CHS scholarships exceed $290k

Twenty-two Clarendon High School graduating seniors were awarded a combined total of more than $290,134, according to announcements made during the school’s annual commencement last Friday night.

CHS Principal Larry Jeffers made the following announcements of awards that the school had been made aware of prior to Friday night. He said this year’s class has received more than any other in his time as principal.

Billy Ceniceros received the first of seven given in memory of Onita Thomas.  Onita was a woman who loved her family, Donley County, and had compassion for all.  The scholarship is for $200.

Alton Gaines received a Southwestern Oklahoma State Tuition Waiver valued at $25,632, a scholarship for room and board valued at $6,000, and the Bettye J Wallace Scholarship for $500 for a total of $36,632.

Aaron Gordon received an athletic scholarship to WTAMU that is valued at $18,000.

Nathan Gribble is receiving a $200 Onita Thomas scholarship and $1,000 from the Clarendon FFA Boosters. Nathan’s last scholarship is a new scholarship. The Jimmy and Pat McAnear scholarship is designed for a graduate who is continuing their education in an ag or ranching field.  It was started in memory of Jimmy McAnear who was engaged in ranching and farming for most of his life and in honor of his wife Pat.  Jimmy took great pride in his work and his family. The scholarship is for $500 totaling $1,700 in scholarships for Nathan.

Jesus Hernandez is the recipient of a $100 Onita Thomas scholarship and a Masonic Lodge scholarship for $220.  Jesus final scholarship is the Homer Estlack Memorial Scholarship for $250.  This scholarship is given annually to a graduating Clarendon High School student who plans to attend Clarendon College.  It is given by the Estlack family in memory of Homer Estlack, who was a graduate of both CHS and Clarendon College.  He was a member of the Clarendon School Board and was a dedicated supporter of the public school system and its academic and athletic programs.  That is a total of $570 in scholarships to Jesus Hernandez.

Morgan Hysinger has been awarded the Don and Sybil Harrington Scholarship for $6,000, a WTAMU Institutional Scholarship for $4,000, a WTAMU Tuition Scholarship for $500, and the Onita Thomas scholarship for $100.  Morgan’s final scholarship is the Thomas Lynch (Jack) Roach, IV Memorial Scholarship.  Jack was a 2000 graduate of CHS.  The scholarship is funded through an endowment from Jack’s grandmother, his parents Tom and Annie, his brother McCollough, and other family members and friends.  This scholarship is for $500 per semester for two years, or $2,000.  Morgan’s scholarships total $12,600.

Audrey Jones has received a $200 Onita Thomas scholarship, a $500 Clarendon Lions Club Sweetheart Scholarship, a WTAMU music scholarship for $4,000.  Audrey’s last scholarship is the Betsy Ellerbrook Memorial Scholarship for $500 which is given to a band member who has exhibited good conduct and leadership throughout their high school career and has demonstrated a willingness to be involved in extra band activities.  Audrey’s total for scholarships is $5,200

Leigh Ann Layton has been awarded a $4,000 WTAMU scholarship, the Tom Butler Memorial Bronc Riding scholarship for $250, the Childress Old Settler’s Rodeo Association scholarship for $200, and the Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship from Pizza Hut and Pronews 7 for $500.  That is a total of $4,950 awarded to Leigh Ann.

Abbie Massingill is the recipient of $6,000 from WTAMU and $250 from the Clarendon Firebelles for a total of $6,250

Devin Noble has received $6,000 from WTAMU.

Leticia Powers is the recipient of a $2,400 cheerleading scholarship from Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Taylee Rice has received a $100 Onita Thomas scholarship.

Niki Roberts has received $14,000 from WTAMU, a $200 Onita Thomas scholarship, the Annie Ozella Jones Memorial Student Scholarship for $500, and the Les Beaux Art Club scholarship for $300.  Each year the valedictorian and salutatorian of Clarendon High School are awarded scholarships to Clarendon College.  These scholarships are provided by the Knorpp Insurance Agency and Donley County State Bank and are given in the name of Walter B. Knorpp, Sr., who spent many years promoting quality education as a member and president of the Clarendon School District Board of Trustees and sat on the Clarendon College Board of Regents.  This scholarship includes all books, tuition, and fees.  Niki is the recipient of the Salutatorian Scholarship valued at $3,000.  Niki’s last scholarship is the Jacob Smith Memorial Scholarship for $500.   The Jacob Dean Smith Memorial Scholarship is given to a band member that must have exhibited good conduct and leadership throughout their high school career and demonstrated a willingness to be involved in extra band activities such as All Region or All State Band, Solo/Ensemble contests and being a band officer.  She has also received $1,000 from the Senator Grady and Andrine Hazlewood Scholarship.  Niki has received scholarships valued at $19,500.

Kalli Sawyer received a $500 Herring Bank scholarship to Clarendon College for $500.

Derrick Shelton is the recipient of the local ATPE scholarship for $300, a tuition waiver to SWOSU valued at $25,632, and a residence hall scholarship valued at $6,000.   He also received a $600 scholarship in memory of Karen Simmons, which is the result of contributions made by many of Karen’s friends, co-workers, and family.  The seniors that applied for this scholarship were all students of Karen’s either through the gifted and talented program or through UIL.  She was a mentor to all of them in so many ways.  Each student shared a memory of those early years and told how Mrs. Simmons had influenced their life.  The contributions she made to the children and schools of Clarendon were tremendous. Derrick has a total value of $32,532 in scholarships.

Bailey Starnes has received the Mary Hardin Baylor Leadership Scholarship for $3,000

Brett Strobel has received the Donley County Retired School Personnel scholarship for $300 and he has also received $6,000 from WTAMU for a total of $6,300

Amelia Taylor is the recipient of the Knorpp Valedictorian scholarship to Clarendon College valued at $3,000  The state of Texas also gives a one year tuition scholarship to the valedictorian that is valued at up to  $6,800.  She has received the Texas Tech Presidential Endowed Scholarship for $30,000, the Cielo Wind Power Earth Stewardship Scholarship for $1,000, the Texas Tech Honors College Freshman Recruiting Scholarship for $2,000, and the KOH Family Engineering Scholarship for $80,000.  That is a total of $122,800.

Cortnee Thornberry has received the Texas Tech Alumni Scholarship for $2,000, the Texas Tech Merit Scholarship for $8,000, and a Panhandle Plains High Education Authority scholarship for $200 for a total $10,200

Janae White is the recipient of the Cross Road Peanut for $500 and the for a total of $700

Jenci White has received a Wellington Community Service Club Scholarship for $200

Dustin Willyard has received a $500 FFA scholarship.

In addition to those awards, Clarendon College has awarded $11,650 to Donley County seniors.

Clarendon seniors getting CC scholarships included Jesus Hernandez, $1,000 Drama Scholarship and $500 Hurn-Cox Scholarship; Leigh Ann Layton, $1,250 Cheerleading – room and board, $1,000 Cheerleading – Books, $250 Clarendon College Foundation Scholarship, and $250 RC & Agnes Johnson Scholarship; and Nathan Gribble, $165 Explorer Scouts Scholarship and $135 RC & Agnes Johnson Scholarship.

Hedley High School seniors receiving scholarships from CC included Kelby Shields, $1,000 Women’s Basketball – Books, $300 Ex-Students Julia Dean Endowed Scholarship, $100 Claude and Eddith Spivey Memorial, and $100 Ross Harwood Beville Memorial Endowed Scholarship; Isaias Ramirez, $1250 Men’s Basketball – Room and board, $1000 Men’s Basketball – Books, and $100 Clarendon College Faculty scholarship; Dustin Watson, $1,250 Men’s Basketball – Room and Board, and $1,000 Men’s Basketball – Books; and Elizabeth Garcia, $100 Clarendon College Faculty Scholarship.

Information on other scholarships received by Hedley seniors was not available at press time.