everything And Rise. The choice is yours.”

“Yes, like Channing Tatum.”

JAYZE STEPHENS

PATRICK STEPHENS

MORGAN STINSON

JACKSON STUCKEY

THA SUNG DAWT

- Papa Roach

JAMES SMITH

TYLER SMITH

TYSON SMITH

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

53

SHERMAN SONIA SUNG

AMBER SUTTON

CATHERINE SWITZER

MARCO TAMEZ-ARRIAGA

DAYTREN TAYLOR

SAMUEL TAYLOR

KENYA TEJEDA

LAL THANG

BAILEY TILLOTSON

DIEGO TOBAR

LINDA TORRES-GALAVIZ

ELIJAH TURNER

IAN UTZ

MICHAEL VALENCIA-PLEITEZ

CHRISTIE VALLE

MASEN VAN SANT

JENNIFER VELASQUEZ

MIRIAM VERA

JANET VIERA

JENNIFER VILLALOBOSANDRACA

CHELSEY VILLALOBOS

JOSE VILLEGAS-ORTIZ

REINA VILLEGAS-ORTIZ

SUSANA VILLEGAS

TAYSHAUN WALKER

JOSHUA WALLACE

JOHN WARD

CAMERON WASHINGTON

WALKER WEDELL

JILLIAN WHITMIRE

KAMRYN WILSON

A’SHYLA WIMBISH

COURTNEY WOOD

KYLEE YANCEY

SETH YANCE

ZAVION YATES

CASEY YERGER

YI YE XIN

JIE ZHU SHI

“I’ve read more books than you. It doesn’t matter how many you’ve read.

I’ve read more. Believe me, I’ve had the time.”

- Madeline Whittier

BRAYDEN WOODS

“I’m a tree not a forest.”

54

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian

SARAH MCGINN

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

The most impactful thing I’ve learned is how much people can change and grow over just four years. I’ve known most of my classmates since fifth grade, and a handful as far back as first grade.

Seeing everyone slowly transition and find their place in the small world of SHS has been equal parts fulfilling and poignant. Some things are the same, of course, but no one is the same person now as they were when we all entered, and that’s okay. I am very proud to have grown up alongside everyone here.

Most influential teacher?

Cyndi Petray, my Challenge teach-

er in elementary school. She led the Challenge program in a way that truly nurtured in me a drive to succeed in school as well as an excitement to learn for its own sake. I’m thankful that she gave me those opportunities and showed me the value in believing in my own abilities and work ethic.

declare at this point, but in five years I hope to either be starting a career in one of my three aforementioned favorite subjects or heading to graduate school. In ten years, I hope to be in a career that both gives me financial independence and, more importantly, that I feel fulfilled and happy in.

Favorite class/subject?

English.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Life throws you curveballs. Not everything is going to go the way you hoped or expected. I know many peers who didn’t get into their dream college, didn’t get the financial aid they needed, don’t know what the next step is, etc.

However, these realities aren’t a reason to just say “life is unfair”

Hardest class/subject?

Calculus.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

Williams College. English, psychology and music.

Where will you be in 5- 10 years?

Future plans are difficult to

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

and throw in the towel. Efforts pay off, even if not in the way you had initially hoped or thought they would. There’s no one path to a happy, fulfilling life, and a diversion or delay is not a sentence to failure. Our lives are only just beginning, and it’s our duty to ourselves to roll with the punches and find reasons to keep going.

55

Salutatorian

ALEXZANDRA MORGAN

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Academics and having a social life are both important, and it may take time to figure out how to balance them, but it’s worth it in the end.

Most influential teacher?

There’s no way I could choose. Mrs. S Young, Mrs.

Truly and Ms. Fitzwater all had a tremendous impact on my high school career.

They really are some of the kindest people I’ve known.

Favorite class/subject?

Art. Hardest class/subject?

AP Calculus.

Where are you going to college? What will you

study?

Austin College, majoring in Biology.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In five years I will still be in school, but hopefully in ten years I’ll be settled down with a few kids and a stable job.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your

Class President What are your future plans?

I’m moving back to Frisco, Texas to attend Collin College, then transfer to a four year university.

What’s one piece of advice you’d

56

give to your fellow graduates?

Be yourself. Don’t try to change who you are for the validation of anyone else. Follow your aspirations at your own pace; yet be sure to leave time to travel and see the world. There’s so many distinct cultures, traditions, foods, etc. out there and tons of beauty to see. Most of all, don’t be afraid to take chances, because those chances could put you in a favorable predicament.

Excerpt from commencement speech: “As you forge ahead, whether

fellow graduates?

Go with the flow and have fun. You only go to high school once.

T I A N I E DAC O S TA

you’re heading to the military, a university, or wherever you decide, remember to do so with an open mind and full heart. Make your dreams a reality while taking it step by step, at your own pace. Don’t trail the “norms” of humanity. Be your own person, because there’s no one else like you, nor will there ever be.

I’d like to thank all the teachers and staff for teaching us the value of education and providing us with the fundamental building blocks

we need to succeed. To my lovely family who were never reluctant to give their time, finances, or advice to me - thank you. And most of all to the individual I had the blessing of meeting freshman year, the glue that mends this school together, Nick Estes. I can truly say you’ve made a significant impact not only on my life, but on a countless amount of others’. I’ll never forget you. I’ll never forget this establishment. I’ll never forget my constant companions. Set your sights high, Class of 2020.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

”

Principal “

JENIFER L. POLITI Accolades of the graduating class?

Certainly the class of 2020 will be greatly missed and most of us can testify to their incredible academic achievements, passionate performances in the arts and memorable competitions in athletics. If those were the only memories we had of this class it would be enough to place them as one of the all-time finest groups of students to complete their education at Sherman High.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

I really believe in this class. Never before have I seen such a large, diverse group of people who care so deeply about each other. Though the world around us may have slowed us down, you will never be fully stopped. Using your talent, character and faith, you can break through

any obstacle placed in your way. Unlike closed businesses and canceled events, your ability and desire to create memories to last a lifetime has not been impaired by this pandemic. #BearcatSTRONG What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Keep growing. Keep adding to the goodness and beauty in the world. Keep developing those unique dreams and talents that make you who you are! Let this thing that is bigger than us all bond you and give you a shared identity. I am so proud of each of you.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

57

Perrin

LEARNING CENTER

FRANCISCO ALEXANDRA ALFARO-AQUINO ALIRE-LOZANO

TOVARREA BALDWIN

ALEXIS BLOUET

CHEYENNE BUMPASS

JA’KERIASJA BUTLER

KARLA CARREON

TRISTAN CHURCHWELL

ELIO CIENFUEGOS

JENNIFER CISNEROS

MERCADES COLE

KAILEE COLLIER

KIERSTEN DUNN

VANESSA ENRIQUEZ

JESUS ESPINO

NAOMI FROHNHOFER

DA’NAEJA HARVEY-TONEY

HANNAH HOUSTON

JAQUELINE MONTANO

ANGEL MUNGUIA

ZAQURIATE NELSON

BENJAMIN NOYOLA

JESUS OCON

CECILY ORURU

CLARABELLE PRADO

HAYLEY REEVES

ANTHONY SOSA

EDGAR SERRANO

NICOLE SHEA

KALYICE SIMPSON

HALEY SMITH

SAMUEL TAYLOR

LADAISHA TURNER

JENNIFER VELASQUEZ

JASMIN VELAZQUEZ

KAHLIYA WILLIAMS

MILES WILSON

“Life is like a sandwich; no matter which way you flip it, the bread comes first.”

58

“Life just begins.”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

A FEW WORDS FROM

Principal

J I M M AY

“

Accolades of the graduating class?

This is a very resilient class. I am proud that they have worked beyond their circumstances.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

This has been a year like no other. We have faced major challenges. Challenges are not how we are defined, but how we tackle those challenges.

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Stay focused on your goals. Don’t let your current circumstances distract you from your future.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

59

Texoma Christian

SCHOOL

SOPHIA BACA

ELIZABETH BLANTON

EMMANUEL BROCKELMAN

HALEY BROCKELMAN

“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

“Have the mindset of being the best, and always start strong and finish strong.

Don’t give up and God will handle the rest. Talk to your friends and bond with them outside of school. Stay active!”

“The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.”

- Shakespeare

JENNIFER COGSWELL

- Walt Disney

JENNA FORTENBERRY

JENNIFER GRAVES

MARK GRIFFIN

ELIZABETH HARRIS

“Try to take in every moment because it all goes by fast.”

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

- Winnie the Pooh

- Aristotle

“Thank you to my family & friends for making me the man I am today and for teaching me to trust in Jesus Christ always with all of my being.”

SYDNEY TURNER

CHARLIE ZEIS

“God is within her, she will not fall.”

“Keep on keepin’ on!”

ANDREW ROEBER

RACHEL JOHNSON

CANA MILLER

- C.S. Lewis

- Psalm 46:5

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

KATHERINE RICE

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

SHELBY DEWITT

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian

J E N N I F E R G R AV E S

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away

Favorite class/subject?

yet, but when this step arrives, I’m

from your time in high school?

Anatomy and Physiology.

confident that the school that’s

Excellence is only accomplished by continual hard work over time and the patience to keep persevering, even if the fruits of my labor are not evident at first.

Most influential teacher?

My anatomy teacher, Mrs. Bryson, was the most influential teacher during my senior year due to her

Hardest class/subject?

AP United States History.

Where are you going to college?

What will you study?

meant for me will be revealed. As I’ve learned from life experience, some details cannot be effectively planned. Although I wish I could always dictate what’s next, I now

I’ll be attending Baylor University,

know that being flexible and open

majoring in Neuroscience while also

allows for opportunities to be given

not always instant and easy. As Bob

studying Pre-Med.

to you.

Goff once said, “What is simple

Where will you be in five years?

What’s one piece of advice you’d

ability to teach students with under-

10 years?

standing and kindness, answering

I know I want to attend medical

To my graduating class, I would say

any question intelligently without

school and continue my studies of

to keep going! So many people in

making those she taught feel igno-

the nervous system. I don’t know

this generation only value things that

rant or stupid.

what school I’ll attend for this step

are instantaneous. However, life is

give to your fellow graduates?

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

often isn’t easy; what is easy often doesn’t last.” Therefore, I encourage my class to persevere, because good things are coming for us as long as we strive for them. And our mindset matters. Good things come to those who wait.

61

Salutatorian

ELIZABETH BLANTON

of the most important people in my life signing up for activities I never thought I would do.

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Never miss the opportunity to try something new. I met some

“

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Courtney Bryson. She always worked hard to make class fun and engaging and truly cared about all her students.

Favorite class/subject?

Anatomy and Physiology.

Principal

Accolades of the graduating class?

This senior class has been a remarkable group of students. They’ve done an excellent job leading our school this year. They started strong with summer service projects before school even started and filled the fall semester with exciting events that promoted school spirit and a sense of community. They’ve impact-

Hardest class/subject?

History.

will hopefully be caring for animals at a veterinary practice.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I am going to Texas A&M and majoring in Biomedical Science.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Everyone has something that truly lights a spark of passion in them. However silly it may seem to other people, pursue your passion. Find a practical use for it and apply it.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

After college, I hope to attend veterinary school. In ten years, I

”

LINDA YEILDING INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL

ed our school collectively as a class as well as individually with their own God-given talents and abilities. I’m excited to see how they’ll impact the world for Jesus Christ.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

In spite of the pandemic that closed school for the last quarter of the spring semester, the Class of 2020 will be remembered for starting and

finishing strong! So very proud of these seniors. They will be missed!

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Take the experiences you’ve learned through this quarantine and use them to strengthen your faith and stay the course, being reminded that God has an incredible purpose and plan for each of you that not even a pandemic can alter! Jeremiah 29:11

Student Council President “

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SYDNEY TURNER

What are your future plans?

Going to Oklahoma Christian University and majoring in interior architecture, with hopes to become an event planner.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Aim high in your studies for years to come and remember to follow God’s plan for your life as we enter college and face new challenges in the coming years.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

WE’RE PROUD OF OUR 2020 GRADUATES!

1003 HWY 82 W, WHITESBORO, TX 76273 • 903-564-3594 • HOLIDAYAUTOGROUP.COM

CONGRATULATIONS 2020 GRADUATES!

1003/1009 HWY 82 W, WHITESBORO, TX 76273 903-564-3594 • 903-564-3551 • HOLIDAYAUTOGROUP.COM

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

63

Tioga

HIGH SCHOOL

LIBERRY BABBITT

MEREDITH BILLINGS

HAYDEN BODINE

BRIANNA BRADLEY

“You can’t control the uncontrollable.”

“You only live once!!!”

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

“Just be glad I’m here.”

“Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.”

- Maya Angelou

- Gary Busey

- Robert Brault

SETH DELEON

MARK DENISON

BAYLEE GLAZE

TATE GRISSOM

BRETT GROVE

CHRISTIAN HAMBLIN

JILLYSSA HAMILTON

JASMINE HARRIS

“Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

“Opinions are like mixtapes; I don’t want to hear yours.”

“Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eye can see.”

“I have no idea what I’m doing, but I know I do it really, really well.”

“The future belongs to the few of us still willing to get our hands dirty.”

“Greatness and madness are next door neighbors, and they often borrow each other’s sugar.”

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”

“I’m not great at advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?”

- Joe Rogan

- Douglas Adams

- Peter McWilliams

- Andy Dwyer

- Chandler Bing

NICOLE HILL

STUART HODGE

CARLY HOUGH

MANDY KIRBY

MARSHALL LEASE

ERIK LIBICK

JOSE MANRIQUEZ

MARK MAYES

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

“None of my assignments are done, but I sure am.”

“If you’re seeing this, I passed all my classes.”

“I wasn’t listening but I strongly disagree.”

“In 2020 I’ve learned that toilet paper kills the corona, and not to take things for granted.”

“Life is like fishing. You gotta be patient.”

“Don’t follow your dreams, follow my Instagram: @curly.Josee”

“I’m going to stand outside, so if anyone asks, I’m outstanding.”

- April Ludgate

- Bill Murray

- Ferris Bueller

BRICE MORROW

CLAY MOTT

PHOEBE NORRIS

KYLER PATTON

JOHN PAYNE

ISABEL PENA

BERT PEREZ

OWENN POLLEY

“If plan A doesn’t work, plan B will.”

“Look kids, I told you I was hot.”

“Man, time really flies when you take two naps a day.”

“Perfect people don’t exist, so don’t pretend to be one.”

“My past isn’t perfect.

My present is a mess.

But my future is

“You know how they say it’s been a pleasure? It hasn’t.”

“Just roll with it.”

- Eric Forman

- Nathan Feuerstein

“If your absence doesn’t bother them then your presence never mattered.”

64

beyond blessed.”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

RYLEE ALEXANDER

TIOGA CORBIN PYLE

YAHAIRA RODRIGUEZ

HOPE ROYAL

XIOMARA RUIZ

KALEB SCOTT

NATHAN SMITH

AUSTIN SOTELO

ABBI STANLEY

“To live life you need problems. If you get everything you want the minute you want it, then what’s the point of living.”

“Prove yourself to yourself, not others.”

“Sometimes I’ll start a sentence and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way.”

“What is done with love is done well.”

“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.”

“Work harder than you did yesterday.”

“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.”

“I was taught no matter how bad the situation is, you never let go of the hope.”

- Jake the Dog

- Vincent Van Gogh

- Alex Elle

- Will Rogers

- Michael Scott

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

- Doug Larson

HANNAH STARR

CHEYANN SWEENEY

LANDON THOMPSON

CODY TINDLE

KASSADY VANDAGRIFF

“The only time I set the bar low is for limbo.”

“You can have him, Jolene.”

“Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.”

“Ravioli, ravioli, give me my diplomioli.”

“I’m tall because God liked me so much he decided to supersize me. I’m just saying.”

- Michael Scott

- Jerry Seinfeld

Class President

XIOMARA RUIZ

“

What are your future plans?

I plan on attending Baylor to study Biology and Pre-Med. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

If you are happy doing what you are doing, then nobody can tell you you’re not successful.

Excerpt from commencement speech:

“What if time were to stop? Right now, in this moment, and you had the ability to look back and think about the past four years of your life. Were you a kind person? What kind of people have you met along

the way? Who have you become?

The answers among all of you will vary and that’s how it should be. We are all different. We have experienced life itself in our own ways. But we all have one thing in common: in this moment in time, we are graduating. This is it. Our days in high school have been leading up to this very moment.

And I am incredibly happy to share this moment with each and every one of you.

I would like to share a quote from my favorite book, “The Little Prince.” It’s a children’s book, but

I believe within its pages lies an important life lesson. “People have stars, but they aren’t the same.

For travelers, the stars are guides.

For other people they’re nothing but tiny lights. And for still others, for scholars, they’re problems. You though, you’ll have stars like nobody else.” Each and everyone of you has a different way of viewing the world. There is no need to compare your life to those around you. Because, simply put, they are not you.

In life, we each walk along our own paths. And whilst walking along our paths we all met here,

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

at Tioga High School. Four years ago we started high school, and as we close the chapter on high school life it is important to remember the good times. Today we are graduating and continuing our journey into the future. This moment in time will no longer be one of the present but one of the past. Sometimes we are blind to the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. Today, I ask you to open your eyes and take in everything you see. Our graduation is not what we expected, but it’s definitely something we won’t forget.”

65

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian

B AY L E E G L A Z E

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

Don’t just focus on your achievements.

Instead, focus on the people who helped you accomplish them.

Most influential teacher?

The most influential teacher I had was Mrs. Crowe, because she had been my UIL Academic Spelling coach for the past nine years. She has always believed in me at times when I didn’t even believe in myself.

Favorite class/subject?

Chemistry.

Hardest class/subject?

Economics.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I will be majoring in Animal Science at Texas A&M University.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In five years, I’ll still be going to school trying to obtain my DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine). In ten years, I hope to become a vet treating small and large animals.

Salutatorian

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

My years in high school taught me to take advantage of every opportunity that passes by and to cherish what it brings because another chance is never promised.

Most influential teacher?

Although every member of Tioga has influenced me in some way, Mrs. Cummings and Mrs. Wood have had the largest impact. They have always been supportive and

66

understanding, recognizing my strengths and weaknesses and motivating me to reach for the stars.

Favorite class/subject?

Biology is my favorite subject. The more I learn, the more questions I have.

Hardest class/subject?

Arithmetic has been my most challenging subject.

Where are you going to college?

What will you study?

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

No matter what you do, you can’t make everyone happy, so forget about what others say and just focus on what makes you happy.

MEREDITH BILLINGS I plan to attend the University of North Texas and earn my Bachelor of Arts in Biology.

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

Although plans are never set in stone— as this year has proved— five years from now I hope to have graduated from college, happily working in a related field and traveling on occasion. Ten years from now, I hope have many if not all of my traveling ambitions accomplished.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Make the best of every moment, cherish every memory, and enjoy the little things.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

”

Principal “

Accolades of the graduating class?

41% of the THS Class of 2020 earned an associate’s degree from Grayson College through our Early College High School program. 18 students were awarded performance acknowledgements on their transcript. Two students advanced to the state level of competition in FCCLA. 10 students earned membership to National Honor Society. Two students earned membership to Beta Club. Seven students earned membership to the National Thespian Society. Six students have qualified for state level UIL Academic competition.

Four students earned a cord for excellence through FFA. 10 athletes earned Academic All-State. 70% of the THS Class of 2020 earned a Red Blood cord through the Texoma Blood Center for donating blood twice during their senior year.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

I will always remember the Class of 2020 as a class of leaders. While your class has very diverse interests, you have all had a substantial impact on the students, staff and traditions at Tioga High School.

As leaders, you have been a big part of growing traditions and establishing our school culture. My

ERICA WALLER

favorite memory has to be your Senior Sunrise. As a class you came together to start this tradition and it has quickly become my favorite.

You all came together to celebrate each other and the friendships you have built here at Tioga one very cold morning in January. I cannot express the feeling that it gave me and your teachers to see you support each other and be there for each other as you started the final semester of your senior year.

You have built relationships that will always be there to help support you, both among your peers and the community here at Tioga. Thank you for leaving your mark on the school and building traditions that will last for years to come.

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

This school year has definitely reminded us all that life is an adventure. You are all about to start your own adventures in life as you head out to experience the world, separate from your classmates and what you have always known. You have all made plans for your next step in life, but no one could ever know all of what life has in store for them.

While you cannot possibly prepare for every event or circumstance life brings your way, the attitude you choose to have has the power to

shape your life.

Life is not only what happens to you, it is how you choose to respond to what happens. The only thing you can truly control is the attitude you choose to have.

Take responsibility for the impact your attitude has on you and how it influences those around you. The loudest and most influential voice you will ever hear is your own— your inner voice, your attitude. The attitude you have along your adventure in life will determine who you are and what you can do. It can work against you or you can choose to have it work for you.

Everyday, take a few minutes to actively, consciously take a look at yourself and evaluate your attitude.

Choose to have an attitude that leads you to meet your goals and succeed. Choose an attitude that allows you to grow from the things that come up along your adventure in life. Commit to it. Believe it. You are more than what happens to you. You have the power to shape your own adventure.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

67

Tom Bean

HIGH SCHOOL

DYLAN AVILA

DEVON BALAK

AUSTIN BARRON

CHANDLER BOYD

TYLER BROWN

AVERY CHAPMAN

NATALIE CHAPMAN

MORGAN CLARK

KELLY COX

JUSTIN DETZEL

SARAH FARMER

JOSHUA FERRUFINOGUTIERREZ

LINDSEY GARNER

LAUREN GETTS

KALEB GRAHAM

MACY GRAVES

ALEXA HOLLOWAY

ANDREW JOHNSON

ASHLEY JORDAN

ZACHARY LUSK

SHELBY MASON

MIKAYLA MCGUFFIN

MICAYLA MILES

CADEN MILLER

FRANCISCO ORTEGA

SIERRA PUNZEL

KATLYN REYNOLDS

KAITLYN THOMPSON

BLAKE WATSON

TAYLOR WHITEHURST

GAVIN WILLIAMS

MADILYNN WILLIAMS

TAYLOR WILLIAMS

KALEB WYRICK

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

ZACHARY ADCOCK

Class President “

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Don’t let any of what is going on in the world get in the way of achieving your goals. Continue to work hard for everything you want, and then you will succeed.

Excerpt from commencement speech: “We started this journey four years ago. A brand new book with blank pages soon to be

filled. Some of us knew what to expect. Some of us didn’t. While I haven’t lived here my whole life like most of you have, this place became my home and my family. Tom Bean High School taught me so many valuable lessons that I’ll take with me outside of the classroom— how to be a leader in and out of school, how to be self-disciplined. Most importantly, I was taught friendship and family. Little did I know, the staff and students at Tom

LAUREN GETTS

Bean were what I needed most in my life. Without these people, I don’t know where I’d be today.

We’re all aware that this wasn’t supposed to be our original setting for graduation. We were also supposed to have prom last month. A lot of us were supposed to get our last track, baseball, softball, showing, and FFA CDE season. That didn’t happen; God had other plans for us. We’re the class that was

Principal “

born during and/or after 9/11, and we’re graduating during a pandemic. We have all encountered hardships and trials in our lives, and we still made it this far.”

SARA MCCARTY

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

What I remember most about the 2019-2020 school year is probably what everyone else will also remember the most— the year of Covid-19 and not finishing the year on campus. I’ll remember how resilient our students were when tasked with remote learning, not getting to finish their spring extracurricular activities,

and not getting to say goodbye in person to their friends and teachers.

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Be yourself. The person you are today may change in the next few years as you try new things and go through new experiences. But be yourself, no matter who that person is, and be sure to love yourself.

All the Best

to Tom Bean 2020 Graduates It’s your day, and we hope you enjoy every moment as you celebrate the culmination of your hard work. May your graduation be the beginning of a bright and beautiful future.

We look forward to celebrating your continued success!

The First National Bank of Tom Bean | www.fnbtb.com 109 S. Britton | Tom Bean, TX l (903) 546-6275 GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

69

A FEW WORDS FROM

“

Valedictorian LINDSEY GARNER

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

High school has gifted me with countless amazing memories, leadership and time management skills, and so much more.

Most influential teacher?

My 8th grade history teacher, Mr. Jordan.

He found fun and memorable ways to get us to remember information, and I hope to one day run my classroom like that.

Favorite class/subject?

I’ve always had a love for writing, so

English has always been my favorite subject.

Hardest class/subject?

Science has always been my most difficult subject.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I will be attending Texas A&M University Commerce to obtain a masters degree in Elementary Education.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

Salutatorian What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

The one thing I’ll take away from my time in high school is the experience of going through high school with some of my closest friends as well as

being involved in many different organizations that taught me a lot of life lessons.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Chapman. She showed me that I had a lot more potential than I could see, and would

Macy Graves

Ten years from now I hope to be teaching at the elementary level and enjoying time with my family.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

I would tell my classmates to shape their decisions so that they are always proud of everything they do.

LAUREN GETTS

always push me in the right direction. Mrs. Chapman was the teacher I needed most in my life, and I am very grateful that I got to be one of her students for four years.

Favorite class/subject?

Math.

Hardest class/subject?

Biology.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

Tarleton State University.

Biomedical Sciences.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In five years, I hope to be going to medical school.

In ten years, I plan to be

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going through my residency and on the path to becoming a successful pediatrician.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Although the second half of our senior year wasn’t what we’d hoped for, my advice to my fellow graduating class is to not let any of these hardships get in the way of your plans after high school. Continue to follow your dreams and let nothing stop you.

”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

Pride & Joy. Pomp & Circumstance.

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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Van Alstyne

HIGH SCHOOL

GARRETT AKERS

GRAYSON AKERS

ERNESTO ALONZO

CHEYENNE ANDERSON

LEILAH ANDINO

JACOB APODACA

CAMERON ATTEBERRY

KYLE AYIKU

ETHAN BAY-ANDERSON

ZACKARY BEATY

JAYSON BECKETT

GAGE BEDWELL

KAYLA BELLAMY

COREE BERESFORD

LILA BILLINGSLY

CHARLIZE BLOEM

LINDI BOLING

MALIK BOUDOIN

KIMBERLEIGH BRAMER

ASHLIN BRIDWELL

AMERYSS BROGDON

CASHLIE BROOKS

ETHAN BROWN

MASON BUCHANAN

MEILEE CAIN

BOONE CANNON

JAKE CARROLL

MAX CARSON

NOAH CASON

“What separates winners from losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate.”

- Donald J. Trump

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

“It really does go by fast, but for some reason this year went by even faster.”

ZACKARY CAVENDER

FAITH DIXON

GRACIE FRANKLIN

TREVOR CLINTON

KENNEDY COLVIN

TALEN DUNN

DARCEY EARLEY

“Be where your feet are.”

“Yes, I’m the girl moving to Alaska.”

CLAYTON GIBBS

ETHAN GONZALEZ

“Enjoy the little things.”

“Baloney is just hot dog pancakes.”

MIRANDA CONNOR

MONTY EDGE

KONNOR DANIELS

ASHLEY DAVIS

DRELIN DAVIS

JUSTIN DEMOND

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”

“Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.”

- David Bowie

- Niccolo Machiavelli

EDUARDO ESPITIA

AARON ETHRIDGE

DAKOTA FETTY

PAYTON FLETCHER “You may not end up where you thought you were going, but you will always end up where you were meant to be.”

SAVANNAH GOSSETT

HUNTER GRIFFIN

HANNAH GROCE

MADISON HOWARD

TATUM HUNT “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

- Philippians 4:13

KATE HUTCHISON

LUKE HYATT

SYDNEY INGRAM

TANNER JONES

AUTUMN KASPRZAK

GARRETT KEENAN

NATILEIGH KENNEY

“Just do it! Unless an idiot would do it, then don’t!”

DANNY KERN “Humbleness creates greatness.”

- Dwight Shrute

LAWSYN KING

BRYSON LAWRENCE

ETHAN LITZKOW

KINSEY LOCK

JACOB LOGANBILL

JAMES LOPEZ

MOISES MARRUFO

IRIS MARTINEZ

“You cannot have adoration without being criticized.”

- Raf Simmons

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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VA N A L S T Y N E GRAYSON MCCASKILL

DALTON MCCASLIN

DOAK MCDONALD

CHARITY MCDANIEL

“I finally learned how to right good.”

ZACHARY MONCIER

CLIFF MONTGOMERY

“Would you rather be on fire, or not on fire?”

MEGAN MONTGOMERY

CATRAVIUS MOORE

“Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re gonna love it.”

- Monica Geller

CADE MORGAN

TRAVIS MORRISON

BRENDAN MURPHY

COBY NOVILLO

“Opinions are like mixtapes: I don’t want to hear yours.”

HAILEY PENNINGTON

TORIN RIDDICK

PAUL O’LOUGHLIN

STELLA ORRELL

GABRIEL PAGE

SAMUEL PATTY

AVERY POSEY

WILLIAM RASOR

CAMERON RICHARDS

“I finally learned something important.”

LUKE PERKINS

GEORGE PERPERIDIS

JASON PHARR

“People say high school is the best years of your life, and I can believe it now.”

“Lot of green in my pocket but I’m not vegan.”

JOCALYN ROBISON

ENEDITH ROCHA-OCHOA

RACHEL PIERCE

“I believe in the future.”

JAMES ROLLINS

TYLER ROSE

TARYN ROSENTHAL

TYMOTHE ROSENTHAL

CHRISTOPHER ROWLAND

“HOOYAH.”

GAGE RUSSEY

MILLICENT SAWYERS “If you need me I’ll be in Fort Worth.”

ANTHONY SCHEIBMEIR

JUDE SCHEIBMEIR

VITO SCIARRINO

BRYCE SEVARINO

CLAYTON SIMPSON “It’s all about who you know.”

- Dale Doback

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

RACHEL SMITH

ZACHARY SMITH

SAMUEL SOCKWELL

KACEY STEGALL

JAYNA STEPHENS

HALLIE STORMENT

GRACIE TAGERT

ALYSSA TAYLOR

JACOB TAYLOR

“Learn from it, better yourself, and you will be better for next time.”

“In with a bang, out like Charmin!”

PAUL WESTMORELAND

SARAH WHITLEY

KAILA WILLIAMS

“Glitter and guts have got me in a rut.

Goodbye.”

“The world is full of bright lights, but there is only one you. Go out and be who you were created to be, and make a difference wherever you go!”

“I always knew the Class of 2020 would be remembered forever.”

DAVID TERRILL

JERRETT WINEGEART

SAMUEL TORMOS

LANDON WITCHER

ROBERTO TORRES

ALLIE VAN SICE

MICAH WELCH

TATUM WYLIE

“Cheaters never win, but I sure did graduate.”

Principal

Accolades of the graduating class?

The Class of 2020 is remarkable.

Acquiring over $2.5 million dollars in awards and scholarships, serving our community with over 10,500 hours and earning over 1,000 hours of dual credit through Grayson College— this is a class who’s intrinsically motivated and set to succeed.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

I’ll remember the many moments of our students striving together to accomplish greatness. We’ve

CRAIG DENNIS

had numerous state qualifiers both in academics, athletics and with our Robotics team. These students asked to be part of Special Olympics to help their fellow students.

They serve our community by giving time to paint murals for city beautification. And as an example of their giving and generosity, they freely donated the money they’d earned for their COVID-canceled senior activities to honor the next VAHS graduating class with scholarships.

This class exhibits an example of teamwork, leadership and service like none I’ve witnessed before.

I miss greeting our seniors in the hallways and seeing the way they interact with our younger students and members of the community.

I look forward to seeing the Class of 2020 graduate and finding out what they will become in the future.

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

You have made a long journey into adulthood. I hope that your experiences up to this point will propel you into success in the future. Challenges and adversity are opportunities to grow and become a better

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

person. Allow failures and setbacks to develop perseverance and compassion for those around you.

Always be hopeful and develop relationships with those who bring out the best in you. Be the best person you can be, especially when no one is looking. Look for opportunities to give back when the time comes.

Love yourself enough to push yourself to greatness, whether that be academically or in the workforce.

Strive for greatness but understand that sometimes failure is a learning opportunity and a chance for personal growth.

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A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian RACHEL SMITH

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

It’s okay to take a step back sometimes. I like to be a busy person, but oftentimes I will take on more than I can handle.

better writer, but she helped me come to love and appreciate English in a way that I never have.

She has such a passion for what she does, supported me in every way, and is a major inspiration as to why I want to be a teacher.

Applied Learning & Development in the College of Education.

So through high school, I have learned that it’s okay to step back from different priorities, obligations or expectations in order to prioritize my mental health.

Favorite class/subject?

English.

I’ll be continuing my teaching career, wherever it might take me.

Hardest class/subject?

Economy.

Most influential teacher?

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

University of Texas at Austin.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

There is so much good in the world that each and every one of us can accomplish. Therefore,

Mrs. Endicott, not only because she pushed me to become a

Where will you be in five years?

10 years?

In 5 years, I’ll hopefully be teaching English internationally, if not in Texas. In 10 years, I anticipate utilize where you’ve been placed and where you are in life to make a difference, to be an influence, to love greatly. Even if just one person’s life is changed, that’s still a difference and it’s worth recognizing.

Honoring Van Alstyne Panther & Howe Bulldog

Graduates

You’ve come a long way, and we’re very proud of your achievements. Keep up the great work, and we know you’ll go far.

Best wishes today and always!

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469-371-0603 300 E Haning GRAYSON St. Howe,CO. TX lGRADUATION www.corefitgyms.com 2020

Salutatorian

WILLIAM RASOR

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

To take chances with different people because you never know what memories could be made.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Burkhalter, because everyday I would walk into class and everyday without fail she would make my day better, no matter what was happening in my life.

Favorite class/subject?

Livestock Production.

Class President

Hardest class/subject?

AP Chemistry.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I will be attending Texas A&M University majoring in agriculture economics.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

Honestly, in five to 10 years I don’t know where I will be, but I have a lot of ideas of where I want to be, and know that my family and God will help put me where I need to be.

CLIFF MONTGOMERY JR.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Go out and change the world for the better.

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

What are your future plans?

Attend Texas Tech University and get a business degree.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Enjoy the moment and what’s going on around you.

”

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Whitesboro

HIGH SCHOOL

CADEN ACKER

JEFFREY ARITA ROSA

“Sometimes I’ll start a sentence and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way.”

SARAH ARMENTA

ADRIAN AVILES

PAIGE BANKS

“Our senior year is unique and so different. It is not worthy of comparison.”

“Autism can’t define me. I define autism.”

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

JACKSON BEAL

JORDAN BERGER

- Kerry Magro

- Michael Scott

JD BANNER

SESAR BARRERA

SHANNON BROWN

ANDREW DILLARD “Hey Justin. What’s funnier than 24?”

“Part of the journey is the end.”

- Tony Stark

HUNTER CASE

BRIANA CHAVEZ

“Run with your heart.”

“Treat people with kindness.”

MARSHALL DILLION

JACOB DOBBS

JORDAN EDDINGS

MASON EDMONSON

“Be a lot cooler if you did.”

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

“Everything happens for a reason.”

- Matthew McConaughey

JACQUELINE CHAVEZ

JACOBY CHUMLEY

CHRIS BLUE

HAYLEE BOREN

“Build your own dreams or somebody will hire you to build theirs.”

“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

CORTLYN COBB

CARRISSA CRABTREE

“Glow-Getter (noun): a driven, busy gal who strives to achieve her goals in life while attaining a beautiful glow inside and out.”

SYDNEE EDMONSON

ABRAHAM DIAZ-MARQUEZ “Do it for the story.”

JUSTIN ESTES

MICHAEL ESTRIDGE

“Twenty-five! ;)”

“I was as prepared for life as I was for this photo.”

- Dr. Seuss

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BRETT BROOKS

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

“The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.”

- Helen Keller

MICHELLE BLAKE

BRANDON FELLEGY

AUSTIN GEORGE

ADRIANNA FINLEY

JOCELYN GIRON

ANDREW FLETCHER

BRANDON HALBERT

STEPHEN FUHRMANN

CHRISTIAN FULENWIDER

TRYSTON GAINES

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

“I sure with the first one made it in.”

“Believe it you will achieve it.”

CHASE HARDING

HUNTER HAYS-BABER

ASHLEE HENSLEY

AARON GARRETT

KEVIN GAUTIER “I think the class of 2020 wins senior skip day.”

CARSON HICKMAN

TYLER HUGHES

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

“Life is full of unexpected and unplanned turns, but each turn leads you down a path that will have valuable lessons at the end.”

VICTORIA JOBES

MARY FAITH JONES

“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

“Happiness is a state of mind. It’s just according to the way you look at things.”

- Albus Dumbledore

- Walt Disney

ANNIE LINDEN

LESLIE MALDONADO

“Yes, I am a real redhead: aggressive, temperamental, and you better run and pray if you insult someone I care about.”

“Voy a conseguir todo lo que me proponga.”

LAYTHE MONTGOMERY

MARKOS MORALES

MONTANA MORGAN

“The you that you are is better than the you anyone else wants you to be.”

“Guyssss, if I smell one more fart.”

- Scooter Ward

GARRETT KEMP

SETH MAUPIN

DRAKE LAMBERT

LUKE LANGFORD

“It ain’t easy being wheezy.”

“Ain’t no point in gettin’ outta bed when you ain’t livin’ the dream.”

ZANE MCCLUSKY

CALEB MCCOY

JULIAN MENDOZA

“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

- Cesar A. Cruz

“The world is a open journey that awaits your steps to conquer your dreams. God bless every step.”

PEYTON MUNTZ

BRAEDYN PANKRATZ

LANE MUNDIM

KEITH LEHMAN

JASMINE LESTER

LIBBY LIGHTFOOT “Sorry, I can’t.

I have rehearsal.”

JOSHUA MINYARD

ALISON MITCHELL “Keep moving forward.”

SHELBY PARSONS

HAILEY PHILLIPS

“Enjoy today.”

- Coach Ledbetter

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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WHITESBORO RAFAELLE PIPPIN

TYLER POIROT

JOHANNA POKORNY

ADDYSON POLLARD

ANGEL RUIZ

JOSEPH RUSSELL

ZACHARY RUSSELL

ADELA SANCHEZGONZALEZ

GABRIEL SHAWVER

HAYLI SHELBY

KENDALL SLUDER

AKIIA SNYDER

REED SPENCE

CHASE STANDIFER

RACHEL STEGALL

“You live and you learn.”

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”

“Life is too depressing to be stressing.”

AARON SCORSONE “God’s plans will always be greater than all your disappointments.”

– Aristotle

CESAR SUSTAITA

KASEN TODD

ETHAN TRAMMELL

COURTNEY VANLANDINGHAM

“I’m actually not funny, I’m just really mean and people think I’m joking.”

“Life’s about the journey, not always the outcome.”

“Hunt down your dreams till the bitter end.”

“Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.”

TYLER WILLIAMS

PHILIP WOODS

“Bye Felicia!

I’m done! I’m freeeeeeeeeeeee!”

“I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.”

- Snow White

LUKE VILLANUEVA

JUSTIN WATSON

BAILEY WILKERSON

“We were just messing around. We didn’t realize we were making memories.”

“I’ll burn that bridge when I get to it. I’m not sure how I’ll mess it up, but I’m sure I will.”

- Philippians 4:13”

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

[SENIOR FORMAL PHOTOS BY GARNER STUDIO]

JOLEE STUART

- 2 Corinthians 5:7

“Trust the magic of new beginnings.”

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian CA L E B M C C OY

“

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

How crucial it is to put in work if you want to achieve something.

Most influential teacher?

For me, it’s Mrs. Barbara Urban.

She is an amazing teacher of outstanding character and integrity. She prepares students for college-level work while simultaneously making it enjoyable. Mrs. Urban devotes herself to serving others; she

coaches three sports, teaches three subjects, and sponsors the National Honor Society. She has definitely facilitated my love of science and inspired me to be a better person. Mrs. Urban is a

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I’m going to study Materials Science & Engineering at the University of North Texas.

role model for myself and many others.

years? 10 years?

In 5 years, I hope to have graduated college and gaining some experience in the engineering field. In 10 years, I’d like to be working to improve people’s lives in some way, whether it be through improving their envi-

Favorite class/subject?

AP Chemistry.

Hardest class/subject?

Dual Credit U.S. History.

Salutatorian in their own way. But most of my passion and drive is inspired by

tian University with an intended major in Graphic Design.

school?

I will take away the wonderful friendships and teachers that made me passionate and determined to not only challenge myself, but to be my best self.

my English II teacher; she is the most ardent teacher I’ve ever had.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In 5-10 years, I will have graduated from college and pursuing my degree as a graphic designer, then as an art director.

Favorite class/subject?

Any math course.

Hardest class/subject?

History.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I will be attending Texas Chris-

ronment or through a medical technology application.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Never stop growing.

RACHEL STEGALL

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high

Most influential teacher?

I can’t name just one teacher that has been the most influential, because all of my teachers have been influential

Where will you be in five

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Do everything in love and in

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

passion, and don’t take this time for granted. Make lasting friendships, challenge yourself, and explore the endless amount of opportunities waiting for you.

” 81

“

Principal Accolades of the graduating class?

They’ve had state representation in band, track, cross country, power lifting, tennis, UIL, choir, One Act Play, baseball and FFA. Some of them advanced in football, volleyball, basketball, softball and golf. They have a great four years.

MARLENE ROBINSON

through ups and downs and have always come out on top. I am so very proud of them and all they have accomplished and the adults they have grown into.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

These kids are amazing. They have had many obstacles throughout their 13 years and are more resilient than most adults. They have a bond and are truly a huge

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

Never let school get in the way of your education. A very smart man (B. Shelby) once told me that. Take time to enjoy life. Be a kid a little bit longer. Appreciate your gifts and embrace them. Do what you love and love what you do!

And always remember, it’s great to be a

group of best friends. This class has stuck together

BEARCAT!

Class President

“

JUSTIN ESTES

What are your future plans?

I plan on attending the University of Houston in the fall where I will major in theatrical productions and minor in electrical engineering. After college, I’ll pursue a career in lighting technology and production.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

Be who you are. Don’t allow others to define you for you.

Excerpt from commencement speech: “Throughout our lives, we have had some truly amazing people help us along the way. Firstly, we had our peers to help us figure out who we are, and to let us know we weren’t alone in growing up.

To the friends who have helped

82

us over the past eighteen years, thank you for sticking through the tears, the laughter, the new experiences and fears, and thank you for being a friend. Alongside our friends, we had great educators there to instruct us not only about academics and the arts, but to teach us and guide us into becoming the adults we have grown to become. Without these teachers, we couldn’t have made it nearly as far as we have come on this journey.

To them, I say thank you for accepting that last-minute late work, looking over the tardies, and teaching us to not let our education interfere with our learning.

Finally, we had our families to act as the rock we could

run back to when it seemed like nothing else was solid ground. For some of us, we were blessed for that to look like a biological family, and for others it was found in a sports team, band, theatre, choir, art club or UIL. It was the teachers we could count on to listen when we needed it most, our administrators who cared about our struggles, and those friends who lifted us up when we’d fallen down. Without these, we would have never made it through high school, and to them, I extend the utmost gratitude.

As we continue to grow older, learn from new experiences, and develop into adults, we will set out to do bigger and better things. My friends, remember

this as we move forward into college, trade school, the armed forces, workforce, or wherever you go next: Changing the world doesn’t start with a “grand plan,” with high aspirations, or some life changing event. Changing the world starts, simply, with relationships; one person at a time. Over the course of our lifetimes, the biggest impact we’ll have will come from being a friend in times of need, developing bonds with others, and changing our world and the worlds of those around us one person at a time.”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

congratulations

HUNTER MASON “Every great dream begins with a dreamer.

Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world.” ~Harriet Tubman

love always, Dad, Mom, Jaxon, & Kason

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

83

Whitewright HIGH SCHOOL

KOLBY ANDREW

MADISON BANTA

ALLEC-ROSS BAUTISTA

KENNEDY BENJAMIN

“Rose are red, violets are blue, I’m black.”

“You gotta risk it for the biscuit.”

“Saving life’s one tire at a time.”

“I spent 113,880 hours of my life to receive my diploma virtually.”

DESTINEY CHESSER

JAKE CLABORN

MASON CLARK

LANEY COLLINSWORTH

“Life is like a flower, make it beautiful.”

HIGH SCHOOL

JULIUS CARRAWAY

KELLEIGH COLTON

EMMA COOK

“Work hard and believe in yourself even when nobody else believes in you.”

“What?

What did you say?”

ROBERT CORDELL

STEPHANIE COYLE

DAVID FOGLEMAN

BENJAMIN FRESCAZ

SAGE HARLOW

TREVOR HEITZ

- Richard Sherman

EMILY CRUMP

JAMES CYR

STERLING DAVIS

LYDIA DRENNAN

ANDREW EDWARDS

MACY EDWARDS “You will never be able to escape from your heart, so it is better to listen to what it has to say.”

- Paulo Coehlo

JARON GAGE

SKYLAR GERNER

“Eat happy, not healthy.”

“My senior class is skip day champions. Boom.

Roasted.”

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RYNE GODBEY

AUSTIN GREEN

DYLAN HALBARDIER

“Blood makes you related, loyalty makes you family.”

“Live life to the fullest.

Never take one day for granted.”

JAMES HAMM

“COVID, u suck.”

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

JACK HILL

SHELBY MAGNUSON

KELSEY HODGDON

MARSHALL MANGRUM

NOLAN HOLLAHAN

JESSE MARTINEZ

JADE IRACHETA

DEVIN KNABE

PIPER LABARGE

“That’s all.”

“Life is just a big bowl of fancy, assorted cashews.”

“Life’s a game, and I’m here to win.”

GRACIE MCDORMAN

COLE MCLAIN

JARED MCCLENDON

KODY LANGHAM

EMILY LOONEY “When Koe Wetzel said ‘Cause I’m done,’ I felt that. Peace Out WHS!”

- NetNobody

BRADEN MONROE

KAYLEE MONTGOMERY

“Sad thing is, after all this I still don’t know how to use there, their and they’re.”

LAWSON MOORE

DIANA ORDONEZ-VAZQUEZ

HANAH OSBORN

MORGAN SINOR

KATE PHILLIPS

“I think it’s fine.”

“I cried almost every night to sleep just so I could get a piece of paper with my name on it.

Plus, I almost gave my grades for adoption because the stress of raising them up was higher than Afroman.”

JADEN SHIELDS

HOLDEN PARKER

ISAAC REYNOLDS

MORGAN ROHRE

“Wait, it’s over already?”

“The only time I set the bar low is for limbo.”

SETH SAMPLES

- Michael Scott

EMILY SKINNER

ROBERT TABOR

TORRIE WILSON

HANNAH WILLIAMS

BAILEY TARTER

QUINN TEDDLIE

AUSTIN TESTERMAN

MICHELLE TRAN

“So you mean to tell me I went to school for 14 years... for this.”

SAVANNAH WARFORD

KYLAN WATSON

“And I knew exactly what to do, but in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.”

- Michael Scott

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

85

A FEW WORDS FROM

Valedictorian

DEVIN KNABE

“

Salutatorian + Student Council President M ACY E D WA R D S What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

It’s not about the quantity of friends that you have, but the quality.

What’s one thing you’ll take away from your time in high school?

The lessons I’ve learned to overcome shyness and be comfortable with who I am.

Most influential teacher?

Mrs. Johnson because she’s always been there for me everytime I’ve needed her help and she gives great advice in a funny, sarcastic way. I inspire to be like her.

Favorite class/subject?

Band has always been my favorite class because playing music is a great stress takeaway. But my favorite core subject is mathematics.

Hardest class/subject?

I’ve always struggled with English the most throughout my high school career.

Where are you going to college? What will you study?

I’m going to attend Oklahoma State

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University and major in mathematics for Pre-Law. Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

Hopefully in five years I’ll be attending the Oklahoma State University School of Forensic Sciences, and in 10 years I’ll be investigating a crime scene wherever I end up.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

High school was fun and also stressful but college/trade school is gonna be another fun journey, so get out there and conquer. Don’t peak in high school.

Principal

Most influential teacher?

Señor Crawford. He introduced new ways to view the world and ultimately inspired me to develop as an individual and become strong in my beliefs.

Favorite class/subject?

Theatre Production Hardest class/subject?

Spanish 3 Where are you going to college? What will you study?

The University of Texas at Austin.

Marketing & Business Analytics at the McCombs School of Business.

Where will you be in five years? 10 years?

In five years, I plan on having graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Analytics. After graduation, I hope to potentially attend culinary school in London to get a degree in Patisserie. In 10 years, I hope to have started my own designer cake business and bakery.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your fellow graduates?

“Your life will be full of setbacks-- how you handle them will make all of the difference.”

- Barack Obama

STEVE MORROW

Accolades of the graduating class?

I would say this class will be forever remembered for surviving the quarantine of the coronavirus.

There has never been a time in education that students were not allowed to finish their senior year and enjoy the highlights and pitfalls of school. This class has students that will be attending colleges all over the country, maintained academic standards despite a global pandemic, and remained

strong and confident throughout it all. Everything else will seem trivial to this unprecedented event.

What will you remember about the 2019-2020 school year?

I’ll remember many things about this school year, but for me the most memorable thing is not being able to have closure with my kids. Before all of this happened, I accepted a job as a principal in Alaska. I was looking forward to graduating the first class of students that I had

from their freshman year all the way through to their senior year.

I love watching these kids grow from freshman younglings to senior padawans. It’s truly an honor to be a high school principal.

What’s your advice to this year’s graduating class?

The same advice I give to everyone I know that listens. Most people that know me are aware that I like Star Wars just a little bit. A well-known philosopher once said, “Do or do

not. There is no try.” In other words, don’t ever give up. Set goals in life and follow your dreams. You never know when, or how long, it’ll take to get there. But, life happens! Best of luck to the class of 2020— the class with vision!

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

TMC Congratulates All of the 2020 Texoma Area High School Graduates.

Safe. Trusted. Ready.

We’ve always been here when you need us.

We’re here for you now.

Visit texomamedicalcenter.net to see our advanced patient care services.

With limited exceptions, physicians are not employees or agents of this hospital. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 202357-2943 5/20

GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020

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GRAYSON CO. GRADUATION 2020