2020 EDUCATION CELEBRATION2 | Education Celebration | June 2020 CONTENTS STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Graduating La Marque High School seniors Brittany Perkins and Kenneth Cobb cheer on their classmates during a community celebration for the Class of 2020 at Etheredge Stadium in La Marque on Friday, May 1. Valedictorians 3 Abundant Life Christian Academy: Abigail Lonngi 4 Ball High School: Christof Gault 5 Bay Area Christian Academy: Bailey Plummer 6 Clear Creek High School: Elida Met-Hoxha 7 Clear Falls High School: Vijeta Revankar 8 Clear Springs High School: Sharil Maredia 9 Dickinson High School: Andrea Uribe 10 Friendswood High School: Anushka Jetly 11 High Island High School: Nate Jackson 12 Hitchcock High School: Gerald Stephenson 13 La Marque High School: Katriel Ivy 14 O’Connell College Preparatory School: Anisa Rocha 15 Odyssey Academy: Alfredo Rivas 16 Santa Fe High School: Marcus Dobson 17 Texas City High School: Elizabeth Carter Scholarship Winners 22 Abundant Life Christian Academy: Abigail Lonngi 23 Ball High School: Larrenze Menifee 24 Bay Area Christian School: Kristian Freeman 25 Clear Creek High School: Morgan Severson 26 Clear Falls High School: Dylan German 27 Clear Springs High School: Kim Pham 28 Dickinson High School: Caleb Garcia-Quiballo 29 Friendswood High School: Elizabeth Tran 30 High Island High School: Sarah Weeks 31 Hitchcock High School: Gerald Stephenson 32 La Marque High School: Tory Tate 33 O’Connell College Preparatory School: Anisa Rocha 34 Odyssey Academy: Nina Trevino 35 Santa Fe High School: Trysten Uzzell 36 Texas City High School: Jonatan Reyes Students of the Week 18 Pacey Jones, Meghan Flanagan, Alexander Patawaran 19 Katriel Ivy, Isabella Dekelaita, Brayden Torres, Liberty Cox 37 Braden Hebert, Dawson Finklea, Jessica Elliott, Tory Tate Teacher of the Year 39 Ball High School: Cathy Pickavance Newspapers in Education (NIE) is a cooperative effort between area teachers and The Galveston County Daily News to promote the use of newspapers as an education resource. With the help of local businesses, The Daily News is able to provide students throughout Galveston County with an up-to-date living textbook. The NIE program has helped teachers discover innovative ways to use the newspaper as an effective and timely teaching tool in the classrooms, aside from the regular textbook. The program provides teachers with many curricu- lum guides for using the newspaper to achieve the best results in educating the youth of the community. The Daily News strives to employ the newspaper in the classroom as an effec- tive and efficient tool, allowing teachers to help students become informed and involved citizens of their communities. The Daily News invites teachers from Galveston County schools to sign up and participate in the 2020-21 NIE program. For a participation request form, contact Yvonne Mascorro, circulation director, at 409-683-5264 or yvonne.mascorro@ galvnews.com. About Newspapers in EducationJune 2020 | Education Celebration | 3 William Ernest Henley once wrote as he took his final breaths, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” As an islander, I like to liken my life to that of a sailor: A journey as rewarding as any destination because of what you learn along the way. I did not spend much time at Abun- dant Life Christian School, and my heart wishes I could remain longer. But during the time I found myself here, I learned the importance of four things: Dreams, love, strength, and wisdom. Dreams are what our world is meant to stand on. If our age is in need of a new generation’s rise, it should be a generation of dreamers. Love is what we are alive for. Every day and night has a struggle, but whenever we prevail it is because of love, for it con- quers all. Both these things depend on strength; ultimately the strength of our dreams and our love is what will bring us to where we wish to be. Lastly, there is wisdom. As we grow in our path of life, so must our wisdom; because it is what will guide the dreams, love, and strength of our souls. I want to thank every person who has taught me a unique lesson of their own, and every one in my beloved family; most of all those who taught me the lessons of the heart. Family is not defined by blood, but by how we help each other stand through both victory and hardship, until we find our- selves in a place beyond good and evil. “A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” — Oscar Wilde ABIGAIL LONNGI Abundant Life Christian School Valedictorian “A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” — Oscar Wilde4 | Education Celebration | June 2020 Christof Gault grew up in Galveston with his brother, Oliver, and sister, Evelyn. He spent many summers in Germany with his family to strengthen his German speaking skills. He is a member of First Lutheran Church and is heavily involved in church activities and fundraisers. Christof has participated in many high school organizations and has worked tirelessly to ensure that he has contributed positively. Some of his favorite activities include participating in Academic UIL for Math and Science, the Fellowship of Chris- tian Athletes, National Technical Honor So- ciety, Swim Team, Ball High Sprouts, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and, especially, National Honor Society and its recycling program. His helpful, caring personality is well regarded at Ball High School as is his dili- gence and focus in his academic pursuits. As an Ambassador for the Biomedical Community, Christof informed incoming freshmen, parents and prospective schools about the activities and opportunities offered by the BioMed Community at Ball High School. With a strong interest in med- icine, Christof has found himself drawn to pursuing courses that heighten his under- standing of the human body in the hopes of attending medical school after complet- ing his undergraduate at the University of Texas. Through his participation in the UTMB Research and Design Internship through Ball High School, Christof assisted in re- search conducted in a biomedical engi- neering facility, which heightened his love of medicine and the scientific process. His interests extend into multiple creative fields such as piano and art as he enjoys using both sides of his brain. Recently, Christof received a High School Diploma in Piano from the American College of Musicians. He is a model of determination and awareness; he acknowledges the problem and immediately considers ways to resolve it. Christof commits himself fully to every- thing he is a part of and his compassion is contagious. CHRISTOF GAULT Ball High School Valedictorian “Christof commits himself fully to everything he is a part of and his compassion is contagious.”June 2020 | Education Celebration | 5 Well, I think it is safe to say that senior year has been full of surprises! I mean, who would have thought at the beginning of the school year, or even at the beginning of spring break, that we would be spending our last quarter of high school at home. For some of us, not finishing our senior year the way we imagined has been hard. Others of us have loved having all of this extra time, and I know that there are people all in between. I hope that wherever you fall on the spectrum, you were able to learn some things and get some- thing out of this time. We can choose to look back at this time in disappointment, remembering all of the things that we missed, or we can choose to learn from it. For me, God has been so gra- cious to teach me some valuable lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. One of those is remembering what is important in life. It took being away from this school and my teachers and my friends to realize how much I have truly appreciated them. Quarantine gave me time to reflect, to look at the positive, and to see the many blessings that God has giv- en me, starting with this school. BACS has been such a blessing to me, and there are so many great memories here, between sports, electives, fun activities, labs, pep rallies, fun classes, and even the hard ones. I am so thankful that I have been able to learn and grow here for 13 years. I can look back on the life lessons that our teachers have taught us and see how well they have prepared us for this season and the season we are about to walk into. They give of their time so freely and truly want to see us succeed. I can also look back on encouraging conversations that I have had with my friends or the Zoom calls we have shared these last two months, and I am so thankful that I have been able to do life with them. And my family; spending so much time with them before I go to college has been such a blessing. They have had such a crucial impact on my life, and I would not be the person that I am today with- out them. Something else that I learned in this time is that trials may come, but God can use that time for our good and his glory. Fellow graduates, as I look around, I do not know all of your stories, but I know a lot of them. A lot of us have been through trials, whether they be Harvey or quarantine or something more personal. I want you to know that I am proud to be a part of the Class of 2020. I am proud of the way that we respond to hardships; the way we come along side each other and lift each other up; the way we rely on God to guide us and direct our futures. As we have seen these last couple of months, our future is not certain. We cannot know for sure what will happen or where life will take us, but God does. When things of this world let us down, we can find comfort and joy in a God that is sovereign over all things. He is the one that sustains us, and he has big plans for each and every one of us. God has given this class some amazing gifts, so I want to encourage you to use them. Take every opportunity to do what is good and be inten- tional with the people that God has placed in your life. I cannot wait to see all the ways that God will use the class of 2020. So, as I bring this to a close, I just want to leave you all with a verse that God put on my heart over this time in quarantine. It talks about Abraham’s faith in God, and it is my prayer for each of you as we go our separate ways. Romans 4:20-21 says, “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Thank you. BAILEY PLUMMER Bailey Plummer has lived in League City her whole life and has attended Bay Area Christian School for 13 years. She is the daughter of Greg and Tracy Plummer, and sister to Jacob Plummer. Bailey has loved being a part of all of the clubs and extracurricular activities that Bay Area Christian School has to offer. She was a member of Beta Club all four years of high school. This club encouraged her to serve others and to give back to her community. She was also a member of the National Honor Society for her last three years of high school. Bailey loved participating in the club’s Valen- tine’s Day fundraiser. They would raise money by selling valentines and singing in the cafete- ria and then donate this money to charity. Bailey participated in several high school sports, but her favorite was soccer. She played every year that it was offered, and was one of the team captains her junior and senior years. She earned honorable mention her freshman and junior years, and was awarded First Team All-District and Academic All-State her senior year. Bailey also attends Bay Area Church, and she is very involved in their student ministry. She leads worship on stage, volunteers where she can, and participates in the summer mission trip that Bay Area Student Ministry offers each year. Bailey’s future plans are to attend Mary Hardin-Baylor in the fall. She will be majoring in health sciences with a pre-occupational ther- apy concentration. She has always had a heart for helping others and feels like this career will give her the opportunity to not only help oth- ers, but also to give them hope. She is looking forward to this next season of life and cannot wait to see what God has in store for her. Bay Area Christian School Valedictorian Commencement speech6 | Education Celebration | June 2020 Good evening. I have always been privy to this idea that a state of wonder is a state of mind, that with each moment, we have the opportunity to be inspired by all that which surrounds us, to direct our gazes to the stars in wonderment, to dream unabashedly, to ask yet another question in our brimming curiosity. As you grow older, however, expectations, growing responsibilities, and the sharp edge of reality make it harder to be inspired. The stars get harder to see, and the world loses its grandeur. It was Carl Sagan who said that, “in our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.” In that vein, I urge you to har- ness any anger, fear, or dissatisfaction that you may have and use it as a fuel for change. Respon- sibility need not always be a burden; it can be an honor. So should you be just a drop in a vast and limitless ocean, I hope you cause wide ripples. Should you be just one star in an infinite sky, I hope your brilliance warms someone’s skin. You are capable of so much more than you be- lieve. Your voice is pow- erful. Use it. Your mind is capable. Nourish it with wonder, understanding, and empathy. I also hope, more than anything, that you in your haste do not neglect the bird’s song. I hope that the world never loses its magic for you. We are innately curious beings. We crave not just knowing but understanding, so never fear asking courageous questions or challeng- ing yourself and oth- ers. Dream boldly and always endeavor to learn anything and everything about anything and everything. The world is not yours for the taking; it is your home to protect and respect and learn from. So open your minds in wonder, for there is so, so much to discover. The class of 2020 has exhibited exceptional perseverance and relent- lessness. I do not doubt that you will become remarkable agents of change, progress, and innovation. I would be remiss, however, to discount the enormous hand that the unyielding support from our abso- lutely incredible friends, families, teachers, and faculty has played in this. It is a testament to your commitment and zest that we are here. To my own family and friends, I must say how proud I am to call you my own and how grateful I am for you. To our teachers and counselors, and staff, I thank all of you wholeheartedly for your dedication and for being the incredible images we strive to build ourselves from. And with that, I must leave you all with some borrowed words from Malala Yousafzai: “Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.” Congratulations class of 2020. We did it! ELIDA MET-HOXHA I grew up in Albania, where I spent time playing in old Cold War bunkers, gazing at stars through a ceiling of grapes, and singing songs passed down through the generations. My love for the environment began at an early age, in a country littered with mountains, a verdant oasis lush with life. We should always respect our home, but now, more than ever, it is time to hold ourselves accountable for the state of this planet and its inhabitants. My family scattered after the fall of com- munism in Albania: London, Dubai, Frankfurt, Athens, Toronto, etc. And like them, we moved to the States in 2007 in search of opportunity and hope of a better life. I was 5. With a limited Albanian vocabulary and a nonexistent English one, I found solace in numbers. It is the language of the universe; it conducts the symphony of all that is and will ever be. My love for it has just grown since then. I love to read, travel, hike, spend time with friends, and listen to music. I enjoy playing the viola, albeit badly, and I love to learn. I have been fortunate to be part of many com- munities in my life and to be bestowed with par- ents and a sister that double as my best friends. I have been exposed to many people, and from them, I have learned much of what I know: the need to practice what you preach, to practice radical empathy, to reach for the stars even when you’re born with short fingers, to do absolutely all we can with the tools we have at our disposal. Clear Creek High School Valedictorian Commencement SpeechJune 2020 | Education Celebration | 7 VIJETA REVANKAR Clear Falls High School Valedictorian Good morning class of 2020! Happy Sunday. Or is it Monday? Maybe it’s August. At this point, all the days and months have blended together, so I’ll just wish a happy day to you all. I’ll start off by say- ing a big thank you to my parents, my siblings, and all of my mentors, teach- ers and friends that have helped me throughout my K-12 experience. You are what I cherish in life. As Charles Dickens would say, this year was the best of times, and it was the worst of times. Even though it would be easier for me to focus on the things that went wrong this year, grad- uation is an event that should be full of opti- mism. It’s not only about reflecting upon the past but also looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead of us. I know that most of you have heard about “The Hero’s Journey,” either from your English teach- ers or from reading your favorite novels. It outlines the basic framework of how a person progresses and transforms into the hero of their own story. In other words, a hero’s journey is a coming-of- age story. Even though it sounds cliché, each and every one of us has been on our own hero’s journey. For example, the hero always starts off in the ordinary world, going about their day-to-day business, before receiving a call to adventure. For us, that call to adventure was going to school in CCISD and learning the skills we needed to make it in the real world. The next step in the hero’s journey is defined as refusing the call to adventure, which, let’s be honest, there were days we just “accidentally slept in.” After that, it’s finding a mentor, which we found in our incredible parents and teachers that kick-started our journeys. This is about where we stand in our hero’s jour- neys, as the next step is crossing the first thresh- old. This is when the hero enters into a new world, ready to take on new chal- lenges. After we formally graduate here today, we’ll have finally crossed that threshold. It’s from here on that our paths will start to diverge. For instance, some of us will head to college, while others will enter the armed services, trade school, or the work- force. These paths are unique in their own right and will no doubt lead to success with the right balance of hard work and luck. While I hope that this pandemic is the greatest trial we will have to face, there will surely be other minor hurdles and hin- drances that we’ll have to deal with throughout the course of our lives. And I hope that Clear Falls has given you some of the tools that will ultimately lead you to victory. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we’re stronger than we know, and the bonds that connect us can withstand both distance and time. We are all the budding heroes in our own stories, and I know that with all we’ve been through, each member of the class of 2020 will truly become someone special. Clear Falls’ valedictorian, Vijeta Revankar, is far from ordinary and not your everyday student. Rather, she is a student who is genuinely curious about the intercon- nections of the various mechanisms that comprise our world. She concerns herself with her growth, rather than herself as a number. She not only wants to learn, but, perhaps, even more, she wants to contribute. She consistently works hard to prove herself in the face of adversity and has shown herself time and again to be a highly capable young woman who is not afraid to voice her opinions and fight for what she feels is right. Don’t be fooled, she is a kid still and has as much fun as any other kid in high school. It’s not all about books all the time for her. But she does recognize op- portunity and grabs it by the horns. She is friendly but driven. She is honest and creative. Probably one of our favorite things about her — she has the patience of Job. You’ll rarely see her frustrated with herself or her peers. She has a calming effect on those around her. Perhaps one thing you may not know about her — she has a love of language that surpasses any other. English is not her first language, nor is it the last she will learn. This past summer, she started learning Korean and German along with coding to include JavaScript and Python. Vijeta will graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors. She is a four-year Superintendent Scholar and has been nationally recognized as a National Merit Com- mended Scholar. Vijeta is the daughter of Smita and Vithal Revankar. She will be attending the University of Houston next fall where she plans to major in Biomedical Science and aspires to be a Women’s Health Physician. Commencement Speech8 | Education Celebration | June 2020 Clear Springs High School Valedictorian SHARIL MAREDIAJune 2020 | Education Celebration | 9 Dickinson High School Valedictorian Thank you, Dr. Smith and thank you to everyone for letting me stand before you and speak. I want to start off by thanking everyone who has ever helped me in my life and helped me in my education. My mom, my siblings, my family, my friends, my teachers, the band directors, the administrators, and most of all, my dad, who from all the way up there has been guiding me and leading the way. Now to say this year has been eventful would be an understate- ment. I mean, come on, this year has been like nothing any of us have ex- perienced before and it all hit us very suddenly. And yes, the seniors and all the other students of the world have lost many wonderful memories and events that we are supposed to re- member all our lives. The end of the year is one of the most memorable times of the year and many things happen for all of us. And trust me. I’m with you. I am deeply saddened by how the school year came to a screeching halt and all the things we lost. But I am also thankful for what we gained and thankful that I am still here. I am grateful for all the healthcare workers that day in and day out risk their lives to keep us safe. I am grateful for all the essential workers that go out and work to provide us the goods and services we need to survive. Even though this pandem- ic has taken so much from us, we must be grateful for what we have. Grateful that we still have our families with us and that they are healthy. We must pray for the families that are struggling during this time and pray for the health of their loved ones. Even though your family might be getting on your nerves by now, we must be grateful for the extra time we’ve been blessed with. But that’s not what this whole speech is about. This is about our conclusion to high school, even though it might not feel like it. We have finally reached the light at the end of our tunnel. And I know that everyone tells you that high school is all happiness and great times, but can we pleaasssee be honest here. I’m not saying high school wasn’t great; it was amazing. Over my four years of high school, I have made many great memories and formed friendships that I know will last a life- time. But then, there were also those energy drink, crazy haired, tear-filled all-nighters studying for that Calcu- lus, Stats, and let’s not forget Mr. Glebe’s extremely hard-I’m-about-to- cry-during-it Physics test ALL in one day. And, yes, there were MANY of those nights. Did we ever recover? Because I know we all slept at least once in class from being so tired the night before. Admit it. Nobody is perfect. Not even me, Ms. Valedicto- rian. But in the end, it was all worth it. We’re here today aren’t we? We survived a hurricane our sophomore year and a pandemic our senior. If we could survive all that and still stay on top of our classes, what can’t we survive? There is nothing we can’t do and can’t overcome to achieve our goals. But don’t just take this from me. Who am I to tell you what to do or what to believe in? I’m just another student. I’m no better than any of you. Yes, I am “valedictorian,” but that’s just a title. We all worked hard to get here and titles nor ranks define us. We can be whoever we want to be. There is nothing hold- ing us back and you shouldn’t let a “number” stop you. Graduating high school isn’t just the start of our col- lege, trade school, or job experience; it’s a clean slate. We need to go after what WE want. Not what your mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, or even best friends want. Not what anyone else is telling you to do or what seems like the popular choice. But the choice YOU want. Will all that be a bit scary? Of course. Who wouldn’t be scared to start fresh and chase their dreams? But we have to take the first step. We have to move forward but not be afraid to look back. The first step is all it takes and once you cross that barrier, everything will fall in place. Of course, there will be obstacles. We don’t live in a rose-colored world. But just know you can do it and that there will always be someone that has your back. Even if they aren’t always present, they’re still there for you, cheering on your every move, waiting for you to keep succeeding. Now, if you didn’t catch it from the beginning of my speech or know me personally, you probably didn’t know that my dad is no longer with me. He passed away when I was 11 years old of a heart attack and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to experience. It was a devastating blow for me and my family, but we didn’t let it stop us. We moved on with our lives because we knew that’s what he would have wanted. All my achievements I owe to him and the sacrifices he made for my family and I. I’m grateful I had an amazing dad like him. And I am thankful for the opportunity I had to grow up and live in this amazing country, an opportu- nity I wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for him and others like him. Gracias a todos los padres que le dan a sus hijos la misma oportunidad que mi papá me dio a mis hermanos y a mi. And even though he wasn’t present with me through all of my life achievements, I used his teachings and love to guide me. And I know there are many of you in my shoes, having lost a parent, grandparent, sibling, or anyone close. And I know they would be proud to see you walk across this stage as you carry their memories and love with you through high school and beyond. By now I have probably bored you to death with my endless chatter and you can’t wait for me to be done, so we can all get on with celebrating. Trust me, I’M ready. But before I end, I just want you all to remember. There’s nothing you can’t do. There is nothing anyone can say that can stop you from reaching your goals. And just know, that there are always going to be people there for you and that Dickinson will always receive you with open arms. We are a family, and we are always here to support one another, no matter what. With this, I leave you. I hope you will ALL succeed in life and reach your goals. Never forget where you came from, yet don’t let it limit you. The world doesn’t stop at our city limits. Thank you, Class of 2020, for all the wonderful memories and let us keep making many more. We finally did it and let us never forget, Go Gators. ANDREA URIBE Andrea Uribe leads the Dickinson High School Class of 2020 as valedictorian. She is looking forward to attending Texas A&M University in College Station to major in biomedical engineering with plans for a future career in the cardio- vascular area. She enjoys the technical aspect of math, working with numbers and the feeling of satisfaction she gets after solving a hard math problem. Andrea is a four-year member of the Dickinson High School Band, where she plays the clarinet and has served as drum major her junior and senior years. She was recognized as a Region Band honoree the past three years. In addition, she is a member of several honor societies at DHS and has volunteered in the Dick- inson community. “Dickinson is one big family,” Andrea said. “I have seen this throughout the years, including when we went through Hurricane Harvey. You feel like you are part of a family and you belong.” Andrea will go to col- lege with nearly $13,000 in scholarships, including a $500 Dickinson High School Booster Club Scholarship, $1,000 Dickinson ISD Staff and Foundation Corner- stone Scholarship, a $1,500 True Cross Women’s Club Scholarship and a Valedicto- rian Tuition Waiver estimat- ed at $11,340. To the DHS Class of 2020, Andrea says: “Don’t give up, even though this year has been hard and not how we expected it to end. We have so much more to look forward to and we will see each other again.” Commencement SpeechNext >