Every year, each high school names the top 10 students graduating with the highest grade point average. As a district, we honor and celebrate them for their hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Congratulations to the class of 2023!
Valedictorian: Taylor Gomez
University/College: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Computational Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
My elementary school teacher, Mrs. Saldaña was one of the most impactful teachers in my life, since she was my first teacher after moving from Colombia here. She believed in me, supported me, taught me, corrected me, cared about me, and was over all wonderful. Because of her and God, of course, I persevered and have strived to be my very best ever since.
What advice would you give to the class of 2024?
I would tell the class of 2024 to enjoy the present, learn from the past, look forward to the future and to do their best. It's hard to stay motivated, but it's easier to stay on track if you don't have missing assignments.
Salutatorian: Allison Andrade
University/College: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: International Relations and Global Studies
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mr. Torres, my advisory teacher and UIL sponsor, has impacted me the most. He has always been willing to help me with homework, guide me through the college application process, and help build my leadership skills.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
To the class of 2024 I would say to take advantage of any opportunity you have—whether that is scholarships or a chance to spend time with friends. You miss 100% of the chances you don't take.
3. Alejandra Guerrero
University/College: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Public Health and Biology
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Dr. Carnahan is the most inspiring, passionate, and caring Professor I have had while at Infinity, and I am extremely grateful for her introduction to the Biological Sciences. Without her AP Biology class, I would have never been able to solidify my passion for biology and research.
What advice would you give to the class of 2024?
APPLY, APPLY, APPLY! You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, so recycle your essays and apply to everything you can! The scholarships you apply for can be the difference between having the next four years of your life paid for, or having to pay out of pocket. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket, have at least two schools and apply for all of their University Scholarships. Apply for full rides, and be vulnerable. Share your story, and let admission officers, coordinators, etc. know WHY they should INVEST in you. Try to gain experience by volunteering or applying for summer internships to solidify your passions! You got this! Hook 'em!
4. Leslie Navarro
University/College: Texas A&M University
Major: Meteorology
Which teacher impacted you the most?
The teacher that impacted me the most was my cross country coach and my physical education teacher, Dr. Burgess. She allowed me to develop an interest in running, helped me become a better runner and a better person. She has supported me and guided me throughout these four years, but most importantly, she believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, not only academically but also running-wise.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
The advice I would give to the class of 2024 is to not procrastinate but also enjoy the last year of high school, because it goes very quickly and before you know it, you'll be crossing the stage at graduation.
5. Gracyn Bradford
University/College: Sam Houston State University
Major: Nursing
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mr. Davis - he was always there for us, no matter how big or small the issue was.
What advice would you give to younger classes?
Do not give up. Find strengths in hard times and grow from your experiences.
6. Andy Nguyen
University/College: Texas A&M University
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mr.Groen, for being my advisory teacher for my four years at infinity, supporting me along the way, and watching me progress through high school.
What advice would you give to the class of 2024?
Enjoy your time at Infinity. Things get difficult and you may feel like quitting, but think of how far you’ve gotten and the memories you’ve made along the way. Soon you’ll graduate and start to miss the years that have gone by. Make the most of your time before it’s too late.
7. Joletsi Ortiz
University/College: University of Houston
Major: Health
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Every teacher at Infinity has had an impact on my success and was really encouraging. My Advisory teacher, Mrs. Orozco, was one of several people who went above and beyond to help me grow. She always greeted me with a friendly smile and provided a listening ear, useful counsel, and words of encouragement when I needed them.
What advice would you give to the class of 2024?
My most important piece of advice to the class of 2024 is to enjoy their senior year since it goes by quickly. I would also advise them to reach out if they need help, as senior year can be quite stressful due to college applications, scholarship applications, and graduation.
8. Katherine Munoz
University/College: University of Houston
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
The teacher that impacted me the most was Dr. Jimenez. He was my advisory teacher for my four years at Infinity and he pushed me to always be the best version of myself. He was always very supportive and believed in me every step of the way.
What advice would you give to the class of 2024?
I would tell the next graduating class that it is okay to not know what you want to do after high school. Life is always going to happen and only you know the correct path. Do what is best for you and do not let anyone influence YOUR choices. Put yourself first and prioritize your wellbeing over everything. Have the discipline to work for what you want and do not procrastinate. Make choices your future self will be proud of.
9. Anlly Moreno
University/College: Sam Houston State University
Major: Biology
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mrs. Kelley impacted me the most because she listened to my problems and gave me advice that helped me get through those tough situations.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Take your freshman year seriously. This means doing your work, turning it in on time, and asking questions when you don’t know the answer.
10. Justin Lashley
University/College: Texas A&M University
Major: Chemical Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mrs. Dupre and Mr. Torres had the biggest impact on me throughout my four years working with me and supporting my journey throughout debate.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Study hard, but also find a balance to having fun in your free time or you will have some bad burnouts.
Valedictorian: Emma LeBlanc
University/College: The University of Texas at Dallas
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Both Mrs. Syverson and Mr. Russell have impacted me greatly during my time in high school. They have both supported me so much and helped me grow both in the classroom and as a person.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Work hard, and never stop trying to improve yourself. Your hard work will pay off, even if it doesn’t feel like it at times.
Salutatorian: Carter Holton
University/College: Mississippi State University
Major: Electrical Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
It’s tough to pick just one! I would say Ms. Souchek has impacted me the most. Ms. Souchek runs the school’s History Fair program, a program which I have been a part of for three years. Through this program, she’s taught me to be much more independent and confident. In addition, she helped teach me important skills, such as how to do effective research, how to conduct an interview, and how to be responsible with my time. I know for a fact that these skills will help me be more successful in college.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
I would absolutely tell them to put in the hard work sooner rather than later. Part of what made my senior year so enjoyable was that I did a lot of my ACT testing, college research, and many of my most challenging classes at the end of junior year leading into the summer. This really helped take stress off me this year, and I would encourage rising seniors to be responsible with the time they have left in high school!
3. Joanna Alvarez
University/College: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Chemical Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mrs. Souchek has impacted me the most. As a reserved person, she helped me get out of my shell and has been with me throughout my four years at NCHS. I’ve enjoyed being her student from freshman year in AP human geography to senior year in history fair. She has truly helped me become the person I am and helped prepare me for college. Thanks to her getting me into history fair, I have the fondest memories in high school that I will carry with me throughout my life.
What advice would you give to the class of 2024?
Make sure to join extracurriculars! They truly made my high school experience.
4. Elizabeth Lin
University/College: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Public Health and Biology
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mrs.Souchek, Mr.Souchek, and Mrs.Welch
They have impacted me by providing me with moral support.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Start your college essay during the summer. Don't procrastinate on homework, senioritis is real.
5. Ismael Hernandez
6. Lily Thompson
7. Annaliese McCabe
University/College: Sam Houston State University
Major: Biomedical Science
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mr. Souchek! His classes were amazing and interesting. I loved learning in his class.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Staying on top of all your work is important. Try to do a little every day.
8. Edgar Rubio Hernandez
University/College: Undecided
Major: Physics
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mr. Souchek, my DC English and AP Seminar professor, impacted me the most by just simply being himself. He’s such a cool dude and I pretty much strive to become as cool as him one day. He’s not scared to be himself or voice his opinions, regardless of judgement, which is something I wholeheartedly respect and like about him. It influenced me to be myself, as there’s little joy and happiness in pretending to be something you aren’t.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Just be yourself. It’s okay to be a little silly.
9. Josiah Zhang
University/College: Rhodes College
Major: Neuroscience
Which teacher impacted you the most?
The teacher that impacted me the most was Coach Fontnette because he modeled for me what kindness was and helped me develop my confidence as a person.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Take Mr. Souchek´s classes.
10. Nayla Guzman
University/College: University of Notre Dame
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
The teacher that has truly impacted my life is my engineering teacher, Mr.Frakenberger. Going into college, I wasn't sure what I wanted to major in, but Mr. Frakenberger introduced me to the different engineering programs and helped me decide what I wanted to major in.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Do not procrastinate in class. You will regret it.
Valedictorian: Brandon Kusaj
University/College: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Biology
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Ms. Angela Torres, I was put in band by accident in the 6th grade instead of choir and, as my teacher, she was able to help me find my talent from this mistake. She has taught me for the past 7 years and has witnessed me play my first notes, to being ranked first in the state.
What advice would you give to the class of 2024?
Senior year is longer than people say it is, but there is no time for drama or being upset, so you should try and enjoy even the worst moments.
Salutatorian: Alissa Gonzalez
University/College: Texas A&M University
Major: Biology
Which teacher impacted you the most?
The teacher that impacted me the most was Mrs. Johnson. She inspired me to do the best that I can and taught me how to be a leader.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Enjoy senior year because it goes by faster than you think.
3. Rose Kasprzyk
University/College: University of Houston
Major: Biology
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Mr. Willke impacted me the most. Even though it was a long time ago, he helped me get through some hard things in my life when I didn't have anyone to talk to.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
My advice would be that senior year is going to be hard but there is a lot going on during senior year and you will be able to make a lot of memories if you get involved. I would recommend that you try to make the most of your last year in high school and that you should do as much as you can.
4. Ashley Chapnick
University/College: University of Alabama
Major: Nursing
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Ms. Ogata has been both my teacher and mentor for the past two years. She's the first person that taught me that it is okay to fail, even though I didn't take it well at first. She's also pushed me past my limits and taught me that you can always accomplish your goals if you work hard and with purpose.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
The best advice I could give is to recognize the value in an education. The process of learning and becoming knowledgeable requires hard work, sacrifice, and time. It can be hard to see the end goal sometimes, but becoming truly educated opens so many doors to big opportunities. Essentially, knowledge is power, and you are capable of doing anything when you have the knowledge to do it.
5. Sara Dussán Romero
University/College: Bringham Young University
Major: Business Administration
Which teacher impacted you the most?
My elementary school teacher, Mrs. Saldaña was one of the most impactful teachers in my life, since she was my first teacher after moving from Colombia here. She believed in me, supported me, taught me, corrected me, cared about me, and was over all wonderful. Because of her and God, of course, I persevered and have strived to be my very best ever since.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
I would tell the class of 2024 to enjoy the present, learn from the past, look forward to the future and to do their best. It's hard to stay motivated, but it's easier to stay on track if you don't have missing assignments.
6. Victoria To
University/College: Texas A&M University
Major: Biomedical Science
Which teacher impacted you the most?
The teacher that has impacted me the most would be Mr. Van. Although I have only known Mr. Van for two years, he has been a great teacher, role model, and mentor. He has supported me with my schoolwork and helps to problem solve any issues that I may have with the matter. Mr. Van was always willing to lend a helping hand when it came to making posters and decorating for cheer and student council. Additionally, he has taught me that being kind and caring to others will go a long way. I am glad that I was able to get to know Mr. Van and any student would be lucky to have a teacher like him.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
I would like to tell the class of 2024, although it may sound cheesy, to make the most out of what is offered to you. Go to all the activities senior year has to offer and spend as much time as you can with your friends and family because most of your norms will change after graduation. Also, even though it might be difficult, not procrastinating your schoolwork will help to make the year a little less stressful in the long run and allow you to enjoy the time you have left in high school.
7. Eli Dupuis
University/College: Texas A&M University
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
I would say Mr.Dowdy for giving me awsome experiences and Mr.Van for helping me really flourish in math.
What advice would you give to the class of 2024?
Stick it out and try not to procrastinate
8. Christopher Saenz
University/College: Texas A&M University
Major: Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
The teacher that impacted me the most is Mr. Dowdy because he taught me how to solve problems.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Don’t give up, your hard work will pay off in the end.
9. Michael Douglass
University/College: Texas A&M University
Major: Nuclear Engineering
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Both the Dowdys. They taught me engineering brainstorming skills along with how to use different software, tools, and equipment for many different problems. I feel much more prepared for future engineering problems in my career and college pathway.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Be carefree and live in the present; the only thing that is real is right now.
10. Zane Adams
University/College: University of Alabama
Major: Business
Which teacher impacted you the most?
Coach Ralph - he believed in me, and taught me many lessons along the way.
What advice would you give the class of 2024?
Don't procrastinate, eat breakfast and drink plenty of water.
