Over $1.1 million in scholarships presented on behalf of Green & White Scholarship Program

MILITARY HONORS — Four senior students have chosen to serve in the military following graduation. Jacob Noonan is entering the U.S. Air Force. Marcos Machuca is entering the U.S. Marines. Kevin Vincent and Cody White are entering the U.S. Army. (l-r) U.S. Marine Corps Recruiter Sgt. Jonathan Noblin Marine Corps, Noonan, Machuca, Vincent and Naval Science Teacher Sergeant First Class Grady Tinker US Army Retired. Not pictured: Cody White. Courtesy photo

By Emily Banks Wooten
[email protected]

Over $1.1 million in scholarships was awarded to the Livingston High School Class of 2024 during the 35^th annual Livingston ISD Honors Night Tuesday.

“On behalf of LHS and the Green and White Scholarship program, I would like to thank all of our parents and donors for coming out this evening to support this wonderful event,” LISD Superintendent Dr. Brent E. Hawkins said.

Following the presentation of the colors by the LHS Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) accompanied by Naval Science Teacher Sergeant First Class Grady Tinker – U.S. Army Retired and the National Anthem by the LHS Choir under the direction of Renee Vore, Hawkins recognized the senior students who have chosen to serve in the United States Military following graduation. These include Jacob Noonan, who is entering the U.S. Air Force, Marcos Machuca, who is entering the U.S. Marines, and Kevin Vincent and Cody White, who are entering the U.S. Army. “These students have chosen to protect and serve their country, and we commend them for this tremendous decision,” Hawkins said.

In 1989, the Outstanding Graduate Program was initiated to honor graduates from Livingston schools, who have achieved excellence since graduation from Livingston High School or Dunbar High School. Over 100 graduates have been recognized thus far. This year’s recipient was Kenneth Darden, a 1980 graduate. (See additional coverage, page 7A.)

The top 10% of the graduating class was recognized. The 23 students, from one to 23, included: Mya Llanes, Madison Parrish, Sloane Curtin, Elijah Clark, Briana Johnson, Jack New, Eli Wood, Gavin McFarlain, Drew Davidson, Ja’Bari Carter, Natalie Wooten, Jordan Bush, Jy’Asia Terry, Hailey Ruiz, Chance Benningfield, Kaytlynn Shirley, Jayden Randolph, Jace Morris, Josi St. Martin, Emily Flores, Madison Berry, Evan Luna and Allison Lytle.

Also recognized were Gavin McFarlain and Jayden Vickery who were named Mr. and Miss LHS, having been selected for the honor by the LHS faculty.

“Welcome to one of the greatest nights of the year in our community. Tonight’s scholarship presentations are a culmination of a year’s worth of fundraising activities, committee meetings and hundreds of community members working together with the common goal of making higher education affordable to our local students,” LISD Director of Communications Jennifer Birdwell said.

“For 34 years, the Livingston Green and White Scholarship program has assisted local community organizations, memorial scholarships and our donors with identifying potential scholarship candidates and distributing funds to college students. Through the commitment of these many organizations, our program has assisted thousands of LISD graduates,” Birdwell said.

“This community has given graciously because we believe in our graduates and what you are capable of accomplishing in the future. Be diligent, make us proud, and wherever you go, be sure to give back to your local community,” Birdwell said.

This year’s recipients, along with the scholarships they’ve been awarded, include:

Stevi Allemang - 2024 Miss Polk County - Spirit of Polk County Award, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Rhett Lathan Memorial Scholarship

Emily Alvarado - Danny King Memorial Scholarship

Jordan Anderson - Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Fahmida Anjum - Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Nathan Fidel Aristondo - Creekside Elementary School Scholarship, Livingston Junior High School Scholarship, Trinity Masonic Lodge #14 AF & AM Award

Luke Asiala - Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, First Methodist Church - Merle Weaver Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Polk County Higher Education & Technology Foundation Scholarship, Polk County Peace Officers’ Association Scholarship, Rotary Club of Livingston Scholarship

Santana Ballou - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Dunbar Alumni Association Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Chance Benningfield - First National Bank Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Madison Bailee Berry - Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Livingston Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, Livingston Police Department - Caran Coward Memorial Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Emily Brittain - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship

Brianna Burks - Livingston Junior High School Scholarship

Copeland Bush - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Jordan Eugene Bush - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, First State Bank Academic Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, Livingston Junior High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Rebecca Canales - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Ja’Bari Carter - Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, Dunbar Alumni Association Scholarship, First State Bank Academic Scholarship, John & Martha Stubbs Opportunity Scholarship, Livingston Youth Basketball League Scholarship, Ollege & Minnie Morrison Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship, Wright Family Scholarship

Elijah Daniel Clark - Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Livingston Band Booster Club Scholarship, Livingston Junior High School Scholarship, Newman & Lillian Haynes Memorial Scholarship, Sam Houston Electric Co-op Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Tazanus Colquitt - Red Hat Ladies Friendship Club Scholarship

Abraham Cuellar - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Sloane Lea Curtin - Cole Overstreet Memorial Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, John & Martha Stubbs Opportunity Scholarship, Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Livingston Lions Club L.C. “Sandy” Moore Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Sam Houston Electric Co-op Scholarship, Timber Creek Elementary School Scholarship

Jonathan Danford - Josephine Nevins Memorial Scholarship

Drew Davidson - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, LISD Administration/Support Staff Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Timber Creek Elementary School Scholarship

Skyler Faye Douga - Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Faith Fernandez - Helm Family Scholarship

Lila Eve Fitzgerald - E. H. Cochran Memorial Scholarship, LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Livingston High School Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship

Savannah Grace Fleming - Timber Creek Elementary School Scholarship

Emily Flores - American Association of University Women Scholarship, LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Ollege & Minnie Morrison Scholarship, Patty Carmona Memorial Scholarship, Rotary Club of Livingston Scholarship, Sam Houston Electric Co-op Scholarship

Cole Brayden Gann - L. K. Walker Memorial Scholarship, Livingston High School Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Brady Weston Ganzer - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, Eastex Telephone Cooperative Scholarship, First Methodist Church - Jimmy Phillips Memorial Scholarship, Polk County Commissioners Court - Bobby Smith Memorial Scholarship, Polk County Garden Club Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Destiny Gist - Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Donald Gokey - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, Lake Livingston Telephone Scholarship, Livingston High School Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship

Amber Gonzalez - LHS UIL Academic Scholarship

Damian Gonzalez De Paz - Green & White FFA Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Rhett Lathan Memorial Scholarship

Kamya Gould - Creekside Elementary School Scholarship - In Memory of Audrii Cunningham, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship, Timber Creek Elementary School Scholarship

Chase Kyle Gressett - Polk County Go Texan Scholarship

Evan Grimm - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship

Braden Christopher Hargraves - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Ernest E. Cochran Family Scholarship, First Methodist Church - Jimmy Phillips Memorial Scholarship, First Methodist Church - Merle Weaver Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, LISD Alumni & Community Scholarship, Peoples State Bank Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship

Micah Harrison - E. Gary Morrison (1931) Family Scholarship

Ava Hartsell - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship

Peyton Hathaway - Creekside Elementary School Scholarship, Livingston High School Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Halle Brynn Hawkins - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, LISD Administration/Support Staff Scholarship, Livingston High School Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, The Mickey Gilbert Scholarship For Educators, Timber Creek Elementary School Scholarship

Vanessa Hernandez - Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Livingston Lions Club L.C. “Sandy” Moore Scholarship, Rotary Club Of Livingston Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Timber Creek Elementary School Scholarship

Shalynn Hill - First National Bank Scholarship, Danny R. Tinney Future Teacher Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Jaime Hopson - Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Kellee Mason Hopson - Creekside Elementary School Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Timber Creek Elementary School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Colton Allan Hughes - “Let Us Never Forget” in Memory of PFC Stuart Moore Scholarship, Livingston Junior High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Jordan James Huson - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Keyla Islas - LISD Administration/Support Staff Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Briana Denise Johnson - Dunbar Alumni Association Scholarship, Eastex Telephone Cooperative Scholarship, Ollege & Minnie Morrison Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Julian Juarez - Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Alaya Kiwi Jusko - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Livingston Lions Club L.C. “Sandy” Moore Scholarship, Polk County Peace Officers’ Association Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Alexus Berry Jusko - Polk County Peace Officers’ Association Scholarship

Caden Zachariah Kesler - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Cole Overstreet Memorial Scholarship, John & Martha Stubbs Opportunity Scholarship, Livingston Band Booster Club Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Jaycee Bren Knighton - Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Police Department - Caran Coward Memorial Scholarship, Polk County Commissioner’s Court - IAH Special Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Polk County Peace Officers’ Association Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship, Wright Family Scholarship

Mya Llanes - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, First State Bank Academic Scholarship, Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship

Evan Tuff Luna - Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Allison Elizabeth Lytle - Health Professional Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, Sam Houston Electric Co-op Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Gavin McFarlain - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Cole Overstreet Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Livingston High School Scholarship, Livingston Junior High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Jonathan McNeal - Florida’s Kitchen African-American Achievement Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Ismael Merino - LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Livingston Band Booster Club Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Melody Merino - Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship

Erikka Ja’lia Miles - Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Jaelah Moore - Escapees RV Club Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Jace Kelan Morris - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, Cole Overstreet Memorial Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, Livingston Police Department - Caran Coward Memorial Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Polk County Peace Officers’ Association Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Brandon John Munson - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, Livingston Lions Club L.C. “Sandy” Moore Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship, Wright Family Scholarship

Dylan Murphy - Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship

Kason Allen Nelson - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, LISD Alumni & Community Scholarship, Livingston Highline Academic Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, The Smith Family Foundation Scholarship

Jackson New - Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, Cole Overstreet Memorial Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Sam Houston Electric Co-op Scholarship

Anayeli Olivares - Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Charlene Oliver - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, LHS HOSA Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Claudia Denise Parker - Polk County Peace Officers’ Association Scholarship

Madison Parrish - Cole Overstreet Memorial Scholarship, Danny R. Tinney Future Teacher Scholarship, Eastex Telephone Cooperative Scholarship, Ellen V. Jones Memorial Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Sam Houston Electric Co-op Scholarship, The Mickey Gilbert Scholarship for Educators

Yamilet Pedraza - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Chevy Peters - Green & White FFA Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Livingston High School Fishing Team Scholarship, Rhett Lathan Memorial Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Gabriel Quintero - Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Jayden Randolph - Eastex Telephone Cooperative Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Ollege & Minnie Morrison Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship, Urgent Doc Healthcare Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Itzel Elizabeth Raya - Courtney Simeone Memorial Scholarship

Claire Ann Reitan - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Leah Robeson - Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Denise Rodriguez - Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Hunter Gregory Roehl - LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Newman & Lillian Haynes Memorial Scholarship

Hailey Ruiz - Cole Overstreet Memorial Scholarship, Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, McDonald Family Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Makayla Lynn Ryans - Florida’s Kitchen African-American Achievement Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Estefania Saucedo - Emerald Belles Booster Club Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship, Rotary Club of Livingston Scholarship, Timber Creek Elementary School Scholarship

Kaytlynn Gail Shirley - Livingston Lions Club L.C. “Sandy” Moore Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship, Wright Family Scholarship

Darrion Leshod Simmons - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, 350 Transportation Cab Co. LLC - In Memory of Sylvester Harris Scholarship, Dunbar Alumni Association Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Joshua Tyler Smith - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Rhett Lathan Memorial Scholarship

Julieanna Smith - Jimmy Snyder Memorial Scholarship, LISD Administration/Support Staff Scholarship

Allison Snook - Amanda Smith Memorial Scholarship, Laureate Theta Eta Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship, The Debbie Mayes Scholarship for Performing Arts

Charles Dylan Snook - LISD Alumni & Community Scholarship, Livingston Junior High School Scholarship

Jonathan Solano - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Band Booster Club Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Yahir Solis - Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship

Josi St. Martin - Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship, Green & White FFA Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Sam Houston Electric Co-op Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Morgan Stout - LHS UIL Academic Scholarship, Rotary Club of Livingston Scholarship

Dylan Keith Tassin - Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship

Jy’Asia Terry - E. Gary Morrison (1931) Family Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Livingston Junior High School Scholarship, Polk/San Jacinto NAACP Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Academic Scholarship

Dillon Thiel - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship

Reyna Trevino - Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Brayden Vickery - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship

Caden Vickery - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship

Hailee Vickery - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, John & Martha Stubbs Opportunity Scholarship, Livingston Junior High School Scholarship, The Mickey Gilbert Scholarship for Educators

Jayden Vickery - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, John & Martha Stubbs Opportunity Scholarship

Angelina Wangler - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Pine Ridge Primary School Scholarship, Rotary Club of Livingston Scholarship, Stephen F. Austin Distinguished High School Scholarship

Elizabeth Wells - 2024 Miss Polk County - Miss Photogenic Winner Scholarship, Miss Polk County Interview Winner Scholarship, Miss Polk County Talent Winner Scholarship

Jordan White - LHS UIL Academic Scholarship

Daelyn Whitehouse - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Livingston Police Department - Caran Coward Memorial Scholarship, Newman & Lillian Haynes Memorial Scholarship

Eli Wood - Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Dorothy Jaggers Hurt Memorial Scholarship, Lee Ellzey Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, LHS Alumni & Community Scholarship, Livingston Aggie Club - Ring Scholarship, Polk County Go Texan Scholarship, Rotary Club of Livingston Scholarship

Natalie Wooten - American Association of University Women Scholarship, Brian Perry Memorial Scholarship, Ernest E. Cochran Memorial Scholarship, First State Bank Academic Scholarship, LISD Alumni & Community Scholarship, Livingston Junior High School Scholarship, Rotary Club of Livingston Scholarship, The Debbie Mayes Scholarship for Performing Arts

Baylee Yantes - Audrii Cunningham Memorial Scholarship, Hunter Williams Memorial Scholarship, LHS HOSA Scholarship, Sam Houston Electric Co-op Scholarship, Webster Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship

Lizzy Zuniga - Cedar Grove Elementary School Scholarship