MFHS grads earn more than $5 million in scholarships

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

At the Marble Falls High School (MFHS) Senior Scholarship Assembly Thursday night, the announcement came: Valedictorian of the Class of 2017 is Madelyn “Maddie” Maples and the Salutatorian is Meikala Hester.

The announcement by MFHS Principal Emmett Aubrey made the announcement along with the nam,e of the individual National Merit Commended Scholar, Jack Harvell-Degolier and the National Hispanic Recognition Program honoree Stefanie King.

In total, the class earned more than $5 million in scholarships. Some 250 local scholarships amounted to more than $248,475.

With the Valedictorian Medal comes a scholarship from the State of Texas for full tuition for the first year at any state-supported college or university in the state. In all, the class accumulated $1.63 million in college scholarships.

GI Bill and other military scholarships awarded by military recruiters accounted for a potential $3.2 million.

“Marble Falls is best known for its support of it schools and the young people who are educated here,” said MFHS Counselor Janna Johnson.

She said more than 250 scholarships earned by the Class of 2017 amounted to more than $248,475. Marble Falls Inependent School District (MFISD) Superintendent Chris Allen, PhD, and County Judge James Oakley distributed 65 scholarships from the growing legacy of Lemmah A. Perry Foundation, established in the estate of a former Marble Falls High School teacher. Other teachers, beloved family member memorials and funds directed through local churches and the Highland Lakes Legacy Fund made up many of the other local scholarships. Still others came from local clubs and organizations, area businesses, school clubs and professional educator organizations.

Retired Houston Oilers player Gary Cutsinger presented bouquets of roses to athletes announced by his wife Pam as winners of scholarships from the Retired National Football League (NFL) Players Association Professional Athletes Foundation, one from his own San Antonio/Austin Chapter and one from the NFL Priest Holmes Foundation.

The 24 honor graduates, the top 10 percent of their class, are guaranteed admission to state colleges and universities, Aubrey noted. They are Madison Burdett, Rachel Coursey, Georgia Eddy, Morgan Hagood, Harvell-Degolier, Hester, Elizabeth Isaack, Delaney Kelley, King, Ashley Lecates, Laurne Loader, Maples, Avery Marshall, Brittany Miller, Megan Offutt, Weston Schultz, Alexandra Steward, Haleigh Tepper, Jacqueline Vasquez, Kelsey Walker, Abigale Weber, Joyce Williams, Wolf Williams and Kameron Wright.

Seniors and their scholarships included:

Jacob Ables, Perry Scholarship, Marble Falls Rodeo Association (MFRA), Marian Collins Repert Memorial and MFHS Ex Students Association; Kimberly Aguilar, Perry Scholarship; Samantha Barker, Abilene Christian University, Highland Lakes Retired Teachers and Perry Scholarship; Riley Biggs, U.S. Navy; Kimberly Boni, Angelo State University, Ranger College, University of Arkansas Little Rock and the FUMC John and Wynona Bennett Memorial Scholarship; Hannah Brooks, U.S. Marine Corps; Jonathan Bryer, Perry Scholarship, MFISD Community Fund and Spicewood Arts Society (SAS) Scholarship; Madison Burdett, Oklahoma Christian Founders and President’s Leadership scholarships, Brown Foundation Scholarship through the Marble Falls Church of Christ, the Carol and Harold Horne Memorial and Perry Scholarships; Legacy and Marble Falls 4-H Scholarships.

Also, Andrea Camero, Central Texas College Tuition and Perry Scholarships; Nadia Castro, Burnet County Fair Queen and Knights of Columbus of St. Paul Scholarships;Sean Childers, U.S. Army; Courtney Cobb, Perry Scholarship; Renae Cockerill, Fite-N-Chance Children’s Foundation and Perry Scholarships and Northstar Bank/Independent Bank Scholarship; Marley Colbert, Perry and Randall Hibler Memorial Scholarships; Daniel Conn, Highland Lakes Texas Tech Alumni, Perry and MFHS Band Boosters Scholarships; Cade Cool, Perry Scholarship; Ryan Counts, Lubbock Christian University, MFRA and Perry Scholarships and the Brown Foundation Scholarship through the Marble Falls Church of Christ; Rachel Coursey, Oklahoma Christian Dean’s List Scholarship, Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Legacy Foundation and Perry Scholarships; Kristopher DeSpain, Perry and MFHS Ex Students Association Scholarships; Esmeralda Dias, Perry Scholarship; Abigail Dimit, Highland Lakes Texas Tech Alumni and Perry Scholarships; Taylor Dixon, Jeff Urofsky Memorial Scholarship; Heath Dooley, Midwestern State Football, Bob Lewis Memorial and Perry Scholarships; Meagan Duffer, Highland Lakes Health Fund, Perry and Marian Collins Repert Memorial Scholarships; Brandon Duggins, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, Perry and Burnet County Farm Bureau Scholarship and Brown Foundation Scholarship through the Marble Falls Church of Christ; Kevin Duggins, Oklahoma Christian University Scholarship, Eagles, Texas Classroom Teachers Association and two MFRA Scholarships; Tiffany Dunavant, Perry and MFHS Athletic Boosters Scholarships; Bailey Dupree, Concordia’s Lutheran Scholarship, and Georgia Eddy, Legacy Foundation Scholarship.

Also, Trevor Felps, Annie Laura Winslow and City of Marble Falls Hearts in Action Scholarships; Emily Fonseca, Perry and Marian Collins Repert Memorial Scholarships; McKenzey Fox, Stacy Seward and Casey Rice Memorial Scholarships, Perry and MFRA Scholarships and the FMUC Rex and Loraine Jackson Memorial Scholarship; James Garrison, U.S. Army; Sydney Gibson, Cooper DeSpain Memorial and Perry Scholarships, MFRA and MFHS Athletic Booster Scholarships, and Dale Gunlock, University of Mary Hardin–Baylor Music Scholarship.

Also, Morgan Hagood, National Honor Society (NHS) Scholarship, Legacy and Perry Foundation Scholarships, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and Texas Exes of the Highland Lakes Scholarships; Samuel “Sam” Harkins, the FUMC Rex and Loraine Jackson Memorial Scholarship and a Perry Scholarship; Marlo Harris Aveda and Marian Collins Repert and Phillip Womack Memorial Scholarships; Jack Harvell-Degolier, Legacy Foundation, MFHS Band Boosters and Murchinson’s Trinity Merit Scholarship for $25,000 per year; Meikala Hester, MFHS NHS, Lhoist and Spicewood Arts Society Scholarships, FUMC Freeman Family, Perry and Terry Foundations Scholarships,Baylor’s Provosts Gold Scholarship and the University of Texas at San Antonio Presidential Scholarship; Makayla Hilburn, Abilene Christian University’s A.B. Barret Award for Academic Excellence, Perry and Hill Country Higher Education Foundations Scholarships, Kiwanis of Marble Falls and Shirley Macrae Memorial Scholarships; Amber Holley, Cooper DeSpain and Randall Hibler Memorial Scholarships Perry and Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships; Andre Hooper J.R. Pete and Agnes Crider Memorial Scholarships, Perry and MFISD Community Fund Scholarships; Katie Hugunin, Texas Big Country Kiwanis of Marble Falls and St. Paul the Apostle Scholarships.

Also, Elizabeth Isaack, Legacy and Perry Foundation Scholarships; Garrett Jett, U.S. Army; Hannah Kadow, Highland Lakes Health Fund Scholarship; Delaney Kelley, Trinity University Dean’s Scholarship, Legacy Foundation and MFHS Band Boosters Scholarships; Stefanie King, Rice University Tuition Grant, Knights of Columbus St. John’s Council and St. Paul the Apostle Scholarships, Perry and Hill Country Higher Education Foundation Scholarships, Marble Falls Rotary and MFHS Athletic Boosters Scholarships; Angelica Knapp, Perry and MFHS Band Boosters Scholarships; Sheyenne Knox, Perry Foundation and Shirley Macrae Memorial Scholarships, Miss Aqua Boom 2014 and MFHS Cheer Boosters Scholarships; Ashley LeCates, Legacy and Perry Foundation Scholarships, Kiwanis of Marble Falls and MFHS Band and Cheer Boosters Scholarships; Lauren Loader, Texas Exes of the Highland Lakes and Perry and Legacy Foundation Scholarships; Jennifer Lopez, Abilene Christian University Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, MFHS Starlette Boosters, Perry Foundation and Legacy Endowed Scholarships, and Shaden Lopez, MFHS Starlette Boosters and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)Scholarships, and Perry Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Also, Cody Machen, Annie Laura Winslow Scholarship; Nhu Mai, H/L Vending and Annie Laura Winslow Scholarships; Madelyn “Maddie Maples, TCTA, Highland Lakes Texas A&M Club and MFHS Cheer Boosters Scholarships, Perry Foundation and FUMC Beth Freeman Memorial Scholarships; Anele Marichalar, Perry Foundation Scholarship; Avery Marshall, Rhodes College Presidential and University of Washington Purple and Gold Scholarships, Perry, Legacy and Perry Foundations Scholarships, Stihl Nursery and Landscape and Marble Falls Ag Boosters Scholarships at Texas A&M President’s Endowed and Opportunity Award Scholarships; Oscar Martinez, Tony Lavinghousez Memorial, Kiwanis of Marble Falls and Perry Scholarships; Emily Mason, Annie Laura Winslow Scholarship; Dalton Mayberry FUMC and Perry Foundation Scholarships; Libby McAlpin, Texas Tech Presidential Scholarship, Highland Lakes Texas Tech Alumni and Perry Foundation Scholarships and the FUMC Maisy Walker Memorial Scholarship; James McCrocklin, Annie Laura Winslow Scholarship; Alan Mezger, Marian Collins Repert and Phillip Womack Memorial Scholarships, MFRA, Blazing Star Masonic Lodge and MFHS Ag Boosters Scholarships; Brittany Miller the Maisy Walker Memorial and Freeman Family Foundation Scholarships of FUMC, Perry Foundation and Highland Lakes Texas A&M Club Scholarships; Sean Mims, U.S. Navy; Katlyn Mintz, Annie Laura Winslow Scholarships; Maria Mora, Cold Spring Granite Scholarship; Alejandra Morales, Perry Scholarship; Wesley Moyar, St. Paul Knights of Columbus Scholarship; Ivy Munn, Grand Canyon University President’s Scholarship,Perry Foundation and MFISD Community Fund Scholarships; Molly Myrick, U.S.Coast Guard; Skyler Noack, Perry Foundation, Texas ElectricCooperatives and Texas Lineman’sRodeo Association Scholarships.

Also, Megan Offutt, MFHS NHS and Cheer Boosters Scholarships; Legacy and the Brown Foundation Scholarship through the Marble Falls Church of Christ and the Lake Buchanan Conservation Corporation Scholarship;Corey Oppenheim, the National Football League (NFL) Priest Holmes Foundation and Perry Foundation Scholarships and the Ernest Cochran Memorial and FUMC Jack and Lee Raesener Memorial Scholarships; Colby Orton, Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI), MFHS Ag Boosters and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Scholarships, Perry Foundation and Marian Collins Repert Memorial Scholarships; Austin Pegues, MFHS Athletic Boosters, Perry Foundation and FUMC John and Wynona Bennett Memorial Scholarships; Juana Ponce, Annie Laura Winslow Scholarship; Jesus Ramirez, Highland Lakes Eagles June Hicks Memorial Scholarship; Perla Ramirez, Perry Foundation and IBC Bank A.R.Sanchez Memorial Scholarships; Brynn Reeder, Cooper DeSpain and John Woodward Memorial Scholarships, Perry Foundation, MFHS Ex Students Association and Northstar Bank/Independent Ban Scholarships; Brandon Reyes; Perry Foundation Scholarship; Abigail Rodriguez, St. Edwards University and MFHS Starlette Boosters Scholarships, and Paola Rodriguez, Perry Scholarship.

Also, Chase Salinas, Texas Lutheran University Presidential Scholarship, Perry Foundation and MFISD Community Fund Scholarships; Weston Schultz, University of North Texas Scholarship. Cooper DeSpain and FUMC Jack and Lee Raesener Memorial Scholarships, Legacy and Perry Foundations and MFHS Athletic Boosters; Samantha Shirey, University of North Texas Scholarship and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Marble Falls Rotary and PEO Chapter HW STAR Award Scholarships; Jack Sopel, Ethan Turner Memorial Scholarship; John Sopel, Perry Foundation Scholarship; Zachary Spruill, Texas Lutheran University Academic Excellence and Texas Lutheran University Scholarships; Alexandra Steward, MFHS NHS Scholarship, Legacy and Perry Foundation Scholarships, Marble Falls 4-H and the Brown Foundation Scholarship through the Marble Falls Church of Christ; Rebekah Taylor, Schreiner University Mountaineer Scholarship; Haleigh Tepper, Baylor University Provosts' Gold Scholarship, MFHS Starlette Boosters, Legacy Foundation and Denise Button Memorial Scholarships; Kisselle Tierra, the Lan Nguyen, MD, Memorial Scholarship from the Burnet County Medical Society; Gavino Tinajera, Perry Scholarship; Kaitlyn Tinsley, Texas Housing at Texas A&M University Scholarship, Perry Foundation and Burnet County Deputy Scholarships; Jacqueline Vasquez, St. Edwards University Dean's Achievement Scholarship, Randall Hibler Memorial Scholarship and Legacy and Perry Foundation Scholarships.

Also, Kelsey Walker, FUMC Maisy Walker Memorial and Methodist Women Scholarships, Blazing Star Masonic Lodge and Highland LakesTexas A&M Club Scholarships, Legacy and Perry Foundation Scholarships, Marble Falls Rotary and FMHS Cheer Boosters Scholarships; Tincia Ware, Abilene Christian University’s University Award, H/L Vending and Jimmy Strobo Memorial Scholarships; Abigail “Abbie” Weber, Texas Exes of the Highland Lakes and MFHS Cheer Boosters Scholarships and Legacy and Perry Foundation Scholarships; Joyce Williams, Clyde and Nance Griffin, MFISD Community Fund, Spicewood Arts Society and Texas Exes of the Highland Lakes Scholarships and Legacy and Perry Foundations Scholarships; William Wolf, University of Iowa “old Gold”, Business Administration College and Top Honors scholarships and Legacy and Perry Foundations Scholarships; Taylor Wimbish, St. Edwards University Presidential Merit Award; Michael Winn, Highland Lakes Texas Tech Alumni Scholarship; Aspen Woerner, Perry Foundation, Burnet County Republican Women and Retired NFL Professional Athletes Foundation SATX/ATX Chapter Scholarship; Kameron Wright, MFHS Athletic Boosters and Legacy and Perry Foundations Scholarships and FUMC Maisy Walker Memorial and Freeman Family Foundation Scholarships; Michaela Young, J.R. Pete and Agnes Crider Memorial and Perry Foundation Scholarships; Christopher Yun, U.S. Navy, and Kaylin Zavala, Lou Becker and FUMC Jack and Lee Raesener and Maisy Walker Memorial Scholarships.