This week, we present the first set of the top high school grads in McLennan County.
     > Link: Group 2     > Link: Group 3

China Spring High School

Valedictorian: Kayleigh Kinlaw

Parents: Cathy and Chris Kinlaw.

Plans after high school: Attend Texas A&M University and major in math, with plans to apply to medical school and become a neonatologist.

Activities, organizations: Varsity softball; National Honor Society; Student Council; University Interscholastic League; Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee.

Achievements: First-team, all-district first baseman; four-year varsity letterman; four-year UIL regional qualifier; Student Council president; National Honor Society secretary.

Salutatorian: Evan McConnell

Parents: Susan and Jim McConnell.

Plans after high school: Attend Clemson University and major in engineering.

Activities, organizations: Varsity basketball team captain; National Honor Society vice president; marching band section leader; golf team; Columbus Avenue Baptist Church youth group.

Achievements: Becoming a Christian; scoring a perfect 800 on the math portion of the SAT; named captain of varsity basketball team as a junior; memorizing Hebrews II.

Connally High School

Valedictorian: Christopher Thomas Lenart

Parents: Pamela and Dennis Lenart.

Plans after high school: Attend Texas A&M University and major in aerospace engineering.

Activities, organizations: National Honor Society; Challenge Team captain, second place in Waco region; band; UIL academics; Homecoming Court king nominee.

Achievements: State of Texas Higher Education Incentive Scholarship; Texas A&M Opportunity Award and President’s Endowed scholarships; Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo Scholarship; Connally High Band Booster Scholarship.

Salutatorian: Megan Renee Millsap

Parents: Sherri and John Fanning.

Plans after high school: Attend Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C., and major in biomedical sciences.

Activities, organizations: National Honor Society parliamentarian; Key Club president; Class of 2010 treasurer; Challenge Team; varsity cheerleader captain.

Achievements: State of Texas Higher Education Incentive Scholarship; Campbell University Presidential and Endowment scholarships; Cargill Community Scholarship; Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo Scholarship.

Crawford High School

Valedictorian: Kelsey Fritscher

Parents: Chrisann and Jeff Fritscher.

Plans after high school: Attend Baylor University and major in speech pathology.

Activities, organizations: Peer Assistance Leadership; powerlifting; UIL journalism; Beta Club; Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Achievements: Four-year UIL regional qualifier; advanced to state powerlifting for four years, regional champion twice; president of Beta Club; Top Teen national panelist for Acteens.

Salutatorian: Elisabeth Harris

Parents: Helen and Don Harris.

Plans after high school: Attend Baylor University and major in social work.

Activities, organizations: Peer Assistance Leadership; Beta Club; UIL One-Act Play; band; UIL literary criticism.

Achievements: Four years in One-Act Play; drum major; regional UIL qualifier for two years; state cross-examination debate; yearbook editor.

Lorena High School

Valedictorian: Collin Brown

Parents: Mary Jane and Larry Brown.

Plans after high school: Attend University of Texas in Austin and major in interior design in the School of Architecture.

Achievements: National Honor Society historian; U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award; University Interscholastic League Scholastic Award; John Philip Sousa Band Award.

Salutatorian: Carly Connally

Parents: Gae and Dale Connally.

Plans after high school: Attend Baylor University and be a member of the Songleaders dance team; major in English literature in hopes of becoming a book editor for a publishing company.

Achievements: National Honor Society president; Student Council vice president; Peer Assistance Leadership member; Miss Lorena High School; Academic Excellence Award (2007-10).

Mart High School

Valedictorian: Mikel-Ann Cadell

Parents: Connie and Marc Cadell.

Plans after high school: Attend McLennan Community College and earn associate’s degree, then attend Texas A&M University to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in liberal arts. She hopes to become a college professor of English and history as well as a writer.

Activities, organizations: Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; Student Council; Student Activities Government; National Honor Society; softball.

Achievements: Top Student Award in several classes; graduated with 24 hours of college credit; All-State first-team pitcher and All-District MVP in softball (2009); first team Super Centex softball (2007, 2009); state tournament team (2010).

Salutatorian: Kayla Neumann

Parents: Kristi Kubitza and Kirby Neumann.

Plans after high school: Attend McLennan Community College and earn associate’s degree in nursing; wants to become registered nurse in the cath lab or emergency room.

Activities, organizations: Family, Career and Community Leaders of America officer; National Honor Society officer; University Interscholastic League spelling; Teen Leadership Waco; Food for Families.

Achievements: TAKS Commended Performance Award; Perfect Attendance Award; Top Student Award.

Midway High School

Valedictorian: Jessi Riel

Parents: Christy and Dave Riel.

Plans after high school: Attend Auburn University and major in education/social work.

Activities, organizations: Soccer; theater; Mission Waco; church youth group.

Achievements: National Merit Finalist; Panther Pride (teacher recognition); Wordmasters; Spirit of Midway; Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Academic Commended Scholar.

Salutatorian: Erin Rich

Parents: Jennifer and Steve Rich.

Plans after high school: Attend Baylor University and major in music performance.

Activities, organizations: Midway High Orchestra; choir; Waco Youth Symphony Orchestra; Seventh and James Baptist Church youth group.

Achievements: National Merit Commended Scholar; named four years to All-State Orchestra; Wordmasters.

Rapoport Academy Meyer Public High School

Valedictorian: Brian Thomas Jones

Parents: Sue and Brian Jones.

Plans after high school: Attend the University of North Texas and earn a business degree, then open a business.

Activities, organizations: Community Council; rocket team; University Interscholastic League academics; Rotary Challenge team.

Achievements: Outstanding Youth Citizenship Award nominee; graduated with 44 hours of college credit; awarded $10,000 in scholarships; multiple UIL academic awards; one-year tuition exemption to state school as valedictorian.

Salutatorian: Robert Hutchinson Strickland

Parents: Kristen Sullivan and Joe Strickland.

Plans after high school: Attend Purdue University and earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees and pursue career as a biomedical engineer.

Activities, organizations: Student Council; University Interscholastic League academics; choir; guitar; boxing.

Achievements: Texas State Technical College Exemplary Student Award; graduated with 52 hours of college credit; first high school biomedical intern at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center; awarded $10,850 in scholarships; multiple UIL academic awards.

Riesel High School

Valedictorian: Laura Ehlers

Parents: Connie and Keith Ehlers.

Plans after high school: Attend Texas A&M University and major in zoology.

Activities, organizations: FFA, National Honor Society; Student Council officer; varsity golf; McLennan County Youth Board.

Achievements: All A honor roll; FFA Lone Star Degree; FFA DeKalb Award; FFA Star Greenhand Award; Heart of Texas Regional History Fair winner.

Salutatorian: Kaitlyn Wooley

Parents: Debbie and Jeff Wooley.

Plans after high school: Attend Baylor University and major in business.

Activities, organizations: Varsity softball, four years; varsity golf, four years; National Honor Society; FFA; McLennan County Youth Board.

Achievements: FFA Lone Star Degree; FFA Star Greenhand Award; FFA Star Chapter Award; honor roll; Fall Festival Queen

Robinson High School

Valedictorian: Abigail Mawhirter

Parents: Kimm and Max Mawhirter.

Plans after high school: Attend Abilene Christian University and major in nursing; hopes to become a nurse practitioner.

Activities, organizations: Band lieutenant; National Honor Society president; Texas Association of Future Educators president; Students Against Destructive Decisions vice president; Drama Club/One-Act Play.

Achievements: Texas Association of Secondary Principals Commended Scholar Award; graduated with 29 hours of potential college credit; Einstein Award; 2009-10 Band Sweetheart; 10 departmental awards.

Salutatorian: Michelle Carrigan

Parents: Christie and Pat Carrigan.

Plans after high school: Attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in public relations to become a sports agent.

Activities, organizations: Peer Assistance and Leadership; Student Council president and vice president; National Honor Society vice president; varsity cross country; University Interscholastic League math and spelling.

Achievements: Einstein Award; UIL Scholar Award, graduated with 26 hours of potential college credit; cross country regional qualifier; senior class secretary; nine departmental awards.

Vanguard College Preparatory School

Academic Excellence Award: Dylan Losey

Parents: Elizabeth Dell and Jay Losey.

Plans after high school: Attend Vanderbilt University and major in mechanical engineering.

Activities, organizations: National Honor Society president; three-time national qualifier in foreign extemporaneous speaking and public forum debate; Vanguard Honor Council; Mu Alpha Theta; lettered in basketball and soccer.

Achievements: National Merit Finalist; U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalist; National Forensic League Academic All-American; President’s Leadership Award; Vanguard Self-Starter Award.

RELATED SEARCHES

• Top of the class: McLennan County's top graduates, part 2
• Top of the class: McLennan County's top graduates, part 3