Killeen: Both graduates heading to Texas A&M University

— it was definitely worth it.”

The salutatorian’s schedule was no less challenging.

The daughter of Nathaniel and Cecelia Fruik attended Brookhaven Elementary and Rancier Middle School, was determined to participate in the Kangarettes dance team, the Roo Band and take top-level courses to maximize her grade-point average.

The past two years, Fruik has used three class periods for band, dance team and an additional dance period as a Kangarettes officer. She was the colonel, the top leadership position, as a senior.

“I packed my schedule as tight as I could and took all the AP classes I could,” she said.

“Colleges look at how well-rounded you are,” she said. “I’ve been in dance since I was 4, so I knew I wanted to dance. I started playing the flute in sixth grade and fell in love with it. Those extra facets of high school allowed me to express myself and to get involved more in the community.”

There were people in her life who urged her to pare down the activities, but Fruik praised her dance and band directors in high school and her middle school band director for working with her to allow her to pursue all.

The top KHS graduates will continue to be classmates as they transition to Texas A&M University this fall. Howe is planning to study engineering and Fruik is set to study dance science.

Killeen High School graduation is 2 p.m. Friday, May 27 at the Bell County Expo Center.