The December 13 Academic Excellence Awards presentation at Cleburne High School marked the 40^th anniversary of the scholastic achievement recognition program established by St. Mark United Methodist Church.

                More than 400 sophomores, juniors and seniors were honored for their academic efforts in achieving a 3.4 cumulative GPA or higher in the 2021-2022 school year. Members of the CHS Class of 2022 who met the scholastic standard were recognized in May.

                “We started with 43 awardees and now, 40 years later we are honoring 467 including graduates,” said Shelly Samuels, Academic Excellence Awards committee member. “That is ten times more than when this program began. It’s been great to see the progression through the years.”

On display at the ceremony was a letter sweater presented to honorees at the first Academic Excellence Awards—which became a tradition. In the 1990s, a switch was made to black and gold Academic Excellence afghans presented to first-time recipients, with repeat honorees awarded certificates.

                “Our pastor at that time brought the idea to our church members,” Samuels said. “He wanted to see Cleburne High School’s academic achievers receive the same recognition as athletes. It’s exciting—and important—that with community support we have been able to honor students for their academic excellence through the years.”

                 This was the fourth year CHS Principal Ben Renner has participated in the academic awards ceremony—but this one was extra special.

                “These seniors were freshmen when I came to CHS,” Renner said. “I feel like I have grown up a little bit with these kids. I really appreciate the members of St. Mark who take the time and effort to reward and recognize our hardest-working kids. The Academic Excellence Awards program is a great tradition. It’s always a great day—and a highlight of the school year—when we have this ceremony.”

                Presented with afghans as first-time honorees were sophomores Kayla Abbott, Annalee Adriano, Milka Alcala, Kloe Allmon, Alek Amyett, Jordyn Anderson, Cason Arnold, Olivia Banks, Angelina Barfield, McKenzie Barnes, Megdalena Barraza, Aida Biven, Danielle Boateng, Benjamin Bodle, Kodi Bourg, Ara Bowman, Chasity Brower, Logan Brown, Parker Brown, Diana Bustamante, Miguel Cardenas, Braedon Carlton, Destiny Carrizales, Satiya Carter, Evan Chaplin, Esmeralda Chavez, Mia Cisneros, Rylan Coates, Camden Cooper, Bailey Cottongame, Brannigan Cox, Cole Curlee, Matthew David, Matthew Dominguez, Shawn Dutcher, Aubree  Earley, Brock Easley, Camille Ellis, Antonia Fabrizio, Isabel Felkins, Lily Fojtasek, Corbin Franklin, Alexa Garcia, Javier Garcia, Johnny Geyer, Madison Glover, Alina Gonzalez, Daniel Gonzalez, Leonardo Gonzalez, Allison Gow, Kayli-Rae Guthrie, Brenna Hollingsworth, Ethan House, Kaden Howington, Alex Huerta, Elizabeth Hunt, Jolea Irvin, Caitlyn Ishmael, Alize Johnston, Katelyn Jones, Kendall Kindred, Jake Labo, Grace Lance, Karen Lara, Savannah Lawhon, Ember Layland, Logan Lee, Payten Lindsey, Gianna Livoti, Edgar Mares, Ivan Martinez, Kassandra Martinez, Elizabeth Martinez Mendoza, Madi McClure, Makenzie McClure, Reese McFarland, Logan Metts, Reyna Del Sol Moctezuma, Mandy Morales, Quetzal Morales, Karisa Muñoz, Jack Murray.

                Also, Alyssa Navarrete, Landon Noatch, Stayci Novian, Abner Ortega, Julius Pearce, Stephanie Pedroza, Hector Peña, Adrian Perez, Eddie Perez, Joelismarie Perez Melendez, Jaci Peterson, Hannah Preiser, Dakota Pridemore, Garrett Ramirez, Jared Ramos, Myra Rangel, Natalie Reyes, German Rico, David Rios, Jr., Leandro Rivera-Huerta, Landon Robertson, Jadaan Rodriguez, Nathan Rodriguez, Carson Rosser, Jayson Rubio, Joscelin Sanchez, Mary Sisk, Scott Spencer, Kayden Spurgeon, Addyson Thompson, Bree Threlkeld, Alec Trevino, Austin Turner, Maryah Turner, Monica Valles, Jett  Walker, Sheridan Walker, Victoria Warniment, Lily West, Tessa Whitehead, Lillian Williams, Stephen Works, Aaron Wuth, Katharina Zelaya Youngberg, Heaven Zuniga.

                Junior honorees are: Ethan Ainsworth, George Alazar, Crystal Alvarez, Danely Alvarez, Nayeli Arias, Darrien Armendariz-Lorows, Sammy Arouse, Allison Ayers, Gisella Balderson, Boston Bicknell, Aidan Binkley, McKinnley Blake, Emma Botkin, Jada Brinkley, Katy Britt, Bryan Cary, Sophia Castañeda, Paisley Chastain, Gwyneth Cheavens, Damson Chola, Jr., Gabriel Clifford, Paige Cook, Ambri Coward, Belicia Cox, Nolan Crawford, Gazale Cruz, Paityn Davis, Emma Dudley, Jack Edmiston, Cameron Eggen, Erin Febinger, Rylan Followill, Corbin Forrester, Peyton Funderburk, Savannah Gaines, Alyssa Garcia, Mariela Garcia-Garcia, Caylee Garver, Cole Geltmeier, Collin Graeve, Alejandra Grijalva-Chavez, Sylvia Gutierrez, Julius Guzman, Kenzie Hamilton, William Harp, Malek Hassan, Rosanyeliz Hernandez Serrano, Sol Herrera-Reyna, Hailey Iannone, Josiah Jackson, Yair Jaramillo, Kenya Johnson, Homero Juarez, Lorelei Keils, Baylee Kelly, Kade King, Kamree Kirkpatrick, Lea Laureles, Landry Leigh, Eddy Lopez, Benjamin Ludlow, Unique Manning, Alexandria Martin, Jorge Martinez, Jorge Martinez-Serbin, Jr., Zachary McClure, Michael McMinn, Kelsey Meland, Evan Melton, Cheyanne Miller, Issbel Moctezuma, Kylie Montgomery, Kade Moore, Saddler Morgan, Isaac Morrow, Espn Morton, Emily Nelson, Khushi Patel, Judit Paz, Jillian Perkins, Ethan Polasek, Viviana Ramirez, Lorena Ramos Nieves, Andrew Reeves, Jose Rivera Huerta, Cesar Rivero, Alejandro Robles, Ashely Rodriguez, Mia Rodriguez, Xavier Rodriguez, Bryan Roman Serrano, Talas Ruff, Emmanuel Salgado, Miguel Sanchez, Blayd Schawo, Logan Schroyer, Zoe Schweizer, Riley Seaba, Albert Sellers, Makenna Shields, Hannah Sian, Gavin Smith, Ivy Grace Smith, Christina Sohns, Paithen Steinbrink, Jordan Stevens, Raegan Stone, Kallie Taylor, Noah Taylor, Logan Thorne, Chloe Torres, Mercedes Torres, Josue Torres-Padron, Falon Trevino, Kendra Ulrich, Michael Vacanti, Ximena Valencia, Dylan VanSlyke, Esmeralda Vidales, Gavrielle Villareal, Javier Vivanco, Janna West, Julia Whitehead, Marnie Williams, Nathan Williams, Haidyn Witt.

                Senior recipients: Crystal Aguilar, Angie Andersen, Shelby Awtrey, Giselle Azua, Megan Baadsgaard, Kyra Baker, Katie Barnes, Aariyah Brooks, Jerison Brown, Cayden Cantrell, Cadence Collier, Madison Collins, Tru Collup, Harmony Conner, Breauna Crotts, Hallie Davis, Emily Day, Kevin De Angelo, Lizbeth De La Torre Davalos, Julian Deason, Abigail Doty, Reese Easley, Iris Estrada, Skye Ewell, Jessie May Faulk, Weston Fenn, Hallie Fiola, Gletsi Garcia, Karyme Garcia, Ahtziri Garcia Valle, Andres Gavino Juache, Joshua Gomez, Adrian Gonzalez, Tessa Green, Melissa Griffin, Kyle Grigsby, Anthony Guadamuz, Lydia Guereca, Haley Hadley, Chrysta Hames, Ella Hardin, Cheyanne Harmon, Melany Hernandez, Lynetta House, Joselyn Huerta, Jesse Jaramillo, Elijah Jarmon, Chloe Johnson, Dillan Jones, Tommy  Jordan II, Riley King, Nazeret Kuykendall, Kyle Labo, Avery Lacroix, Paigen Lanford, Adrienne Light, Gisselle Limon, Rylan Lingo, Chris Maher, Aiden Marcozzi, Diego Mares, Marlie Marshall, Jana Jazmin Martinez, Morgan Marvell, Hillary McBroom, Olivia McGaughey, Nuria Mireles, Emily Moore, Robert Morgan, Madi Munn, Parker Murphy, Felipe Muzquiz, Bianca O’Bryant, Macklin O’Leary, Marco Ortiz, Hunter Patrick, Jonathan Perez, Robert Cash Pippin, Elizabeth Preston, Parker Pritchard, Mackenzie Pruiett, Clarissa Pugh, Anthony Reaves III, Dayana Reyes Herrera, Alexa Roberts, Stephanie Salazar-Garay, Evelyn Sanchez, Jessy Sanders, Angil Sebits, Landry Shields, Matthew Slimp, Abby Smith, Haden Smith, Allie Steele, Carla Summers, Kiley Tanner, Adrian Tapia, Maryn Tennison, Lilly Thomas, Zane Thomas, Brenda  Torres, Kaitlyn Tucker, Courtney Ulrich, Taylor Valerius, Samantha Vesley, Matilda Ward, Justin Warniment, Jacob Wenzel, Tyler Williams, Kamron Wright, Elizabeth Youngberg.