NHS teacher Jared McNeely

Twenty Nacogdoches High School students were recognized Tuesday night during the inaugural Nacogdoches ISD Education Foundation Scholars Banquet held at the Malcolm Rector Center for Advanced Careers & Innovation.

The students represent the top 20 graduates in the Class of 2023.

During the banquet, the students were introduced. Then, the students honored their most influential teacher from their education career at NISD.

The banquet and ceremony was catered by NHS culinary art students.

“This was an opportunity for the Foundation to acknowledge some of the best and the brightest at Nacogdoches High School,” said Foundation Executive Director Erin Windham. “All of us have teachers who contributed to our education and our success. This is a chance for students to honor them as well.” 

Students recognized (alphabetically) on Tuesday and their most influential teacher:

Nicolas Bacarisse and Andy Watts; Mikayala ‘Mia’ Bentley and Jared McNeely; Matthew Dossett and Jared McNeely; Aidan Finnerud and Penny Long; Lindsey Grier and Jared McNeely; Cassandra Gurrola and Lynette Stephenson; Daniel Hook and Jared McNeely; and Whitley Howell and Lisa Fuller.

Also, Holden Kelly and Jared McNeely; Alyssa Kwiatkowski and Kristin Thomas; Jessica Moreno and Darius Tubbs; Vivyan Nieberding and Kristin Thomas; Jordan Rankin and Becky Martin; and Noah Satir and Nathan Ponder.

Also, John ‘Garrett’ Schmid and Coach Carrie Scroggins; Harrison Russell Smith and Coach Jamien Phillips; David Taravella and Rebecca Jaramillo; James Teekell and Sonja Schulz; Veronika “Nika” Willardson and Coach Chris Moody; and Kevin Zhu and Kristin Thomas.