Valedictorian
Set to walk at the head of her class at the Teague ISD Graduation Ceremony this Friday, May 29, 2020 is Valedictorian Hana Wills (left).
Parents Becky and Larry Wills, along with siblings Lori Wills Sutton and husband, Colt Sutton; and Kate Wills Pickens and husband, Jaime Pickens, have much to admire in Hana’s 4.821 GPA.
“I am extremely blessed to be the Valedictorian of Teague High School,” she states, “and I hope I can make my school and town proud.”
Tarleton State University is Hana’s choice of college. With her focus being on Agriculture, she plans to major in Horticulture Science.
She explains, “Agriculture is a huge part of my life and I want to give others the knowledge of why agriculture is so important.”
Her life stays busy with her community work including a wide variety of things, such as: Carter Blood Care, Lord’s Community Storehouse, Elementary Mentor, Gear up Mentor Program, and Adopt a Highway Trash Pickup.
When Hana is not busy helping out her community, she stays busy with school activities.
With an impressive display of variety, Hana has stayed active with National Honor Society where she served as President, Varsity Cheer, Student Council and Leadership, Hispanic Honor Society, FFA, UIL, and being a Yearbook Editor.
When she finds free time away from everything she is involved in, Hana enjoys reading, working with her garden and plants, collecting vintage clothing, and photography.
The advice she leaves for her underclassmen is, “to stay true to yourself, take your time and enjoy every moment because it goes by fast.”
Keeping with Hana’s focus of Agriculture, she names the Teague High School Ag Teachers as people who inspired her.
“They have taught me more than just about agriculture,” She explains, “but also life lessons and morals that will follow me the rest of my life.”
There is no doubt that 2020 has been a strange school year.
Hana took the struggles and realized that the extra time could be spent with family before leaving college, which helped her to appreciate the support system she has.
An appreciation for teachers and staff at Teague HS who has been so caring and willing to go out of their way, is what she appreciates the most about her high school.
Yes, Hana is heading off to Tarleton State University, but she proudly proclaimed, “FreeCo will always be my home!”
Salutatorian
“It feels like a dream come true,” Teague Salutatorian, Jaucelyn Gibson (right) explains while talking about how she feels receiving this honor.
Marcia and Charles Gibson Jr. are the proud parents of 4.816 GPA earning Jaucelyn.
Her plans include attending Sam Houston State University to major in Civil Engineering with plans to rebuild and innovate small towns such as Teague, Texas.
Jaucelyn is an extremely busy student, who participated in a wide variety of programs while maintaining her GPA.
Her list of activities includes many school programs such as Varsity Cheer, Band, Mariachi Band, Hispanic Honor Society, National Honor Society, Student Council 1st Vice President, Class President, and Student Leadership Advisory Board.
In her community, she has participated in the citywide cleanup, Lord’s Storehouse and Christmas caroling at the nursing home.
Jaucelyn even discusses her desire to build a youth learning and activity center for her community.
She knew since she was a child that she wanted to graduate as Valedictorian or Salutatorian, and with her class being very competitive she says, “It feels amazing having all of my hard work paid off.”
“Appreciate all of the little moments,” Jaucelyn tells the undergraduates,”senior year flies by and it is extremely easy to turn all of your focus on stress and unimportant things.”
Opening a world of student leadership were teachers, Mrs. Gayle Waldrip and Mrs. Maya Carter, ranked as some of her favorite teachers who Jaucelyn describes as, “Some of the strongest women I know.”
Their lessons included the importance of never giving up on herself or others.
Having no problem finding the positive in the global pandemic, Jaucelyn expresses how the learning experience she received taught her even more about responsibility and accountability in her schoolwork.
She maintains that she appreciates how Teague High School is an extremely supportive and united school; but this year especially, all of their organizations and staff have been working to provide a positive and supportive environment.
Jaucelyn finished with a proud request to share with readers what she calls, “one of my greatest achievements in high school,” by helping to present Awareness Awaits, a presentation about suicide awareness and prevention.
She ask that everyone support this amazing program by following them on Facebook and/or Instagram.
