Dozens of Abilene seniors were exhorted to continue to build on their academic excellence — as well as to build personal relationships — during the annual Top 50 Plus banquet Thursday night at the Abilene Civic Center.
The banquet, now in its 52nd year, is a project of the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club. It honors the top 5 percent of graduating seniors at Abilene’s four high schools — Abilene High, Cooper, Wylie and Abilene Christian. The event recognizes the top 25 students from AHS and Cooper, and top achievers from Wylie and ACHS.
“This event has a rich tradition and history of honoring the top-performing academic students in Abilene,” said Zach Jackson, the banquet chairman.
Rob Nichols, senior pastor at Church on the Rock, was this year’s featured speaker.
Nichols sought to inspire the 64 students to continue their achievements, but not to forget the personal relationships each will build along the way.
“Achievements come and go, but relationships really draw the best out of people,” he said.
“We’re in a culture that sometimes doesn’t embrace the youth,” he said later. “Sometimes we only hear about the negative things. I think it’s wonderful what the Rotarians are doing in honoring these students.”
It takes more than routine effort to be among the Top 50, as many honorees confirmed Thursday.
“It just takes harder work and dedication and not letting the stuff of high school get to you,” said Jake Brooks, a student at Abilene High School. “You’ve got to keep your focus through sports, activities, whatever. Just keep your eyes on the prize.”
Brooks will head to Texas A&M University after graduation as a biology and pre-med major.
Two Cooper students in the Top 50 will be roommates when they begin attending Texas State University in San Marcos. That’s not surprising, seeing that Julianna and Kayla Holloway are twins. Julianna is ranked seventh in her class, Kayla 24th.
“I was in the top 10,” said Kayla Holloway, who added that she slacked off a bit before recovering. “I dropped a little bit and had to keep myself in the top 25, so I tried even harder.
“You have to stay focused, be willing to put the work in even when you don’t want to — when you don’t want to study, you don’t want to take the extra classes and higher courses, things like that.”
Julianna Holloway didn’t profess to having any special secret that kept her near the top of the class.
“I tend to spend a lot of extra time doing work after my tennis and stuff,” she said. “When you get to the top, things get really tough. People get really competitive, so you have to try harder, and because the other people are trying just as hard, you have to push yourself more.”
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