Commencement exercises for the Cleburne High School Class of 2023, taking place Sunday at 6 p.m. at Texas Christian University, will be led by Valedictorian Parker Pritchard and Salutatorian Chloe Johnson.

            As first and second in academic rank among their 403 classmates, Pritchard and Johnson were recognized Friday morning at the annual Pinnacle Bank Honor Graduates Breakfast celebrating the CHS Top Ten Percent and their parents.

            Members of the top ten percent also include Angie Andersen, Shelby Awtrey, Megan Baadsgaard, Tru Collup, Harmony Conner, Breauna Crotts, Kevin De Angelo, Reese Easley, Ryan Evetts, Andres Gavino Juache, Haley Hadley, Cheyanne Harmon, Melany Hernandez, Lynetta House, Tommy Jordan II, SaiAnn King, Avery LaCroix, Paigen Lanford, Diego Mares, Marlie Marshall, Jana Jazmin Martinez, Morgan Marvell, Hillary McBroom, Olivia McGaughey, Rex Morgan, Madi Munn, Parker Murphy, Bianca O’Bryant, Jonathan Perez, Robert Pippin, Dayana Reyes Herrera, Jessy Sanders, Kiley Tanner, Maryn Tennison, Lilly Thomas, MattieLu Ward, Tyler Williams and Elizabeth Youngberg.

            Pritchard ends his four years at CHS with a 4.733 GPA, reflected in numerous academic honors including AP Scholar with Distinction and the Aristotle Award as the outstanding scholar in social studies. He was among the candidates for the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program honoring the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. He is also the recipient of the National College Board Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award.

            He is a four-year letterman on the Jackets swim team, advancing beyond district as a regional and state qualifier in individual and relay events. He served as team captain this year. He is also president of Beta Club, vice-president of Key Club and Spanish National Honor Society and treasurer of National Honor Society. As a member of DECA, he was a district winner and qualified for state competition.

            Pritchard will have one more opportunity to represent CHS as a Technology Student Association national qualifier in Forensics Crime Scene Analysis with teammate Macklin O’Leary.

            He has been honored by the CHS faculty in being selected for Who’s Who, and by his peers in being named Mr. CHS for 2022-2023.

            Pritchard has been accepted to the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas. He is the recipient of the Doyle Stalcup Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship, Alumni Scholarship and the Johnson County Texas Exes Scholarship.

            As Salutatorian, achieving second in class rank, Johnson is graduating with a GPA of 4.657. She will be attending Baylor University, with plans to major in business, and is the recipient of the Dr. W.P. Ball Scholarship.

            Recognized for outstanding achievement by the CHS Foreign Language Department, Johnson has received the Leopold Senghor Award, as the top French scholar. She is also a four-year Academic Excellence Award honoree and has consistently achieved Beta Club Summa Cum Laude honors since her freshman year.

            Johnson is a member of Exchangettes, Student Council and the French Honor Society and was the service chair in National Honor Society.