September 3, 2015
The 91成人导航鈥燞onors Program is pleased to announce its Honors 91成人导航 for the 2015-2016鈥爏chool year. This鈥爄ncludes鈥10鈥燩residential Scholars and鈥15鈥燞onors Scholars.
Honors Northeast鈥爓as founded in the spring of 2007.鈥燝eared to attract top high school graduates and college students, the program鈥爃as鈥爌rospered thanks to a network of loyal supporters both in and out of the鈥燾ollege. Each year, 91成人导航 honors students have attended and鈥爌resented research鈥燼t the Great Plains Honors Council and the National Collegiate Honors Council.鈥91成人导航 Presidential Scholars have won鈥爐welve鈥爏tate鈥燙aldwell Awards,鈥爏even鈥爎egional Boe Awards, and on鈥爐he national level,鈥爏ix鈥燙oca Cola Gold鈥燗wards, a Hites,鈥爁ive鈥燡ack Kent鈥燙ooke scholarships,鈥爁our鈥燝uistwhite Awards, and a Pearson Scholarship. 鈥91成人导航鈥燬cholars also have published numerous essays in Texas鈥爅ournals.
Presidential Scholars are the top鈥爏cholarship winners who receive tuition, fees, and textbooks. Honors Scholars鈥爎eceive $1,000 scholarships鈥燼nd are identified as ?rising stars.?鈥燭hey participate in all 91成人导航 Honors activities and seminars. 91成人导航 are鈥爏elected by the 91成人导航 Honors鈥燙ommittee based upon academic鈥爌erformance, a personal essay and letters of recommendation. The program鈥爁urnishes all honors students鈥爓ith high-end laptops. Since its鈥燽eginning, generous community sponsors have financed free trips in the spring鈥燼nd fall, special award鈥爋pportunities, and graduation gifts.
?Each year I am astonished at the level鈥爋f academic excellence our students are achieving. These scholars not only鈥爀nrich our campus, but鈥爐hey continue to make a name for Honors Northeast on the鈥爎egional and national stages,? Andrew Yox, Honors Director, said.
Aside from receiving a scholarship to attend鈥91成人导航, entering scholars will enroll in two special six-hour seminars, one in鈥爐he fall and one in鈥爐he spring. All honors students participate in the fall鈥燦ortheast Texas Poetry contest, the spring McGraw Hill Poster contest, and鈥爏ubmit鈥爌apers for major state, regional and national awards and publications.
The Honors Northeast class of 2015-2016 includes:
Presidential Scholars
Honors Northeast鈥爓as founded in the spring of 2007.鈥燝eared to attract top high school graduates and college students, the program鈥爃as鈥爌rospered thanks to a network of loyal supporters both in and out of the鈥燾ollege. Each year, 91成人导航 honors students have attended and鈥爌resented research鈥燼t the Great Plains Honors Council and the National Collegiate Honors Council.鈥91成人导航 Presidential Scholars have won鈥爐welve鈥爏tate鈥燙aldwell Awards,鈥爏even鈥爎egional Boe Awards, and on鈥爐he national level,鈥爏ix鈥燙oca Cola Gold鈥燗wards, a Hites,鈥爁ive鈥燡ack Kent鈥燙ooke scholarships,鈥爁our鈥燝uistwhite Awards, and a Pearson Scholarship. 鈥91成人导航鈥燬cholars also have published numerous essays in Texas鈥爅ournals.
Presidential Scholars are the top鈥爏cholarship winners who receive tuition, fees, and textbooks. Honors Scholars鈥爎eceive $1,000 scholarships鈥燼nd are identified as ?rising stars.?鈥燭hey participate in all 91成人导航 Honors activities and seminars. 91成人导航 are鈥爏elected by the 91成人导航 Honors鈥燙ommittee based upon academic鈥爌erformance, a personal essay and letters of recommendation. The program鈥爁urnishes all honors students鈥爓ith high-end laptops. Since its鈥燽eginning, generous community sponsors have financed free trips in the spring鈥燼nd fall, special award鈥爋pportunities, and graduation gifts.
?Each year I am astonished at the level鈥爋f academic excellence our students are achieving. These scholars not only鈥爀nrich our campus, but鈥爐hey continue to make a name for Honors Northeast on the鈥爎egional and national stages,? Andrew Yox, Honors Director, said.
Aside from receiving a scholarship to attend鈥91成人导航, entering scholars will enroll in two special six-hour seminars, one in鈥爐he fall and one in鈥爐he spring. All honors students participate in the fall鈥燦ortheast Texas Poetry contest, the spring McGraw Hill Poster contest, and鈥爏ubmit鈥爌apers for major state, regional and national awards and publications.
The Honors Northeast class of 2015-2016 includes:
Presidential Scholars
Isaac Burris
Burris was recently awarded the Pearson Prize, a premiere citation given鈥爋nly to ten鈥燾ommunity college students nation-wide. A graduate of Mount鈥燩leasant High School (MPHS),鈥爃is paper on the ?Varangian Option? for slaves in鈥燭exas won fourth place in the state-wide鈥燙aldwell competition. He presented鈥爓ork at the Great Plains Honors Council (GPHC) on South鈥燩adre Island in April,鈥燼nd he has won an invitation to present at the 2015 meeting of the鈥燦ational鈥燙ollegiate Honors Council (NCHC). He won third Place and $200 at the 2015鈥燤cGraw鈥燞ill Poster contest, and he was elected Vice President for District III鈥爋f Phi Theta Kappa of鈥燭exas, during the national PTK meeting in San Antonio.
Morgan Capps
Capps was the 2014 Valedictorian at Jefferson Christian Academy. She won鈥$100 and fourth鈥爌lace at the 2014 Northeast Texas Poetry Contest, $200 with the鈥燛lizabeth Chitsey Prize for鈥2015, and second place and a $300 state Caldwell鈥燗ward for her path-breaking paper on鈥燭exas governors, Ma and Pa Ferguson.鈥犫燬he received the latter in Corpus Christi at鈥爐he State鈥燱ebb Society, the student auxiliary of the Texas State Historical鈥燗ssociation (TSHA). Capp?s鈥爀ssay is the source of the 2016 Honors Film.鈥犫燙apps also presented work at the GPHC. Her鈥爓ork has been accepted for a presentation at the 50th-anniversary鈥爉eeting of the NCHC in鈥燙hicago.
Cailee Davidson
Davidson was a top 2015 graduate and athlete of Harmony High School, and鈥爎epresents a family that鈥爃as now had two generations of A students attend 91成人导航.鈥燗t Harmony, Davidson played鈥爒arsity volleyball, basketball, and softball鈥燼dvancing to the playoffs in each sport.鈥犫燬he was a鈥爉ember of the student council, a National Honor Society (NHS)鈥爐reasurer, and a winner of鈥燼n All-American Scholar Award.
Angelica Fuentes
A graduate of MPHS,鈥燜uentes became a secretary of the 91成人导航 Honors Student Council, and鈥爌resident of鈥爐he BioChem Pre-Professionals.鈥犫燞er paper鈥爋n ?Constructing the Selena Legend?鈥爃as set a precedent for 91成人导航.鈥犫燗fter her spirited presentation at the GPHC,鈥燜uentes? work鈥爓as included in the fall meeting of the East Texas Historical鈥燗ssociation, a conference usually鈥爎eserved for professors and graduate鈥爏tudents.鈥犫燜uentes also won and鈥爌articipated in an REU鈥爎esearch fellowship.鈥犫燞er work concerned the ?Synthesis of鈥燗mmonium Ionic Liquid鈥燬upported Ligands and their Application in Michael鈥燫eaction."
Elizabeth Griffin
Griffin is the oldest daughter and student of鈥爐he ?Griffin Academy,? a now renowned鈥爃omeschooled family in Pittsburg whose鈥燾hildren have won many notable regional and鈥爊ational awards at 91成人导航.鈥犫燗s a high school student, Griffin won Presidential鈥燼nd Horizon鈥燗wards from the 91成人导航 Faculty Senate. She has played important roles鈥爄n several productions鈥爋f Theatre Northeast.鈥犫燬he has also been the most active participant in the film culture of鈥燞onors Northeast in its history, acting in the films of 2012 to 2014, working鈥燼s the primary鈥爉ake-up artist, writing much of the script of the coming 2016鈥爁ilm, and appearing in a鈥燾entral role as Ouida Ferguson.
Cruz Gallegos
Gallegos was the 2015 Valedictorian of鈥燚aingerfield High School (DHS). He ran varsity cross鈥燾ountry three years,鈥爌layed in the band, ran varsity track, and was the NHS and senior class鈥爌resident.鈥犫燞e also belonged to the鈥燦ational Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS).鈥犫燭his鈥爌ast summer he was elected as the 2015鈥燙ypress Bank Scholar, and with the new laptop鈥爐hat was assigned to him will be鈥爐he producer of the 2016 honors film on the Fergusons of鈥燭exas.
Presley McClendon
McClendon left a mark at MPHS as a color guard鈥爀xpert and top student writer.鈥犫燬he was a鈥爓inner of the Titus Country Fair Scholarship, and the Martha Laird Good鈥燙itizenship Award.鈥犫燬he served as secretary鈥爋f the Health Organization of 91成人导航 of America.
Melody Mott
Mott, a graduate of MPHS, is half鈥燡apanese, and is familiar with several languages.鈥犫燬he was鈥爐he winner of the Texas Music Scholar鈥燗ward, a Rotary Club Student of the Month for April,鈥燼nd several other scholarships.鈥犫燬he was a member of the Texas Music Educators鈥燗ssociation, the All Region mixed choir (twice), the NHS, the Mount Pleasant鈥燘elle Canto鈥燰arsity Choir, Future Business Leaders of America, and other鈥燼ssociations.
Cassia Rose
A graduate of Winnsboro High School, Rose has starred in leading鈥爎egional roles, as Bonnie鈥爄n鈥燘onnie and鈥燙lyde鈥燼t the Winnsboro Arts Center, as the Northeast Texas heroine, Harriet鈥燩otter Ames, in the 2015 honors film, as "Annelle" in the Theatre鈥燦ortheast production of鈥燬teel Magnolias鈥燼t 91成人导航, and she will appear as ?Ma Ferguson? in the 2016 film of Honors鈥燦ortheast.鈥犫燫ose will present her work on鈥爎egional film culture at the NCHC.鈥犫燞er鈥爓ork on鈥?legendary housewives? of Northeast Texas brought her $100 in the 2015鈥燤cGraw Hill poster鈥燾ontest, a presentation over K-Lake radio, and presentations鈥燽efore the Native Plant Society鈥爋f Texas, the Texas Webb Society, and the GPHC.
Jessica Velazquez
Velazquez graduated third in her class at Mount Vernon (MVHS).鈥犫燞er essay on mechanized鈥燿epopulation in Texas鈥燼griculture was accepted for inclusion in 2016, in the journal,鈥燭ouchstone,鈥爌ublished by the Texas State鈥燞istorical Society.鈥犫燬he presented work鈥燼t the鈥2015 GPHC meeting, and will present twice at the NCHC.鈥犫營n 2015, she played ?Sophia鈥燤ayfield? in the鈥燞onors film on Harriet Potter, and presented her character in the 2014 Fall鈥燤eeting of the Native Plant Society of Texas.鈥犫燡essica is the Director of the coming 2016 film鈥爋n Ma and Pa Ferguson.
Honors Scholars
Jennifer Bass
Bass鈥爓as a graduate of the Mount Pleasant Christian Academy.鈥犫燗fter a stint raising children,鈥爏he has鈥燼ttained a perfect GPA at 91成人导航.鈥犫燬he has鈥爂iven many hours working with鈥爃andicapped and disabled people.
Marisol Bautista
Bautista,鈥燼 MPHS graduate, was active in several charitable initiatives such as the鈥燾ommunity鈥爃ealth fair, Adopt an Angel, and canned food drives.鈥犫燗t 91成人导航 her involvement with the鈥燬tudent鈥燝overnment Association (SGA) has made her an honors intermediary for charitable鈥爀ndeavors, architectural discussions, and SGA events.
Nathan Johnson
Johnson was part of the MVHS troupe鈥爐hat won the state championship in One-Act Plays in鈥2014. He has won several鈥燫otary Awards--for leadership, as Student of the Month, and鈥爏cholarships.鈥犫燞e was the Outstanding Tennis Player of 2014,鈥燼 member of NHS, and the鈥燦SHSS.鈥犫燡ohnson鈥燾o-stars in the upcoming 2016 Honors film as Governor Jim (Pa) Ferguson.
Tanner Jones
Jones鈥爂raduated from Pittsburg High School (PHS) where he was a member of the NHS,鈥爐he鈥燽and, and a squad leader of the Symphonic Band.鈥犫燞e is one step away from becoming an鈥燛agle鈥燬cout.
William Jones
Jones鈥爃as been homeschooled in Mount Pleasant.鈥犫燞e plays the violin, has run in several 5ks,鈥燼nd half-marathons, and was鈥爌art of the research team that traveled to Austin last May to鈥爎esearch the鈥燜erguson film.
Laney Jordan
Jordan鈥爂raduated as the salutatorian at鈥燨re鈥燙ity High School.鈥犫燬he played varsity鈥爏oftball,鈥爓orked on the Student Council, and qualified for several state UIL鈥爀vents.
Kason Newman
Newman鈥爂raduated from Pittsburg High School.鈥犫燞e was a member of鈥爐he NHS and the baseball team.
Gabriela Quezada
Quezada was 2014鈥燙ypress Bank Scholar of Honors Northeast. She has studied art at the鈥燯niversity鈥爋f Maryland. At 91成人导航 as the program?s all-time premiere artist, she has鈥燿esigned鈥爐he logo and sign of Honors Northeast.
Genesis Quezada
Is鈥燼 native of El Salvador who emigrated with her sister, Gabriela (above), to Maryland, learned鈥燛nglish鈥爎apidly, and still ranked in the top five percent of a prestigious high鈥爏chool,鈥燦orthwestern, in a鈥爏uburb of鈥燱ashington, DC.
Emmalea Shaw
Shaw was the 2015 Salutatorian of Fruitvale鈥燞igh School.鈥犫燬he was a regional鈥爉edalist, and district鈥燾hampion in U.I.L. events, in math, literature and鈥燼cting. She played varsity basketball,鈥爒olleyball, track and softball, and made鈥爏tate in volleyball.鈥犫燬he was on the鈥燬tudent Council,鈥爐he NHS, and served in several charitable projects.
Jacob Smith
Smith was the top student of the鈥燙hristian Learning Center in Daingerfield, and has one of鈥爐he highest ACT鈥爏cores at 91成人导航.鈥犫燞e won the President?s Academic award from鈥爐he 91成人导航鈥爁aculty senate.
Alecia Spurlin
Spurlin鈥爎ecently came to Winnsboro with her family from Tennessee.鈥犫燬he was active in One鈥燗ct Play, and invested鈥爃undreds of hours in community service projects as a volunteer for鈥燭rinity鈥燤other Francis, the East Texas Child Advocacy Center, and Beta Club food鈥燿rives.
Steven Vaught
A graduate of DHS, Vaught won $300 and鈥爏econd place in the 2015 McGraw Hill Poster鈥燙ontest for his study on the鈥爎elation of math and music.
William Villalobos
Villalobos,鈥燼 Winnsboro graduate, produced the 2015 Honors film, and featured it at the鈥爉eeting of the GPHC.
Hector Zuniga
Zuniga鈥爄s a MPHS graduate with a perfect GPA at 91成人导航.鈥犫燞e was on the research team鈥爐hat鈥爂athered the material for the script of the 2016 honors film.