More than $210,000 in scholarships were announced this week for Como-Pickton seniors during the annual Senior Night program at the school. Como-Pickton High School Class of 2021 graduate candidates also were recognized for academic achievements as well.
The 10 students recognized for having the top cumulative averages were:
- Kaitlyn Morgan, valedictorian, 6.373 grade point average
- Lexi Busby, salutatorian, 6.144 GPA
- Delane Baxley, 6.121 GPA
- Jackson Monk, 6.096 GPA
- Madison Garner, 6.068 GPA
- Summer Gilbreath, 6.057 GPA
- Chloe Romero, 5.924 GPA
- Josue Pulgarin, 5.904 GPA
- Kade Kaslon, 5.884 GPA
- Cindy Munoz, 5.847 GPA
Michael Bowen presented Valedictorian Kaitlyn Morgan and Chloe Romero were awarded $1,000 Como-Pickton FFA Scholarships. He also awarded Morgan a special scholarship, given in honor of his friend and coworker, who taught and coached at CP, the late Lonnie Niblett. In addition to the $500 Lonnie Niblett Memorial Scholarship, Bowen presented Morgan with a $1,000 Texas FFA Foundation scholarship.
Kaitlyn Morgan, Chloe Romero, salutatorian Lexi Busby, Summer Gilbreath, Jackson Monk, Braden Miller, Shakela Sims and Jessie Satterfield each received $500 Como-Pickton Athletic Booster Club scholarships.
Michael Bowen also presented Kevin Dias, Mario Lara and Pablo Villa with $500 financial awards to attend Tulsa Welding School. The students participated in a welding contest in Houston which featured approximately 260 students. Diaz finished in the top 20.
Kourtney Davis, admissions counselor at Texas A&M University-Commerce, announced a total of $96,000 in scholarships awarded by the university to CPHS Class of 2021 seniors. The awards are based on academic merit, which means they are awarded solely on each students’ GPA and class rank, and are renewable for up to four years at TAMUC. Receiving $4,000 Tier 2 Blue and Gold Scholarships from A&M-Commerce were Maliyah Diaz and Shakela Sims. TAMUC Blue and Gold Tier 1 Scholarships totaling $8,000 went to Cindy Munoz, Chloe Romero and Josue Pulgarin. Receiving $16,000 Presidential Scholarships to attend TAMUC were Lexi Busby, Kaitlyn Morgan, Delane Baxley and Jackson Monk.
Kaitlyn Morgan too was was awarded a $500 City of Como Scholarship by Austin Baxley, a $1,000 Sulphur Springs Lions Club Scholarship, as well as a $500 Sanitation Solutions Scholarship. Judy Jones presented her with one of five Sulphur Springs Rotary Club Scholarships awarded in the amount of $2,000 for leadership.
Lexi Busby received a $500 scholarship from First Baptist Church of Winnsboro presented by David Henry, to a senior of high integrity, leadership, character in and out of class. Trevor Wallace presented Lexi Busby with a $1,000 Letterman Leadership scholarship. The award is given to an athlete who is Academic All State, nominated by coaches, with the recipient selected through a community vote.
The class salutatorian was also presented with a Storm Sports Scholarship and her coach pitch helmet from the team; the award presented in the amount of $1,000, renewable for up to four years, is awarded to a student who follows 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” example in her speech, life, faith and purity which they said she has done on the court, field, class and life on the court and field.
Lexi Busby also awarded a $1,500 Wood County Junior Livestock Show Scholarship and offered a $16,000 Merit Scholarship to attend West Texas A&M.
Robin Shrode, executive director for the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation, announced Delane Baxley and Jackie Gomez as the recipients of $32,000 Bright Star Scholarships, payable in amounts of $4,000 per semester for up to eight semesters. The foundation awards 10 scholarships annually. This year, the committee received 70 scholarship applications. Although the decision was tough, they were able to identify 10 who best fit the criteria. Baxley and Gomez were among this year’s recipients as were two students at Sulphur Bluff, one from Miller Grove and five from Sulphur Springs high schools.
Chloe Romero received a $2,000 City National Bank Scholarship at the May 24 CPHS Senior Night Celebration. Michael Bowen awarded her with a $1,250 NETLA Scholarship for her participation in the annual Junior Market Livestock Show for a number of years.
Superintendent Greg Bower presented three graduate candidates with a $1,000 Como-Pickton Administrators Scholarship. After he began working at CPCISD and noting the scholarships awarded to students, he vowed to work with administrators to raise enough money to give scholarships for well deserving kids to apply toward college or higher learning. Recipients of the 2021 Administrators Scholarship were Cindy Munoz, Nathan Menser and Leslie Hernandez..
Shakela Sims received a $16,000 Hardin Simmons Presidential Scholarship and a $2,000 Grocery Supply Company Scholarship.
Summer Gilbreath and Leslie Hernandez were awarded $2,850 Finis and Onree Attlesey and Garland and Sweet Gamblin Scholarships. Gilbreath also received a $1,500 Dixie Softball Scholarship.
Wendall Hildebrandt presented to Pablo Villa a $2,000 scholarship from The Hawks Gun Club of East Texas and the Friends of the Hawks, an organization consisting of about 60 members from the Winnsboro area who in addition to their shared interest in firearms also volunteer their time to help others. The award is given to someone who also gives back to the community.
Oscar Strain presented Madison Garner with a $2,000 Ford Driving Dreams Scholarship.
Mario Lara was awarded a $500 Andrews Real Estate Team Scholarship, presented by Steven Andrews.
A Northeast Texas Community College Counselor and Principal’s Scholarship in the amount of $200 was awarded to Josue Pulgarin.
In addition to scholarships, Como-Pickton seniors who made A and AB Honor Rolls, Honor Graduates, the Top 10, valedictorian and salutatorian, and received Red Cord honors by donating blood at least twice, were recognized for their achievements during the May 24 Senior Night as well.
The seniors’ commencement service has moved indoors due to predictions of storms on Friday. Graduation will begin at 7:30 p.m. May 28, in the secondary cafeteria. Seating will be open. No tickets are necessary.
