We are pleased to announce the 2024
Bright Star Scholarship recipients of Hopkins County:
- Cumby ISD – Kendall Dobson
- Como-Pickton Consolidated ISD – Daniel Corral and Katie Tifft
- Sulphur Bluff ISD – Trista Flowers
- Sulphur Springs ISD – Zoe Crump, Kylie Clarke, Riley Carroll, Tomi Pirtle and Angel Aaliyah-Marie Mills
- Home School Student – Karrington McQuay
We are so honored and blessed to get to help tell these stories for years to come.
Congratulations to all of you, we look forward to your journeys and the BRIGHT future ahead for each of you!
Kendall Dobson, Cumby ISD
Kendall Dobson who is both a high school graduate of Cumby Collegiate ISD as well as a graduate of Paris Junior College with an Associates Degree! THIS SMART and CONFIDENT young woman blew her committee away in her essay and interview and from the start we all CELEBRATED that Kendall is now a part of us and makes US better! Kendall is headed to Parker University as the second Bright Stars Scholar to attend this esteemed medically focused college in Dallas. She will major in Radiological Technologies and her goal after graduation is to enter a career as a Radiologist Technician. She is the daughter of proud parents John Dobson and Sheila McQueen.Kendall’s extra-curricular activities include FFA, One Act Play, as well as being nominated as a member of the National Honors Society, BETA, serving on Student Council, the Superintendent Advisory Committee, and School Health Advisory Committee. She also was involved in Bloom Buddies which was Cumby Collegiate High School’s floral design program. Awards and recognitions Kendall received in high school include Texas State Lonestar Degree in FFA, Texas State Floral Association Level 1 Certificate, and 2023 Veterinary Science CDE.
She was two places away from state in 2023 in Public Relations LDE, 1st at District, (Area Qualifiers). In her floral contest in Canton Rounds she placed 9th of 200 contestants. She placed Individually in the first round at the Mineola Floral Cup and was named Reserve Champion.
In the 2023 Ag Advocacy competition she placed 1st as a team at the A&M Commerce invitational 2024 Veterinary Science CDE. Kendall received the November 2023 Student of the Month award, was named to the One Act Play All-Star Cast in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024! Kendall was deservedly voted Most Talented at her school! We could not be any more EXCITED and HONORED to call this precious LIFE-FILLED young woman a Bright Stars Scholar and Family FOR LIFE
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!!!!Daniel Corral, Como-Pickton Consolidated ISD
We are THRILLED to introduce to you Daniel Corral from Como-Pickton CPCISD where he will graduate in a few short days! Daniel will be heading to Texas A&M University-Commerce this fall where he will become a Lion and living on campus and enjoying the full college life! He will major in education and dreams of become a high school math teacher one day and being a mentor to students who want to achieve their dreams as well!
We are THRILLED to introduce to you Daniel Corral from Como-Pickton CPCISD where he will graduate in a few short days! Daniel will be heading to Texas A&M University-Commerce this fall where he will become a Lion and living on campus and enjoying the full college life! He will major in education and dreams of become a high school math teacher one day and being a mentor to students who want to achieve their dreams as well!Daniel was a very busy young man in high school participating in several extra-curricular activities. Some of those activities include being a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club, One Act Play cast, an Academic UIL participant, and active in FCCLA.
Awards and recognitions Daniel achieved were the accolade of being voted Most Friendly three times in a row, AB Honor Roll, 1st in Geometry, 2nd in Algebra, ranked number 7 in his class, thus being named in the class Top Ten academically, and advancing in UIL One Act Play competitions. We absolutely LOVE this young man and are so HAPPY we get to shower our love over him during his years in college!! However, you are a Bright Stars Scholar for LIFE so we are just getting started, Daniel! Daniel is the son of Aurora Corral and Efrain Corral.
Katie Tifft, Como-Pickton Consolidated ISD
Katie Tifft won our hearts for many reasons and her committee members could not say enough great things about her! We are THRILLED to announce Katie as one of our 2024 Bright Stars Scholars! She is a graduating senior from Como-Pickton CISD and is a very busy young lady! Katie is headed to Tarleton State University this fall where her intended major is Psychology. Katie shared with us that her career field interest after her post college graduation with a medical degree is Addiction Psychiatry.
Katie Tifft won our hearts for many reasons and her committee members could not say enough great things about her! We are THRILLED to announce Katie as one of our 2024 Bright Stars Scholars! She is a graduating senior from Como-Pickton CISD and is a very busy young lady! Katie is headed to Tarleton State University this fall where her intended major is Psychology. Katie shared with us that her career field interest after her post college graduation with a medical degree is Addiction Psychiatry.Her MANY extra-curricular activities include varsity track, varsity cheer, National Honors Society, student council, senior class vice president, Spanish Club secretary, Top 10 of Class, and Hospitality Team at One Church.
Katie has received many awards and accolades in high school and just to name a few are AB Honor Roll, Most School Spirit, 2023 Homecoming Queen, 2nd in Introduction to Health Science Class, and ranked 9th in her class. Katie is someone VERY SPECIAL to us already with her firecracker spirit, BIG heart and smile, and love for life! We ADORE you Katie and so glad you are a part of our Bright Stars Family FOREVER!!!!!!!
Katie is the daughter of Kale and Misty Tifft.
Trista Flowers, Sulphur Bluff ISD
Trista Flowers, our AMAZING 2024 Bright Stars Scholar and who is a recent graduate of Sulphur Bluff School, will be heading off to Texas A&M University-Commerce this fall as a Criminal Justice major. She is very interested in the field of forensics and being an investigator on a police force one day. Trista was very involved in the BETA Club as president and FCCLA as vice-president at Sulphur Bluff High School. She also was voted by the staff as Student of the Month. Congratulations on that recognition, Trista!Trista loves watching shows and movies and especially those involving crime scene investigations, shopping, and spending time just hanging out with family and friends.
We absolutely love Trista, her heart, her drive, her dreams and mostly, just who she is as an amazing young woman entering the world as an adult! She BLEW away her committee with her interview and they KNEW she was a hard-working student who would benefit as much from being a Bright Stars Scholar as we would having her a part of us FOREVER! We are so excited to introduce Trista Flowers as a 2024 Bright Stars Scholar!!!!!!
Zoe Crump, Sulphur Springs ISD
We are so EXCITED that Zoe Crump applied for one of our scholarships and is now a Bright Stars Scholar FOR LIFE!!! Zoe will soon graduate from Sulphur Springs High School and will be heading to Texas A&M College Station where she will begin her college career as an Aggie majoring in Public Health! Zoe’s career goals are to go into the healthcare field after graduation from Texas A&M University in College Station.She was involved in many extra-curricular activities that kept her very busy and active! Zoe was a tremendous athlete and was a member of the Varsity Ladycats soccer team, participated in the Hopkins County Chamber Youth Leadership Program, National Honor Society, Key Club, HOSA, and Student Council. Zoe was named a 2024 2nd Team All District Soccer Player, Rotary Youth Leadership Award in 2023, and a Key Club Officer in 2024.
Zoe, we LOVE your zeal for life and health! What an AMAZING young woman you are already and we are THRILLED to watch you spread your wings even further at TAMU as an Aggie!!!! You make us BETTER already as a foundation!!!!! Zoe is the daughter of Jill and Brian Crump.
Kylie Clarke, Sulphur Springs ISD
We have a second Texas Christian University bound Bright Stars Scholar who is a recent Sulphur Springs High School graduate and we could not be more PROUD of our WONDERFUL Kylie Clarke and all she has accomplished so far in life!!! Kylie’s intended major is Business (Finance & Entrepreneurship) and her career field interest after graduation is to pursue a career in finance. “Eventually, I hope to return to Hopkins County and open my own business,” Kylie shared with us. Kylie is the daughter of Jennifer Clarke and Drake Clarke.Her extra-curricular activities include Varsity Cheer (Captain), Varsity Soccer (4 years), Key Club (Officer), Student Council, and being a member of the Business Professionals of America (BPA) organization at SSHS.
Kylie’s final class rank was #8 out of 278, a 3-time BPA State Qualifier, the Class of 2024 Vice President, and was in the 2024 Hopkins County Leadership class. She was a NCA All-American Cheerleader, named a Varsity Soccer All-District Honors, and was inducted in to both the National Honors Society and National Technology Honors Society.
We are so THRILLED Kylie is one of us with her sweet smile, hard work-ethic and wanting to give back to the community from which she comes! We LOVE you Kylie and can’t WAIT to see all you achieve at TCU as a Horned Frog!
Riley Carroll, Sulphur Springs ISD
Rylie Carroll is an INCREDIBLE and ACCOMPLISHED young woman who has joined the Gillis Foundation as one of our Bright Stars Scholars for 2024! She is excitedly headed to Texas A&M in College Station this fall and will be majoring in Financial Planning with minors in Ag Communications and Agri-Sales. Rylie is a graduate of Sulphur Springs High School and is the daughter of proud parents Dan and Tammy Teel Jones.Rylie’s long term career goal is to help others prosper and to protect their families through strategic financial decisions as a certified financial planner.
Rylie has excelled in Texas 4-H and FFA activities which have centered around her public speaking, leadership, and agriculture advocacy skills. She has been involved in 4-H for ten years and served on the State Officer Council and as a Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador State Board member. She also served as a FFA chapter officer and was a member of National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Key Club, FCCLA, Stuco, and was selected to participate as a member of the 2024 Hopkins County Leadership class. Rylie has many impressive awards she has received over the last couple of years! She has excelled in public speaking and has won numerous state awards in 4-H and FFA. She has placed in the top five in Ag Public Speaking at the State Fair of Texas, Houston Livestock Show, East Texas State Fair and San Antonio Livestock Show. Rylie won National Champion in Consumer Buying Skills and Interview at the Western National 4-H Roundup. She was selected to attend National “Ignite by 4-H” summit and Texas 4-H Leadership conference, both in Washington, D.C. We cannot say enough how GRATEFUL we are Rylie chose to apply for a Bright Stars Scholarship and become FAMILY to us for LIFE! What a BRIGHT, ACCOMPLISHED and AMAZING human being she is and we are SO PROUD to call her OURS! We LOVE you and your spirit Rylie!!!! Gig ’em girl!!!!!!!
Tomi Pirtle, Sulphur Springs ISD
Tomi Pirtle is a recent graduate of Sulphur Springs High School and is headed to Texas Tech in the fall where she will major in Communications and Marketing. Tomi’s very interested in pursuing a career in the field of pharmaceutical sales. She is the daughter of Tanna and Clay Pirtle.Tomi was very involved in many activities and organizations while in school. Some of those organizations include Student Council, Key Club, HOSA, 2024 Hopkins County Leadership class, as well as be a Competitive Dancer at Sulphur Springs Centre of Dance. A few awards and recognitions Tomi has received are being inducted into the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society ranking in the Top 10% of her graduating class at SSHS.
Tomi is one of the most hard-working students we know and we are so ESTATIC that she is one of our Scholars and a part of the Gillis Foundation for LIFE! We ADORE you, SWEET Tomi! Guns Up!
Angel Aaliyah-Marie Mills, Sulphur Springs ISD
Angel Aaliyah-Marie Mills is our next AMAZING 2024 Bright Stars Scholar we are SO EXCITED to introduce to you! She graduated from Sulphur Springs High School and is headed in the fall to Oklahoma State University where she will major in International Business. Upon graduation, Angel is interested in working in a corporate setting in a department involving Business Learning and Development. Angel is the daughter of Steven Shanks.Her extra-curricular activities included such organizations as being a member of the Key Club and she finished her high school career academically in the top 15% of her class.
Angel shared with us, “I love to meet new people and to be involved in our community. I have an interest for other languages, cultures, and making learning accessible for everyone.” We LOVE this about this goal-oriented young woman with a plan for her life and dreams for her future!
Angel has a curiosity about the world and the people in it and we are SO HAPPY to be a part of her INCREDIBLE life journey and can’t wait to cheer her on and support her every step of the way! GO CHANGE THE WORLD, ANGEL!!!!! We BELIEVE in YOU!!!!!!
Karrington McQuay, Home School Student
We are so very happy and excited to introduce to you 2024 Bright Stars Scholar KARRIGAN MCQUAY! As a home schooled student she participated in many activities along with her studies. Karrigan’s extra-curricular activities include training rope horses, processing & doctoring cattle, and “expanding my cattle herd”! Awards/Recognitions she has achieved are Houston Livestock Junior Break-away Qualifier and Texas State Fair Breakaway Champion.She will major in Agribusiness at Texas A&M University-Commerce where she will start this fall and her career field interest after graduation is to become an Agriculture Loan Officer with a bank.
We are absolutely enamored with this amazing young woman and we are THRILLED to introduce her as one of our own now!!!! We love you already Karrigan!!!!!!
She is the daughter of Pine and Samantha McQuay.