Thirty-one Hays High School teacher-nominated seniors gathered at the Texas House of Representatives Chamber in the State Capitol recently for Optimist Club honors. The students were accompanied by coordinator and Career Center counselor Kathy Arendt and Optimist International president-elect Danny Rodgers. (Courtesy photo)

STAFF REPORTS

Thirty-one Hays High School seniors recently received recognition in thirty-three categories from the Optimist International Club during a gathering at the House of Representatives Chamber in the State Capitol.

All of the Hays students were nominated by campus teachers in their respective fields and Counselor Kathy Arendt in the Career Center coordinated the process. Six of the Hays seniors were recognized as the top Central Texas student in their discipline. The highest honorees included Kelly Posey for Female in Agriculture, Hillary Gees for Female in Art, Roderick Hunt for Male in English/Writing, Denise Garcia for Female in Science, Josh Delgado for Male in Instrumental Music and Nathaniel Sigman for Male in Industrial Arts.

Seniors George Brandon and Kayla Jones represented Hays High as Teenagers of the Year, both having been initially nominated for Community Service.

Other Hays participants included Stefan Sanchez and Kaylea Gooding (Drama), Amanda Bailey (Dance), Angeleigh Davis (Female Sports), Silas Brown (Science), Michael Ojeda and Katy Juarez (Journalism), Jose Gutierrez (Computer Science), Jon Brazeal and Aysia Lopez (Business) and Jarrod Hehr and Keeley Hooker (Vocal Music).

Additional honorees included Iann Tennille (Art), Joseph Williams (Vocational Education), Miguel Lopez and Whitley Diaz (Foreign Language), Trent Stein (Male Sports), Shane Miller and Megan Parsons (Speech), Jordanna Musser (Government), Michael Trahan and Kristen Whittington (Mathematics), Amber Hamblin (Instrumental Music) and Sara Cervantes (English/Writing).