High school and college students in the Killeen area are transitioning into adulthood and careers this May with rite-of-passage graduation ceremonies.
Listed below, in chronological order, are all area high school and college graduation dates and times. All graduations will be hosted at the Cadence Bank Center, 301 W. Loop 121 in Belton, unless otherwise noted. Central Texas College, May 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Belton New Tech, May 23 at 9 .a.m.
Belton High School, May 23 at 1 p.m.
Lake Belton High School, May 23 at 6 p.m.
Salado High School, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor stadium.
Chaparral High School, May 24 at 9 a.m.
C.E. Ellison High School, May 24 at 2 p.m.
Copperas Cove High School, May 24 at 7.30 p.m.
Texas A&M University-Central Texas, May 11 at 3 p.m.
Lampasas High School, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the school’s football stadium.
• • • •
Early College High School, May 22 at 7 p.m.
Florence High School, May 24 at 8 p.m. at the school’s football stadium.
Gatesville High School, May 24 at 8 p.m. at the school’s football stadium.
Harker Heights High School, May 25 at 2 p.m.
Robert M. Shoemaker High
School May 25 at 9 a.m.
Killeen High School, May 25 at 7 p.m.
The Killeen High School Class of 2023 line the perimeter of the Bell County Expo Center arena to sing the school song at the conclusion of their graduation ceremony Saturday. A total of 424 seniors graduated in the KHS class.
Ceremonies for KISD can be viewed • via livestream on www.killeenisd. org/livetv or on Spectrum Cable Channel 17. CCISD graduation can be viewed at facebook.com/copperascoveisd.
The top graduates of Killeen High School are both student athletes who learned to excel in multiple arenas while juggling busy schedules.
Haley Stokoe is the valedictorian and Max Widacki is salutatorian of the KHS Class of 2024. Both said they didn’t strategize to finish at the top of their class, and just learned either this year or last year of their high standing.
“It’s a great honor,” said Haley. “It’s really cool to be No. 1. I honestly didn’t think I’d get it. He was good competition,” she said of Widacki.
The top-ranked graduate has stayed plenty busy in high school. She loaded up her schedule with Advanced Placement courses, played soccer four years and was part of National Honor Society.
“A lot of late nights,” is her simple explanation for how she managed varsity sports and high-level classes.
“The highlight was definitely the soccer team,” she said. “I made good friends and good memories.”
After traveling to eight duty stations with her military family, including two stops in Germany, Stokoe said she was happy to spend four years at Killeen High School.
She is on her way to Texas A&M University to study forensics with plans to work as a crime scene investigator. She’s fascinated by solving puzzles and an admitted fan of crime shows.
Widacki is a longtime Killeen resident who attended Mountain View Elementary, Union Grove Middle School and KHS.
He played football and soccer, was manager for the baseball team and active in Student Council, National Honor Society and a spirit group called the Rowdy Roos, while taking a full load of AP courses.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” said Widacki of finishing high school at No. 2 in the class.
“It’s overwhelming to be up there. I never dreamed of finishing this high. Last year was the first time I realized I could get up there.”
Like Stokoe, the salutatorian said he learned to manage his time, leaned on a supportive family, and most enjoyed his time with his fellow athletes.
“It was a big workload, but I never really felt overwhelmed,” he said. “I always got through it. There were a lot of late nights,” he said. “I brought work to games and managed my time. My parents helped me stay on top of it.”
He is on his way to the University of North Texas to study cybersecurity.
The Killeen High School graduation is 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25 at the Cadence Bank Center in Belton.
One dived into community service and the other found her place in the theater. They wound up at the top of their high school class. The Ellison High School Class of 2024 valedictorian is Y Nguyen and the salutatorian is Brianni Gaines.
The pair have been No. 1 and 2 for all of high school. Both said they were surprised as freshmen to find out they were ranked at the top and determined to stay there.
“I think it’s very nerve racking,” said Nguyen, thinking of the speech she is expected to deliver at graduation. “It’s a pivotal point in our lives and leads to the next step.”
The No. 1-ranked graduate has spent much of her time in school in dual credit and advanced placement
courses, as well as taking health track courses at the KISD Career Center.
She is planning to attend the University of Texas and study biomedical engineering on her way to medical school.
“The best experience is being able to make an impact in different organizations around the city,” Nguyen said.
She has been part of National Honor Society and Health Occupations Students of America.
Much of Nguyen’s involvement has come from the Youth Advisory Commission, of which she was president last year.
Serving as a youth liaison to the Killeen City Council and working to bring to fruition a recycling program in the schools has been rewarding.
After spending her childhood in Vietnam and California, she has been
in Killeen most of her life, attending Willow Springs Elementary, Patter-
son Middle School and Ellison High School.
Brianni Gaines has taken a full load of dual credit and AP courses and spent a huge amount of time in the school’s theater.
She has been involved in every major production of the past four years, co-directed a play and has been the drama club president this year.
Gaines is also a longtime resident. She attended Timber Ridge Elementary, Liberty Hill Middle School and Ellison High School.
“I’m really relieved,” she said of reaching the end of senior year.
“Freshman year I found out I was No. 2 and thought, ‘how did that happen?’ It’s been stressful to maintain. Finally, it’s done and solidified.”
Her sister, Brianne Gaines was Ellison’s valedictorian in 2022, “so expectations were high,” her sister said.
She is on her way to the University of Texas at Arlington to study theater and dance.
Ellison High School graduation is 2 p.m. Friday, May 24 at the Cadence Bank Center in Belton.
An aspiring engineer and a future animation artist landed at the top of the Shoemaker High School Class of 2024.
Shoemaker’s valedictorian is Karah Jackson and salutatorian is Daejon Spead.
Both top graduates have juggled impressive schedules and labored to balance busy lives to excel in rigorous courses.
Jackson transferred to Shoemaker as a sophomore from Gatesville ISD. She jumped into a heavy Advanced Placement course load, played tennis two years, was in Student Council briefly, and found her niche in high school in the National Science Honor Society. She is the group president this year.
Jackson has also worked at H-E-B two years, often putting in 30 hours a week.
“It’s a lot of balancing,” she said. “I learned how to make my schedule work for me. It was a lot of going from school to work all the time.”
She managed to volunteer through
National Science Honor Society at the H-E-B Feast of Sharing, Wreaths for Veterans and other service projects.
The top graduate said she has figured out how to manage classes and seek out extra information when needed.
“I’m ready to graduate. I’m not really nervous about graduating. It’s the ‘what’s next’ I get nervous about.”
She is set to attend Texas A&M University and study engineering.
When the second-ranked Shoemaker graduate participates in the many award ceremonies coming his way, Spead’s mind may wander to a certain comic book hero wearing a cape and a large “S” on his chest.
He is a fan of anime and the superhero genre of movies including Marvel and DC. He’s a bit old school in his choice of favorite.
“My favorite is Superman,” he said recently as he prepared for final academic projects before earning technical certifications Thursday, a college degree Friday, and a high school diploma in a couple of weeks.
More than the superhero’s speed
and strength, he likes the idea of fighting for what’s right. Thoughtful, analytical, creative, Spead looks on his academic success with relative simplicity.
“It’s about doing the work and doing it correctly and getting it done on time,” he said.
He completed the two-year STEM Academy program and finished multiple industry certifications through the KISD Career Center.
“It’s about having the drive, the
want to do it,” he said. “Parents and teachers can give an assignment and motivation, but you have to do the work to do well. There is something ingrained in me. Too many people are counting on me for me not to do my best.”
The past two years, Shoemaker High School has served mainly as a bus stop. His grandmother typically gives him and his twin brother Jaelon Spead a ride to Central Texas CollegeKilleen, where they attend college classes, then take a bus to Shoemaker in order to catch another bus to the Career Center, then return to Shoemaker for dismissal.
In addition to excelling in college pre-calculus and biology for science majors, it’s the video game design and graphic art courses at the Career Center that really hold his interest.
“I don’t consider being an elite scientist or a lawyer or politician,” he said. “I just want to do art.”
He and his brother, who is No. 9 in the Shoemaker Class of 2024, are both headed to Houston Christian University. The salutatorian plans to major in graphic design and be part of the next generation of animation creators.
Shoemaker High School graduation is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, May 25 at the Cadence Bank Center in Belton. Herald | fIle
Friends since first grade, the top seniors set to graduate from Harker Heights High School have a world of talent ready to unleash in college and beyond.
The Class of 2024 Harker Heights valedictorian is Hanah Kim and salutatorian is Serenity Howery. Both attended Mountain View Elementary, Union Grove Middle School and Harker Heights High School. Both are National Merit Scholar finalists. Both are accomplished orchestra musicians.
Kim is going to Harvard University to study biomedical engineering and neuroscience. Howery is going to the University of Texas to study biomedical engineering.
VA le DI c TORIAN H ANAH kIM
“It’s starting to feel more real as time goes on,” Kim said during a week of almost daily award events. “I’m excited to go to college.”
While Harvard was always in her top three choices, she said she applied to the elite university with no serious expectation of getting accepted. Joke’s on her — she got in.
Reflecting on her time in high school, Kim said family members and educators have contributed to convince her of her vast ability.
“The support of everyone really,” is what allowed her to achieve. “I remember as a freshman, people telling me ‘You’re going to go to great places.’ As time went on, they got more specific. I finally realized, ‘Oh, I am going to great place.’”
In addition to the dual credit and Advanced Placement courses she took, Kim managed to earn a spot last year in the National Youth Orchestra. She is also a four-time member of the All-State Orchestra. The accomplished scholar and musician is also Key Club president and is a virtual violin tutor with
students all over the nation.
“I’ve definitely had great parent support,” said Kim. “My parents helped me manage my time.”
As confident and accomplished as the top graduate is, she knows she has far more to achieve.
“Really, I wish I had done better — more self-study and more preparation for college,” she said.
“It’s surreal,” said Howery of the upcoming graduation. “I’ve grown up in the same area. It’s exciting to see everyone reach this stage. I’m ready for another adventure.”
Her orchestra instructor, among other influences, taught her to focus on “progress over perfection,” she said.
When she decided she needed to improve her public speaking, she joined the debate team and the city’s teen court program.
“I wanted to improve and also to better my community,” said Howery.
is the school debate club vice president, plays violin and viola, works as a tutor at the Mathnasium, attended a NASA Aerospace Scholar program and interned with the city of Harker Heights. “It’s an amazing accomplish-
ment,” she said of finishing high school. “We’ve all encouraged each other to be better.”
The Harker Heights High School graduation is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25 at the Cadence Bank Center in Belton.
They took very different paths and wound up in the same place — at the top of their class.
The Chaparral High School Class of 2024 valedictorian is Muhammad Dar, and the salutatorian is Maddie Fey.
Dar combined high school with two years of college through the Killeen ISD STEM Academy at Central Texas College. He earned an associate degree during the recent college commencement.
“I’m proud and happy,” said Dar of coming to the end of high school and finishing at the top of the class. “All the hard work has come to fruition, and I feel like I’ve lived up to my parents’ dreams and made them proud.”
He is headed to the University of Texas and plans to study biology on a pre-med track to become a physician. Dar grew up in Killeen. He attended Bellaire Elementary, Patterson Middle School and Harker Heights High School before moving over to Chaparral High when it opened a year ago.
The past two years, he has spent
much of his time at school at CTC. “I liked it a lot,” he said. “It got me out of my comfort zone and into a college environment. I had to learn a lot of time management.”
For as long as he can remember, Dar said he has maintained a goal to finish at the top of his graduating class.
He said he has made it a habit to surround himself with people on a similar high-achieving path, made good choices and held an ambitious mentality. He also credits the example of his family.
Fey managed to complete a heavy early load of dual credit and Advanced Placement courses while competing at the highest level of state high school track and field at three different schools.
In some ways, Chaparral’s salutatorian has been in transition most of her high school years.
“I’m ready,” she said of finishing high school and moving on to the University of Kansas, where she is set to continue to compete in the shot and discus in track and field.
Moving from San Antonio Southwest to Midlothian and this year to Killeen ISD, “it’s not too big of a
transition,” she said of her pending move to college.
Her dad is a civil engineer, and her mom is superintendent of KISD. She and her two older siblings needed little added motivation to excel.
“It was never really drilled into us,” she said. “We just worked hard. We had a good example and followed.” Her sister, currently at Rice University plans to continue to medical school.
Fey, fresh off winning the state championship in the discus for the fourth year in a row and the silver
medal in the shot put for the third year in a row has some national meets to compete in and then a collegiate track career.
She plans to pursue a career in sports medicine.
“I don’t think I would have been as successful in sports if I didn’t move around,” she said. “I learned a lot about balance.”
Taking a heavy load of dual credit and AP courses during her first two years of high school allowed her to take lighter loads the past two years, giving her more time to work out and hone her throwing skills.
“I basically got my work done in school and earned a lot of credits early,” she said.
She relates easily to the highly mobile population in Killeen and will likely talk about change in her graduation speech.
Everyone at Chaparral High School, finishing its second year, had to move, whether across town or throughout life with the military, she pointed out.
“Change is hard, but it’s not bad. It prepares you for the future and gives you an opportunity to grow.”
Chaparral High School graduation is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, May 24 at the Cadence Bank Center in Belton.
The top graduate of the Early College High School Class of 2024 is so inspired by her teachers that she wants to follow them into the education field.
Alexis Speakman is the valedictorian and Thanh Trieu Truong is the salutatorian of Early College High School. Both graduated from Central Texas College with highest honors. A day before the CTC graduation and two weeks before her high school graduation, Speakman considered her achievement.
“It’s exciting and really nerve racking. We’ve prepared the past four years, but thinking about it is different than actually being here.”
She has done some moving in her military family, but managed to attend Hobby, Clarke and Meadows elementary schools, Audie Murphy Middle School and Early College High School in KISD.
“I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “I’ve been encouraged by my teachers.”
She recalled her first-grade teacher (Mrs. Ford). “She was so nice and kind. I really looked up to her. She was strict and she cared for us. I want to
give back and help students like my teachers did.”
Supportive parents helped her make the decision to tackle two years of college during high school in the Early College High School.
She remembers when a group of Early College High School students visited her middle school to explain the benefits and challenges of attending the specialized high school.
“I’m happy with the decision,” she said. “I’ve made good friends. Teachers have helped me succeed and be a better person. I was shy when I got here. They helped me come out of my shell.”
Open, helpful teachers, small classes and strong connection to peers have highlighted Early College High School for the top-ranked senior about to graduate.
She’s been a part of several clubs and attended events like Friday Night Lights and a school fashion show.
“A lot of my friends are highly ranked in the class. We’ve been friends all the way through. We hang out with each other, and they push me to be a better person.”
Early College High School graduation is 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22 at the Cadence Bank Center in Belton.
Copperas Cove High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian in 2024 are set, and the honors belong to Samantha Parker and Hayden Peacock, respectively.
Both outstanding graduates have been eyeing the distinctive achievements for years and now their dedication and perseverance has finally yielded its result.
Parker has led the way since her freshman year, while Peacock’s journey to salutatorian has seen him move up and down the rankings before stabilizing at number two last summer.
Parker, the valedictorian, says that when she saw her first transcript in her freshman year, she began focusing to maintain her grades, keep her rank and hold the top spot. It’s taken all of her abil-
ity to achieve her goals, but Parker says Antonia Brooks, her mentor and coach on the Copperettes dance team, helped her reach for her highest potential.
“I have to thank Coach Brooks,” Parker said. “She helped keep me on track and focused on my goals.”
Parker said the whole dance team experience helped shape her to be a persevering, hard-working person.
“Copperettes need to be outside in the heat and work and dance,” she said. “The whole time you need to keep smiling. It has taught me that if you put in the hard work, it is going to be worth it and you’re going to get what you want out of it.”
While Parker set the pace in the class rankings race, Peacock saw himself nearly fall out of the top 10 before surging to second in the summer of 2023.
“When I was a freshman, I saw in the rankings that I was sixth in the class,” Peacock said. “Instead of being complacent at being in the top 1%, I strove to be as high as possible.”
He saw his class ranking dip to eighth, then steadily climb to fourth, and finally second in his senior year.
Peacock also recognized the role of a pivotal, influential woman who helped him attain the rank of salutatorian. However, for him it wasn’t a coach, but his mother.
He says that his mom, Heather, is one of his biggest supporters.
“My mom has always been there to support me without putting pressure on me to succeed academically,” he said. “There were many nights that if I had extra homework she would step in and help me with my chores so I could finish up.”
Hayden’s mother, Heather Peacock, is the assistant principal at Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy in Cove.
Peacock said he had to make
sacrifices and set his standards sky high to achieve the honor.
“There were times during my freshman and sophomore years that I felt like I studied enough, then went and hung out with my friends,” he said. “But then I got the result and thought that I could have done more.
“I feel like as I’ve gotten older, I started striving not just for good grades, but perfect grades. I realizing how much I have to know and how much I have to put in to get the results I want,” he said.
Both senior class leaders at Lampasas High School have their sights set on college in the fall, each with very specific interests in mind.
The 2024 class valedictorian Kailey Morgan is the daughter of Pamela Morgan and Boby Morgan, who is headed to the University of Texas at Austin to study chemistry.
“I’m not sure yet where that will lead me,” Morgan said. “I’m enrolled in general chemistry curriculum, so we’ll just have to see where it takes me.”
The class of 2024 salutatorian is Kenzie Roberts, the daughter of Aspen Roberts and TJ Roberts, and has big plans to attend Texas A&M University at College Station next year. She is seeking a degree in biomedical science.
While earning the top spot as valedictorian, Morgan has been busy developing her interest in chemistry through University Interscholastic League competition in both her junior and senior years and is cur-
rently part of the UIL Academics Team.
“I’ve always held (an) interest in science,” Morgan said. “I love all sciences, but I find chemistry very interesting in particular.”
At district UIL competition this year, Morgan placed first in Computer Applications and the Science Competition while taking a second place title in Literary Criticism competition. Last year, she placed second in district Computer Applications competition and fifth in the regional competition.
Active in the National Honor Society, Morgan serves as the project chair of the Lampasas chapter.
Morgan’s biggest hobbies include drawing, reading and movie watching.
“My wish for the students in Lampasas is that they have a great last year,” Morgan said. “I’ve enjoyed high school and look forward to what’s ahead.”
Class of 2024 salutatorian Kenzie Roberts thinks she would like to
become a pediatrician.
“I love children,” Roberts said. “And, I look forward to studying to become a good one.”
During her junior year, she earned her Clinical Medical Assistant certification. She is certified in Basic Life Support CPR and First Aid.
Roberts said she was honored to be voted 2023 Homecoming Queen by the student body and to be a member of prom court.
She is also a member of the Na-
tional Honor Society and of Health Occupations Students of America.
“These organizations offer me opportunities to give back to my community at local events,” Roberts said. She was also a member of the XFX spirit club and in support of the football team, the Lampasas Badgers. She painted signs and helped promote student spirit efforts. Roberts paints, and her hobbies include anything art-related. She enjoys reading dystopian/romance novels and hanging out with her childhood best friends.
She enjoys playing sports, although she no longer competes in high school athletics.
“I congratulate all graduating seniors,” Roberts said. “To the class of 2025, I’m already proud of you.”
The top two Gatesville High School graduating seniors have accomplished many things in their high school careers and are looking forward to a future in STEM.
Valedictorian Olivia Walker has a 4.53 GPA and is planning to intern with the Gatesville Police Department during the summer before studying chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. Walker said her goal is to become a forensic lab technician. Salutatorian Barrett Boyd has a 4.41 GPA and plans to major in Biology at the U.S. Air Force Academy before going to medical school.
Walker took part in the law pathway program that is offered as career and technology focused electives all four years of high school.
“I think I did a good job choosing the law program here,” She said. Through the program she was able to make connections in the Gatesville Fire and Police Departments. She also received a level two security guard certification and CPR certification.
Walker moved to Gatesville from
Cleburne during her freshman year but was able to quickly create an environment she was proud of.
“I’m proud of how far I got here and the social circle I built.”
Walker was on the tennis team all four years of high school and was the team captain for her senior year.
“We went to regional this year but didn’t make it very far,” She said.
When asked if she had any advice for students aiming to be the next
valedictorian, Walker said students should take honors classes instead of AP classes. Honors classes provide a dual credit opportunity and can boost a students GPA, but they can be difficult.
“If I had to say anything, it would be that grades matter the whole way through, so don’t slack off,” She said.
Boyd also has a similar goal of join-
ing the STEM Community.
“I don’t know what kind of doctor I want to be yet but it will be something involving medicine,” Boyd said. Boyd has been involved with multiple sports and extra curricular through her high school career. She was on the soccer, volleyball and track teams.
“I am most proud of how I did in track,” She said. “I qualified for state in pole vaulting two years in a row, and this year I also qualified in the 100 hurdles. I got 5th in pole vaulting last year and 5th in both pole vaulting and 100 hurdles this year.”
Boyd also has two of the school’s track records in pole vaulting and 100 hurdles.
“I jumped 12.7 (feet) in pole vaulting and ran 15:01 in hurdles.”
Boyd was also actively involved in the community, as she was class president all four years for the student council and on the Gatesville Chamber of Junior ambassadors. When asked what advice she would give other students, Boyd recommended “working diligently and to not procrastinate. Put your best foot forward in everything you do.”
Violet Scott is the 2024 Florence High School valedictorian.
Travis Antolini is the 2024 Florence High School salutatorian.
