It is a special night of celebration when Lytle graduating seniors receive awards, cords, stoles, and scholarships! On May 25, 2021, Lytle Graduating Seniors were recognized for their hard work and dedication to their future. The Class of 2021 collectively earned $675,000 in scholarships. When combined with scholarships offered from all the schools students were accepted to, this amount exceeds $1.2 million dollars. After a wonderful awards ceremony planned by High School Administration and led by College and Career Readiness counselor, Mrs. Abigail Parker, many students, staff and parents stayed for a Baccalaureate service led by Coach Foster and Pastor Leverton. It was a beautiful night for our graduating class of 2021. Take a look at the photos from the night! https://photos.app.goo.gl/gCqaskULpbj7PLUS7
Here's the summary of all the Senior Class accomplishments that were announced for individual students:
Eric Smith and Brenda Fernandez awarded Kylie Mask and Kody Villarreal the Legacy Bowl Scholarship.
David Maddox and Ronnie Christens with the Atascosa Masonic Lodge #379 presented Rylan Wagner and Kylie Mask with the Lamar Award and Juniors Celeste Perez and Jose Cotez the Honor and Integrity Award.
Ex-Student representative Tammy McDonald presented Kylie Maskd the Lytle Ex-Student Association Scholarship.
Lytle Chamber of Commerce President Mark Lovelace and Vice President Simon Garcia awarded Kylie Mask and Alexandrea Naegelin the 2021 Lytle Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Award.
Jason and Misty Stricker presented the DJ Carlson Memorial Scholarship to Kody Villarreal and Rylan Wagner.
Dinah Argo and Alma Horvath presented the 2021 Devine Area Hospice Scholarship to Noelia Medina and Emili Oliver. The Devine Area Hospice volunteers have a motto, “Improving people’s lives through community giving.” The Devine Area Health and Hospice Thrift Store has provided clothing and household goods to our community and surrounding area for over 20 years. In addition to raising money for scholarships that are awarded to students seeking a profession in the medical field, this thrift store supports health-related non-profit organizations and provides health-related services to the uninsured and underserved through the generosity of the community.
Pastor Dan Newbur of The First Baptist Church of Devine presented the Robertson Scholarship to Rylan Wagner, who is the first recipient of this award. The Robertson Scholarship Fund is named in memory of Robbie Robertson. Robbie moved to Devine in 1989 and became a member of the First Baptist Church of Devine. She considered the congregation her family. Before she died at age 104, Robbie used her life savings to establish The Robertson Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships for First Baptist Church of Devine youth graduating high school.
Superintendent Michelle Smith presented Alexandrea Naegelin with the Lytle Administration Team Scholarship.
Jennifer Criswell presented Rylan Wagner and Kylie Mask the Lytle Women’s Club Scholarship awards. The Lytle Women’s Club was a mainstay in the Lytle community. Unfortunately, not long ago, the club disbanded, however, they left funding to be presented to these two outstanding members of the 2021 Lytle High School graduating class.
Lytle State Bank President, Randy Garcia, presented the Walter Joyce Scholarship awards to Thalia Gonzales, Rylan Wagner, Jocelyn Sekula and Kylie Mask.
The McConathy family presented Juan Colmenero with the Bobby McConathy Memorial Scholarship.
Athletic Director Lori Wilson presented Rylan Wagner, Jocelyn Sekula, Kylie Mask, Kody Villarreal, Logan Wilson, Noelia Medina, Emma Polomsky, Damian Ramos, Naomy Montes Rodriguez and Emelia Garcia with the University Interscholastic League Scholar Awards. The University Interscholastic League Scholar Award was created to recognize and honor students who have shown the ability and demonstrated the discipline necessary to perform academically and participate in extracurricular activities. This award restates the commitment of the UIL to “Academic Excellence through Competition.”
Mark Fender, Lytle ISD Director of Bands, presented Jazmine Ortega the Student Athlete Musician Award.
Special guest and Senior Army Instructor for the JROTC program, Major Burden, recognized cadets Cauden Diaz, Mercedes Hernandez, Eic Martinez and Virginia Rodriguez with honor stoles.
US Marine Corps Sergeant Ha presented the Semper Fidelis Award to Emila Garcia for music excellence, the Distinguished Athlete Awards to Kylie Mask and Logan Wilson, and the Scholastic Excellence Award to Jocelyn Sekula.
Staff Sergeant Worthy from the United States Air Force, Petty Officer Wright from the United States Navy, Sergeant Vaughan of the United States Army and Sergeant Ha of the United States Marines Corps recognized Lytle High School students who have committed to military service:
Rafael Pacheco - US Marine Corps pending enlistment
Dominic Reyes - US Marine Corps Enlisted
Quen Syma - US Marine Corps Enlisted
Santiago Garcia - US Marine Corps Enlisted
Alexander Andrade - US Navy enlisted
Brenham Sevier - US Navy pending enlistment
High School teachers presented certificates to students for excellent performance throughout the year.
Noelia Medina, Jackelyn Paredes,Vincent Casanova, Damian Ramos, Logan Wilson, Kody Villarreal, Rylan Wagner, Luis Guerrero, Kylie Mask and Jocelyn Sekula were recognized for outstanding achievement in Calculus.
Naomy Montes Rodriguez and Emma Polomsky received certificates for outstanding achievement in Pre-Cal honors.
Jose Carlos Hernandez, Isabella Ytuarte, Ismael Castillo, Savannah Landwehr, Quen Syma and James Black were recognized for outstanding achievement in CP Math.
Financial Literacy certificates went to Jocelyn Sekula, Lexi Paz, Rylan Wagner and James Black.
Mrs. Chandler recognized Carson Aldridge, Luis Guerrero, Savannah Landwehr, Quen Syma, Jose Carlos Hernandez, Emiliano Peralta, Alexander Andrade and Donald Glasen for maintaining an “A” honor roll throughout the British Literature course.
Randy Beard announced Ismael Castillo as the recipient of the Outstanding Welder and Fabricator certificate.
The Lytle Chapter of the National Honor Society recognizes seniors who have demonstrated an aptitude for leadership, scholarship, service and character; the four pillars of the national organization. NHS graduation stoles represent the student’s position in the organization as well as their dedication to serving their community and school. This year students have contributed to over 2,000 hours of service.
NHS sponsor Hannalore Mueller recognized Adriana Rios, Alexandrea Naegelin, Clarissa Ybarra, Damian Ramos, Donald Glasen, Emiliano Peralta, Emma Polomsky, Jackelyn Paredes (Sgt. at Arms), James Black, Jocelyn Sekula, Kody Villarreal, Kylie Mask, Logan Wilson, Luis Guerrero, Mariana Verdeja (President), Marisa Flores, Noelia Medina and Rylan Wagner with an honors stole.
The Future Farmers of America is an organization where students learn leadership skills along with career success. The FFA motto is, “Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve.” FFA sponsor Teresa Lassare presented officer sashes along with FFA Chords and graduation medallions to President Alexandrea Naegelin, Treasure Kody Villarreal and Secretary Rylan Wagner. James Black and Alejandro Ramos. Ismael Castillo received FFA Chords.
Jonathon Cantu, Ryan De La Garza, Diego Garcia Hernandez, David Laureano and Damian Ramos earned college credit and their Plumber’s Helper Level 1 Certificate. This is our first group of students graduating from St. Philip’s College with their Plumber's Helper Level 1 Certificate! These students have worked hard both in and outside of the classroom learning practical skills and making fun memories while helping solve plumbing problems. Plumbing instructor Ana Ginter says, “It was thrilling to see students working together to break down plumbing systems, utilize the tools of the trade and show mastery of so many important skills.”
Michelle Aguinaga, proctor in our dual credit lab, presented white honor cords to Gregorio Alcorta, James Black, Mark Cantu, Vincent Casanova, Isyss Cortez, Ryan De la Garza, Emelia Garcia, Thalia Gonzales, Ruben Gonzalez, Roberson Harold, Savannah Landwehr, Kylie Mask, Javier Jimenez, Noelia Medina, Naomy Montes Rodriguez, Kyle Mueller, Emili Oliver, Jackelyn Parades, Emma Polomsky, Damian Ramos, Adriana Rios, Jocelyn Sekula, Mariana Verdeja, Kody Villarreal, Rylan Wagner and Logan Wilson for successfully completing 15 transferable college hours or 5 courses with St. Phillips College. Ryan Andrew De La Garza, Damian Frank Ramos, Javier Jimenez, Adriana Rios, Logan Wilson and Rylan Wagner received additional recognition for completing at least 30 college hours and are classified as college sophomores.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dustin Breithaupt along with Superintendent Michelle Carroll Smith presented a gold honor cord to the Top 10 Graduates:
Naomy Montes Rodriguez, ranked tenth, will attend Palo Alto College this summer and plans on transferring to Texas A&M University San Anotonio to major in education. Naomy has earned the Alamo Area Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Scholarship.
Luis Guerrero, ranked ninth, will attend the University of Texas at San Antonio and will major in biomedical engineering. Being inspired by his mom and the stories from the ER, Luis knew that he wanted to pursue the medical field. Luis plans on becoming a neurosurgeon and hopes to have a positive impact on others.
Damian Ramos, ranked eighth, will attend Texas A&M University San Antonio.
Emma Polomsky, seventh ranked, will attend Palo Alto College and seek an associates of arts with emphasis on photography.
Sixth ranked Noelia Medina will attend Hardin Simmons University and has earned the Presidential Scholarship of $16,000 per year. Noelia came to admire nurses after witnessing the impact the nurses made on her family and will major in nursing.
Fifth ranked Logan Wilson will attend Texas Tech University and has earned a Presidential Merit Scholarship for $5,000 per year. While attending Texas Tech, Logan will major in Biology and plans to become a physician assistant. Logan has been awarded the Clint Collins Memorial Scholarship of $500 and the Bobby McConathy Athletic Memorial scholarship worth $200.
Kody Villarreal, ranked fourth, will attend Texas A&M University in College Station and plans to major in Business or Marketing. Kody has been accepted into the Mays Business School which allows him to reach his Masters degree in under 5 years. Kody has earned the Perry Echols scholarship of $4,000, the Friends of Flint scholarship worth $4,000, the Atascosa County Aggie Scholarship for $1,000, the Opportunity Award work $1,000 and the Aggie Moms Scholarship worth $500.
Third ranked Kylie Mask will attend Texas Tech University where she is majoring in Agriculture Business. Kylie has earned the Texas Tech University Presidential Merit Scholarship worth $20,000 total, the Texas Tech University College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Dean’s Scholarship for $1,000, the Texas High School Rodeo Association, Region 8 Scholarship of $2,250, the Spectrum News Scholar Athlete Scholarship worth $1,000, the Americas Farmers Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship of $1,500 and the Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship worth $8,000.
Salutatorian, Jocelyn Sekula, will attend Texas State University where she will study Veterinary Medicine. Jocelyn plans on opening her own Veterinary Clinic. Jocelyn has earned the Texas State Merit Scholarship of $12,000 each year and the Bobby McConathy Athletic Scholarship worth $200.
Valedictorian, Rylan Wagner will attend Texas A&M University in College Station for the business honors program. Rylan continues to push himself, pursuing a double major in business honors and finance. Acceptance into the Mays Business School allows Ryan to reach his Masters degree in under 5 years. Rylan has been offered $3,000 per year from the Mays Business School, $1,000 from the Texas A&M Club, $20,000 from the San Antonio Rodeo Junior Shootout, $500 from Devine First Baptist Church, $500 from the Atascosa County Livestock Show and $500 from the Aggie Moms Scholarship.
Additionally, each year the highest-ranking graduate of each accredited high school in the state of Texas is awarded a scholarship exempting the graduate from tuition during both semesters of the first regular session immediately following graduation.
The following 2021 graduates have also earned awards, scholarships and distinctions outside our local community, and have been accepted into a college, university or trade school.
Israel Aguinaga, Natalie Alvarado Lopez, will attend San Antonio College.
James Black will attend Baylor University and has been accepted into the Hankamer School of Business and has received the Provos Scholarship of $80,000 and the Atascosa County Fair Association Scholarship of $1,000.
Mark Cantu will attend Texas Tech. Alexandrea Naegelin will also attend Texas Tech and has earned the Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship, Texas Tech Dean's Offer Scholarship, Atascosa Cattlemen's Association Scholarship, Kendall County Farm Bureau Scholarship, Atascosa County Livestock Show Scholarship and the Bobby Mcconathy Memorial Scholarship.
Jazmine Ortega will also attend Texas Tech and has earned the Lytle VFW Scholarship
Juan Colmenero will attend South Texas Vocational Institute.
Jesus Cortez, Natalia Gonzalez, Raven Perez will attend St. Philip’s College.
Marisa Flores will attend the University of Incarnate Word.
Sebastian Flores will attend Cedar Valley College.
Emelia Garcia will attend the University of Texas at Tyler.
Donald Glasen will attend St. Mary’s University and has earned two 4-year scholarships, an $18,000 per year Gateway Scholarship and a $2,000 music scholarship.
Thalia Gonzales, Ruben Gonzalez and Eric Martinez will attend Palo Alto College
Roberson Harold will attend Trinity University and has earned the Presidential Scholarship of $23,000 per year, the Trinity Grant worth $21,160 per year, a Federal Pell Grant of $6,495, a Federal SEOG Grant worth $2,000 and the Texas Tuition Equalization Grant worth $5,130.
Jose Carlos Hernandez will attend Our Lady of the Lake University.
Javier Jimenez, Abby Moreno and Adriana Rios will attend Northwest Vista College
Kyle Mueller will attend either Palo Alto College or Northwest Vista College.
Emili Oliver and Gregorio Alcorta will attend Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi.
Clarissa Ramos will attend Texas State University.
Erika Tamez will attend Kilgore College.
Congratulations to our 2021 Graduating Seniors on all your accomplishments!