Denton ISD Our Impact In Your Community Magazine Spring 2017 | Page 16

Hitting all
the Right
Notes
Denton High senior makes history as district’s third
four-time, all-state performer
W
hen you’re one of more than 2,100
students at your high school, it takes
something special to stand out in the crowd.
Consider that box ‘checked’ for
Courtney Lawson.
Story by Mario
Zavala Jr.
Photo courtesy
of The Lawson
Family
16
Students in Denton High School’s Class of
2017 and those that continue to walk down
the fine arts hall and into the choir room will
know Courtney and her accomplishments
from now on. The senior has her name
etched on the “big board” in the choir room
as one of only three students in the history
of the school – and district – to earn UIL
All-State recognition in fine arts for four
consecutive years.
“When I made it as a freshman, I was in
tears because I was so excited,” Courtney
said. “Then each year, as I continued to
make it, it became a little more stressful
because everyone expected me to make it
again. This year when I got the news it was
very rewarding because I knew all the work
I’d put in had paid off and I could breathe
a sigh of relief knowing I did it – I had
achieved my goal.”
So what does it take to become part of
Denton ISD and Denton High fine
arts history?
Talent, hard work, dedication and a killer
work ethic are all part of the package
according to Mark Baker, Denton High’s
choir director. But if you ask Courtney, she’ll
tell you luck plays a part too.
Being off key on a single note could be
the difference between advancing to the
next of four rounds that determines the
state’s best chorale singers. Then there’s
the potential of catching a bug that could
weaken your voice or worse, knock you out
of the competition all together.
Courtney said she learned just how