Approximately $500,000 was awarded to this year’s Teague High School graduates in scholarships to various schools, colleges, and military, as well as from many community organizations and memorial funds.
The school honored their 2025 Graduates during their annual awards ceremony held Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
The program began with a welcome from Class President, Rhyleigh Tanksley, who explained that the ceremony recognizes students who have stood out from the pack and have been rewarded for their diligence and excellence.
CORDS & SASHES
–Class Officers: Presented with Orange and White Cords – Rhyleigh Tanksley – President, Jayci Phillips – Vice President, Payton Bond – Secretary, and De’ja Franklin – Treasurer.
–Mr./Miss THS: Presented with a Plaque – Nominees are Bethanah Owens, Karlie Paris, and Rhyleigh Tanksley & Bo Bowers, Matthew Ponce and Hunter Fulmer.
Miss THS – Karlie Paris is the daughter of Drake and Julie Paris. She is involved in FFA, NHS, and One Act Play. Upon graduation, Karlie plans to attend Texas A&M University to study biology.
Mr. THS – Hunter Fulmer is the son of Heather and Vester Fulmer. He is involved in One Act Play, NHS, is a student council officer, and is the drum major for Teague Lion Band. Upon graduation, Hunter plans to attend Baylor University to pursue a degree in Music Composition and Business.
–Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year: Presented with a Plaque – Bethanah Owens
–Communities in Schools Americorps: Presented with a Plaque are Lucy Adams, Leslie Dockery, and Clifford Coleman.
–Blood Drive: Presented with Red Cords are Moises Alamilla, Payton Bond, Bo Bowers, Dylan Cates, Caden Cruthcer, Grayson Dancer, Gabriella Diaz, Hunter Fulmer, Wendy Garcia, Nicholas Gerdeman, Reese Hankins, Arianna Herrera, Kianna Jordan, Ashlynn Little, Ellie Mathison, Triston McAlpine, Talejah McGill, Alexis McKain, Trace Nale, Shiann Norman, Keyanna Oatman, Bethanah Owens, Araseli Palacios, Karlie Paris, Jayci Phillips, Diego Ramirez, Scarlett Severance, Kendall Smith, Rhyleigh Tanksley, Adamaris Yepez, and Claudia Zamora.
–Band: Presented with Black Cords give to Fisher Fulmer, Hunter Fulmer, Esmeralda Lopez, Araseli Palacios, Dulce Salazar, and Claudia Zamora.
–Theater Production: Brown Cords presented to Trace Nale, Shiann Norman, Emman Owens, and Claudia Zamora.
–Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA): Presented with Navy, White, & Maroon Cords to Ke’ja Franklin, Keyanna Oatman, and Claudia Zamora.
–Hispanic Honor Society: Presented with Sash and Red & Gold Cord to Esmeralda Lopez – President and Matthew Ponce – Vice President.
–National Honor Society: Presented with White Collar, Blue & Gold Cords, and Bright Blue Sash to President Karli Paris, Vice President Keyanna Oatman, Secretary Jayci Phillips, Treasurer Fisher Fulmer, Parliamentarian Hunter Fulmer, and members: James Ingram, Alexis McKain, Bethanah Owens, and Araseli Palacios.
–Performance Acknowledgement: Presented with Bronze Cords to Moises Alamilla, Cash Ballard, Payton Bond, Bo Bowers, MaKayla Burns, Dylan Cates, Gabriella Diaz, Kortlin Forge, Deja Franklin, Hunter Fulmer, Kenneth Fulmer, Wendy Garcia, J’Kybryen Harris, Arianna Herrera, James Ingram, Ximena Lara, Esmeralda Lopez, Ayden Martin, Juan Carlos Martinez, Elizabeth Mathison, Ta’Lejah McGill, Alexis McKain, Jeslie Montes, Peyton Nettle, Keyanna Oatman, Carson Olivarez, Bethanah Owens, Emma Owens, Araseli Palacios, Karlie Paris, Jayci Phillips, Matthew Ponce, Joseph Salinas, Korey Silar, Raul Trejo-Martinez, David Vaughn, Faith Vaughn, and Adamaris Yepez.
–Cosmetology: Presented with Pink Cords are Payton Bond, Makayla Burns, Gabriella Diaz, Wendy Garcia, Arianna Herrera, Ximena Lara, Ta’Lejah McGill, Jeslie Montes, Emma Owens, Araseli Palacios, Faith Vaughn, and Adamaris Yepez.
–EMT: Presented with Blue Cords is Claudia Zamora.
–Outstanding Achievement: Presented with White Cords are Jayci Phillips (104.023), James Ingram (102.8167), Araseli Palacios (102.2083), Payton Bond (96.4473), Matthew Ponce (95.0789), Dulce Salazar (94.7778), Dylan Cates (94.6765), Esmeralda Lopez (91.8333), Ashlynn Little (91.4), Emma Owens (91.3056), Kianna Jordan (91.222), Bo Bowers (90.5676), and Joseph Salinas (90.3429).
–Honor Graduates: Presented with Navy Blue Sash to Matthew Ponce (95.0789), Elizabeth Mathison (96.4595), Payton Bond (96.4473), Alexis McKain (99.1459), Bethanah Owens (99.658), Keyanna Oatman (99.6845), K. Fisher Fulmer (99.9416), Hunter Fulmer (100.5797), Araseli Palacios (102.2083), James Ingram (102.8167), Karlie Paris (103.0476, and Jayci Phillips (104.023).
–University Interscholastic League Scholar Award (Top 10%): Valedictorian – Jayci Phillips (104.02), Salutatorian – Karlie Paris (103.05), James Ingram (102.82), Araceli Palacios (102.21), Hunter Fulmer (100.58), K. Fisher Fulmer (99.94), Keyanna Oatman (99.68), and Bethanah Owens (99.66).
SCHOLARSHIPS
–Jay Alderman Memorial: $1,500 Each – Bo Bowers, Kybren Harris, and Rhyleigh Tanksley
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– Jay Alderman Memorial: $1,000 Each – James Ingram and Alexis McKain
–Allen 4 Heros: $1,000 Each – Ashlynn Little and Keyanna Oatman
–Boggy Lodge #739 A.F. & A.M.: $1,000 Each – Bo Bowers and Keyanna Oatman
–Boggy Lodge #739 Jim Jorden Memorial: $500 – Bo Bowers
–Booker T. Washington/JA Brooks Alumni: $2,500 – Rhyleigh Tanksley
–Booker T. Washington/JA Brooks Alumni: $2,000 – De’ja Franklin
–Booker T. Washington/JA Brooks Alumni: $1,500 – Keyanna Oatman
–Booker T. Washington/JA Brooks Alumni: $1,000 – Ta’Leah McGill
–Madison Bragg Memorial: $6,000 – Bethanah Owens
–Buffalo Family Practice: $1,000 – Ellie Mathison
–Stephanie Burns Insurance: $250 – Araceli Palacios
–Citizens State Bank: $250 – Keyanna Oatman, Wendy Garcia, Matthew Ponce, Korey Silar, Grayson Dancer, Cash Ballard, Bo Bowers, and Karlie Paris
–Cool Cats Learning Academy: $3,000 – Alexis McKain
–Cotton Gin Masonic Lodge of Kirvin #154: $500 Each – Keyanna Oatman and Kendall Smith
–Dew Community Education Foundation: $800 Each – Keyanna Oatman and Bethanah Owens
–Harold Eppes FFA Memorial: $300 – Karlie Paris
–Farm Mutual Insurance RVOS: $500 – Keyanna Oatman
–Freestone County 4-H Adult Leaders: $500 – Ellie Mathison
–Freestone County Area Go Texan: $1,000 – Ellie Mathison
–Freestone County Farm Bureau: $1,000 – Jayci Phillips
–Freestone County Retired Teachers’ Association: $500 – Keyanna Oatman
–Freestone County Credit Union Board & Staff: $750 Each – Nicholas Gerdeman, Maggie Goolsby, Zakary Leija, Elizabeth Mathison, Kendall Smith, Rhyleigh Tanksley, and Grayson Dancer
–Greg Huber Memorial: $500 – De’ja Franklin
–Kindness From Case: $1,000 Each – Keyanna Oatman and Ellie Mathison
–Limestone Project Employees’ Fund: $500 – Keyanna Oatman
–Long Industries Ag Mechanics: $1,000 – Raul Trejo Martinez
–Jeff Lucas Memorial: $500 – Nate Arredondo
–Miss Freestone County First Runner Up: $500 – Gabriella Diaz
–Miss Freestone County Sponsorship Winner: $250 – Gabriella Diaz
–National Honor Society: $500 Each – Hunter Fulmer, Fisher Fulmer, Araceli Palacios, Karlie Paris, Keyanna Oatman, and Bethanah Owens
–NRG Limestone Generating Station: $1,000 – Keyanna Oatman
–NUCOR Steel Texas: $4,000 per year for 4 years = $16,000 Each – Cameron Fortson and Nocholas Gerdeman
–Parkview Regional Hospital Foundation: $1,000 renewable for 4 years Each –Karlie Paris and Keyanna Oatman
–Parson’s Commercial Roofing: $500 – Dylan Cates
–Pay It Forward/Kyle Killman Memorial: $350 – James Ingram
–Jerry Pruitt Memorial Athletic: $500 – Reese Hankins
–Prosperity Bank: $250 Each – Korey Silar, Nicholas Gerdeman, Grayson Dancer, and Maggie Goolsby
–Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica: $100 Each – Esmeralda Lopez and Matthew Ponce
–South FreeCo Water Supply Co: $1,136 – De’ja Franklin
–Sunny Foundation: $2,500 – De’ja Franklin
–Sunny Foundation: $2,000 – Maggie Goolsby
–Sunny Foundation: $1,500 – Ashlynn Little
–Teague Band Boosters: $1,000 – Hunter Fulmer and Araceli Palacios
–Teague Band Boosters: $2,500 – Claudia Zamora
–Teague Chamber of Commerce: $500 Each – Rhyleigh Tanksley, Bo Bowers, Jaxon Dillon, and Nate Arredondo
–Teague Class of 1968: $500 – Bo Bowers
–THS Early Bird: $500 – Matthew Ponce
–Teague Ex-Student Association: $1,500 Each – Karlie Paris, Keyanna Oatman, Kendall Smith, Matthew Ponce, and Maggie Goolsby
–Teague General: $250 – Dylan Cates
–Teague Historical Preservation Society: $1,000 Each – Nicholas Gerdeman and Korey Silar
–Teague Young Farmers: $600 Each – Karlie Paris and Brody Futch
–Teague Young Farmers: $300 – James Ingram
–Texas Workforce Commission: $100,400 – Alexis McKain
–Top Knotch Entertainment: $1,000 – Rhyleigh Tanksley
–Top Graduate: Jayci Phillips
–Trinity Star Arts Council (TSAC): $1,000 – Emma Owens
–U.S. Army Master Sergeant Timothy J. Hankins Memorial: $3,000 – Rese Hankins
–University of Arkansas: $17,800 per year for four years totaling $71,200 – Matthew Ponce
–University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Honor: $28,000 – James Ingram
–University of Mary Hardin-Baylor President’s: $72,000 – James Ingram
–UT Arlington: $4,000 per year for four years totaling $16,000 – Araceli Palacios
–Waldorf University: $16,000 – Evan Gilbert
–Williams Baptist University: $12,000 – Payton Bond
SPECIAL AWARDS
–Kyle Kilman Memorial Award: James Ingram
–Attitude Award: Nicholas Gerdeman
–Christina Rankin Award: Nate Arredondo
–Earl Long Athletic Award: J’Kybryen Harris
–Greg Huber Memorial Award: Bethanah Owens
–Bryan Penny Award: Cash Ballard
–DeKalb Award: Karlie Paris
–W.D. Black Jr. Award: Jayci Phillips
–Ryan Sartor Memorial Award: Keyanna Oatman
–Jolene Sledge Leadership Award: Rhyleigh Tanksley
–Lana Erwin Memorial Award: Angelina Alvarado
–The “LION” Award: Korey Silar
–Stringer Award for Outstanding Senior Girl: Elizabeth Mathison
–Massey Award for Outstanding Senior Boy: K. Fisher Fulmer
–Al Holland Award for Overall Outstanding Senior Student: Hunter Fulmer
THE GOLD AWARD
This award is given each year to honor the top 10% of the graduating class, along with their parents.
The award program was closed with a candle lighting ceremony. Principal Shields lighted the main candle on stage and gave the following address:
“Our candle on stage represents the light of our high school. It stands for the labors of the faculty and staff. We have worked to prepare you for your future. We are symbolically passing the light of our school on to each of you. As your candle is lit, think of the many years you have grown. Think of the experiences you have shared. Think of your goals and achievements. You have worked together, you have cried together, and you have laughed together. Now you are ready to move onto new experiences. But as you move, consider the foundations that have already been set in place for you…”
He continued with many more words of encouragement and knowledge, wishing the best for this graduating class.
Principal Shields concluded by saying, “Seniors, you are our future! Go and pursue your dreams, and remember, you are the LIONS from TEAGUE HIGH SCHOOL!”
