Head of the Class 2008 tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008-05-30:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749 2008-06-02T17:59:59Z Tribute to the Abilene and Big Country valedictorians and salutatorians for 2008. Movable Type 4.25 Abilene Christian High School: Kaitlyn Dawn Wilkins tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111344 2008-05-31T22:13:46Z 2008-06-02T17:59:59Z Rank: Valedictorian Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.8Parents: Bill and Karen Wilkins... Nathaniel Ellsworth Kaitlyn Wilkins - on left.jpgRank: Valedictorian

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.8

Parents: Bill and Karen Wilkins
]]>
Future Plans: Pre-Med at ACU

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? The thing that I will remember the most about high school will be the teachers. They would joke around with everyone - pouring water on students or jumping behind them to scare them. They would also be serious and help students in any way possible. They didn't mind putting themselves out there for their students.

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? Take it one day at a time. It can be really fun if you don't rush through it. Enjoy the time in high school because it only comes once. Do what you want to do in high school, don't let others decide how you should live your life.

What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? I am glad we have stayed in touch; I've miss you.]]> Abilene Christian High School: Charles Rotenberry tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111343 2008-05-31T22:13:40Z 2008-05-31T22:29:31Z Rank: SalutatorianGrade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.2012Parents: Paul and Liz Rotenberry... Nathaniel Ellsworth Charles Rotenberry.jpgRank: Salutatorian

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.2012

Parents: Paul and Liz Rotenberry ]]> TAPPS 6-Man State Football champions in 2005.  Played with brother , Wilson, on the team.
Attended Abilene Christian Schools since Kindergarten.  
Joins brother, mother, father, 5 uncles, and 3 aunts as graduates
of Abilene Christian High School.

Future Plans: Plans to attend Abilene Christian University as an Exercise Science major.  Signed to play football at ACU.]]> Abilene High School: Michael Beckham tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111342 2008-05-31T22:13:34Z 2008-05-31T22:28:17Z Rank: 1Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 104.01Parents: John and Carolyn Beckham... Nathaniel Ellsworth Michael Beckham2.jpgRank: 1

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 104.01

Parents: John and Carolyn Beckham ]]> Senior Class President
Soccer Team Captain and 3 year letterman
National Merit Finalist-National Merit Scholarship Recipient
Eagle Scout- Boy Scouts of America
Voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by Abilene High peers
Mr. AHS Nominee
Top 5-Homecoming Court
Beltway Park Baptist Church Youth Leader-  for group of 8th grade boys
Rocketry Club Member- AP Physics C class

Future Plans: Go to Harvard; Plan to study Physics or Philosophy, then Grad school.
What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? The relationships-Great teachers and wonderful friends.

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? Challenge yourself-Don't take the easy road and always do your best.

What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? I guess we'll see.]]> Abilene High School: Susan Garrard tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111341 2008-05-31T22:13:28Z 2008-05-31T22:28:11Z Nathaniel Ellsworth Susan Garrard.jpgRank: 2

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 102.80357143

Parents: Tammy Garrard & Alex Garza ]]>
Future Plans: I am planning to attend Southwestern University in the fall in pursuit of an Art History/European History degree in order to achieve my goal of becoming a professor of these subjects at the collegiate level.

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? The teachers that I had the pleasure of knowing for more than one class, especially my junior and senior English teacher, Dina Riggins, and my AP World, AP Euro, and AP Art History teacher, Pat Snow.

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? Always remember that the most precious commodity in life is the knowledge gathered from tolerance and compassion.

What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? No, I'm serious! I really do have a job that applies to my major!]]> Albany High School: Christi Anna Hargrave tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111340 2008-05-31T22:13:22Z 2008-05-31T22:26:22Z Rank: 1Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 98.56Parents: Donna and Johnnie Hargrave... Nathaniel Ellsworth Christi Anna Hargrave.jpgRank: 1

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 98.56

Parents: Donna and Johnnie Hargrave ]]>
Future Plans: I am attending Texas A&M in College Station in the fall. I have been accepted into the college of engineering, and I will be majoring in Biomedical Engineering.

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? The thing I will remember most is going to Disney World on the Band trip my junior year. It was a really cool experience, and we all had a blast.

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? I would have to say don't try to blend in with the crowd or be something that you are not. Stay true to yourself and try your hardest, and that is how you are going to survive.

What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? Hopefully I will be showing of pictures of my new house that I will have just bought when I get a successful engineering career going.]]> Albany High School: Christina Hobbs tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111339 2008-05-31T22:13:16Z 2008-05-31T22:26:19Z Rank: 2ndGrade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.76 or 3.91Parents: Chris and Pam Hobbs... Nathaniel Ellsworth Christina Hobbs.jpgRank: 2nd

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.76 or 3.91

Parents: Chris and Pam Hobbs ]]> Band
Drill Team
Cheerleading
Basketball
Varsity Softball- 1st team all-district, 2nd team all district, "Golden Glove" Defensive MVP, Rob Shack "Fighting Heart" Award.
Varsity Volleyball- Academic All-district.
FFA- Chaplain 05-06, Secretary 06-07, Vice President 07-08, FFA Sweetheart 07-08, FFA Quiz team, FFA Ag Issues team, FFA Radio Team- State qualifiers, FFA livestock judging team, FFA horse judging team.  
National Honor Society member- Vice President 07-08
Gifted and Talented Program

Future Plans: To attend Tarleton State University in the fall to study Pre-Veterinary Medicine for 4 years and then Transfer to Texas A&M University to study Veterinary Medicine for another 4 years. After a total of 8 years of college I plan to graduate with my doctorate in Vet Med and open my own Veterinarian clinic.

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? Playing Softball. I made the varsity team as a freshman and by my senior year, our team was more than a group of girls playing ball, we were a family. I had the best coaches anyone could ever ask for. It was truly a great experience and I made so many memories playing the game that I love.

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? Don't sweat the small stuff. Things that I thought were important and stressed out over when I was younger turned out to be nothing compared to the challenges I met later in life and challenges still to come. Relax, work hard, and have fun because it goes by way too fast.
 
What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? Thank you. Everything that I have gone through during high school, whether it be good times or bad, with my senior class has become a part of who I am. I've learned so many different things from each of them that will help me at some point in my life.
]]> Anson High School: Hillary Heller tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111338 2008-05-31T22:13:10Z 2008-05-31T22:16:55Z Rank: 1Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 101.608Parents: Don and Belinda Heller... Nathaniel Ellsworth Heller Hillary.jpgRank: 1

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 101.608

Parents: Don and Belinda Heller ]]>
Future Plans: I plan to attend Texas A&M University in the fall and major in Agricultural Communications.

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? I will remember late-night studying, life lessons learned, hard-working teachers, how much my family supported me, great friends and Bible study at Coach Shaner's.

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? It is when you put your whole heart into something that you experience life to its fullest. Put your heart into everything that you do so that YOU can experience life to its fullest!

What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? Hopefully, I will be able to tell them that I am truly happy because I have followed the plan that He has created for me.
]]> Anson High School: Steven James Hamlett tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111337 2008-05-31T22:13:04Z 2008-05-31T22:16:49Z Nathaniel Ellsworth Steven James Hamlett.jpgRank: 2nd

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 4.0;  99.89

Parents: Greg and Robin Goza "and" Jim and Laura Hamlett ]]>
Future Plans: I will be attending Texas Tech University where I am going to major in Civil Engineering.

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? The thing that I will remember the most about high school is competing in all my athletic events especially Football and golf.

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? The key to get through high school is to make your teachers like you, if your teachers like you they will go above and beyond to help you.

What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? I will be telling my classmates about all my success in life and how much I enjoy my house on the beach in Mexico.]]> Aspermont High School: MaCade Gholson tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111336 2008-05-31T22:12:58Z 2008-05-31T22:14:50Z Rank: 1Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 98.46Parents: Bill and Melissa Gholson... Nathaniel Ellsworth MaCade Gholson.jpgRank: 1

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 98.46

Parents: Bill and Melissa Gholson ]]>
Future Plans: Attend Texas Tech pursue degree in Civil Engineering / Architecture

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? The last 3 weeks of school

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? My advice is to have fun.]]> Aspermont High School: Alyssa Mitchell tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111335 2008-05-31T22:12:52Z 2008-05-31T22:14:45Z Rank: 2Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.74Parents: Jamie Branch... Nathaniel Ellsworth Alyssa Mitchell.jpgRank: 2

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.74

Parents: Jamie Branch ]]>
Future Plans: Attend college at South Plains College and then attend Texas Tech to become a dentist.

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? The Universal Remote

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? Be yourself and keep on going.]]> Baird High School: Rustin Williams tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111334 2008-05-31T22:03:56Z 2008-05-31T22:12:26Z Rank: 1 of 26Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 101.3Parents: R. David and Troyce Williams... Nathaniel Ellsworth Rustin Williams.jpgRank: 1 of 26

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 101.3

Parents: R. David and Troyce Williams ]]> School Activities: Beta Club: 3 yrs: President 2007-2008. Student Council: 3 yrs: Treasurer 2005-2006 & President 2007-2008.  Class Vice President 2004-2005.  FCA. FFA. Varsity Football. Varsity Baseball: 3 yrs. Varsity Tennis. Junior Varsity Basketball.  One Act Play.  National Honor Society. National Society of High School Scholars.
Honors: Zone One Act Play: Best Actor 2005, All Star Cast 2007, District One Act Play: All-Star Cast 2005.  Honorable Mention All-District Baseball 2006, 2nd Team All-District Baseball 2007. Kiwanis Club Sophomore of the Year 2005-2006. Elected King of Baird High School by the Student Body 2007-2008 school yr.

Future Plans: Attend Texas Tech University and major in Animal Science

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? The laughs

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? Enjoy it while you're there.

What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? Things are good.]]> Baird High School: Dale A. Kunick tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111333 2008-05-31T22:03:50Z 2008-05-31T22:12:18Z Rank: 2Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.3Parents: Sandra and Robert Griggs; David and Ronda Kunick... Nathaniel Ellsworth Dale Kunick on left.jpgRank: 2

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 97.3

Parents: Sandra and Robert Griggs; David and Ronda Kunick ]]>
Future Plans: I plan on going to Angelo State to get my basics out of the way and then attending Duke University to study Law.

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? The funniest thing that happened to me in high school was when i went to Region Band Try-outs and the five others with me and I all shouted the words to "Stacy's Mom" down the main street in Bridgeport.

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? To survive high school, the most important thing is to persevere. Sometimes one must sacrifice what one wants to do to do what is important.

What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? Hopefully, I plan to tell my classmates that I am at least on the road to becoming a lawyer, maybe even "I'm already a lawyer."]]> Ballinger High School: Brandon Fry tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111332 2008-05-31T22:03:44Z 2008-05-31T22:10:48Z Rank: 1Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 104.709 or 4.0Parents: Mike and Marsha Fry... Nathaniel Ellsworth Brandon Fry.jpgRank: 1

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 104.709 or 4.0

Parents: Mike and Marsha Fry ]]>
Future Plans: Attend ACU and get a degree in Accounting

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? Good Friendships

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? Don't settle for second best.]]> Ballinger High School: Gregory Cole Geistmann tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111331 2008-05-31T22:03:38Z 2008-05-31T22:10:43Z Rank: 2Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 103.867 or 4.0Parents: Don and Sherran Geistmann... Nathaniel Ellsworth Greg Geistmann.jpgRank: 2

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 103.867 or 4.0

Parents: Don and Sherran Geistmann ]]>
Future Plans: Attend The University of Texas (Red McCombs School of Business) in Austin]]> Bangs High School: Jacklyn McKee tag:blogs.scripps.com,2008:/abil/head_of_the_class_2008//749.111330 2008-05-31T22:03:32Z 2008-05-31T22:09:11Z Rank: 1Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 98.57Parents: Grandparents are Cheryl and Jack Bourland... Nathaniel Ellsworth Jacklyn McKee.jpgRank: 1

Grade Average or Grade Point Average: 98.57

Parents: Grandparents are Cheryl and Jack Bourland ]]>
Future Plans: I plan to attend the Red McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas in Austin. I will be a marketing major and international management minor.

What was the funniest thing, or the thing you will remember most, about high school? One thing I will remember is learning how to weld. My friend and I built a metal picnic table in the first Ag class I ever took. We painted it bright pink and have been promised that it will be put in front of the new Ag shop once the new school is finished. Girls can do anything boys can do!

What advice do you have for underclassmen to survive high school? The best advice I can offer is to not let things get to you. There is always going to be someone who doesn't like you. Don't worry about them -- just be yourself and always have fun. You will never get these years back. Make the most of them!

What will you have to tell your classmates at your 10-year high school reunion? I will hopefully have lots of stories from my travels because hopefully my profession will require me to see the world.]]>