Springtown High School
Weatherford High School
JUNE 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
During his time at MHS , his favorite memories have been making it to the state championship with his cross-country team , and also making his fellow classmates laugh while he was on stage for the school ’ s talent show .
Springtown High School
Valedictorian : Chanae Pitts Richardson
Parents : Timothy Richardson and Carla Pitts-Richardson GPA 106.26
The valedictorian of Springtown High School has known what she wanted to do since she was 9-years-old . It was that year that Chanae Pitts Richardson ’ s dad , Timothy , was in a car accident that left him disabled and unable to continue as a minister at Hilltop Baptist Church . It was the transformation she saw and his remarkable recovery that solidified her desire to help people by becoming a physical therapist . She has also experienced first-hand as a patient and as a volunteer with a local physical therapist .
She will start her journey to her chosen career at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene in the fall , where she will be majoring in biology with a pre-physical therapy focus , and will be working towards degrees in biochemistry and honors interdisciplinary studies .
She was very active during high school as the band drum major and was a cheerleader all four years . She was also involved in student council and National Honor Society . One of her favorite things she did while at school was chairing the Pink Out activities that benefitted the Joan Katz Breast Center at Baylor , Scott and White of Fort Worth . It culminated in
the annual Pink Out football game . Over a two-year period , she and the committee raised almost $ 20,000 for breast cancer research . Chanae will miss the close-knit Springtown community when she goes off to school . “ My grandparents moved out here in 1969 . You just know everyone through everyone ; everyone has a connection somehow ,” she said . She ’ s looking forward to Abilene which she described as , “ a big town with a small town feel .”
Salutatorian : Phillip Connor Kelley
Parents : Mike and Teresa Kelley GPA 104.66
Phillip Connor Kelley is going to have to get used to not having his mom down the hall as he heads off to Texas A & M in College Station this fall . That ’ s because his mom , Teresa Kelley , has been his school counselor for the past nine years at Springtown . She moved with him from elementary school , to middle and through high school . His mother and her husband Mike will be seeing Phillip off to college where he is going to study civil engineering .
“ Really , I hope to actually come back to Parker County to work here . There is definitely work here ,” he said . He hopes to specialize in water resource management as a civil engineer .
He has been involved in athletics as part of the varsity baseball and tennis teams . He also served as student body president this year and is currently planning a dodge ball tournament to help the junior class kickoff their fundraising for next year . He participated for two years in UIL academics and was the regional champion for Ready Writing , placing 12 th in the entire state at competition .
When he ’ s not at school , he spends his time working on a local ranch helping with whatever needs to
be done . He will miss the land when he moves to College Station this fall . “ My mom ’ s family has been in Parker County for five generations and there are some really pretty places in Parker County . The people are nice . I also really like going to the rodeo . It ’ s a fun hangout for those four days ,” he said .
Phillip has attended Springtown ISD his whole school career , and is happy about it . “ I ’ m really glad to have gone to Springtown because I will be graduating with a lot of kids that I ’ ve had a kindergarten class with ,” he said .
Weatherford High School
Valedictorian : Kenzie Ballard
Parents : Christi Mize and Randy Ballard
GPA - 4.960
With her almost perfect GPA on a fivepoint scale , Kenzie will be headed to Northwestern University in Evanston , Ill ., this fall . Until then , she will cherish the time she has left in Parker County with her parents . “ Parker County will always be my home : full of comfort and familiarity ,” she said . As president of the Weatherford High School chapter of the National Honor Society , staff writer for the GrassBurr , a Relay for Life member , and a heavily involved member of the WHS Pals Program , Kenzie has been involved in community service activities within her school and throughout the community .
At Northwestern , she plans on majoring in psychology with minors in both education and business . “ After my undergrad career , I would like to move to the Northwest coast to become an elementary school
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