2017 Graduation Guide

A CELEBRATION OF OUR 2017 GRADUATES!

Graduation Guide View this entire publication online at www.kdhnews.com

Inside this issue Ellison High School

Page 4

Harker Heights High School

Page 5

Killeen High School

Page 6

Shoemaker High School

Page 7

Copperas Cove High School

Page 8

Gatesville High School

Page 9

Belton High School

Page 10

Belton New Tech @ Waskow High School

Page 11

Salado High School

Page 12

Florence High School

Page 13

Lampasas High School

Page 14

2017 Graduation Guide | A Killeen Daily Herald publication.

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| 2017 Graduation Guide

Area high schools hold graduation ceremonies at Expo Center Herald staff reports

Area graduations continue this weekend at the Bell County Expo Center, 301 W. Loop 121, Belton.

• Copperas Cove High School: 7:30 p.m. May 25.

• Killeen High School: 3 p.m. May 27.

• Ellison High School: 8 p.m. May 27.

• Harker Heights High School: 2 p.m. May 28.

• Shoemaker High School: 7 p.m.

May 28.

• Belton New Tech High @ Waskow: 2 p.m. June 1.

• Belton High School: 7 p.m. June 1.

All high school graduation ceremonies will be broadcast live at www. gradcast.org, with repeats airing on KISD-TV (Time Warner Cable Channel 17) throughout June and July.

Find the broadcast schedule at Kisdtv. killeenisd.org.

2017 Graduation Guide |

Ellison’s top two show drive to succeed in high school and beyond

BY TODD MARTIN SPECIAL TO THE HERALD

One stayed at or near the top of her Ellison High School class all four years and the other made a strong rise from No. 12. Both ended up at the top.

Sidonie Gallinger is the valedictorian and Samantha Huggins is the salutatorian of the Ellison High School Class of 2017.

Gallinger, who stayed focused on ending at the top, jumped around in the top three positions during four years of high school, ending at No. 1.

She took as many Advanced Placement classes as she could, stayed organized and focused and never wavered.

The daughter of Shannon Gallinger was also in the band and took part in visual art.

She has spent all her schooling in Killeen ISD, attending Duncan and Skipcha elementary schools, Union Grove Middle School and Ellison High School.

She plans to attend the University

TODD MARTIN | KISD

Ellison High School valedictorian Sidonie Gallinger, left and salutatorian Samantha Huggins are ready to graduate at the top of their Class of 2017.

of Wyoming and study pharmacology.

Though humble about her accomplishments, the high-achieving senior gave strong academic performance in spite of a congenital heart condition that required three surgeries when she was a young child.

“I don’t ever want to use that as an excuse,” she said, noting that it didn’t

Jeniece L. Fenderson

Madison Hattix Covington

My sweet Pumpkin you have had a lot of challenges to get you to this moment. You deserve it. I pray God guides you to extraordinary things.

With all my love, Mom.

We love you Madison.

God bless you at VCU. Love Mom & Dad.

“Just Keep Swimming”

| 2017 Graduation Guide

slow her down in school. “I’m ready to graduate.”

The outstanding student said she worked hard to stay on top of her challenging classes. “I try to plan ahead and get started as soon as possible,” she said.

“It’s very surreal,” Huggins said of her finish as the second-ranked

Ellison senior.

As a freshman, she was ranked No. 12 and satisfied. She moved up to eighth her sophomore year and third her junior year. “I thought, ‘I can do this. It’s possible.’ I am proud of No. 2.”

The daughter of Robert and Beverly Huggins plans to attend Texas A&M University and then medical school.

She took part in the Texas Bioscience Institute, where she earned an associate degree from Temple College. She was also a member of the Emeralds dance team and is a competitive dancer with a local studio.

“I wanted to challenge myself,” she said of choosing to take the TBI courses. “It was a lot of fun. It’s really small and we grew to be a family. We could study a lot and stay focused and challenged.”

She credited her parents for pushing her to stay committed to academics and to put studies ahead of dance and other activities.

The Ellison High School graduation ceremony is at 8 p.m. May 27 at the Bell County Expo Center.

Heights valedictorian, salutatorian ready for military service

In addition to completing TBI and earning an associate degree from Temple College, Kim served as class vice president, played tennis and took part in other organizations. “I couldn’t waste time,� he said. “I found spots in my schedule to study and I did make time to relax and have fun with friends.�

He is the son of Hyok Chan Daniel Kim and Son Chu Esther Kim.

The valedictorian, daughter of Jackie Racho-Pelias and Edwino Pelias, expressed similar humility in finishing at the top of her class. “It’s something I wanted to do,� she said, noting that she was ranked No. 1 as a freshman and never relinquished the top spot. “I didn’t want to lose it.

I know a lot of other students could have done the same.�

She praised the training she received in JROTC, where she rose to battalion commander and in TBI, where she took part in extra summer research and shadowed health professionals in addition to the rigorous curriculum. “It was a challenging experience,� she said of leading the school’s JROTC unit. “I had a lot of leadership opportunities and I got to have an impact on students in the program.�

Following graduation from high school, Pelias will train in the Navy, where she is set to learn the cyber field, pursue a college degree and possibly continue into graduate studies.

The Harker Heights High School graduation ceremony is at 2 p.m. May 28 at the Bell County Expo Center.

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We love you! Love, Mom, Dad, Chris, & Tyler

BY TODD MARTIN SPECIAL TO THE HERALD

Service beyond self describes the top two graduates of the Harker Heights High School Class of 2017.

In addition to finishing at the top of her class, valedictorian Karenina Pelias completed the two-year Texas Bioscience Institute program and is commander of her school’s Junior ROTC battalion.

With the choice of attending almost any university, she decided not to go to any of them — yet. In November, she heads to basic training in the U.S. Navy. It’s the choice I want to do,� she said. “The military is a good opportunity to learn my field.�

She chose the Navy to get experience in computer science.

Salutatorian Joseph Kim, also completing the Texas Bioscience Institute, is headed to military service as well. He is going to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Kim is following a proud tradition.

His father is an active-duty soldier in the Army, serving as a chaplain. His

Todd Martin | KISD

Karenina Pelias, left, is the Harker Heights High School valedictorian. Joseph Kim is salutatorian.

older brother and sister both attended the Air Force Academy. “I grew up in a military family and my brother and sister serve,� he said. “It’s an honor for me to serve my country.�

Support of family and friends and hard work propelled Kim to salutatorian. “I just worked hard and paid attention,� he said. “I couldn’t have done it without my parents, friends and teachers.�

2017 Graduation Guide |

Killeen’s top two eye careers as Navy pilot, biomedical engineer

BY TODD MARTIN

SPECIAL TO THE HERALD

Flying high will be more than a metaphor for this year’s Killeen High School valedictorian when her plans take off. Sirena Woodall, the top Class of 2017 graduate, is headed to the U.S. Naval Academy to study aeronautics engineering. She hopes to be a combat pilot.

Stepping into the unknown and excelling is the norm for Woodall, part of a military family that moved to Central Texas from Singapore when she was a sophomore.

From a tiny international school, she entered KHS and dived into the International Baccalaureate program and Advanced Placement courses, as well as JROTC and other extracurricular activities.

“I’ve worked hard for it, it’s been a goal since I moved here,” she said of finishing at the top of her class.

“I put homework first above extracurricular activities. I did my work and set goals to get to the Naval Academy.”

She said she’s always been passionate about airplanes and reeled off the names of recent and upcoming

Aiga Jadeyn Vaalele Ale Congratulations and soar higher with God at your side!

Love always Mom, Brother, Tone Jr. and beloved Daddy SFC Washington Vaalele Ale and all of your families.

| 2017 Graduation Guide

Todd Martin | KISD

Sirena Woodall left, is the Killeen High School valedictorian. Michelle Robbins is salutatorian.

models of military aircraft.

As a newcomer to a large public high school just three years ago, she said the close-knit group of IB students was important to establishing a family-like community.

“I started with IB overseas and it’s helped me with study skills and staying focused,” she said. “With the smaller classes we’re able to build community.”

Killeen High School salutatorian

Michelle Robbins finished the Texas Bioscience Institute, earned an associate degree and is headed to Cornell University to pursue biomedical engineering.

She also praised the opportunity to work alongside a small group of peers committed to learning and said it was disciplined study that led to her high class ranking.

“It feels good,” she said of finishing high school as salutatorian. “I’ve

been working four years.” She was involved in theater and other extracurricular activities at school.

The two-year TBI program at Temple College was a highlight for Robbins. “It was great because it was college experience while we were still in high school.”

The small group that took part in the morning session at the college campus grew close and learned from each other and from the professors.

“We learned a lot of life lessons,” she said. It was a medical speaker during a Friday lecture series at TBI that led Robbins to consider pursuing a medical career. She’s leaning toward fetal surgery.

To perform consistently at such a high level, the salutatorian said she made a practice of snatching short periods of time throughout the day to leverage into study. She used time on the bus between Killeen High School and the Temple College west campus and time between classes. “I didn’t want to give up the extracurricular activities or the grades,” she said. “I wanted to stay on top.”

The Killeen High School graduation ceremony is at 3 p.m. May 27 at the Bell County Expo Center.

Shoemaker valedictorian, salutatorian plan medical careers

BY TODD MARTIN SPECIAL TO THE HERALD

Quick to credit others for their success, the top two graduates of Shoemaker High School are headed to the same university and pursuing related fields helping others.

Valedictorian Patricia Lane is headed to the University of Texas and plans to enter the nursing field.

Salutatorian Jason McDonald is also set to attend the University of Texas and go into psychology.

“It feels rewarding, like the hard work paid off,” Lane said of coming to the end of high school and finishing at the top of her class.

The daughter of Rodney Lane took part in a variety of extracurricular activities and took the AVID elective class, a college prep course that included a senior project that proved influential to her.

For her project, Lane started Mend Your Mind, a club for students to discuss topics related to depression and anxiety.

The group met every other week,

TODD MARTIN | KISD

Shoemaker High School valedictorian Patricia Lane, right, and salutatorian Jason McDonald are set to graduate at the top of the school’s Class of 2017.

often with 20 students or more. The students came from a variety of backgrounds and enjoyed getting to know one another, Lane said.

“I’ve always wanted to help people,” she said, explaining her interest in starting the club and in pursuing a career in nursing. “I want to be

someone who actually gets to help patients.”

She said AVID, with its focus on teaching note taking skills and staying organized helped her navigate a challenging matrix of Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses.

“It’s exciting,” she said of coming to

the end of high school. “It’s also kind of scary to think about entering the real world.”

McDonald said his mother, Maria McDonald, has been a huge supporter, helping him to stay on track.

“Mostly, I just did the work and stayed on top of it,” he said.

He also pursued a rigorous schedule, taking about 14 Advance Placement courses and maintaining a grueling swim schedule. A member of the school swim team, McDonald said he regularly swam two hours each morning and two more in the evening.

As a result of his busy athletic endeavors and volunteer work, he said he took advantage of time at school to get most of his studying done.

“It’s exciting and it’s nerve-racking,” he said of completing high school. “I will be doing things on my own. I’ll remember times in swimming and all the memories of high school.”

The Shoemaker High School graduation ceremony is at 7 p.m. May 28 at the Bell County Expo Center.

Joshua Christian Birkes You made it! I couldn’t be more prouder of the young man you have become!

Congratulations to you!

We love you!

Mama, Jordan and Heather

2017 Graduation Guide |

Medical careers ahead for Copperas Cove’s top two graduates

By Jacqueline Dowland Killeen Daily Herald

COPPERAS COVE — Caroline Harrison and Gabrielle Griffin share two things in common: a passion for medicine and being top of their class.

Harrison, the valedictorian of Copperas Cove High School, Class of 2017, is the daughter of two physicians.

She said she was determined as a child not to follow in her parents’ footsteps.

“Originally I didn’t want to do medicine, because as a kid I was always asked if I’d be a doctor like my parents,” Harrison said. “I thought I’d do the research route. I really like medicine and pushing science forward.”

Harrison and Griffin, CCHS’s salutatorian, are graduating with their senior class of 515 students.

Harrison will attend Trinity University in San Antonio to study biology for a major and history or music for her minor, while Griffin heads to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth to begin her studies in biology.

“I haven’t been able to do a lot of (medical) research at the high school, so that is something I’ll have to try at college and see how it goes,” she said.

Harrison, the daughter of Drs. Karen and Raymond Harrison, has

| 2017 Graduation Guide

Courtesy photo

Copperas Cove High School valedictorian Caroline Harrison, left, and salutatorian Gabrielle Griffin.

two younger brothers: Joey, a freshman at CCHS, and Jonathan, a seventh-grader at Copperas Cove Junior High School.

She has been in the Pride of Cove Marching Band all of her high school years, and plays the oboe.

“We practice three hours every day after school for band, and then Friday nights we get back around midnight because of games,” Harrison said.

“As a drum major, we were able to help all these freshmen learn how to march, and I think that was really amazing to help that many people in some way.”

Harrison has also volunteered at the Cove House Free Clinic since January 2015.

Griffin moved to Cove from when she was 3 years old and has been active all her life.

“As kids (Harrison and I) did tae kwon do together,” Griffin said. “I also played soccer all four years of high school.”

Griffin hopes to research diseases one day. “My mom (teaches) the Advanced Placement biology course here and I took the course my junior year,” Griffin said. “When we were talking about cells, we did a case study on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and learning how HIV attacks the immune system got me really interested in researching diseases and how they work.”

Griffin’s activities include band in

addition to tae kwon do and soccer, activities to which she credits her time management skills.

“I did soccer and tae kwon do when I was little and it taught me how to manage my time,” Griffin said. “Once I got my routine and had that structure, it was easy to manage my time.”

Griffin, the daughter of Aimee Castillo-Griffin and William Griffin, has a twin brother, Isaac, and a younger sister, Amaya in the fourth grade.

When asked how her twin brother feels about his sister being the salutatorian of their class, Griffin said her brother shines in his own way.

“He doesn’t mind; he has soccer so he has his own thing,” Griffin said.

Cove’s graduation was May 25.

Science, nursing careers ahead for Gatesville’s top two graduates

By Jacqueline Dowland Killeen Daily Herald

GATESVILLE — Cameron Kuhl and Corie Tunnell are passionate about science as they prepare to graduate with top honors.

Kuhl, the valedictorian of Gatesville High School, Class of 2017, would like to be a forensic pathologist.

She said it all started one day when she watched a video.

“One day I was on Twitter and I saw a video of an autopsy,” Kuhl said. “I started researching, and got interested in it.”

Kuhl and Tunnell, GHS Class of 2017’s salutatorian, will graduate with their senior class of approximately students this week.

Kuhl is the valedictorian with a 4.56 GPA while Tunnell earned salutatorian honors with a 4.367 GPA. Kuhl will attend the University of Texas in Austin to study biology, while Tunnell heads to Texas State University in San Marcos in the fall to begin her studies in nursing.

Courtesy photos

Gatesville High School valedictorian Cameron Kuhl, left, and salutatorian Corie Tunnell.

Kuhl, the daughter of Justin and Kelly Kuhl and Tammy and Jason Vandiver, has three siblings: Aubrey, 9; Bryson, 2; and Freddy, 1.

Kuhl has been involved in student council, has served as class secretary and class president, National Honor

Society, and culture club.

“I am pretty proud of myself, I worked really hard,” Kuhl said. “My hard work paid off. It feels really nice.”

Tunnell has been busy throughout high school, juggling various

sports, National Honor Society, and part-time jobs with her exemplary grades.

“I was in several sports, and worked at Peacock River Ranch and at Expectations Gymnastics, Cheer and Dance,” Tunnell said.

Tunnell hopes to help others by becoming a nurse practitioner one day.

“I worked as a lifeguard during the summers while in high school,” Tunnell said. “Helping kids who were injured motivated me to study nursing.”

Tunnell’s extracurricular activities include volleyball, basketball, track, and cross-country.

Tunnell, the daughter of Nate and Stephanie Byrd, and Justin and Brandy Tunnell, has a younger sister named Emma, who is 5.

When asked she feels about being named salutatorian, Tunnell said she feels a sense of accomplishment.

“I feel like all of my hard work is finally paying off,” Tunnell said.

Gatesville High School graduation is at 8 p.m. May 26 at McKamie Stadium in Gatesville.

Some financial must-do’s for college-bound high school students’ families One challenge looms large for many American families as students approach high school graduation: how to pay for college.

Financial planning should ideally begin several years before college applications are even due. But no matter what financial preparation your family has done, everyone planning to attend college should take these concrete measures during senior year of high school.

• Seek federal aid. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon as possible. The FAFSA is your first step to securing financial aid for college, including federal student loans, and most state and institutional aid. Go to fafsa.ed.gov.

• Search for scholarships. Because scholarship money typically does not have to be repaid, it’s important to secure as much of it as possible.

Begin your search using online scholarship databases, such as TuitionFundingSources.com, and meet with your school counselor to discuss other available scholarship opportunities. Check out sites like raise.me to learn more about how you can earn scholarship money for your high school achievements.

• Understand family finances. Now is the time to have some important family discussions. Parents should set expectations about money with their students, letting them know what, if any, portion of college

expenses they plan to pay. Students should find out if any funds have been set aside for their education, as well as what their responsibilities will entail — whether that involves holding down a part-time job or maintaining a particular GPA. • Consider private loans. After exhausting grants, scholarships and other aid options that don’t require paying interest, private loans may be worth some consideration and can, in some cases expand your educational opportunities.

“It’s important to keep in mind that there are often many unanticipated expenses associated with the college years — from taking an extra course to paying for materi-

als and technology to spending a term studying abroad,” says John Rasmussen, head of Wells Fargo’s private student lending business, who cautions against a cavalier attitude where loans are concerned.

“Whether you take out a private student loan or leverage other financial products to pay for miscellaneous expenses, it’s important to understand the terms of repayment.”

More tips, as well as free college planning resources, can be found at blogs.wf.com/collegeplanning.

Don’t leave the future uncertain.

If you are college-bound, plan ahead to ensure you can meet the costs of your education.

Courtesy of StatePoint 2017 Graduation Guide |

Belton’s top two complete four-year push to reach their potential

BY MARIEL WILLIAMS FME news service

BELTON — Belton High School’s 2017 valedictorian and salutatorian both started pushing to reach the top of their class after they realized their own potential midway through their freshman year.

Mallory Lane is this year’s valedictorian and Hunter Mitchell is the salutatorian.

“I don’t think (valedictorian) is a goal that I had coming into high school, but once I got my first rank in January of my freshman year and I saw it was attainable I kind of strived for it a little bit more,” Lane said. “It wasn’t truly my number one goal until later on when I realized it was something that I really did want.”

Mitchell had a similar experience.

“When I went into high school, I just kind of wanted to be in the top 10 percent,” he said. “When I saw that I was in the top 10, saw that it was attainable to try to achieve high rank, I put effort toward it.”

Mitchell and Lane have similar paths laid out after graduation as well. They both hope to study biology with a pre-med focus, Lane at Abilene

10 | 2017 Graduation Guide

Courtesy photos

Mallory Lane, left, is Belton High School’s valedictorian and Hunter Mitchell is the salutatorian.

Christian University and Mitchell at the University of Texas at Austin.

Lane has been a cheerleader all four years of high school. Mitchell has been heavily involved in Tiger Media, filming school events.

“I think that’s one of my favorite things about the two of us being at the top of the class, that we’ve been so involved and we’ve shown people that you can be involved and still excel academically,” Lane said. “I think one thing we both enjoyed — from different sides of it and different perspec-

tives — was Friday night lights at the football games. I know that I really enjoyed getting to cheer for the team and I always saw that the media team had lots of fun, too.”

Mitchell said that one of the things that makes extracurricular activities at Belton High so rewarding is the way club sponsors allow students freedom to explore and learn.

“We got to hang out and have fun and still try new things, like they let us film and do shots our way,” Mitchell said. “It was just fun to see and get

a taste of the world after high school.”

Mitchell said he is looking forward to seeing the wider world and life outside of school.

“Growing up here, I’ve never left, really,” Mitchell said. “I just want to see the world…. I just want to see where I’ll end up one day.”

Lane is looking forward to seeing who she becomes as she grows and experiences new places and new projects. But she is also excited about coming back every now and then.

“The thing I will take forward with me the most is all the relationships I’ve made here in high school, not just with friends but with teachers,” Lane said. “I’ve had a lot of teachers be very dedicated to, not to me being valedictorian, but me just succeeding and understanding the material. ...

I think that those relationships will hold on and I look forward to coming back and visiting those teachers and showing them what all I have accomplished later on.”

Lane is the daughter of Bryan and Shara Lane. Mitchell is the son of Tricia and Brian Mitchell.

Belton High School’s graduation is at 7 p.m. June 1 at the Bell County Expo Center.

Scientific careers ahead for top two graduates of New Tech High

BY MARIEL WILLIAMS FME News service

BELTON — New Tech High School’s top two seniors both hope to make their mark in the scientific community after graduating June 1.

Morgan Callin was named valedictorian and Jessica Dickson salutatorian at New Tech High School @ Waskow this year.

Callin said her primary motivation for pursuing the top spot in her class was a spirit of friendly competition with her sister, Alyssa Callin, who was valedictorian in 2015.

“We kind of have this ‘Anything you can do, I can do better complex,’ and since she was valedictorian of the very first graduating class at New Tech, I was like, ‘Well, I can do that,’ and I did,” Callin said.

Callin is the daughter of Jeffrey and Kay Callin. Dickson is the daughter of Angela and Joseph Dickson.

Dickson said she was motivated by a lifelong ambition to be an archaeologist, and to do anything that would get her closer to that goal. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where she hopes to study anthropology and

Courtesy photos

Morgan Callin, left, is valedictorian and Jessica Dickson is salutatorian of New Tech High School.

environmental science.

“I plan on pursuing my own research after I go through grad school to study South American civilizations, because I feel like they are under-covered in most aspects, including — mostly — religion,” Dickson said. “I’d like to study their religion and how it relates to the way they lived.”

Callin plans to take her scientific interests on a more technical route — she will be attending Purdue University in the fall pursuing a degree in chemical engineering.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to work with GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and develop healthier and more sustainable crops that will be able to be taken to developing countries to help them get agricultural economies started,” Callin said.

To get them started on their scientific careers, both students have been involved in the robotics program at New Tech. Dickson has been the robotics engineering notebook editorin-chief for the past two years. She has also worked at the Gulf Archaeology Research Institute, doing both

lab work and work at archeological dig sites, and volunteered for the Bell County Museum.

Callin has been a varsity power lifter for four years, making it to regionals four times and state twice.

She was president of the school’s National Honor Society for two years.

For students hoping to make it to the top of their class, Callin and Dickson recommend organization and diversification.

“You need to really keep yourself organized, because you get kind of wrapped up in starting high school and you’re trying to figure everything out,” Dickson said. “You (shouldn’t) let yourself get disorganized and lose track of what’s important.”

But Callin said that focusing too much on getting the best grades can hurt a student’s long-term success.

“Obviously academics are super important, and it should take a lot of your time, but you need to also take time to do other things,” she said.

“Just as far as being successful in life and the future, you need to be able to have other things than just school.”

New Tech’s graduation is at 2 p.m.

June 1 at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton.

Tatiana Robinson Baby girl, we are so proud of you! May God continue to bless you in all of your future endeavors! Keep up the great work! We love you very much!

Daddy, Mommy, Isaiah, and all of your families.

2017 Graduation Guide | 11

Salado valedictorian, salutatorian learn to lead by example

By Bob Massey Herald correspondent

The valedictorian and salutatorian at Salado High School have similar values and are like-minded when it comes to the meaning of leadership.

Kristin Crouch, 18, is valedictorian and the daughter of Robert and Karen Crouch.

Olivia Sula, 18, is salutatorian and the daughter of Robert and Audra Sula.

Concerning leadership, Crouch said, “Being a leader is much more than being given that title. You lead by example and do it every day.”

Crouch has played golf and soccer at the varsity level for the past four years. As a golfer, she competed at the state level and All-Region plus selected Most Valuable Player. As a soccer player, Crouch competed at the state level and named to First Team All-State, Most Valuable Player, Academic All-State, First Team AllDistrict and All-Region, Freshman of the Year and was captain of her soccer team.

Jabari Dumisani Edwards You are your Baba’s “Brave Speaker of Truth” and your Mama’s “Ray of Sunshine”!

We are both very pleased with your mental, physical and spiritual development. May Yah continue to bless and prosper you. Ase! Love Baba and Mama

12 | 2017 Graduation Guide

Courtesy photos

Kristin Crouch, left, is valedictorian and Olivia Sula is salutatorian of Salado High School.

Crouch will attend Texas A&M University at College Station and major in business with an emphasis in business management. She plans to work in the family’s staffing business.

When asked about why she has been successful in her athletic and academic endeavors, Crouch said, “It’s my competitive nature on and off the field. The determination of

always wanting to do my best came from my parents. They’ve taught me to be self-motivated and provided a stable family life for me.”

Sula, speaking of leadership, said, “I agree with Kristin that you lead by example everywhere you go. You want to do the right thing when you’re with your family and other people. Sula has also been involved in

athletics, including soccer and crosscountry. She ran cross-country for one year and was on the All-Varsity Soccer Team throughout high school.

She was named Defensive Most Valuable Player at the district level, First-Team All-District and Academic All-State. She was selected for the AllRegion Team and was Most-Improved Soccer Player as a freshman. She was also a captain of her soccer team.

Sula will attend Abilene Christian University and major in biology with an emphasis on pre-med. After her four years at ACU, she will attend medical school and become a doctor of sports medicine.

When asked about why she has been successful in her athletic and academic endeavors, Sula said, “I’m very competitive and am self-motivated. My parents encourage me to do the best I can. The main reason I’ve done well is my Christian faith.”

Crouch and Sula will give speeches at the Salado High School graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. May 26 at the Mayborn Civic and Convention Center in Temple.

Florence valedictorian wants to be a DJ; salutatorian eyes medicine

By Val Valdez

Herald correspondent

Florence High School’s 2017 valedictorian, Kyle Parker, 18, earned the top spot with a 4.0 GPA out of a class of over 70 seniors. Inspired by the school’s radio broadcasting class, he will major in radio-television-film in the fall at the University of Texas with a goal to become a radio DJ. “I enjoy public speaking and was a Voice of the Stampede doing school announcements at pep rallies and sports events,” Parker said. He will spend his last summer working at a local meat market putting his meat skills to good use, and is grateful to the AG teachers.

“They helped me a lot, not only in academics but also taught me life skills.”

He also served as the school’s FFA’s vice president and president, and in 2015 was a state champion in food tech, as well as a member of the school’s state championship team.

Courtesy photos

Kyle Parker, left, is valedictorian and Ryan Frampton is salutatorian of Florence High School.

Among his best memories are of history class and the pep rallies. “I loved the school’s spirit; it’s very special, he said.

As much as he has enjoyed high school, Parker is excited to leave.

“I am ready and want to keep my options open,” he said.

Salutatorian Ryan Frampton, 18,

successfully balanced his love for sports with academic achievements at Florence High School.

“Cross country and soccer gave my mind a break from school work and I enjoyed encouraging my team members,” Frampton said.

He is graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA and said his favorite classes

were history and math.

“Calculus was interesting, challenging class, and history was very intriguing,” he said.

Frampton excelled in the school’s FFA program winning a state championship in AG Science Fair in 2014 and placed sixth at the national level.

He was a member of the Florence FFA State Champion Food Science team.

“Taking the FFA trips and being on a great team were the best part of my high school experience, because it helped me come out of my shell,” he said.

Texas A&M University-College Station is the next step in his life journey where he will pursue biomedical engineering.

“All the advancements in the medical profession come from this area, so I’ll be in a field that develops new products to better the lives of people,” Frampton said.

Graduation is at 8 p.m. May 26 at Stampede Stadium in Florence.

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Lampasas valedictorian, salutatorian ready for bigger things

By Artie Phillips Killeen Daily Herald

When graduation rolls around, some seniors breathe a sigh of relief and attempt to purge all forms of “learning” from their lives for two months before they head off to college.

For the Lampasas valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2017, graduation is just one small step to bigger and better things.

“I actually want to receive a degree in molecular biology,” valedictorian Rachel Porter said.

Porter is graduating with a weighted GPA of 5.587. “I took AP (Advanced Placement) biology sophomore year and we did some molecular biology then, and I became very fascinated with the subject.”

The salutatorian, however, plans to focus on something a little bigger with her college studies.

Alexa Chesnut plans to study anthropology with a dream job of working for the United Nations.

Courtesy photos

Rachel Porter, left, is valedictorian and Alexa Chesnut is salutatorian of Lampasas High School.

“I’ve actually wanted to study anthropology since sophomore year, when I started watching the TV show ‘Bones,’” she said. Chesnut is graduating with a weighted GPA of 5.255.

“I don’t watch the show anymore because it became kind of repetitive, but I fell in love with the subject.”

Porter and Chesnut said they have been close friends since the third grade, when Porter moved to Lampas-

as. They also said that, based on their grades, they pretty much knew they were going to be the valedictorian and salutatorian of their class since eighth grade.

“We have always both done really well in school, we have always taken honors courses and AP courses whenever we could,” Chesnut said.

Both the valedictorian and the salutatorian have already been accepted

to their colleges of choice, with Porter heading to Texas A&M in College Station in the fall and Chesnut going to the University of Texas in Austin.

Of course, before the fall semester starts, the graduating seniors have some summer adventures planned.

Porter is planning on traveling to one of the United State’s most iconic cities: The Big Apple.

“My family is going to New York this summer for vacation,” she said.

“I didn’t go on the New York trip in school, so this is going to be really fun.”

Chesnut is planning to travel a little further abroad for her summer vacation, as she is preparing to go to Spain before college starts.

“It was organized by one of the teachers at the school, but it isn’t really a school trip,” she said. “Just several students and parents will be going to Spain for about 10 days.”

Porter and Chesnut will be walking across the stage and receiving their high school diplomas at 7:30 p.m. May 26 at Badger Stadium in Lampasas.

A few tips for understanding and paying back student loans With an estimated $1.3 trillion in student loans outstanding, it’s safe to say student loan debt is a reality for millions of Americans. While this figure may sound daunting, experts say that greater financial literacy can help students and graduates better understand their loans and pay them back.

“The reality is, people out there are hungry for information. They want to understand the facts when it comes to paying back student loans and the best way to do it,” says the educator turned hip hop artist Dee-1, who celebrated paying off his student loans by writing the song “Sallie Mae Back.”

To help students get on the right track, Dee-1 has teamed up with

14 | 2017 Graduation Guide

Sallie Mae to educate students on financing college, paying back loans, and managing finances. They are offering the following tips from the top of Dee-1’s paying back student loans playlist: • Know who you owe and how much. Understand if your loan is from the federal government — about 93 percent of all loans are — or a private lender like Sallie Mae. If you are unsure, call your lender or check your credit report. Be responsible. Know your monthly payment amounts and due dates.

• Separate wants from needs. Managing your money means managing your lifestyle. Prioritize payments you must make every month, and make sure your student loan is one

of them.

• Exceed your own expectations.

Pay more than the minimum amount due each month. If you get a raise or tax refund, use part or all of it to increase your monthly loan payment.

The faster you pay off your loan, the less you’ll spend in the long run.

• Confront reality. If you run into trouble, don’t hide from it, don’t be embarrassed by it, and don’t give up.

Stay positive, focused, and look for solutions. Call your lender or touch base with your cosigner, if you have one.

• Get excited about your future.

Be passionate about managing your money wisely and effectively.

You can’t make your student loans disappear magically overnight, but

you can make a plan for paying them back.

“The exhilaration Dee-1 expresses in paying off his student loans is contagious,” said Martha Holler, senior vice president, Sallie Mae. “We hope his excitement and his direct, doable tips help newly minted graduates get into the rhythm of repayment.”

For more information, visit SallieMae.com, a one-stop resource that includes monthly budget worksheets, loan repayment calculators, and information about payment options.

Don’t let the prospect of paying back student loans overwhelm you. Financial literacy is a game changer and can position you to move up in the workforce on good financial footing.

Courtesy of StatePoint

Hot or not? Report highlights this year’s most in-demand jobs Courtesy of StatePoint

Whether you just entered the career world or have been in the workforce for years, if you’re hunting for a new gig, it’s time to discover this year’s hottest jobs.

The 2017 Hot Jobs report, recently released by Randstad US, one of the largest HR services and staffing companies in the country, reveals the most in-demand and emerging jobs across engineering, finance and accounting, human resources, information technology (IT), life sciences, manufacturing and logistics, office and administration, and non-clinical health care.

“Our experts, along with many economists, predict a strong economy in 2017, which is likely to result in more job opportunities nationwide,” said Jim Link, chief human resources officer for Randstad North Ameri-

ca. “It’s important to stay in-the-know to find out which jobs hold the greatest potential. Job seekers looking for career growth can improve their chances of landing these coveted roles by knowing employer pain points and packaging their skills and knowledge as potential solutions.”

To help candidates better understand what type of job market they face, Randstad is offering tips for landing a hot job.

• If you have a knack for science and technology, consider engineering. The industry continues to evolve based on market trends and technical innovation, and the unemployment rate for the overall field is well below the national average.

• Interested in finance and accounting? Beef up your public accounting and general ledger software skills to be more competitive. You’ll also have a leg up if you speak a second

language, as the demand for bilingual candidates continues to rise.

• Passionate about working in a front or back office role within the health care system? Non-clinical health care is booming, with emerging jobs like medical secretary and medical assistant in facilities needing additional support.

• Discover new opportunities in life sciences by exploring positions flush with research and development funding. With continued innovations in medical technology, the changing regulatory environment and upcoming patent expirations, the industry requires highly specialized talent to fill open voids.

• Be the IT guy and consider a job in Big Data. While IT is an ever-growing industry, Big Data positions are critical to increasing productivity, and innovation is in high demand.

• As office and administration roles

grow, these positions are starting to look more like middle management than support staff. If you possess diverse skills with experience in project management, budgeting, marketing and training, you’ll have the upper hand.

• New technology and innovative production systems are sparking a rebirth in American manufacturing and logistics. Job seekers with previous experience, higher education, technological know-how or training will have a competitive edge.

• As employers seek new talent to fill all these hot jobs, consider being the human in human resources. A field with rapid technological advancements, professionals with a digital mindset will lead the pack.

For full study results, visit Randstad’s 2017 Hot Jobs report and learn more about which industry or position is right for you.

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