Nine Lingleville High School graduates are headed off into the world after commencement ceremonies were held Friday, May 22.
The ceremony was opened with the singing of the National Anthem by senior Brody Hurt. Garrett Hurt gave the invocation.
During the class of 2026 accomplishments, Superintendent DeeCee McDougal stated four of the seniors have earned a combined total of 202 college credit hours, earned a combined college grade point average of 3.7.
Three of the seniors graduated from Ranger College with their associate degrees three weeks ahead of their high school graduation.
During the commencement ceremony, scholarships totaling $628,000 was announced followed by a senior slide show and roses presented by the graduates to those who had made an impact on their lives, including parents, family members, friends and teachers.
Valedictorian Giselle Azua Medina offered remarks in her valedictory address, including thanking her parents in Spanish.
“As someone who is first-generation, reaching this moment means more than earning a diploma. It means representing years of sacrifice, hard work, and barriers my family has faced. My parents didn’t have the chance to dream of going to school; they instead had to work in the fields or provide for their siblings. Giving them no chance to think of an education, but that doesn’t mean they don’t support mine; instead, they gave me something special. Support, encouragement, and love that I could complete my own dreams,” she said. “A mis padres, mamá y papá, gracias por cada sacrificio que hicieron, por cada día largo del trabajo y por recordarme siempre que siguiera adelante, incluso cuando las cosas parecían imposibles. Todo lo que logró lo debo a los ejemplos que me dieron. (To my parents, mom and dad, thank you for every sacrifice you made, for every long day at work, and for always reminding me to keep moving forward, even when things seemed impossible. Everything I achieved I owe to the examples you gave me.)” Azua Medina said high school taught her that success is never done alone, because behind every student is someone who helped them along the way including parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, coaches, counselors and friends.
“As we leave, life will continue to challenge us; some of us will be going to college, joining the workforce, or still figuring out what comes after, which is okay; you don’t need the answer today. What matters is that we continue to push forward with determination and courage,” she said. “To my fellow graduates, remember where you came from, appreciate the people who helped get you here, and never let fear stop you from following your dreams.”
The valedictorian earned $124,057 in scholarship funds including: Lingleville Senior scholarship ($2,007), Ford FFA Senior Scholarship ($1,500), Highest Ranking Graduate Award ($40,000), Angelo State University Distinguished Scholarship ($8,000), C.J. Davidson Endowed Scholarship ($1,000), Midwestern State University Valedictorian Scholarship ($12,000), Midwestern State Merit Scholarship ($10,000),UTA Maverick Academic Scholarship ($16,000), Tarleton Presidential Guaranteed Scholarship ($12,000), Tarleton Tuition Grants ($15,500), Dwain & Carolyn Bruner Endowed Scholarship ($2,000), Cross Timbers Business and Professional Women Scholarship ($1,000), Marshal “Digger” Proctor Scholarship ($1,050), Blue Jay Dairy Scholarship ($1,000), AB Ranch Scholarship ($500) and Lingleville ISD PTO LEAD Scholarship ($500).
Salutatorian Zaidan Bennett offered remarks in his salutatorian addresses, sharing a quote from Walt Disney “Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.”
Bennett encouraged his fellow graduates to not change their perception of the world.
“Somewhere along the line, our society developed the idea that when we become adults, all joy has to leave life, that throwing these ridiculous looking hats on our heads all of a sudden has some magical change on us.
But why? Why the second we leave these doors for the last time does anything about us have to change? Sure, we’ll all have A LOT more responsibilities, bills, taxes, debt, but we don’t have to trade those responsibilities in for our wonder, happiness, and creativity,” he said.
Bennett, who also thanked his family, said one of the biggest things he learned at Lingleville was that while huge moments don’t really leave a lasting impact, it’s the tiny, at the time minuscule moments that truly stick.
“As we continue on to this new season of life we’re all moving into, I pray we don’t lose that. I pray we don’t lose that sense of childlike wonder that we’ve all had for the past 18 years. I hope all of us continue to laugh our heads off, care about the small things in life, and continue to dream about our goals, no matter how realistic or difficult, or even practical they seem,” he said. He encouraged his classmates to never lose who they are.
The salutatorian earned $387,007 in scholarship funds including: Lingleville Senior Scholarship ($2,007), Oral Roberts Scholar Award ($92,000), Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship ($16,000), Oklahoma University Academic Achievement Award ($48,000), Abilene Christian University Distinguished Scholarship ($8,000), Stephen F. Austin Academic Excellence Scholarship ($10,000), Shreiner University Presidential Merit Scholarship ($92,000), Texas Tech Geoscience Scholarship ($10,000), Midwestern State Merit Scholarship ($10,000), Midwestern State Salutatorian Scholarship ($8,000), University of Tulsa Merit Scholarship ($29,000), Baylor University Merit Scholarship ($5,000), Texas A&M Aggie Assurance Grant ($52,000), Texas A&M Rosie M. & Murray D. Page Scholarship ($1,000) Merit Scholarship ($1,000), Erath County A&M Club Scholarship ($2,000), Lingleville Masonic Lodge Scholarship ($500), Lingleville ISD PTO LEAD Scholarship ($500) and Mickey Belew Scholarship ($1,000).
Remaining scholarships are listed below.
Madyson Davis: Lingleville Senior Scholarship ($695); Emma Guevara: Lingleville Senior Scholarship ($2,007); Brody Hurt: Lingleville Senior Scholarship ($2,007), Ford FFA Senior Scholarship ($1,500), AB Ranch Scholarship ($500) and Texas Leadership Scholars Award ($90,000); Sara Leatherwood: Lingleville Senior Scholarship ($2,007), Merit Scholarship ($1,000), Masonic Children & Family Services of Texas Scholarship ($2,500) and Texas First Program Scholarship ($5,429); Alexa Rosalez: Lingleville Senior Scholarship ($2,007), The Association for Compensatory Educators of Texas Scholarship ($1,000) and Mickey Belew Scholarship ($1,000); Elias Tovar: Lingleville Senior Scholarship ($2,007) and James and Dorothy Doss Foundation Scholarship ($1,000); Lane Walker: Lingleville Senior Scholarship ($265).