Denver City high school students received several awards and scholarships during the annual 2015-2016 awards assembly held in JW Jones Auditorium on Wednesday.
High school principal Rick Martinez emceed the event in announcing most of the awards. Martinez started the program by informing the audience that $425,000 in scholarship money will be awarded to high school students this year.
Journalism instructor Stacie Decker-Robles started the program by recognizing South Plains Articulation for BIM, BIM2, Career Prep, Prep for Parenting/Child Development, Accounting, DIM and Auto Tech students. All total these students received $72,504 in scholarship money.
Decker-Robles followed that by recognizing a very large group of students who excelled at the district winning UIL Literary contest and Martinez recognized those students who had received all A’s throughout the year.
This was followed by teachers from each department honoring those students who had excelled in English and Speech, Math, Science, P.E., Social Studies, Technology, Vocational, Spanish, Fine Arts, and Office aides.
Included in these presentations were a number of students who received scholarships. These included FCCLA $250 scholarships to Ana Aguilar, Jasmine Garcia, Margarita Perez, Analyssa Vasquez, and a $300 scholarship to Olimpia Martinez.
Other recipients were Tristen McGary receiving $1,000 scholarship in Woods and Metals, Mason Williams $600 in Vocational scholarship, Bailee Burkett $1,750 from the Eddie Coker Memorial scholarship, and $400 Ag scholarships to Branson Farris, Cheyenne Kay, and Paige Williams.
Band director Jerry Martinez also announced those senior band members who received a combined total of $4,713.
Following these awards individual memorial scholarship money was presented. Junior High principal Billy Moore presented $300 memorial scholarships for WD Norman, Bill Gravitt, and Debbi Coffey to Sierra Tovar, Cole McLeroy, and Bailee Burkett.
Rotary Club scholarships of $2,000 was presented to Brice Brown and Karley David.
On the behalf of the Joy Bowman family, Superintendent Gary Davis presented “A Life with J-O-Y” $300 scholarships to Karley David, Luke Maxwell, Bailee Burkett, and Jasmine Garcia. Also helping with this presentation was Mrs. Bowman’s husband Clinton and daughters Kendra Duncan and Allison Marin.
The Chad Lowrey scholarship of $4,000 was presented to Paige Williams and the First Baptist Church, represented by Ricky Galvan, presented $500 scholarships to Bailee Burkett, Taylor Dial, and Katy Patterson.
The ’67 NAGS, a group of ladies who graduated from Denver City high school in 1967, presented a $500 scholarship to Luke Maxwell also in memory of Joy Bowman. Making the presentation was Myrna Boulter.
Tejas Study Club presented $300 scholarships to Bailee Burkett and Cole McLeroy. Myrna Boulter also presented this award.
Former DCISD administrator Michelle Cooper presented the Sandyland Water Conservation $1,000 scholarship to Katy Patterson and $2,000 to Bailee Burkett.
Lea County Electric, representative April Luna, presented $8,000 scholarships to Cole McLeroy and Paige Williams.
Kenny Dierschke presented $3,000 scholarships to Branson Fariss and Paige Williams on behalf of the DC FFA Booster Club.
Representing Mirabeau B. Lamar scholarship Johnny Davis presented $1,000 scholarships to Karley David, Kelly Ann Dougherty, and Hallie Villarreal.
The Denver City Lions club presented $500 scholarships to Taylor Dial, Jonathan Esquivel, Roberto Mendoza, Katy Patterson, and Mason Williams. Making this presentation was Russell Dial.
Chamber of Commerce $500 scholarships were presented to Brice Brown and Taylor Dial by Chamber Executive Director Marilyn McCurley.
A $2,000 scholarship from Oxy Permian was presented to Taylor Dial and Keith Mensch representing the DC Fire Department, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Kodi Marion.
City Manager Stan David presented the Rod David Memorial scholarship in the memory of his brother for the amount of $500 to Karley David.
Jerry Rodriquez presented $500 scholarships on behalf of the Knights of Columbus to Bailee Burkett and Yesenia Trinidad.
The First United Methodist Church presented $1,600 Eleanor Tipps Memorial scholarship to Karley David, Kelly Ann Dougherty, Mason Williams, and Paige Williams.
High school math instructor Janet Gibson presented $500 XI IOTA DELT scholarships to Brice Brown, Bailee Burkett, and Kayla Martinez.
The DCHS National Honor Society $300 scholarships were given to Bailee Burkett and Taylor Dial and the DCHS Student Council presented $100 scholarships to Brice Brown, Roberto Mendoza, and Ricard Segovia.
Jenny McCray and Amy Woosley presented SSAC scholarships of $300 to Karly David, Daniel Garcia, Robert Mendoza, Hudson Sanders; $575 scholarships to Marlow Davis, Katie Hollon, and Bailey Marin; and $1,050 scholarships to Cristian Cortez, Tristen McGary, and Cole McLeroy.
James Chatham was presented with a $200 scholarship from Panhandle Plains.
Stiles, Wallace and Associates presented a $500 scholarship to Bailee Burkett, $1,000 to Taylor Dial, $1,500 to Katy Patterson, and $2,000 to Cas Moore. Stiles, Wallace and Associates are the architects for all of the new construction, including the new high school, for the district.
Knox, Gailey & Meador, the construction manager for the new projects, gave a $500 scholarship to Brice Brown, $1,000 to Roberto Mendoza, $1,500 to Cole McLeroy, and $2000 to Jo Moore.
The DCHS faculty gave $500 scholarships to Brice Brown, Bailee Burkett, and Katy Patterson.
On the individual scholarships from various universities and other organizations went to: Tulsa Welding School $500 to Mark Anthony Hernandez; Texas Tech UIL Results of $500 to Kelly Ann Dougherty; Yoakum County Livestock Association $1,000 to Paige Williams; Sandhills Stock Show $1,000 to Paige Williams; Lyntegar Electric $1,500 to Paige Williams; Sandhills Christian Youth $2,500 to Paige Williams; Permian Basin Fair $3,000 to Paige Williams; State Fair of Texas $6,000 to Paige Williams; Dallas Baptist University $14,632 and $25,380 to Taylor Dial; Oklahoma Christian $28,000 to Katy Patterson; LCU Volleyball $84,000 to Karley David; Iota Lambda Sigma $100 to Bailee Burkett; TIVA, Skills USA Texas $500 to Bailee Burkett; Sandhills Christian Youth $2,000 to Bailee Burkett; Permian Basin Honor $14,000 to Bailee Burkett; UTBA Freshman Achievement $20,000 to Bailee Burkett; South Plains College Full Tuition and Fees for the fall Semester totaling $4,000 to Salutatorian Karley David and the same for Valedictorian Bailee Burkett; and State of Texas $4,100 to Bailee Burkett.
Principal Rick Martinez then presented $100 to those students with a perfect attendance, $150 to those with a two-year perfect attendance, and $200 to those with three years of perfect attendance.
Closing the program Martinez then announced the top four students in each grade. These included from the freshman class Kaitlin Stephens (5.08), Kenzi Stephens (5.11), Regina Anaya (5.13), and Morgan Johnson (5.15); sophomores were Jaryd Ivy (5.00), Britney Dyck (5.10), Cheyenne Beach (5.10) and Caitlin Williams (5.18); juniors were Chanie Wingo (5.09), Mirella Yanez (5.14), Marlow Davis (5.37), and Jacee Billings (5.45); and the senior class included Taylor Dial (5.00), Kodi Marion (5.10), Karley David (5.16), and Bailee Burkett (5.23).
Graduation is set for Friday, May 27.
