10 students recognized as Bright Star Scholars

• (Left) Deborah Gillis of the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation, Angel Mills, Tomi Pirtle, Zoe Crump, Karrigan McQuay, Daniel Corral, Kylie Clarke, Trista Flowers, Katie Tifft, Rylie Carroll, Kendall Dobson and Gillis Foundation Executive Director Robin Shrode celebrate the 10 recipients of Bright Star Scholarships. Staff Photo by Tammy Vinson
• Rylie Carroll, a 2024 Sulphur Springs High School gradate, is recognized by Deborah Gillis as one of 10 Hopkins County graduates selected as Bright Star Scholars.
• Kylie Clarke, a 2024 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School, is recognized by Deborah Gillis as a Bright Star Scholar.
• Deborah Gillis presents a award of recognition to 2024 Como-Pickton High School graduate Daniel Corral, one of 10 Hopkins County graduates named Bright Star Scholars.
• Zoe Crump excitedly hugs Deborah Gillis, while being presented with a Bright Star Scholar award. Crump is a 2024 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School.
• Kendall Dobson, a 2024 graduate of Cumby Collegiate High School, receives recognition from Deborah Gillis for being selected as a Bright Star Scholar.
• 2024 Sulphur Bluff High School Trista Flowers receives recognition from Deborah Gillis for being one of 10 selected as Bright Star Scholars. Staff photos by Tammy Vinson
• Deborah Gillis re ognizes Karrigan McQuay as a 2024 Bright Star Schoolar. McQuay is the first homeschool student to be named a Bright Star Scholar. Staff Photos by Tammy Vinson
• Angel Mills, a 2024 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School, is recognized by Deborah Gillis as a Bright Star Scholar.
• Deborah Gillis presents Tomi Pirtle, a 2024 Sulphur Springs High School graduate, with recognition. Pirtle is one of 10 Hopkins County students selected as Bright Star Scholars
• Katie Tifft, a 2024 Como-Pickton High School graduate, receives recognition from Deborah Gillis as one of this year's Bright Star Scholars. Staff photos by Tammy Vinnson

The Bright Star Scholars Class of 2024 were honored at a celebration dinner hosted by the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation.

Ten Hopkins County students each received scholarships of up to $5,000 per semester for eight semesters to the college or university of their choice. Testimonials from previous recipients, some of whom attended, all had two common themes — gratitude for the gift and the life-changing effects it has had on their lives.

Attending the dinner were the 10 recipients and their families, members of the advisory committee and several previous recipients.

“This room is full of exceptional people,” Foundation executive director Robin Schrode said. “Our selection committee gets it right every year. All we ask of our recipients is that they be kind and give back to others.”

Rylie Carroll, daughter of Tammy (Teel) and Dan Jones, graduated last Friday from Sulphur Springs High School. She has excelled in Texas 4-H and FFA activities which have centered around her public speaking, leadership and advocacy skills. She will attend Texas A&M University in College Station this fall and plans to major in finance with minors in agriculture communications and agrisales. She wants to become a certified financial planner in order to “help others prosper and protect their families through strategic financial decisions.”

Kylie Clarke, daughter of Jennifer Clarke and Drake Clarke and another SSHS graduate, will attend Texas Christian University this fall. She plans to major in business finance and entrepreneurship, then have a career in finance. Clarke hopes to return to Hopkins County someday and open her own business. Clarke said one of her greatest achievements in life is overcoming a major injury that ended her senior soccer season early. “It tested both my strength and my resilience,” she said, “but from this, I learned I could overcome hard things.”

Daniel Corral, the son of Ephrain Corral and Aurora Corral, is a recent graduate of Como-Pickton High School. He will attend Texas A&M University — Commerce this fall, majoring in education, and hopes to become a high school algebra or geometry teacher. His personal goals are to “become a great role model and guide for kids to succeed.”

Zoe Crump, daughter of Brian and Jill Crump, also just graduated from Sulphur Springs High School. She will attend Texas A&M University — Commerce this fall and plans to major in public health. In 10 years, Crump plans to have earned her bachelor’s degree in public health, completed medical school and become an emergency room doctor. In addition, she wants “to have hiked the 28-mile Inca Trail in Peru, backpacked through the New Zealand countryside and traveled to Africa on several medical mission trips.”

Kendall Dobson, daughter of John Dobson, recently graduated from Cumby Collegiate High School. She will attend Parker University this fall and plans to become a radiologist technician. Dobson was active in the Cumby FFA chapter, earning both her Lone Star Degree and a Level 1 certification from the Texas State Floral Association. She competed in FFA career development events in veterinary science, public relations, floriculture and agriculture advocacy. Dobson also participated in Cumby Collegiate High School’s UIL One-Act Play and was named an All-Star Cast member five times.

Trista Flowers, daughter of Vania Flores, graduated from Sulphur Bluff High School, days after she graduated from Paris Junior College with an associates degree. Flowers served as president of her school’s Beta Club and Vice President of the Family, Career and Community Leadership Association chapter. She will attend Texas A&M University — Commerce and plans to major in criminal justice.

Karrigan McQuay, daughter of Pine and Samantha McQuay, is the first homeschooled student to be named a Bright Star Scholar. She will attend Texas A&M University — Commerce this fall and plans to earn a degree in agribusiness to become an agriculture loan officer. McQuay trains rope horses and was a breakaway qualifier at the Houston Livestock Show and breakaway champion at the State Fair of Texas. She wants to purchase her own land in Hopkins County to expand her cattle herd and horse training operation.

Angel Mills, daughter of Steven Shanks, is another Sulphur Springs High School graduate. She will attend Oklahoma State University this fall and plans to major in international business. Mills completed an internship at Signature Solar in 2023, which led to a job on the company’s learning and development team. After graduation, she wants to continue her career at Signature Solar.

Tomi Pirtle, daughter of Clay and Tanna Pirtle, also recently graduated from Sulphur Springs High School. She will attend Texas Tech University this fall and plans to major in communications and marketing with hopes of becoming a pharmaceutical representative. She wants to complete her master’s degree within the next 10 years and be happily employed, financially stable and successful. Pirtle graduated in the top 10% of her class, balancing school along with work, dance and family responsibilities.

Katie Tifft, daughter of Kale and Misty Tifft, graduated from Como-Pickton High School as one of the top 10 students. She will attend Tarleton State University this fall, majoring in psychology with plans to become an addiction psychiatrist. “I hope to be able to give back to the community that raised me, help others in the way that God has called me to do and make a memorable impact on others,” she said.

With the addition of the 2024 recipients, the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation has funded the college educations of 63 students.

Shrode closed the program with a final prediction: “These students, along with the other Bright Star Scholars, are going to change the world.”