Dateline: May 25, 2006

Hedley ISD names top students for 2006

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Hedley ISD is pleased to announce the valedictorian and salutatorian for the graduating class of 2006.

Benjamin Lee Shaw has been named valedictorian with an average of 95.5655.  He is the son of Randy and Ronda Shaw of Hedley and has attended Hedley schools since 1993. 

Ben is involved in UIL Academics – Current Events, Social Studies, and Literary Criticism, National Honor Society where he serves as president, FFA, Business Professionals of America, One Act Play, Student Director of OAP, Senior Class President, and Yearbook Staff.

He placed third in the State UIL Current Events Competition.  He was also voted by his classmates as Most Likely to Succeed. He was named the Young Man of the Year by the Donley County Chamber of Commerce.

Ben’s hobbies include reading books, playing video games, and watching movies. He is also involved in several community service projects including planting trees at Rowe Cemetery and helping the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department raise funds for a grant for a new fire truck.

Ben plans to attend Clarendon College and eventually obtain a Master’s Degree in Architecture at Texas Tech.

Holly Joy Davis has been named salutatorian with an average of 93.944.  She is the daughter of Keith and Shari Davis of Wellington.  She attended Wellington ISD until her freshman year when she transferred to Hedley High School.

During high school, she was involved in cross country, basketball, track, tennis, gifted and talented, 4-H, National Honor Society, FFA, UIL Current Events, One Act Play, and United States Tennis Association. 

She has been awarded Who’s Who Among American High School Students Sports Edition, A Honor Roll, Academic All-District Cross-Country, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, National Honor Roll, The National Society of High School Scholars, Basketball - Academic All-District, Academic All-State, District Champs, Tennis - District Champ, Regional Runner-up, State Qualifier, FFA Secretary, Class Vice President, Outstanding Chemistry Student, One Act Play Zone Champs, Cross Country - 4th Place District, Regional Qualifier, Team District Champs, Basketball - Senior Captain, Team Tennis- Regional Runner-up, 11th Place State, and Tennis - District Champ.

Joy has served the community with the Nickel Drive for Local Troops, Thanksgiving food drive, Christmas gift baskets, Christmas bags, American Heart Association, and the Hedley Senior Citizens Banquet Door Prize.

She plans to attend college at Seward College and major in Chemistry.  After getting her bachelor’s degree in chemistry she plans to attend pharmacy school.

The top eighth grade boy and girl are Dylan Pettit and Kailee Burton.

Dylan is the son of Brian Pettit and Tanja Widener and the stepson of Jade Widener.  He is 13 years old and lives in Memphis.  He will attend Hedley High School next year.

After he graduates, he plans to attend UCLA or UT and major in criminal science investigation.  He is very interested in making the world a safe place to live. In Dylan’s spare time he enjoys playing sports and playing with his pets.

Kailee is the daughter of Blain and Tanya Burton of Hedley.  She received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Performance and was recently nominated for Education in Action – Lone Star Leadership Academy in Houston.  She placed first in the 400-meter dash at the District Meet in Silverton and will be a varsity cheerleader for the Hedley Owls during the 2006-2007 school year.

She is very active in the Youth Ministry at Hedley First Baptist Church.  She plans to pursue a career in medicine.