Van Zandt Newspapers

New Mayor Says Quinlan Running Full Speed

Amanda — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:41:55 +0000

By Larry Briscoe
Correspondent
“We are right back on track, and as a city, we’re running at 100 percent,” Quinlan Mayor Donny Brock said Tuesday evening.
The assessment comes after two weeks of turmoil when the city consultant and city hall staff quit their jobs, and Brock and council members were sworn into office. A report by a Dallas television station aired saying files were missing, and Brock intended to ask the Texas Rangers and FBI to investigate.
In the meantime, Brock said the former administrative staff returned to city hall to provide help and computer passwords to the new staff.
“From what I understand, them coming back was invaluable,” the mayor said.
He said he still did not understand their walking out on a supposed hostile work environment. “What hurt my feelings the most was the way it happened,” Brock said. “I didn’t get a chance to show them what I’m about.”
As for the missing files and sterile computers, he said those were legal matters that had been turned over to the Hunt County District Attorney’s office.
Brock said he had spoken with the FBI and the Texas Rangers. “I let them walk me through the process.”
That process requires the mayor to submit a letter to the district attorney stating the city did not have the capability to investigate such matters. “Who he forwards it to is outside our capability,” he said.
Brock said he had not had time to make a decision about an audit. He said a bookmark had been placed in the banking system that allowed the city to start with a clean slate.
“As of now, I don’t know of a need for an audit,” he said. “That’s $12,000 out the window. That’s for the council to decide.”
The new mayor is happy with the city staff. “The staff hired by the council turned out to be top notch,” he said. “The city is back to business as usual.”
At a special meeting of the council last week, the city hired Christopher Duncan for the public works department; Hershey Barnett as municipal judge; Tori McLemore as utility billing clerk and Lora Kennemer as city secretary.
Brock praised public utilities director Rick Morgan for his job performance. He said Morgan and his crew had completed every citizen concern Brock had received since taking office plus other ones dating before his tenure.
The regular meeting of the city council is scheduled for Monday, June 10.
“I’m asking the council to hire me an administrative assistant,” Brock said. He said he would learn everything he needed to know in six months, but the assistant would be able to take care of hundreds of liability issues. “I have a couple of good candidates,” he said.
Brock said the city also needed a municipal attorney and a city treasurer. With that staff, he said, “We should be able to do all we need to do.”

City Receives $179K ‘Trails’ Grant

Amanda — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:38:28 +0000

By Julie Vaughan
Editor
AUSTIN—The city of Canton’s Mill Creek Lake Park Trail is one of only 33 recreational trail projects proposed across the state that was approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, for funding in their Recreational Trail Grant Program. Overall, the state approved $5.7 million in federal grants, which is the largest amount of grant funds awarded from the Recreational Trail Grant Program in the 20-year history of the program in Texas.
Seventy-two project proposals were submitted requesting almost $12 million in funding assistance.
The National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF) comes from a portion of the federal gas tax generated by gasoline purchases to utilize off-road motorcycles and four-wheelers. The purpose of the NRTF is to create new, or improve existing, recreational trails.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) administers the National Recreational Trails Fund in Texas under the approval of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
This federally funded program receives its funding from a portion of federal gas taxes paid on fuel used in non-highway recreational vehicles. Funds can be spent on both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail projects.
This includes construction of new recreational trails, improving existing trails, developing trailheads or trailside facilities, and acquiring trail corridors.
A requirement of the NRTF is that 30 percent of the total funds must be spent on motorized recreational trails, 30 percent on non-motorized trail projects and the remaining 40 percent is discretionary.
Motorized trails project sponsors that were awarded funding include the city of Childress, the city of McAllen, Schertz Seguin Local Government Corp., Sam Houston National Forest and the White River Municipal Water District.
The non-motorized trail projects awarded funding in the immediate area included the city of Canton, Kilgore, Emory, and Lindale.
Canton was awarded $179,440 to fund improvements to the Mill Creek Lake Park Trail. The improvements will include a new 4.48 mile granite and dirt trail and signs.
The city is only required to match 20 percent or approximately $44,860.
Brent Luck, with Luck Design Team, explained that of the city’s match local in-kind contributions for equipment and labor may comprise $22,430 of the city’s match while the remaining $22,430 is Capital Improvements monies.
The total work of the project is $224,300.
“Most of the monies will go for trails. The trail will be non-motorized and service the recreational needs of runners, walkers, hikers, nature lovers and mountain bikers. All ages and mobile abilities will be able to access and use portions of the trail,” Luck explained. “One mile of this portion of the trail will be a loop trail that will service the core recreational area of the lake and serve as the trailhead to trail system.”
He noted that interpretive/way finding signage will be a core component of the trailhead amenities.
“The loop trail will be compliant with accessibility guidelines and provide connectivity to recreational elements, including fishing piers, picnic tables and shade pavilions,” Luck said. “The plan is for the trail to extend southeast along Arnold Paul Road before extending west and connecting to the Lake Meadows residential subdivision.”
Currently there is $22,500 in this year’s budget, council member Shawn Stewart said, for the parks project at Mill Creek.
Stewart, who has been the driving force behind getting this project off the ground, said it will now be up to the city council to sign off on the project in order to move forward.
Luck said the city should have the contract in place with the state by this summer and the project must be completed with in two to three years of receiving the grant.

New Course Additions Approved At Meeting

Amanda — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 06:15:06 +0000

By Terry Britt
Staff Writer
Van High School will add three new courses in the fall, including one in robotics.
The announcement and subsequent school board approval came last week as Van ISD trustees convened for their regular meeting.
Deputy Director of Curriculum and Instruction Donna Wallace said the robotics course will be an addition that “should benefit any student interested in engineering.”
Wallace also briefly outlined new courses in Veterinary Medical Applications and in Oral Interpretation.
The latter of those, Wallace said, will be of benefit to many students competing in oratory events or One Act Play in University Interscholastic League academic competition.
The May 28 meeting was the first for new trustee Dean Dike, who won the only contested seat on the board in the election last month.
He, along with re-elected trustees Charles McCaffree, Brenda Kellam, Lesley Goode, Mark McClanahan and Jill Dutton, took the oath of office to start the meeting. Van Zandt County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Scott Shinn conducted the ceremony.
In other business items at the meeting, the board approved purchase of the SEAS IEP+ special programs record management system software.
The board also approved a bid for ice cream products from Blue Bell Creameries for the 2013-2014 school year, and approved a recommended bid from Texas Kids First for student and accident insurance.

Photo by Terry Britt
Van Zandt County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Scott Shinn, left, administers the oath of office to new Van ISD Trustee Dean Dike at the school board’s regular meeting on May 28. Five re-elected incumbents on the board also took the oath of office to begin new terms.

Council Moves Closer To Hiring A New City Manager

Amanda — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 06:01:27 +0000

By David Kapitan
Staff Writer
The Wills Point City Council moved several steps closer in their hiring of a new city manager over the past week, interviewing two candidates at a special council meeting on May 31, then offering the position to one of the candidates earlier this week.
Wills Point has been without a full-time city manager since May 2011, when Jim Stephens resigned. Former mayor Deby Frye assumed the position shortly after being elected in 2011, vacating the post in May 2012.
Mayor Mark Turner explained the previously elected council had started the process of finding a new city manager, hiring a search firm, Strategic Government Resources, and then narrowing down the list of candidates over the past several months.
The new council, which includes Mark Turner and city council members Kyle Anderson and Sherry Bailey Walker (who were sworn in at the May meeting), continued the process of selecting a new city manager.
After conducting interviews on Friday, May 31, the council moved forward in negotiations with their top candidate.
On Wednesday morning, Turner noted that a tentative agreement had been reached with a candidate for the city manager position. The council is expected to vote on the candidate at their next meeting, which has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 11.
If approved, the new city manager is expected to start work in mid-July.
Other city business:
-Mayor Mark Turner advised that he had spoken with the Chief Financial Officer for Big Tex Trailers, confirming that they had signed paperwork to acquire the former site of Pro-Trak Trailers.
Big Tex will likely begin hosting job fairs in the city starting in mid-August, looking to hire 40-60 people in the fourth quarter.
-The Wills Point City Council is scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, June 11 at 6 p.m. at the Van Zandt County Annex. A tentative agenda of the meeting includes the following items:
-Consider presentation of the city of Wills Point’s 2011-2012 audit from Mike Conway of Conway Company CPA’s and action necessary
-Consider street closure request from Donna Garde to close W. High Street from N. 4th Street to N. 5th Street and N. 5th Street from W. High Street to W. James Street on June 29, 2013 for the Highway 80 Progressive Car Cruise and action necessary.
As part of the tentative agenda, the council is also planning on holding an executive session to “deliberate the following appointments: city attorney, municipal judge, mayor pro-tem, and emergency management coordinator.”

Quinlan Hires Employees

Amanda — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 21:26:24 +0000

By Larry Briscoe
Correspondent
The Quinlan City Council hired four employees and looked at a five-officer police staff Tuesday night at a special meeting.
The meeting was held outside on the east side of city offices to accommodate the expected crowd that showed up. Seating inside the council room is limited by law to 25.
The meeting that included an hour-and-a-half closed executive session extended beyond daylight. By the time the meeting adjourned, council members were using flashlights to see.
Newly-installed Mayor Donny Brock presided. The first vote taken was to accept the resignations of Billy Green, Vickey Raduechel, Heather Stockton and Amber Whitehead with unanimous approval of the five council members.
The mayor said the next item was hiring an additional police officer.
“Currently at this time with the police force that we have, it is impossible for us to provide 24-hour police protection for our citizens of this city,” Brock said. “The budget money is there to immediately implement a new officer.”
The mayor said it was feasible, it was just a matter of whether the city needed to do it or not.
Councilman Charlie Thompson who took office last week said he had not yet received any financial statements. He asked not to be asked to vote on something he did not yet have and said he would not until he had an opportunity to study the financials.
Thompson said he was interested in the expansion but wanted time to study the budget.
Chief of Police Johnny Thornburg was asked if he favored hiring another officer.
He answered he was and said it was the only way to get 24-hour protection.
Julie Fort, an attorney with Messer-Rockefeller-Fort of Dallas, offered clarification of state law concerning wording and posting of meeting agendas. She told The Quinlan-Tawakoni News later that her service was given at no cost to the city.
The council went into executive session at 7:22 p.m. and reopened the meeting to the public at 8:52.
When the meeting resumed, Councilman Jacky Goleman moved the city hire Christopher Duncan for the public works department; Hershey Barnett as municipal judge; Tori McLemore as utility billing clerk; and Lora Kennemer as city secretary.
All were approved unanimously.
The council unanimously voted to table action on hiring a fifth police officer until the next meeting.
Mayor Brock presented the agenda’s final item, “Negotiating and developing an IT program with Quinlan Independent School District. This will provide the city, not only a solid relationship opportunity, but also the best program Mayor Brock has found for implementing a secure website and security plan.”
Councilman Jacky Goleman said Mike Roberts who is in charge of the school district’s technology was a great man. “I can’t see how we could go wrong,” he said.
Goleman said the city was in need of a website and felt it would be a good move for the city.
The council tabled the measure until additional information could be obtained before the next meeting.
All council members were present.

Nace, Majid Named Canton’s Top Seniors

Amanda — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 21:25:33 +0000

By Julie Vaughan
Editor
The Canton High School class of 2013 will walk across the stage for the last time in the Larry Davis Auditorium on Friday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. for commencement.
Lane Nace has been named valedictorian and Marjan Majid has been named salutatorian.
Lane is the 18-year-old son of Dale and Marty Nace.
While in high school, he has participated in varsity football, varsity track, junior varsity basketball, junior varsity baseball, Eagle Impact, Eagle Buddies, UIL (number sense, headline writing, computer applications) and Business Professionals of America (prepared speech and global marketing team), National Honor Society (Publicity Chairman), Student Council (Senior Class Representative), Leo Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, varsity choir,
Lane is also a member of the Lakeside Baptist Church youth group, Wednesday night worship leader, and a member of the Insight Youth Choir.
His awards include Valedictorian of the senior class, Most Likely to Succeed, Most Hardworking, Mr. CHS, Student of the Month, Leader of Tomorrow, Professional Communications Award, Trig Award, Dual Credit English IV Award, second team academic All State and second team All District.
Among the scholarships Lane has received, they include Highest Ranking Graduate, First Year Tuition Waiver – $9,300, Burke Warren Lewis Scholarship – $1,500, Trinity Valley Electric Coop – $500, Lions Club $1,000, Mallory’s Heart – $500, Canton Athletic Booster Club Scholarship – $400 and Eubank Honor Graduate Scholarship – $200.
Upon graduation, Lane plans on attending Texas A&M University-College Station.
“I will be dual majoring in Petroleum Engineering and mathematics,” Lane said. “I will then carry out a career as an international missionary.”
Marjan is the 17-year-old daughter of Abdulhai Majid and Nooria Majid.
While in high school, she has participated in UIL serving as spelling team captain and was spelling regional champion and state qualifier. Also, UIL math and number sense regional qualifier, Business Professionals of America district champion and state qualifier, National Honor Society, FCCLA secretary, Leo Club secretary, Interact Club, Spanish Club,
Also, Dual Credit College Algebra Award, Pre-AP Physics Award, Independent Study in Speech II Award, Junior Scholar Award, Dual Credit Calculus Award, Accounting I Award, Independent Student in Speech III Award, varsity tennis, Tennis Most Hustle Award junior and senior year, Most Hardworking Super Senior Award, Rotary Club September Student of the Month.
Marjan received a University of Texas at Austin scholarship for $4,750 per year, State Top 10 Percent Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship, Hurley Memorial Scholarship and a Eubank Honor Graduate Scholarship.
Upon graduation, Marjan plans to attend the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin
“I plan to study biomedical engineering so that I can learn to develop medical technology and to research cures so that I can better the lives of humanity,” she said.

Deryl Dodd To Headline Concert At Salt Festival

Amanda — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:12:39 +0000

By Terry Britt
Staff Writer
GRAND SALINE — Texas country music star Deryl Dodd will headline the downtown concert and street dance at this year’s Salt Festival, which begins Thursday.
Dodd will play the Saturday night concert that traditionally closes the three-day festival. Advance tickets for the concert are $15, with tickets at the gate for $20 each.
To date, Dodd has released seven studio albums and one live album. His most recent album is the 2011 release Random As I Am. The single “Somethin’ Ain’t Always Better Than Nothin’” took the top spot on the Texas Regional Radio Report chart last week.
The Salt Festival concerts will carry a good dose of local flavor as well. Matt Bradshaw, who is getting ready to release an album, will be the opening act for Dodd at Saturday night’s concert.
On Friday night beginning at 9 p.m., the Wesley Pruitt Band will play on the downtown stage. Tickets for that show are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.
A free gospel concert will take place Thursday evening at 7 p.m. featuring the John Randolph Ministry and Crossfire Gospel Band.
Those attending the concerts are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating.
Festival vice president Jane Calder said a health fair has been added to the schedule of events on Saturday.
“Carter BloodCare will have a mobile blood donation unit parked outside and will be accepting blood donations during the day,” Calder said.
The health fair, sponsored by Autumn Wood Hospice, will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The festival begins Thursday with a 42 tournament at the Old City Pharmacy building starting at 10 a.m.
That day will also feature the traditional opening luncheon known as Virginia Milam’s Old South Dinner, consisting of chicken and dumplings, sides and dessert.
Lunches for each day of the festival will be $6 per person.
There is a baking contest scheduled from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday. Entries are to be delivered to Just Kidds in the former Moody’s building in downtown Grand Saline.
The big day on Saturday will include arts and crafts vendors through out the day, horseshoes, a classic and antique car show, and a talent competition starting at 7 p.m. on the downtown stage.
Festival president Tammy Chitty said that motorists should be aware that State Highway 110 (Main St.) will be closed to traffic from Pacific Street to U.S. Highway 80 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, call the Salt Palace at (903) 962-5631 or Chitty at (903) 330-7815.

Salt Festival
Schedule Of Events

All meals served at the Salt Festival are $6 per person. The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs for all events, including concerts.
Thursday
10 a.m.: 42 Tournament at the Old City Pharmacy.
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: “Virginia Milam’s Old South Dinner” Chicken and Dressing luncheon with all the trimmings and dessert. Sponsored by the friends of Virginia Milam. Live entertainment during lunch
2 p.m.: Bingo at the Chamber Pavilion.
4-6 p.m.: Baking Contest with entries to be turned in at Just Kidds (old Moody’s building).
7 p.m.: Free Gospel Concert featuring John Randolph Ministry and Crossfire Gospel band.
Friday
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Luncheon: Chicken spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and dessert. Sponsored by Country Trails Nursing Center. Live entertainment during lunch.
9 p.m.-midnight: Concert and street dance featuring the Wesley Pruitt Band. Admission $15, children 12 and under $5.
Saturday
8 a.m.-5 p.m.: Arts and crafts vendors downtown.
9 a.m.: Pet show downtown at the stage.
9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Classic and Antique Car Show on the grass behind Citizen’s Bank, 300 W. Frank.
9 a.m.: Horseshoe games for adults (set up next to the car show)
10 a.m.: Kiddie Kapers downtown at the stage.
10 a.m.: Health Fair in the Main Street Program office inside the Darby Building.
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Luncheon: Hamburgers and all the fixings and dessert. Sponsored by Azalea Trails Nursing Home
7-8:30 p.m.: Star Search Contest on downtown stage, cash prize for winner.
9 p.m.: Concert and street dance downtown with Matt Bradshaw opening up for Deryl Dodd. Admission tickets in advance $15, $20 at the gate, Children 12 and under $5.

Myers, Williams To Lead WPHS Class Of 2013

Amanda — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:10:22 +0000

By David Kapitan
Staff Writer
Gala Elaine Myers and Payton Rae Williams have been named the Wills Point High School Class of 2013 Valedictorian and Salutatorian respectively.
Gala Myers -
Valedictorian
Gala Elaine Myers is the 18-year-old daughter of Don and Karla Myers.
During her time at WPHS, Myers, who boasts a 4.550 grade point average, has participated in numerous activities and programs including: the band program, student council, the National Honor Society, piano, and buddy system, and her church’s youth group.
Myers was named Student of the Year for Advanced Health, Pre-AP English 2, Dual-Credit Eco., and Pre-AP Pre-Cal. She was also a state finalist for marching band, the recipient of the coveted Spade Award, and voted Most Likely To Succeed.
Myers, who plans on attending Texas Tech, has earned several scholarships, including: Terry Scholarship (an average of $65,000), the Texas Tech Presidential Scholarship ($14,000), the Texas Tech Honors Scholarship ($1,000), an NHS Scholarship ($300), a Ministerial Alliance Scholarship ($500), and the Justin Dugger Scholarship ($500).
Following graduation, Myers will attend “the Honors College at Texas Tech University and study biology on the pre-med track.”
After completing her Bachelor’s degree, Myers will attend medical school with an eye on fulfilling her “lifelong dream of becoming a physician.”
Payton Williams – Salutatorian
Payton Rae Williams is the 17-year-old daughter of Mark and Kortni Williams, and David and Jenifer Seago.
Williams, who graduates WPHS with a 4.5435 GPA, has participated in numerous academic and extra-curricular activities, including: earning second Team All-District honors in volleyball, serving as executive president for the student council, vice president for the NHS, president of the Spanish Club, and vice president of the WPHS Crimestoppers chapter.
Williams has also participated in UIL Academics, and earned Who’s Who Awards in recordkeeping, world history, Spanish 3, Pre-AP chemistry, and Pre-AP pathophysiology.
Last week, Williams was named the co-winner of the Kim Wright award at the Spring Athletic Banquet, as well as Most Changed and Best All-Around at last week’s Annual Preview.
Williams is the recipient of an Academic Achievement Scholarship from Harding University, and a Ministerial Alliance Scholarship.
After graduation, Williams will attend Harding University to begin her studies in the Physician’s Assistant Program and Honor’s Program. Williams plans on majoring in Biology, and minoring in Missions.

Gala Myers—Valedictorian
and
Payton Williams—Salutatorian

Wisdom And Cole Take Third Place At UIL

Amanda — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:04:21 +0000

By Terry Britt
Staff Writer
Van High School senior Susannah Wisdom won her third consecutive Class 3A state championship in Prose Interpretation last week at the University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Academic Meet in Austin.
Teammate Josh Cole took third place in the same event.
The two were also members of the cast of “Mrs. Packard,” Van High School’s One Act Play entry which captured the second runner-up award at the state finals on May 20.
Susannah Wisdom, whose parents Larry and Sue Wisdom are the theater teachers at Van High School, said preparing for the two competitions was challenging but that skill needed for one assists her in the other.
“Theater is about interpretation, so learning the ins and outs of vocal performance enhances characterization in a play,” she said.
“My performance of Mrs. Packard was definitely enhanced by having learned prose interpretation performance skills. Vocal inflection to capture mood and emotion alone is a learned skill which brings words to life so that an audience member can enter the world I am creating through performance, whether in a play or in a prose performance,” Susannah added.
No one sees her drive and determination as well as her father.
“Susannah is the consummate performer, driven beyond expectation,” Larry Wisdom said. “She puts demands on herself far greater than I would.”
He added that the dynamics of being father and daughter as well as teacher and student are complex, but that Susannah’s leadership and determination to succeed have benefited the entire program.
“I am usually blessed with a core group of about 20 incredibly driven students. Susannah headed that group this year. Honestly, I never have had to push her. It’s why, in part, she is a three-time state champion and a four-time state One Act Play performer.
“That’s not to say we don’t have friction from time to time,” Larry added. “She changed prose selections in her journey to state three times this year; and she understands that the journey is not complete until the search for the right vehicle is over, yet she gleaned something from each selection because the truth is each selection has different demands.”
Susannah has been accepted into the theater program at the University of Texas at Austin and will begin her college studies this fall.
“Truly the state title is the exclamation point to four wonderful years at Van High School. I have had the most amazing teachers who have totally invested in me, and I know I am ready for what awaits me at UT,” she said.
Susannah added that she plans to be a theater teacher, following in the footsteps of her highly successful parents.
“I’ve learned from them that teaching goes far beyond the classroom, but I have been blessed to call them teachers and my parents,” she said.

Courtesy Photo
Josh Cole, left, and Susannah Wisdom placed in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Academic Meet last week in Prose Interpretation. Cole finished third and Wisdom won the Class 3A title for the third year in a row. The two were also in the cast of Van High School’s One Act Play, “Mrs. Packard,” which took second runner-up in the state finals.

Education Foundation Honors Top Seniors, Faculty

Amanda — Mon, 27 May 2013 06:27:17 +0000

The Van ISD Education Foundation hosted its annual academic banquet on May 6.
The foundation uses the banquet as a way to recognize students who have excelled academically in the past year. The focus of the evening is the top 10 graduating seniors and their chosen distinguished educators.
“The Van ISD Education Foundation realized many years ago that students who were successful academically were often overlooked in the community. They decided to host a banquet to shine a light on those students,” executive director Angie Reed said.
The theme for the evening was “True Colors.”
“The seniors chose this theme to bolster the whole ‘After high school comes college’ idea that has been prevalent within the district this year. They wanted their ‘true color’ to represent the colleges they plan to attend,” Reed said.
The top seniors recognized were Brandon Elliott, Kirsten Dike, Carmen Sanchez, Ryan Ordmandy, Nicole Arena, Kaysie Hemby, Hannah Cunningham, Susannah Wisdom, Brianna Rainwater and Cole Morgan.
The top seniors are asked to choose an educator who most impacted their career at Van ISD. The top educators recognized this year were Sue Wisdom, Shani Crow, Holli Bryant, Kelly Lockwood, Robyn Clark, Michael Brown, Jeremy Peterson, Larry Wisdom, Robby Parish and Owen Tiner.
The foundation also recognizes UIL state qualifiers, debate national qualifiers, and grant recipients.
For more information about the Van ISD Education Foundation, visit its website at www.vanschools.org/foundation.

Courtesy photo
Seniors and teachers honored at the Van ISD Education Foundation Academic Banquet on May 6 were, from left to right: Michael Brown, Kaysie Hemby, Kelly Lockwood, Ryan Ordmandy, Jeremy Peterson, Hannah Cunningham, Shani Crow, Kirsten Dike, Brianna Rainwater, Robby Parish, Owen Tiner, Cole Morgan, Carmen Sanchez, Holli Bryant, Larry Wisdom, Susannah Wisdom, Sue Wisdom, Brandon Elliott, Nicole Arena and Robyn Clark.