Saltillo seniors earn more than $160,000 in scholarships

Saltillo High School this week recognized students for academic, athletic and other extracurricular achievements attained throughout the year. Seniors also received more than $160,100 in scholarships and awards, and the Teacher of the Year was also announced during the SHS Awards Ceremony May 23 in Garmon Gymnasium.

Teacher Jennifer Ricketson was recognized by the PTO as the Teacher of the Year, marking the second time she’s received the honor. The competition this year was opened online for voting by anyone. Some of the comments made about Ricketson were that she is an “amazing mentor,” that someone has looked up to her since elementary school, she always lends a helping hand, she’s not just a teacher but more like a second mom.

PTO/Booster Club scholarships were awarded to Jacob Sexton, Ridge Johnson, Amira Terry, Coy Collins, Julianna Giles, Yadhira Alonzo and Allie Lane.

Valedictorian Jacob Sexton will receive free tuition should he attend a state school his first year of college. He plans to attend Texas A&M University- Commerce Honors College, which pays half of his tuition there for up to four years. He indicated earlier that he plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, to become a nurse (like his dad, a travel nurse), then, maybe go on to medical school to earn a degree in dermatology. He also received a Finis and Onree Atlesey and Garland and Sweet Gamblin Scholarship in the amount of $750.

Ridge Johnson indicated plans to attend the University of North Texas to earn a degree in biology in the hope of one day becoming a veterinarian. He was awarded an Excellence Scholar award in the amount of $4,000 per year.

Coy Collins plans to attend lineman school at Southwest Lineman School in Trenton, Georgia. He also received a $2,500 Saltillo. Mount Vernon Michael Teague award to apply toward his schooling.

Collins isn’t the only Saltillo 2023 graduate planning a future in this area. Gunner Tarver indicated he too plans to attend lineman school in the future.

Salutatorian Ethan White’s future goal is to serve his country in the U.S. Army.

Max Cannaday with Mount Vernon Masonic Lodge #691 awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Allie Lane. Cannaday explained that the scholarship is one of five the lodge awards. Mirabeau Lamar Medals were also presented at an earlier time to Yahdira Alonso (Olvera), Landon Peeples and Julianna Giles.

Landon Peeples is one of three Saltillo 2023 graduates who indicated his career plan includes welding. Peeples was awarded the Charles Frank Stretcher Award and a Saltillo Blue & Gold Award in the amount of $1,000; he plans to attend Paris Junior College to study welding.

Colby McCoy too plans a career in the welding and construction trade, and Koby Perez indicated he plans to continue growing his welding business.

Lane plans to start her postsecondary education at Paris Junior College, where she will work toward a career in elementary education. Lane also received a $500 Tommy Starrett scholarship and was one of 14 students across the state selected to receive a $100 Teas Beta Nu Scholarship.

Robin Shrode, executive director for the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation announced Luke Ritter as a Bright Star Scholar. Ritter will benefit from a $40,000 scholarship, to be paid in amounts up to $5,000 a semester, for up to four years. Typically, the foundation awards ten Bright Star scholarships to 10 students across Hopkins County, the realization of a dream of the Gillis’ to give back to students in their home town of Sulphur Springs and surrounding areas. One of the late John Gillis’ dreams was to be able to award a scholarship to a student in each school within Hopkins County. When the applications were scored this year, a decision was made to fulfill that dream by offering two additional scholarships. This marks the third time in the five years the scholarships have been issued that a Saltillo student has been named a Bright Star Scholar.

Ritter plans to attend the University of Texas-Tyler, where he will work toward a Bachelor of Science in nursing, then plans to continue his education to become a nurse practitioner. To help him attain that goal, Ritter has been awarded a $2,000 Academic Excellence Scholarship, a $2,000 Patriot Scholarship and a $500 FEC scholarship.

Katlyn Gurley presented Julianna Giles, Yadhira Alonzo, Jacob Sexton and Amira Terry with scholarships in memory of Reta Eubanks. She noted her grandmother taught at Saltillo for 24 years. She was an inspiration to Gurley. Eubanks worked hard at the post office before becoming an educator, raising four kids and going to school. She said by the students’ essays, it is apparent they have the same type of dedication Reta Eubanks had. She hopes they will use the funding to help attain their goals.

Teacher Johnna West recognized FCCLA officers and noted the Chapter had a very successful year not just in competitions, but also in community service and fundraising. They helped support Journey Road by providing school supplies and sponsoring a hole at the annual golf tournament. FCCLA members baked and donated cookies for the annual CASA Cookie Walk. Forty-two chapter members made the trip to the state conference, where they received mostly gold medals in competitions.

FCCLA held a A Pink Out, with some funds raised applied toward FCCLA scholarships for graduating seniors. West offered thanks to parents and others who donated snacks and other items sold, with funds also going toward scholarships. West announced Yadhira Alonzo, Jacob Sexton, Amira Terry and Julianna Giles as recipients of $250 FCCLA Scholarships this year.

BETA members too were recognized for their successes this year. Almost all of the members competed at the state convention in February, which featured several new categories for students. Nine did well enough in their category and competition level to advance to the national convention in eight events in June. In Division I competition, Saltillo Beta students won third place honors in fiber arts and color photography, won the sculpture title, and placed fifth in hand-drawn anime.

In Division II, Saltillo students placed fifth in creative writing, fourth in mixed media, and won woodworking and Best in Show championships.

Yadhira Alonzo will received funds from the Mary Bonham Trust, which should pay most of the costs for school, with the amount in the trust available determined by the interest earned, estimated to be a minimum of $32,000 over the course of four year. She plans to attend the University of Texas at Tyler to major in biology with a goal of one day becoming a periodontist.

Julianna Giles plans to attend Austin College, where she will play basketball for the Lady Roos and earn a degree in sports management. She was awarded a $32,000 a year Presidential Award, renewable up to four years.

Amira Terry also plans to attend Austin College, where she will pursue a degree in psychology. She also received a $32,000 a year Presidential Award.

All SHS senior graduate candidates received an envelop from Colleen Hoover Inc. The valedictorian and salutatorian each received $2,000, and the other 2023 Saltillo High School graduates received a $1,000 award, in recognition of their big achievement in graduating. They were told the funds could be used for college or career preparation or however the graduates wish. (One student indicated the funds are just what he needs to get a new guitar.)

On Wednesday morning, Allie Lane, Julianna Giles, Ridge Johnson, Jacob Sexton, Like Ritter and Yadhira Alonso each received a $1,000 Justin Tully Memorial Scholarship.

Saltillo High School UIL competitors were recognized for their accomplishments this year. The SHS UIL team completed what some refer to as the triple crown by earning the district academic UIL championship. The Saltillo Elementary and Junior High UIL also swept the competition, taking the district UIL titles this year as well.

Of the 40-plus academic UIL competitors, 13 advanced from district to regional competition. Of those, four qualified to compete at state and two others were named as alternates.

Recognized for their state UIL achievements were Ethan White, Jacob Sexton, Ridge Johnson and Coy Collins. State alternates included Tobin Potter and Katelyn Cline.

Athletic teams and individual sports achievements during the 2022-2023 season were also noted for the girls and boys cross country, basketball and track teams; the girls softball and boys baseball teams. Students who remained on the A and AB Honor Rolls all year were also recognized Tuesday evening. At least seven students receive Spanish Awards as well.