Best-friend duo take top spots at Gatesville High School

BY m a D eline oD en K ILLEE n DAILy H ERALD

Gatesville High school seniors

Slone Early and Ty Warren are two friends who did almost everything together. It was only natural that these two also became the valedictorian and salutatorian for the 2023 graduating class.

Slone Early, 18, the son of Sam and Se’Vette Early, is this year’s valedictorian.

Early was accepted into the Engineering Department at Texas A&M University-College Station and plans to study computer science to become a software developer.

“I’ve always like computers. That field involved al lot of problem solving and puzzles. I’ve always liked do that kind of stuff,” he said. “It’s the kind of stuff you would go into making video games and such which is what I’m interested in.”

When asked if he had any advice for his underclassmen, he laughed and said “If you’re gonna procrastinate, you should do any big projects first so you can take your time on the smaller assignments.”

Ty Warren, 18, is the son of Codie and Steve Warren and he is also going into the Engineering Department at Texas A&MCollege Station.

The duo will also be roommates on campus.

Warren said he is still deciding on what he wants to specialize in but for now will study general engineering during his first year. His advice to any underclassmen is to set high goals.

“Hard work and persistence is key; never say your goal is too low because you won’t reach your full potential if you do that,” he said. “If you really do want to become something more, you’ve got to set your goal high.”

When asked about their favorite achievement, both agreed that it was when the Gatesville tennis team went to state.

“Definitely getting 3rd in state in tennis,” Early said.

“I think I will always remember that just cause tennis is one of my hobbies that I really enjoy,” Warren said.

Early will be graduating with a 4.58 GPA and Warren will be graduating with a 4.51 GPA.

Some of Early’s achievements include Newcomer of the Year, four-time Academic All-District, three-time District MVP, threetime Boys Singles Champion, three-time Regional Qualifier, State Qualifier, and Two-time Hornet Radio Player of the Week.

He was instrumental in establishing an annual summer tennis tournament for the Gatesville Tennis Team and has also hosted summer camps for his service project for the National Honor Society.

Some of the more notable awards Warren has received include Outstanding Students Awards for Engineering, Robotics, Geometry, Biology, Algebra II, Chemistry, and OnRamps Precal.

He will have completed 37 college hours by the time he graduates.

He has been a part of the varsity tennis team that has earned the fall Team Tennis district title the past three seasons.

Throughout tennis, he has earned Academic All-District four years in a row, Boys Singles and Doubles 1st Team All-District for three years, and 1st Team All-State his senior year.