Honors Northeast announces class of 2015-2016

September 3, 2015

The Northeast Texas Community College 91��Ƭ †Honors Program is pleased to announce its Honors Students for the 2015-2016 91��Ƭ †school year. This 91��Ƭ †includes 91��Ƭ †10 91��Ƭ †Presidential Scholars and 91��Ƭ †15 91��Ƭ †Honors Scholars.

Honors Northeast 91��Ƭ †was founded in the spring of 2007. 91��Ƭ †Geared to attract top high school graduates and college students, the program 91��Ƭ †has 91��Ƭ †prospered thanks to a network of loyal supporters both in and out of the 91��Ƭ †college. Each year, 91��Ƭ honors students have attended and 91��Ƭ †presented research 91��Ƭ †at the Great Plains Honors Council and the National Collegiate Honors Council. 91��Ƭ †91��Ƭ Presidential Scholars have won 91��Ƭ †twelve 91��Ƭ †state 91��Ƭ †Caldwell Awards, 91��Ƭ †seven 91��Ƭ †regional Boe Awards, and on 91��Ƭ †the national level, 91��Ƭ †six 91��Ƭ †Coca Cola Gold 91��Ƭ †Awards, a Hites, 91��Ƭ †five 91��Ƭ †Jack Kent 91��Ƭ †Cooke scholarships, 91��Ƭ †four 91��Ƭ †Guistwhite Awards, and a Pearson Scholarship. 91��Ƭ †91��Ƭ 91��Ƭ †Scholars also have published numerous essays in Texas 91��Ƭ †journals.

Presidential Scholars are the top 91��Ƭ †scholarship winners who receive tuition, fees, and textbooks. Honors Scholars 91��Ƭ †receive $1,000 scholarships 91��Ƭ †and are identified as ?rising stars.? 91��Ƭ †They participate in all 91��Ƭ Honors activities and seminars. Students are 91��Ƭ †selected by the 91��Ƭ Honors 91��Ƭ †Committee based upon academic 91��Ƭ †performance, a personal essay and letters of recommendation. The program 91��Ƭ †furnishes all honors students 91��Ƭ †with high-end laptops. Since its 91��Ƭ †beginning, generous community sponsors have financed free trips in the spring 91��Ƭ †and fall, special award 91��Ƭ †opportunities, and graduation gifts.

?Each year I am astonished at the level 91��Ƭ †of academic excellence our students are achieving. These scholars not only 91��Ƭ †enrich our campus, but 91��Ƭ †they continue to make a name for Honors Northeast on the 91��Ƭ †regional and national stages,? Andrew Yox, Honors Director, said.

Aside from receiving a scholarship to attend 91��Ƭ †91��Ƭ, entering scholars will enroll in two special six-hour seminars, one in 91��Ƭ †the fall and one in 91��Ƭ †the spring. All honors students participate in the fall 91��Ƭ †Northeast Texas Poetry contest, the spring McGraw Hill Poster contest, and 91��Ƭ †submit 91��Ƭ †papers 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 91��Ƭ †only to ten 91��Ƭ †community college students nation-wide. A graduate of Mount 91��Ƭ †Pleasant High School (MPHS), 91��Ƭ †his paper on the ?Varangian Option? for slaves in 91��Ƭ †Texas won fourth place in the state-wide 91��Ƭ †Caldwell competition. He presented 91��Ƭ †work at the Great Plains Honors Council (GPHC) on South 91��Ƭ †Padre Island in April, 91��Ƭ †and he has won an invitation to present at the 2015 meeting of the 91��Ƭ †National 91��Ƭ †Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). He won third Place and $200 at the 2015 91��Ƭ †McGraw 91��Ƭ †Hill Poster contest, and he was elected Vice President for District III 91��Ƭ †of Phi Theta Kappa of 91��Ƭ †Texas, during the national PTK meeting in San Antonio.

Morgan Capps

Capps was the 2014 Valedictorian at Jefferson Christian Academy. She won 91��Ƭ †$100 and fourth 91��Ƭ †place at the 2014 Northeast Texas Poetry Contest, $200 with the 91��Ƭ †Elizabeth Chitsey Prize for 91��Ƭ †2015, and second place and a $300 state Caldwell 91��Ƭ †Award for her path-breaking paper on 91��Ƭ †Texas governors, Ma and Pa Ferguson. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She received the latter in Corpus Christi at 91��Ƭ †the State 91��Ƭ †Webb Society, the student auxiliary of the Texas State Historical 91��Ƭ †Association (TSHA). Capp?s 91��Ƭ †essay is the source of the 2016 Honors Film. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Capps also presented work at the GPHC. Her 91��Ƭ †work has been accepted for a presentation at the 50th-anniversary 91��Ƭ †meeting of the NCHC in 91��Ƭ †Chicago.

Cailee Davidson

Davidson was a top 2015 graduate and athlete of Harmony High School, and 91��Ƭ †represents a family that 91��Ƭ †has now had two generations of A students attend 91��Ƭ. 91��Ƭ †At Harmony, Davidson played 91��Ƭ †varsity volleyball, basketball, and softball 91��Ƭ †advancing to the playoffs in each sport. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She was a 91��Ƭ †member of the student council, a National Honor Society (NHS) 91��Ƭ †treasurer, and a winner of 91��Ƭ †an All-American Scholar Award.

Angelica Fuentes

A graduate of MPHS, 91��Ƭ †Fuentes became a secretary of the 91��Ƭ Honors Student Council, and 91��Ƭ †president of 91��Ƭ †the BioChem Pre-Professionals. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Her paper 91��Ƭ †on ?Constructing the Selena Legend? 91��Ƭ †has set a precedent for 91��Ƭ. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †After her spirited presentation at the GPHC, 91��Ƭ †Fuentes? work 91��Ƭ †was included in the fall meeting of the East Texas Historical 91��Ƭ †Association, a conference usually 91��Ƭ †reserved for professors and graduate 91��Ƭ †students. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Fuentes also won and 91��Ƭ †participated in an REU 91��Ƭ †research fellowship. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Her work concerned the ?Synthesis of 91��Ƭ †Ammonium Ionic Liquid 91��Ƭ †Supported Ligands and their Application in Michael 91��Ƭ †Reaction."

Elizabeth Griffin

Griffin is the oldest daughter and student of 91��Ƭ †the ?Griffin Academy,? a now renowned 91��Ƭ †homeschooled family in Pittsburg whose 91��Ƭ †children have won many notable regional and 91��Ƭ †national awards at 91��Ƭ. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †As a high school student, Griffin won Presidential 91��Ƭ †and Horizon 91��Ƭ †Awards from the 91��Ƭ Faculty Senate. She has played important roles 91��Ƭ †in several productions 91��Ƭ †of Theatre Northeast. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She has also been the most active participant in the film culture of 91��Ƭ †Honors Northeast in its history, acting in the films of 2012 to 2014, working 91��Ƭ †as the primary 91��Ƭ †make-up artist, writing much of the script of the coming 2016 91��Ƭ †film, and appearing in a 91��Ƭ †central role as Ouida Ferguson.

Cruz Gallegos

Gallegos was the 2015 Valedictorian of 91��Ƭ †Daingerfield High School (DHS). He ran varsity cross 91��Ƭ †country three years, 91��Ƭ †played in the band, ran varsity track, and was the NHS and senior class 91��Ƭ †president. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †He also belonged to the 91��Ƭ †National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †This 91��Ƭ †past summer he was elected as the 2015 91��Ƭ †Cypress Bank Scholar, and with the new laptop 91��Ƭ †that was assigned to him will be 91��Ƭ †the producer of the 2016 honors film on the Fergusons of 91��Ƭ †Texas.

Presley McClendon

McClendon left a mark at MPHS as a color guard 91��Ƭ †expert and top student writer. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She was a 91��Ƭ †winner of the Titus Country Fair Scholarship, and the Martha Laird Good 91��Ƭ †Citizenship Award. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She served as secretary 91��Ƭ †of the Health Organization of Students of America.

Melody Mott

Mott, a graduate of MPHS, is half 91��Ƭ †Japanese, and is familiar with several languages. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She was 91��Ƭ †the winner of the Texas Music Scholar 91��Ƭ †Award, a Rotary Club Student of the Month for April, 91��Ƭ †and several other scholarships. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She was a member of the Texas Music Educators 91��Ƭ †Association, the All Region mixed choir (twice), the NHS, the Mount Pleasant 91��Ƭ †Belle Canto 91��Ƭ †Varsity Choir, Future Business Leaders of America, and other 91��Ƭ †associations.

Cassia Rose

A graduate of Winnsboro High School, Rose has starred in leading 91��Ƭ †regional roles, as Bonnie 91��Ƭ †in 91��Ƭ †Bonnie and 91��Ƭ †Clyde 91��Ƭ †at the Winnsboro Arts Center, as the Northeast Texas heroine, Harriet 91��Ƭ †Potter Ames, in the 2015 honors film, as "Annelle" in the Theatre 91��Ƭ †Northeast production of 91��Ƭ †Steel Magnolias 91��Ƭ †at 91��Ƭ, and she will appear as ?Ma Ferguson? in the 2016 film of Honors 91��Ƭ †Northeast. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Rose will present her work on 91��Ƭ †regional film culture at the NCHC. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Her 91��Ƭ †work on 91��Ƭ †?legendary housewives? of Northeast Texas brought her $100 in the 2015 91��Ƭ †McGraw Hill poster 91��Ƭ †contest, a presentation over K-Lake radio, and presentations 91��Ƭ †before the Native Plant Society 91��Ƭ †of Texas, the Texas Webb Society, and the GPHC.

Jessica Velazquez

Velazquez graduated third in her class at Mount Vernon (MVHS). 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Her essay on mechanized 91��Ƭ †depopulation in Texas 91��Ƭ †agriculture was accepted for inclusion in 2016, in the journal, 91��Ƭ †Touchstone, 91��Ƭ †published by the Texas State 91��Ƭ †Historical Society. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She presented work 91��Ƭ †at the 91��Ƭ †2015 GPHC meeting, and will present twice at the NCHC. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †In 2015, she played ?Sophia 91��Ƭ †Mayfield? in the 91��Ƭ †Honors film on Harriet Potter, and presented her character in the 2014 Fall 91��Ƭ †Meeting of the Native Plant Society of Texas. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Jessica is the Director of the coming 2016 film 91��Ƭ †on Ma and Pa Ferguson.

Honors Scholars

Jennifer Bass

Bass 91��Ƭ †was a graduate of the Mount Pleasant Christian Academy. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †After a stint raising children, 91��Ƭ †she has 91��Ƭ †attained a perfect GPA at 91��Ƭ. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She has 91��Ƭ †given many hours working with 91��Ƭ †handicapped and disabled people.

Marisol Bautista

Bautista, 91��Ƭ †a MPHS graduate, was active in several charitable initiatives such as the 91��Ƭ †community 91��Ƭ †health fair, Adopt an Angel, and canned food drives. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †At 91��Ƭ her involvement with the 91��Ƭ †Student 91��Ƭ †Government Association (SGA) has made her an honors intermediary for charitable 91��Ƭ †endeavors, architectural discussions, and SGA events.

Nathan Johnson

Johnson was part of the MVHS troupe 91��Ƭ †that won the state championship in One-Act Plays in 91��Ƭ †2014. He has won several 91��Ƭ †Rotary Awards--for leadership, as Student of the Month, and 91��Ƭ †scholarships. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †He was the Outstanding Tennis Player of 2014, 91��Ƭ †a member of NHS, and the 91��Ƭ †NSHSS. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Johnson 91��Ƭ †co-stars in the upcoming 2016 Honors film as Governor Jim (Pa) Ferguson.

Tanner Jones

Jones 91��Ƭ †graduated from Pittsburg High School (PHS) where he was a member of the NHS, 91��Ƭ †the 91��Ƭ †band, and a squad leader of the Symphonic Band. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †He is one step away from becoming an 91��Ƭ †Eagle 91��Ƭ †Scout.

William Jones

Jones 91��Ƭ †has been homeschooled in Mount Pleasant. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †He plays the violin, has run in several 5ks, 91��Ƭ †and half-marathons, and was 91��Ƭ †part of the research team that traveled to Austin last May to 91��Ƭ †research the 91��Ƭ †Ferguson film.

Laney Jordan

Jordan 91��Ƭ †graduated as the salutatorian at 91��Ƭ †Ore 91��Ƭ †City High School. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She played varsity 91��Ƭ †softball, 91��Ƭ †worked on the Student Council, and qualified for several state UIL 91��Ƭ †events.

Kason Newman

Newman 91��Ƭ †graduated from Pittsburg High School. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †He was a member of 91��Ƭ †the NHS and the baseball team.

Gabriela Quezada

Quezada was 2014 91��Ƭ †Cypress Bank Scholar of Honors Northeast. She has studied art at the 91��Ƭ †University 91��Ƭ †of Maryland. At 91��Ƭ as the program?s all-time premiere artist, she has 91��Ƭ †designed 91��Ƭ †the logo and sign of Honors Northeast.

Genesis Quezada

Is 91��Ƭ †a native of El Salvador who emigrated with her sister, Gabriela (above), to Maryland, learned 91��Ƭ †English 91��Ƭ †rapidly, and still ranked in the top five percent of a prestigious high 91��Ƭ †school, 91��Ƭ †Northwestern, in a 91��Ƭ †suburb of 91��Ƭ †Washington, DC.

Emmalea Shaw

Shaw was the 2015 Salutatorian of Fruitvale 91��Ƭ †High School. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She was a regional 91��Ƭ †medalist, and district 91��Ƭ †champion in U.I.L. events, in math, literature and 91��Ƭ †acting. She played varsity basketball, 91��Ƭ †volleyball, track and softball, and made 91��Ƭ †state in volleyball. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She was on the 91��Ƭ †Student Council, 91��Ƭ †the NHS, and served in several charitable projects.

Jacob Smith

Smith was the top student of the 91��Ƭ †Christian Learning Center in Daingerfield, and has one of 91��Ƭ †the highest ACT 91��Ƭ †scores at 91��Ƭ. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †He won the President?s Academic award from 91��Ƭ †the 91��Ƭ 91��Ƭ †faculty senate.

Alecia Spurlin

Spurlin 91��Ƭ †recently came to Winnsboro with her family from Tennessee. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †She was active in One 91��Ƭ †Act Play, and invested 91��Ƭ †hundreds of hours in community service projects as a volunteer for 91��Ƭ †Trinity 91��Ƭ †Mother Francis, the East Texas Child Advocacy Center, and Beta Club food 91��Ƭ †drives.

Steven Vaught

A graduate of DHS, Vaught won $300 and 91��Ƭ †second place in the 2015 McGraw Hill Poster 91��Ƭ †Contest for his study on the 91��Ƭ †relation of math and music.

William Villalobos

Villalobos, 91��Ƭ †a Winnsboro graduate, produced the 2015 Honors film, and featured it at the 91��Ƭ †meeting of the GPHC.

Hector Zuniga

Zuniga 91��Ƭ †is a MPHS graduate with a perfect GPA at 91��Ƭ. 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †He was on the research team 91��Ƭ †that 91��Ƭ †gathered the material for the script of the 2016 honors film.

91��Ƭ

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