We are pleased to announce the 2023
Bright Star Scholarship recipients of Hopkins County:
Nick Cantillo, A Sulphur Springs High School early graduate in December 2022, attended Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma for the spring semester and will be transferring to Texas A & M University in Commerce starting in the fall. Nick is our first early graduate and we cannot WAIT to see what this incredibly FOCUSED and GOAL-ORIENTED young man will accomplish in his life!!! We ADORE you already, Nick! Nick will be majoring in Business and ultimately get his Masters of Business Administration (MBA). He is the son of Noxon and Altagracia Cantillo.
Christian is headed to Northeast Texas Community College this fall where he has been accepted into the Honors College and be majoring in Psychology. Christian has both a huge heart and intellect and we can’t wait to see how he changes the world!!!!❤️ He is the son of Rebecca Gilbreath and Daniel Gilbreath.
Lauren Lewellen is a Como-Pickton Consolidated High School graduate. Lauren will be attending Tyler Junior College in the fall as a Nursing major and ultimately wants to be an ultrasound technician! Lauren was a member of the State UIL Finalist softball team at CPCHS and we are SO PROUD of her!! She is the daughter of Jeannie Pol and John Lewellen.
Luke will be attending The University of Texas at Tyler initially pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, but ultimately becoming a Nurse Practitioner in the area of pediatric oncology. We are so thrilled Luke is joining our foundation family!!!!! He is the son of Shavon and Casey Ritter.
Brooklynn Shackleford is a recent graduate and is now headed to Texas Christian University where she will be a Finance major! Brooklynn has BIG dreams and we are THRILLED to be on her journey with her! We LOVE you Brooklynn! She is the daughter of Heather and Spenser Daniel and Justin Shackleford.
Keziah will be graduating from Sulphur Springs High School as a 2023 graduate and will be headed to Tyler Junior College in the fall where she will be starting on her journey to becoming a certified teacher! We are so proud to have another educator in our family at the Gillis Foundation and so proud of YOU!!! Keziah is the daughter of Vincent and Felicia Sims.
Kavan graduated as valedictorian of his class and is headed to Texas A & M in College Station in the Fall where he will major in Computer Science. Kavan is ENERGETIC and SMART and is ready to take on the world! We KNOW whatever Kavan chooses to do he will do it with his whole HEART! He is the son of Marcella and James Hayden.
Rebekah is the daughter of Rob and Brandee Stanley and will be headed to Howard Payne University where she will major in kinesiology. We are blessed to call her one of ours forever and know she will do great things!
Valerie will be attending Texas A&M Commerce this fall and has been selected to be in their Honors College! We are so impressed! Valerie will major in upper elementary math and science education degree and KNOW she will be an amazing teacher! She is the daughter of Richard Timko and Linda Stoddard.
Our Bright Stars Scholar Mariana Ugalde is not only a Cumby High School graduate BUT is ALSO a Paris Junior College graduate who received her degree from PJC with an Associates Degree two weeks before her high school graduation ceremony‼️To say we are PROUD and AWESTRUCK by this amazing young woman is an understatement! Mariana is headed to Tyler Junior College in the fall where she will major in the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer program. Mariana is the daughter of also proud parents Dinora and Omar Ugalde.
Ms. Jasmin Wade, 2023 graduate of Sulphur Bluff High School, is an AMAZING young woman who will be headed to the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri to major in Social Work and Child Studies ❤️! We loved you at hello!!! She is the daughter of Jerry Wade and Leticia Wade.
Addisyn Wall is a Sulphur Springs High School graduate! She will be headed to Tyler to attend Tyler Junior College this summer (no break for this girl!) and will be majoring in Dental Hygiene! She ALREADY makes the world brighter💖!!!! We love Addisyn’s enthusiasm which makes her perfect for our Bright Stars family 🥰! She is the daughter of Jessica and Jamie Hogan and Geoff Wall.