The graduating seniors of Fairfield High School were in the spotlight during last week’s Honor Assembly held Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
Sashes, cords, certificates, and trophies were presented in honor of their achievements and accomplishments.

This year’s graduating class includes 36 honor students, with a grade point average in excess of 4.00. These students also earned the President’s Education Award.

Honor students for 2021 include:

–Ashton Colt Hardwick – 4.02

–Cristal Edith Rosales – 4.02

–Edward Jair Sanchez – 4.05

–Savannah LeeAnn Helen Ellis – 4.05

–Demi Nicole Lambright – 4.14

–Carson Lane Moore – 4.14

–Jennifer Alexa Pina – 4.14

–Maria Yamilett Ixtlahuaca – 4.15

–Aynslie Emma Whiteside – 4.18

–Lauren Ashley Cochran – 4.20

–Te’Yallo Renae Simpson – 4.22

–Maria Guadalupe Fierro Nava – 4.25

–Alondra Valentin – 4.26

–Thomas Caden Broussard – 4.43

–Uriana Renovato Ramirez – 4.43

–Madison Dawn Thaler – 4.49

–Dane Hunter Allman – 4.50

–Autumn Luo Piao Neaville – 4.52

–Hayley Rene Gomez – 4.52

–Jacob Espinoza – 4.55

–Erivan Cruz Salazar Medina – 4.77

–Harley Ray Gomez – 4.81

–Landen Christopher Espinoza – 4.81

–Maximus Octave McBean – 4.82

–Zachary Price Phillips – 4.83

–Zack Ryan Leadbetter – 4.85

–Erica Kay McQuinn – 4.88

–Emily Elaine Chavers – 4.90

–Noe Soto – 4.98

–Carsyn Nicole Cox – 5.07

–Rileigh Katherine White – 5.10

–Frances Christina Nelson – 5.11

–Avery Bryce Peterson – 5.13

–Harpreet Singh Walia – 5.21

–Kendal Mari Crawford – Salutatorian – 5.35

–Will Keenan Prihoda – Valedictorian – 5.47

A total of 85 seniors are graduating under the Foundation Program with an endorsement.

UIL Scholar Awards are those students who participated in an UIL event and graduated in the Top Ten Percent of their class. This year’s students include Emily Elaine Chavers, Carsyn Nicole Cox, Kendal Mari Crawford, Erica Kay McQuinn, Frances Christina Nelson, Avery Bryce Peterson, Will Keenan Prihoda, Noe Soto, Harpreet Singh Walia, and Rileigh Katherine White.

Additionally, twenty-five students received Red Cross cords for donating blook at least once during the school year.

Numerous scholarships were awarded by the community, local industry, colleges and universities, and school clubs.

LOCAL COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS

 

*Mr. Gilbert Gatlin presented three Fairfield Lions Club scholarships. (Savannah LeeAnn Helen Ellis, Landen Christopher Espinoza, and Te’Yalla Renae Simpson $500 each)

 

*The Fairfield Band Booster’s presents a Mary Robinson Scholarship in the amount of $600 to Frances Christina Nelson. The Fairfield Band Booster’s also presents two Fairfield Band Scholarships in the amount of $600 each to Landen Christopher Espinoza and Avery Bryce Peterson.

 

*Mr. Jerry Bonds presented four Fairfield Masonic Lodge No. 103 Scholarships. (Kaylee Marie Billock, Harley Ray Gomez, Hayley Rene Gomez, and Kelli Jo Richardson $500 each)

 

*Ms. Alison Scherer presented the Kindness from Case Memorial Scholarships in Memory of Case Robinson. (Calla Annette Childers, Kelli Jo Richardson, and Erivan Cruz Salazar Medina $1,000 each)

*Mr. James Tyus presented the Fairfield Rotary Club Scholarships. (J.E. Lott Memorial Scholarship – Emily Elaine Chavers/ $1000 — Fairfield Rotary Club Four Way Test Essay Scholarships – Kendal Mari Crawford and Hayley Rene Gomez  /51,000 each)

 

*Mr. Dustin Coufal will present two Freestone County Farm Bureau Scholarships. (Emily Elaine Chavers and Carsyn Nicole Cox $1,000 each)

 

*Farmers State Bank presents three scholarships in the amount of $500 each to Kendal Mari Crawford, Frances Christina Nelson, and Kelli Jo Richardson.

 

* Ms. Lisa Tate will present a Leatha Parker Memorial Scholarship and a Jack and Margaret Ritter Memorial Scholarship given by the GFWC/History Club. (Leatha Parker Memorial – Emily Elaine Chavers / $1000 — Jack and Margaret Ritter Memorial – Kelli Jo Richardson / $1,000)

 

*Mr. Scott Mills will present two Fairfield Library Scholarships. (Harley Ray Gomez and Hayley Rene  Gomez $500  each)

* Ms. Teresa Duke will present the Community National Bank and Trust of Texas – Rankin Gilpin Memorial Scholarship (Avery Ilryee Peterson S400 for 4 semesters — totaling S1,600)

and two  Community National Bank and Trust of Texas Scholarships. (Kendal Mari Crawford and Rileigh Katherine White $1,500 per year for 4 years — totaling $6,000 each) They have pledged financial assistance over thirty years for scholarships to students at Fairfield High School.

 

*Ms.  Ashlee Daniel presented two Eagle Flag Football Scholarships. (Thomas Caden Broussard   and Emily Elaine Chavers  $500 each)

 

*Freestone Credit Union presents a Freestone Credit Union’s Board of Directors Scholarship. To be eligible to apply for a credit union scholarship, the senior must have an active account with Freestone Credit Union established before January 1st of the graduation year, and turn in a scholarship application. On behalf of Freestone Credit Union’s Board of Directors, a $500 scholarship is awarded to Carsyn Nicole Cox.

*Mr.  Richard McGowan   and  Mr. John Hill presented several Freestone County Game Management   Scholarships. (Dane Hunter Allman  $500, Thomas Caden   Broussard $250, Emily Elaine Chavers  $1,500,  Savannah LeeAnn  Helen  Ellis $750, Hayley Rene   Gomez $1,000  Frances Christina Nelson $1,500, Kelli Jo Richardson $250 and Rileigh Katherine White $250)

 

*Ms.  Amanda  Williams  presented three Lady Eagle Little Dribblers Scholarships. (Kaylee Marie Bullock $250, Jennifer Alexa Pina $250, and Te’Yalla Renae Simpson $500.)

 

*Fairfield Athletic Booster Club presented four Fairfield Athletic Booster Club Scholarships in the amount of  $500 each to Dane Hunter Allman, Carsyn  Nicole Cox,  Kendal Marie Crawford, and Te’Yalla Renae  Simpson.

 

*Ms.  Ginger Moody  presented two Community  Care Club Scholarships of St. Elmo, Winkler, and Streetman communities around the Richland Chambers Lake. (Frances Christina Nelson and Will Keenan  Prihoda $1,000 each)

 

*New  Hope  Baptist Church presents a New Hope Baptist Church Scholarship in the amount of $750  per semester for four years totaling $6000 to Alexandra Gallardo.

*Ms.  Jenny Clopton presented the Fairfield Young Farmers Scholarships. (Jimmy Bonner Memorial   Award – Frances  Christina Nelson/$1500 — Gus Steiner Memorial Award  – Kendal  Mari Crawford/$1500  — Fairfield Young  Farmer Awards  – Brighton Elizabeth Bulger/$750, Emily  Elaine Chavers/$750, Calla Annette Childers/$750, and Rileigh Katherine  White/$750.

 

*Texas  Farm Credit presented several $100 scholarships to different Ag Students of the Month throughout the school year. A Fairfield High School student was the recipient for one of these months, and  the award is presented to Emily Elaine Chavers.

 

Mr.  Maurice Burleson  presented The First United Methodist Church Scholarship. (Zack Ryan  Leadbetter  $2,000)

 

*The  family of Sarah Anderson presents a Sarah Anderson Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $500 to Savannah LeeAnn   Helen Ellis.

 

*The Dogan  Alumni  Association presents a Dogan Alumni Scholarship in the amount of $750 to Te’Yalla Renae  Simpson.

 

*Barn Stompers  Square Dance Club presents a scholarship in the amount of $600 to Emily Elaine  Chavers..

 

*Parsons Commercial Roofing presents two scholarships in the amount of $250 each to Zachary Price Phillips and Will Keenan  Prihoda.

 

*Mr. Paul Lopez will present two Winkler Masonic Lodge Scholarships. (Erica Kay   McQuinn and  Kelli Jo Richardson $1,000 each)

 

*Dew  Community   Education Foundation presents a scholarship in the amount of $500 to Ashton  Colt Hardwick.

 

*The Fairfield Police Department presents two Houston Flowers Memorial Scholarships in the amount  of $500 each to Carsyn Nicole Cox and Dylon Zachrey  Rushin.

 

*Ms. Lisa Tate will present a Pat and Faye Donovan Family Memorial Scholarship. (Maria Guadalupe   Fierro Nava $1,200)

 

*Ms. Donna  Tyus  presented the Janet Loftis Memorial Scholarship sponsored by Trinity District of Texas of Federated Women’s Club. (Ashton Colt Harwick $500)

 

*The Cole Family  presented a Clay Cole Memorial Golf Scholarship in the amount of $500 to Emily Elaine  Chavers.

 

*Mr. Weldon   Alexander will present a Freestone County Youth Sports Association Scholarship. (Rileigh Katherine White  $250)

 

*The family of Trooper 6173 presents two Trooper 6173 Memorial Scholarships in memory of Trooper Damon Allen in the amount of $1,000 each to Hayley Rene  Gomez and Alyssa Paige Williams-Whitaker.  The family of Trooper 6173 wishes all the seniors from the Class of 2021 the best in your career of choice.

 

*Mr. Drew  Garcia will present a Jonathan Childers Memorial Scholarship. (Calla Annette Childers $2,300)

 

*Cotton Gin Masonic Lodge  #154 of Kirvin, Texas presents a Scholarship in the amount of $500 to Kelli Jo Richardson.

 

* Ms. Chris Perona will present this year’s recipient of the Stephenson-Perona Scholarship Award.  (Carsyn Nicole Cox $15,000)

 

 

STATE/NATIONAL INDUSTRY  SCHOLARSHIPS

 

*Mrs.  Cindy Kirgan  will present a Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Scholarship. (Calla Annette Childers $500)

 

*A Navasota Valley Electric Cooperative Scholarship is presented in the amount of $1,000 to Ashton Colt  Hardwick.

 

*Mr. Jake Carroll will present a Nucor Steel Scholarship. (Madison Dawn Thaler $3,500 per year for four years totaling $14,000)

 

*Texas High School Coaches Association presents a Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to Kendal Mari  Crawford.

 

*NRG  Energy in  Jewett Texas presents six ecoNRG Environmental Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to Dane Hunter Allman, Emily  Elaine Chavers, Kendal   Mari Crawford, Katy   Lynn Grounds, Erica Kay McQuinn,   and Rileigh Katherine White.

 

*National Society Daughters of the American Revolution presents the Fairfield High School DAR  Good Citizen Award to Frances Christina Nelson.

 

 

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

 

*Ms. Jaclyn Bailes will present a Navarro College M.C. and Mattie Caston Scholarship and a Navarro College Theatre Department Scholarship. (M.C. and Mattie Caston Scholarship — Erivan Cruz Salazar  Medina/$1,500  per semester for four semesters totaling $6,000 – Theatre Department   Scholarship —  Meredith Claire Awalt/$1,300 per year for two years totaling $2,600)

 

*Texas State University presents a Texas State Merit Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 per year for four years for a grand total of $40,000 to Noe Soto.

 

*Texas A&M   University at Texarkana presents an Athletic Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 per year for four years totalling $4,000 and an Eagle Elite Academic Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 per year for four years totalling $12,000 for a grand total of $16,000 to Dane Hunter  Allman.

 

*Oklahoma  State University presents an Out of State Achievement Scholarship in the amount of $11,000 per year for four years totaling $44,000 to Emily Elaine Chavers.

 

*McMurry University presents a Trustee Scholarship in the amount of $12,000 per year for four years totaling $48,000 to Alyssa Paige Williams-Whitaker.

 

*Eastern Nazarene College presents a President’s Academic Scholarship in the amount of $14,000 per year for four years totaling $56,000 to Te’Yalla Renae Simpson.

 

*Grayson College presents a Softball/Athletic Scholarship in the amount of approximately $10,000 per year for two years totaling approximately $20,000 to Carsyn Nicole Cox.

 

*Texas Christian University presents a TCU Scholarship in the amount of $18,000 per year for four years for a grand total of $72,000 to Rileigh Katherine White.

 

*The University of Oklahoma presents an Academic Achievement  Award in the amount of $4,500 per semester for eight semesters totaling $36,000 to Kendal Mari Crawford.

 

*The University of Alabama presents a University of Alabama Competitive Academic Scholarship in the amount of $14,000 per semester which is renewable for eight semesters for a grand total of $112,000 to Frances Christina Nelson.

 

*Texas A&M University presents a CLEN Undergraduate Scholarship in the amount of $1,500, a Corps 2K Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 per year for 4 years totaling $8,000 and a TAMU   Tuition Support Award in the amount of $1,000 for a grand total of $10,500 to Avery Bryce  Peterson.

 

*Stephen F.Austin State University presents a Newlyn Cordell Stephens Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to Madison  Dawn Thaler.

 

 

SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS

‘Every so often we have a student who brings excitement and laughter every day,” said Fairfield High School Principal Sonya Gibson, as she announced the outstanding contributions to the Senior Class of 2021 by Keldon Anthony Conner. “You will not find a more loyal supporter of Fairfield High School, and he will be missed by all.”

 

*Ms. Bonnie Koch will present a Beta Club Scholarship in Memory of Jonya Anderson Schuman. (Frances Christina Nelson $1000)

 

*Mr. Jeff Wright will present a Fairfield High School’s Social Studies Department scholarship in memory  of Ms. Linda Melontree. (Dane Hunter Allman  $260)

 

*Ms. Cindy Kirgan  will present four Eagles for Christ Scholarships. (Emily Elaine Chavers $200, Savannah   LeeAnn Helen Ellis $50, Frances Christina Nelson $50, and Madison  Dawn Thaler $100)

 

*The Fairfield High School Eagle Publication presents two Yearbook Scholarships in the amount of $100 each to Emily Elaine Chavers  and Maria Yamilett Ixtlahuaca.

 

* Ms. Michelle  Welch will present a Math Department Scholarship in memory of James & Beth Ireland. (Kendal Mari Crawford $300)

 

* Ms. Hannah   Spradlin will present the Drama Club Scholarships. (Kayden Isabella Salinas $750)

 

*Ms. Laura Tugwell  & Ms. Elizabeth Collier will present several Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Scholarships. (Emily Elaine Chavers, Calla Annette Childers, Kendal  Mari  Crawford, Savannah   LeeAnn Helen Ellis, Landen Christopher Espinoza, Alexandra  Gallardo, Katy Lynn   Grounds, Erica Kay McQuinn,  Noe  Soto, and Harpreet Singh Walia  $200 each)

 

*Ms. Angela  Oglesbee will present four Interact Club Scholarships (Emily Elaine Chavers $200, Kendal Marie   Crawford $500,  Hayley Rene  Gomez $250, Avery Bryce Peterson $250)

 

* Mr. Jeff Wright will present a Fairfield High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes scholarships. (Madison Dawn Thaler  $275)

 

* Sally Rose Awalt Media Center presents a scholarship in the amount of $260 to Eric Anthony Lyle II.

 

*Ms. Katie Wade   & Ms. Theresa  Matthews will present the Student Council Scholarships and a Selene Pillians Memorial Scholarship. (Student Council Scholarships —Kendal Mari Crawford   $300,  Maximus Octave   McBean $100, Erica Kay McQuinn  $50,  Frances Christina Nelson $300, Jennifer Alexa Pina $50, Will Keenan  Prihoda $100, and Rileigh Katherine  White $100  — Selene Pillans Memorial Scholarship – Alexandra Gallardo $3,400)

 

*Ms. Natalie Cherry has elected to give a scholarship in lieu of a rocking chair in the amount of $300 to Dane  Hunter Allman.

 

 

CITIZENSHIP  AWARDS (Pictured at very top)

 

The Hayward   Eatmon Citizenship Award is presented by the class of 1971 in his memory. Hayward loved sports and did well at them. He was a very friendly and outgoing person. This year’s recipient is Dane Hunter Allman.

 

The Dennis Gilbreath Memorial Citizenship Award is presented by the class of 1972 in his memory. To receive this award you must have lettered in a least one sport and shown outstanding citizenship and leadership while in school. This year the award is presented to Zachary Price Phillips.

 

The senior class of 1993 began the Brison Hearron Memorial Citizenship Award. Brison was a well-liked young man who participated in athletics, band, and drama. The recipient of this citizenship award is Harpreet Singh Walia.

 

The Ben Capps Jr. Citizenship Award sponsored by the Fairfield Rotary Club is presented each year to a senior student who has been active in school and community activities while maintaining high moral values, high academics and respect for others. This year’s recipient is Harley  Ray Gomez  and Hayley Rene  Gomez.

 

Beverly Ivy Gamble Citizenship Award is presented each year in memory of Beverly Ivy Gamble  by her class of 1963. Beverly was very active in many school and community activities while maintaining a high scholastic average. This year’s recipient has met these high standards. This year the award is presented to Carsyn Nicole Cox.

 

In loving memory of Sally Awalt, the Fairfield High School Faculty presents the Sally Rose Awalt, Spirit of Fairfield High Award. Ms. Awalt, a life-long enthusiast of learning, epitomized the qualities that make our school unique. Her love of education, compassion for children, and drive for excellence and courage in the face of overwhelming odds, touched us all. Her spirit truly rcsides in these halls of FITS. The recipient of this award has been selected on the basis of academic potential, community/church activities, school activities, citizenship and factors distinguishing the students from his/her peers. The recipient of the Sally Rose Awalt, Spirit of Fairfield High School Award is Camii Reann Wilson.

 

(Photos by Karen Leidy)