Bailey, Zuniga named two top grads of Lake Belton High School

BY joel valleY FME nEWS SERVICE

Katie Bailey and Dalilah Zuniga are the first Lake Belton High School seniors to earn the honor of valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Their campus, which was to hold its graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Bell County Expo Center, first opened its doors for classes in 2020 when the campus only served freshmen and sophomores.

“Principal Jill Ross surprised Bailey and Zuniga with the news with beautiful floral bouquets prepared by their peers on Thursday morning,” Belton ISD spokeswoman Candice Griffin said in a news release. “These students were ecstatic and could not wait to share the news with their parents.”

Both seniors have aspirations of working in health care.

Bailey — a youth state championship gymnastics coach who has participated in Health Occupations Students of America, National Honor Society, Altrusa International and Student Council — will study Allied Health Science at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth to pursue her goal of working in sports medicine.

“So proud of Katie. She has such determination and such a great work ethic,” Angie Bailey, her mother, said in a Facebook post. “So excited for her next chapter at TCU.”

Zuniga — a first-generation college student who enjoys playing spikeball, pickleball and crafting — will study nursing at Texas A&M University with the hopes of working in an intensive care unit before becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist.”

“So proud of you Dalilah,” Laura Bodeman, a family friend, said in a Facebook post. “You have worked so hard and are so deserving of this spot. You are going to do amazing things.”

Further information about Lake Belton High School’s graduation can be accessed online at www.bisd.net.