Lasting Partnership

School district, bank honor CHS graduates at 10th annual breakfast

By Lisa Magers/CISD Community Services

For the past 10 years, the accomplishments of the academic leaders of Cleburne High School’s senior class have been recognized the morning of commencement exercises at the Superintendent’s Scholar Breakfast.

Honored guests are members of the top 10 percent of the graduating class and their parents.

“It’s an exciting opportunity, for me, to meet some outstanding young men and women and their parents,” CISD Superintendent Robert Damron said. “I appreciate OmniAmerican Bank and Stan Gray for sponsoring this.”

Gray, regional banking president of Cleburne’s OmniAmerican Bank, has been instrumental in the sponsorship of the Superintendent’s Scholar Breakfast since the first event took place. It was Gray who established the tradition of presenting each honoree with a silver dollar minted in the year of their graduation from high school.

A note attached to each packaged coin bears the message: “We are very pleased to be sharing this special day with you. Enclosed you will find a token of our pride in your accomplishments. We hope it will serve as a reminder of your Graduation Day and all its happy moments. As the years go by, this gift will grow in value, as will you, as you continue your education in preparation for the challenges of tomorrow’s world. Wherever your path leads from here, we wish you all the best.”

“Originally we established the Superintendent’s Scholar Breakfast to honor the kids, and that’s still very important,” Gray said. “However, it’s become a special time to recognize their parents as well. Parents do make sacrifices for their children’s successes. It’s just really neat to have all the parents there and to see how proud they are of their children.”

“I think it’s become a very special part of the graduation celebration,” Gray said. “And I’m thankful that I get to be a part of it.”

Making up the guest list of student honorees at the 10th anniversary breakfast, held May 25, were valedictorian Nick Passalugo, salutatorian Guy N. James II, Matt Daughtry, Lisa Mertz, Michael McClure, Katie Allen, Amy Passalugo, Heather Franklin, Rahul Chhana, Lindsey Richardson, Shelby Stinebaugh, Melissa Hillyer, Justine Forrest, Ashley Sartin, Rachel Yubeta, Lauren McWilliams, Kara Riley, T.J. Smith, Natalie Renfro, Cameron Lehrmann, Brice Nichols, Dustin Rhodes, Vanessa Rangel, Kaitlyn Slough and Sara Hedges.

“It’s very special to have your child recognized along with their peers,” said Carolyn Slough, mother of Kaitlyn Slough. Carolyn Slough and husband, Rob, were also present at the 2004 breakfast with their daughter, Lindsey, who was a member of the top 10 percent of that graduating class.

“The Superintendent’s Scholar Breakfast gives students recognition from the community, not just the high school or CISD,” Slough said. “I think that lets the kids see that their community cares and has taken note of what they have achieved.”

Highlighting this year’s breakfast were remarks by Lowell “Stretch” Smith Jr. The school district’s Cleburne Middle School was recently renamed after Smith.

A longtime advocate of education, individually and as a banker, Smith encouraged the graduating seniors to consider their personal interests in selecting their fields of study and their careers.

“You know what you like and what you know,” Smith said. “And that should be your profession. Do what you like and you’ll be good at it.”

He also encouraged them to remain focused and to learn to manage their time in their personal lives and careers.

“We’re all born with a certain amount of time given to us,” he said. “Time is valuable; don’t waste it — you only have so much allotted to you. So often the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful is how they manage their time.”

Smith’s words of wisdom included the importance of stress management, personal finance, maintaining a balance in life, communication and the value of a sense of humor.

“Never pass up an opportunity to be quiet,” Smith said. “And a sense of humor is a great thing to have as you go through life. If you don’t have one, work on it. Learn from successful people, learn from others.”

“Remember your fellow man,” he said. “You are your brother’s keeper. In society, those who are less fortunate and who need help must be helped by those who are more fortunate.”

“A successful life doesn’t mean money,” Smith said. “It means you’ve given the best of your God-given talents. When it’s all over and you can say, ‘I did my best,’ you’ve had a successful life. Hard work, plus more hard work, plus study, preparation, followed by more preparation, divided by a balance of work, play, family, church — will equal success.”

“Your life is a compilation of memories,” Smith said. “This is a wonderful time for you.”