Lampasas High School seniors hopeful for future

senior year was my first year back fully in-person, so I had forgotten how enjoyable competing for clubs and going on school trips could be.”

One of Gastelo’s responses revolved around a sports championship.

“The best experience by far was being able to be a member of the high school Special Olympics Unified Track Team and win the state championship (in 2022),” he said.

Gastelo also named some particular people who stuck with him through high school: Ashton Thompson, Brayden Smolen and Kayla Zamora.

BY lAuReN DODD KILLEEN DAILy HERALD

Two high-achieving Lampasas High School seniors are ready to start their next chapters.

Lampasas High School valedictorian Abigail Valdez, 17, daughter of Christopher and Candice Valdez, said she’s nervous but excited about her next big move.

On a 5.0 grade-point average scale, which Copperas Cove ISD uses, Boal finished with a 4.98 and Gastelo finished with a 4.83.

MeMORABle MOMeNTs

Boal and Gastelo were quick to list their most memorable moments from high school.

“The most memorable aspect of my high school experience was the two trips I took my senior year with DECA and SkillsUSA to Houston and Corpus Christi respectively,” Boal said. “My exTRAcuRRIculARs

It wasn’t all books and schoolwork for Boal or Gastelo, who were both involved in several clubs/activities.

Boal was part of DECA, SkillsUSA, and the National Honor Society. She took several projects to state competitions in both DECA and SkillsUSA.

Gastelo said during high school he was part of football, baseball, powerlifting, track, DECA, Special Olympics and Holy Family Catholic Church Youth Group.

Valdez will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas next year in pursuit of a degree in actuarial science. The senior said she will miss seeing her high school friends but looks forward to the challenges that await her in college.

Lessons learned playing sports in high school, she said, will stay with her forever.

“Everything in tennis relates to life,” she said.

Valdez said she attributes her academic success to her parents’ support.

When asked what advice she’d give her freshman peers, she said, “Honestly, just do your best, and even if you don’t, it’s ok. It’s scary, I know, but you’ll get used to it.”

At the age of 16, Kaitlyn McLen- don, daughter of Jackie and James McLendon, will be trading in the Hill Country scenes of Lampasas for the windy beaches of Corpus Christi. McLendon, this year’s salutatorian, will be graduating a year early from Lampasas High School.

“I just felt like I wasn’t really fitting in in high school and I wanted to get out a bit early, so I decided to graduate early,” McLendon said. The young high school graduate said she looks forward to attending Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi in the fall where she plans to study graphic design and studio art.

The LHS student thanked high school counselors and teachers who worked with her during troubling times.

“Having people to count on and depend on, sometime’s that’s hard to come by,” she said.

McLendon also thanked her parents.

“They’ve been supportive during the toughest times of getting through high school, they’ve been right by my side,” she said. “They’ve really been my protectors and my supporters and I really appreciate them for that.”