Seniors awarded more than $1.6 million in scholarships

• Sulphur Spring High School Athletic Director Brandon Faircloth (far right) recognized, (from left) Anna Williams, Zac Thomas and (not pictured Kendall Ferrill) as the 2024 James Cameron Fighting Heart Award recipients, and (center) Haylee Shultz and Cameron Jefferson as co-recipients of the 2024 Forrest Gregg MVP Award during the SSHS Senior Awards Ceremony. Staff photos by Tammy Vinson
• Sulphur Springs High School Principal Brad Moughon congratulates Alexis Tanton with the Phi Theta Kappa 2024 Award of Excellence for her superior achievement in completing her associate degree in multidisciplinary studies from Paris Junior College. She was a member of the All-Texas Academic Team and graduated with double honors from PJC May 10.
• Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board President (right) Caroline McKinney and (Left) Belle Crouch present scholarships to 20232024 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen Caroline Prickett and the runners-up Kate Monk, Emerson Penny and (not pictured) Tomi Pirtle. Staff photos by Tammy Vinson
• Madelynn Bailey, center, received a $2,000 Cassie Edwards Scholarship presented by Edwards’ daughter, Dr. Marian Ellis, left, and Sister Hillary Young, right. Staff photos by Tammy Vinson
• James Goggans Memorial Scholarships were presented by Goggans’ parents, Sarah and Brandon, and their daughter, Caroline, to Kody Barclay, Carter Charlton, Katie Henderson, Jolene Reed, Sara Voss, Kami White and Anna Williams.
• Rotary Club of Sulphur Springs President (right) Neal Barker presented Rotary Scholarships to (left) Anna Williams, Zoe Crump, Crawford Johnson, Katlyn Noe, Alexis Villarino and Alexis Tanton.
• (Second from right) Debbie Stribling presented Dial Study Club scholarships to (left) Reese Ragan, Lily Glenn, Macey Williams, (not pictured) Austin Chaney and Addison Graves.
• Columbia Masonic Lodge #81 Worshipful Master (right) Tommy Harrison and Senior Warden Josh Leftrick (left) awarded scholarships to Jacqueline Monroy and (not pictured) Cadyn Spinner.
• Eduardo Escobedo (center) received a scholarship to the Ford Motor Training Program for classes and a set of tools, presented on behalf of the Brian Toliver Ford Lincoln Auto Group..
• Sara Voss received the $500 Patsy Bolton Scholarship during the program at Shannon Oaks Church.

Sulphur Springs High School Seniors Tuesday night attended an awards ceremony hosted at Shannon Oaks Church to recognize their academic and athletic achievements, and to present them with scholarships to help with their post secondary education following graduation. Overall, more than $1.69 million in scholarships and $850,000 in military service recognition were announced.

As is often the case, the largest amounts announced at the awards program, $170,000 each, went to students who have already or are planning to enlist in a branch of the United States Armed Forces. Austin Sutton and Bo Loggins plan to serve in the US Army, Jasmin Yanez in the US Marine Corps, Mika Boren the Coast Guard, and Matthew Fox the Air Force.

Eduardo Estrada received a Ford Motor Training Program $100,000 award which is the equivalent of full tuition and $2,500 for tools from the Brian Toliver Ford Lincoln Auto Group.

Raymon Veloz received a $128,000 Honors Scholarship to attend Harding University.

Alexis Villarino received scholarships from multiple schools, including a $66,000 scholarship from Brown University and a $116,000 Texas Tech National Merit Award. However, the $40,000 Terry Foundation Scholar and President’s Endowment award totaling $128,000 from Texas A&M University-College Station are the school awards the valedictorian plans to take advantage of.

Texas A&M University-College Station offered Landon Burkett a $2,000 AIA Architectural Scholarship, Levi Caton $6,400 a Sul Ross Corp of Cadets scholarship, Rylie Carroll a $16,00 Dean's Excellence Scholarship and a $4,000 Opportunity Scholarship, Katherine Hurley a $28,000 Texas Commission Grant, and Anna Williams a $1,000 Opportunity Award.

The $148,300 Texas Tech University offered to SSHS graduating seniors also included an $8,000 Presidential Merit Scholarship to Adam Arnecke; a $16,000 Merit Scholarship to Kody Barclay; a $4,800 Texas Tech National Merit award to Joshua Nowlin; and a $1,000 Freshman Top 10%, $2,000 Freshman President’s Merit Scholarship and a $500 Larry Franklin Scholarship.

Mississippi State University issued $131,600 in scholarship offers to Catherine Starzyk. She was awarded a $40,000 National Recognition Scholarship, a $67,000 Non Resident Scholarship, a $1,000 MSU Key Club Scholarship, a $20,000 Band/Music Award Scholarship, $2,000 from MSU East Texas Alumni Chapter, $1,000 MSU Davis and Ann Mortensen award, and a $600 Texas Brigades Assistant Leader award.

The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) awarded Crawford Johnson a $22,000 Academic Merit Scholarship and $40,000 Academic Non-Resident Award, and awarded Emerson Penny a $53,000 Workforce Scholarship.

Salutatorian Asia Chen was named a National Merit Award Winner Scholar for MIT, Penn U and Yale.

Texas A&M University- Commerce awarded $249,500 in scholarship offers to SSHS graduating seniors. Jayden Arledge was awarded a $16,000 TAMUC Blue and Gold Scholarship, Joseline Arenas a $32,000 Blue and Gold Scholarship, Anely Gaspar a $12,000 Presidential Scholarship, Alexis Tanton a $90,000 Presidential and General Scholarship and a $1,000 Phi Theta Kappa award, Aydan Whittle a $10,000 Music Department Award, and Kami White a $500 Big Future Scholarship and an A&M Honors College award valued at $88,000 from TAMUC.

Alexis Tanton was also offered by the University of Texas-Tyler a $16,000 Academic Excellence Scholarship, a $4,000 UTT Transfer Scholarship, a $2,000 UTT Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship and a $40,000 General Scholarship.

On Friday, April 19, 2024 The University of Texas Health System partnered with the Texas Association of Community Colleges and hosted the All Texas Academic Team Ceremony, at the University of Texas at San Antonio, honoring selected Phi Theta Kappa members. Alexis Tanton, a two-year member of the Paris Junior College Phi Theta Kappa honor society, was selected to be a part of the All Texas Academic Team. Tanton recently graduated with double honors from Paris Junior College, obtaining an Associate Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies.

Hopkins-Rains Retired School Personnel presented at $500 scholarship to Jolee Wilson, who plans to attend first Paris Junior College, then Texas A&M University-Commerce to pursue a career in elementary education. Wilson also was awarded a $250 Allarea Black Scholarship given by the SSHS Family and Consumer Sciences Department iin commemoration of Collene Hines’ 90th birthday and a $100 Beta Nu Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa award. Wilson too benefitted from a $1,000 Clayton and Graves Scholarship.

Paris Junior College recently pledged over $97,000 in summer scholarships for graduating seniors of 2024. They can qualify for up to two free classes and they apply online with Paris Junior College. They do not have to attend Paris Junior College this fall, only during the summer 2024 term. PJC too awarded Adriana Velez a $500 Walter and Annie Aden Scholarship and William Godfrey a grant to cover all tuition at PJC.

Texas A&M-University- Corpus Christi awarded Addison Bradley an Incoming Freshman Award valued at $24,000 and an Institutional Islander Scholarship valued at $1,500.

Charles Lee was awarded a $50,000 Dean’s Scholarship and a $12,000 Polytechnic Scholarship to attend Arizona State University Baylor University awarded Distinction Awards in the amount of $64,000 to Caroline Prickette and $80,000 to Macey Williams.

Oklahoma State University dished out $$207,750 in award offers to SSHS seniors. Max Bailey was awarded a $32,000 Out of State Achievement Scholarship and a $42,000 Texas Workforce Scholarship from OSU. Angel Mills received a $36,000 OSU Out of State Achievement Award and a $3,000 Onward Orange Scholarship. Katlyn Noe received a $2,750 Oklahoma Engineering Initiative Scholarship and a $56,000 Achievement Scholarship from OSU. Brook Seagraves too received a $36,000 Non-Resident Award from OSU.

Kylie Clarke received a $96,000 Texas Christian University Faculty Scholarship.

Northwest Lineman College awarded Braddox Rawson with a $30,000 Texas Workforce Scholarship.

Texas State University awarded a $32,000 Merit Award to Katie Henderson and a $48,000 Bobcat Promise Award to Jacqueline Diosdado.

The University of North Texas awarded a $1,000 Excellence Scholarship to Allece Johnson, and awarded a $4,000 UNT Eagle Scholarship and a $16,500 UNT Educational Grant to Mary Taylor.

Receiving $40,000 scholarships from the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation were Rylie Carroll, Kylie Clarke, Zoe Crump, Angel Mills and Tomi Pirtle.

SSISD Education Foundation Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 were awarded to Madelynn Bailey, Kyla Latham, Angel Mills and Sara Voss.

A Patsy Bolton Scholarship in the amount of $500 and a $40,000 University of Oregon Apex Scholarship went to Sara Voss.

An Alliance Bank Scholarship in the amount of $8,000 was presented to valedictorian Alexis Villarino.

Betzy Chacon was the recipient of a $7,500 Ceely Stout Memorial Scholarship.

City National Bank representative Danielle Dawkins presented to Madelynn Bailey, Betzy Chacon, Carter Charlton, Jaci Haire and Alexis Tanton $2,000 scholarships given in honor of Phyllis Lloyd, who recently retired as vice president after 55 years with City National Bank.

Receiving a $1,000 Landon Brody Dyer Memorial Scholarship was Annaston Price. The senior too was awarded a $48,000 President’s Scholarship and an $18,000 Christian Leadership Scholarship from East Texas Baptist University.

James Goggans Memorial Scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each were awarded to Kody Barclay, Carter Charlton, Katie Henderson, Jolene Reed, Sara Voss, Kami White and Anna Williams.

Stephen F. Austin State University awarded Logan McCain a $10,000 Academic Excellence Award and Jolene Reed a $20,000 Academic Excellence Scholarship.

Columbia Masonic Lodge #81 presented Jacqueline Monroy with a $1,350 scholarship and Cadyn Spigner with a $1,000 scholarship. Monroy too received a $1,500 Hi King Klub Scholarship.

Hopkins County Dairy Festival awards scholarships each year to the queen, and top participants. Receiving the $1,2500 award for being the 2023 Dairy Festival Queen and talent award for her singing performance at the festival was Carolyn Prickette. Kate Monk was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for being the first runner up at the HCDF pageant, Emerson Penny $750 as the second runner up and Tomi Pirtle as $500 as the third runner up.

Madelynn Bailey also went home with a $1,500 Kiwanis Club Scholarship, a $500 Junior Waverly Club award, a $1,000 Freedom Ball Scholarship awarded by Hopkins County Veterans Memorial Committee and the assie Edwards Scholarship.

The Sterling and Eva Beckham Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 each went to Catherine Starzyk and Machelle Allen. The $500 Faulk Scholarship also went to Machelle Allen.

A $500 Bobby McDonald Memorial Scholarship was presented to Megan Blake.

Receiving $2,000 scholarships for their participation in the annual Northeast Texas Livestock School were Coen Bell, Caroline Coker and Braddox Rawson. Jayden Arledge too went home with a $1,500 NETLA Scholarship.

Receiving $6,000 Big Tex State Fair Scholarships were Jayden Arledge, Tracy Shackelford and Rylie Carroll. Arledge too benefitted from a $1,000 East Texas State Fair Scholarship.

A special John Boles Scholarship in the amount of $750 went to Kelsi Mc-Comick and in the amount of $500 to Jeremy Resendiz.

Coen Bell received an $8,000 Fort Worth Stock Show Heifer Superintendent’s Beef Challenge. Receiving $4,000 Fort Worth Stock Show Scholarships were Jayden Arledge and Catherine Starzyk.

Rylie Carroll received a number of scholarships for her agriculture and 4-H involvement, including a $5,000 Heart O’Texas Fair and Rodeo award, a $6,000 State Fair of Texas Scholarship, $3,000 Texas Farm Bureau award, $5,000 Legacy Ag Credit award and a $20,000 Texas 4-H Foundation Scholarship sponsored by Houston Livestock Show.

Sulphur Springs Rotary Club presented six scholarships. Anna Williams receive a $3,000 Rotary Scholarship and Zoe Crump a $2,000 Rotary Scholarship, while Crawford Johnson, Katlyn Noe, Alexis Villarino and Alexis Tanton each was awarded a $1,000 Rotary award.

Holden Moss received the Helen Ewing True Grit Award, given to a senior who exhibits courage and determination while overcoming adversity. The award included a $1,000 scholarship.

SSISD Director of Bands Spencer Emmert presented Lauren Maynard and Catherine Starzyk with $500 Sulphur Springs Band Booster Scholarships; and Sara Voss with the Charles D. McCauley Scholarship, given in honor of the later Charlie McCauley, former longtime fine arts director at SSISD.

Mother’s Culture Club presented $1,000 scholarships to Jaci Haire, Kate Monk and Anna Williams.

Crawford Johnson received a $10,000 scholarship, and Addison Bradley and McKenna Smith $1,000 scholarships from the Patsy and Coy Johnson Foundation. Crawford Johnson also will benefit from a $700 Grace Methodist Senior Scholarship. He was awarded a $96,000 University of Alabama Competitive Admissions Scholarship. Oklahoma University too awarded Crawford Johnson a $64,000 Award of Excellence.

Lorelai Lilley was awarded a $60,000 Arizona Distinction Award from the University of Arizona.

Lauren Maynard received a $16,000 University of Arkansas Music Scholarship and a $52,000 New Arkansas Tuition Award from UA.

The North East Texas Chapter of the Air and Space Forces Association hosted an essay contest. Overall, 10 finalists were selected from the 37 entries; five of the finalists were from SSHS. The first place winner of the contest was Asia Chen; she received a $2,000 award. Kami White finished third in the contest and receive $1,000. Additional finalists receiving $500 each included Kami White, Jessie Li, Aiden Riley and Alan Tellez.

Receiving $2,000 Jan James Memorial Scholarship Fund awards from Sulphur Springs Ladies Golf were Autumn Allen and Katlyn Noe.

Kendall Ferrill and Anna Williams were awarded $1,000 awards from Sulphur Springs Soccer Association.

Landon Burkett was awarded a Perry F. Bradley Jr Scholarship, and Leida Escobedo a $500 Perry F. Bradley Ill Scholarship.

Coca-Cola Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 were awarded to Jeremy Resendiz and Haylee Shultz.

The $5,000 Jo McCain Trust Scholarship went to Osvaldo Rodriguez and Peyton Ball.

Sulphur Springs seniors awarded $500 Tommy Starrett Memorial Scholarships, among three recipients announced during a recent service at Central Baptist Church, were Zoe Crump and Alexis Tanton.

Dial Study Club awards in the amount of $250 each were presented to Austin Chaney, Addison Graves, Lily Glenn, Reese Ragan and Macey Williams.

Madelyn Bailey, Riley Carroll and Caroline Prickette each received a $1,000 Finis and Onree Attlesey and Garland and Sweet Gamblin Scholarship.

A Farmer's Electric Scholarship in the amount of $500 was awarded to Gabby Tubb.

Receiving a $500 Peggy Reynolds Dallas Morning News Scholarship was Jaya Smith.

Region 8 Education Service Center presented a $300 College Scholarship Gift to Kami White.

Receiving the James Cameron Fighting Heart Award were Kendall Ferrill, Anna Williams, and Zac Thomas. This award is presented to senior athletes, male and female, that have demonstrated great character, work ethic, grit, heart, and the ability to compete at a very high level. This award is named after Coach James Cameron, former SSHS football coach/athletic director, who was able to get these qualities out of every one of his athletes.

The Forrest Gregg MVP Award went was presented to Haylee Schultz and Cameron Jefferson. This award goes to the top male and female senior athletes that have demonstrated excellence in performance and character on their field of play while participating in multiple sports. It is given in memory of Forrest Gregg, NFL Hall of Famer, for his achievements as a high school student and athlete here in Sulphur Springs.

First National Bank of East Texas gifted new Chromebooks to Addison Bradley, Angel Mills, Ivan Mora, Josh Nowlin and Reese Offutt. This is the second year for this generous contribution to students. Students were selected for their academic achievements, including dual credit classes, as well as good character.

Ten seniors qualified to compete at state, either individually or as part of a team. The State Champion Spelling Team consisted of Celeste Hernandez and Kami White. The State Champion Literary Team included Betzy Chacon, Alan Tellez, Kami White and Alexis Villarino. White placed six and Villarino came home the state champion. The State Editorial Writing Champion is Asia Chen.

The Current Issues Team made up of Craig Draper and Crawford Johnson placed fourth at state; Crawford was also on third place social state studies team. Individually, Betzy Chacon place fifth in Headline Writing, Jolene Reed finished fourth in Copy Editing, Alan Tellez third place in Ready Writing, and Payton Hooks fifth place in Feature Writing.