>> Editor’s Note:
All scholar athletes were selected by school officials from each home campus for the Scholar Athlete special section of the Odessa American. Each school was asked to nominate one senior boy and one senior girl for the section. Officials from Seminole, Kermit and Midland Lee were contacted for the section, but either did not submit a nomination or did not have a senior to nominate.
Macy Molsbee
Alpine
>> Academic Rank: 3 out of 75
>> Sports: Softball, volleyball
>> Academic bio: National Honor Society President (2018); Class President all four years
>> Athletic bio: Newcomer of the Year (2016); First team all district outfielder (2017); first team all district outfield (2018)
>> Activities: FFA; National Honor Society; History Fair; Crossfit; Student Council
>> College and major: Texas A&M University, Nursing
>> Goals for the future: Receive my RN and major in forensic nursing
Kaleb Crump
Alpine
>> Academic Rank: 9 out of 75
>> Sports: Football, basketball, track
>> Academic bio: National Honor Society
>> Athletic bio: Academic All State in football (2018) and basketball (2019)
>> Activities: FFA; Nationa Honor Society
>> College and major: Undecided, Criminal Justice
>> Goals for the future: Become a Texas State Trooper
Macee Mack
Andrews
>> Academic Rank: 3 out of 258
>> Sports: Basketball, volleyball
>> Academic bio: Academic excellence (four years); Mrs. AHS award; Golden Horseshoe; 33 hours of dual credit; 5.434 GPA
>> Athletic bio: Academic All State in basketball (four years); First team all district (basketball); Honorable mention all area (basketball); Impact Player of the Year (2019); Team captain (two years)
>> Activities: National Honor Society; Spanish National Honor Society; Student Council; Varsity Choir; BlackGold Show Choir; Track Manager; Church Band Member
>> College and major: Texas A&M University, Business
>> Goals for the future: Graduate from Texas A&M University in five years with a Masters in Business
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman
>> Favorite musician: Rascal Flatts
>> Role model: My mother
Jacob Mechler
Andrews
>> Academic Rank: 28 out of 258
>> Sports: Track, football
>> Academic bio: Academic All State first team football (2018); Academic All State track (2018); Golden Horseshoe; Mr. AHS award; Outstanding Student of the Year (Andrews Chamber of Commerce)
>> Athletic bio: 2018 Class 4A state champion in discus; 2017 Class 4A sixth place in discus; School record holder in discus (186 feet, nine inches); Three year starter on varsity (football); All District left tackle; All District defensive MVP; Associated Press All State honorable mention; Padilla Poll All State defense; Mr. Texas Football; Ford Build Tough Player of the Week
>> Activities: National Honor Society; Theatre; Auto Tech
>> College and major: Abilene Christian University, Kinesiology
>> Goals for the future: Winning a national title at ACU and running my own business
>> Favorite subject: Anatomy, physiology
>> Favorite book: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
>> Favorite musician: Don’t Stop Believing by Journey
>> Role model: My father, Michael Mechler
Gabriella Vasquez
Balmorhea
>> Academic Rank: 1 out of 14
>> Sports: Volleyball, basketball, tennis, track
>> Academic bio: UIL One-Act Play honorable mention (2016, 2019); UIL Prose regional qualifier (2017, 2018, 2019); UIL Feature Writing regional qualifier (2018, 2019); UIL News Writing regional qualifier (2019); UIL Feature Writing district champion; Academic all district volleyball (2018); Balmorhea Student of the Year (2018, Pecos Chamber of Commerce)
>> Athletic bio: First team all district volleyball (2018); Mixed Doubles regional qualifier (2017, 2018); Girls Singles regional qualifier (2019); Honorable mention all district basketball (2017, 2018)
>> Activities: UIL (K-12); FFA; Cheerleading; UIL One Act Play; Business Professionals of America (9th-12th)
>> College and major: UTEP, Biology
>> Goals for the future: To become a dentist
>> Favorite subject: English
>> Favorite book: The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
>> Favorite musician: Bad Bunny
>> Role model: My parents
Marcos Mendoza
Balmorhea
>> Academic Rank: Not given
>> Sports: Football, basketball, track
>> Academic bio: FFA (3rd-12th); Radio Team (9th, 10th, 12th); Creed Speaking Team (11th); Spanish Club (9th, 10th); BPA (10th); UIL Science Team (9th-11th); UIL Headline Writing (9th-11th)
>> Athletic bio: Football (2015 All-District, All-Region, All-State Newcomer of the Year, first team all district tight end, first team all region utility player, defensive MVP; 2016 all district full back, defensive MVP, kicker, first team all region full back; 2017 Fighting Heart Bear Award, first team all district full back, kicker, defensive MVP, first team all region kicker, full back, defensive MVP, first team all state full back; 2018 all district offensive MVP, first team all state middle linebacker); Basketball (2016 all district honorable mention; 2017 first team all district; 2018 first team all district); Track (2016 district, area champion, regional qualifier; 2017 district champion, regional qualifier; 2018 regional qualifier); All-around athlete (2018)
>> Activities: UIL; FFA; Spanish Club; Business Professionals of America
>> College and major: Sul Ross State University, Criminal Justin
>> Goals for the future: To be a successful game warden
>> Favorite subject: English
>> Favorite book: Of Mice and Men
>> Favorite musician: George Strait
>> Role model: My grandpa
Britni Thompson
Buena Vista
>> Academic Rank: 1 out of 18
>> Sports: Volleyball, basketball, track, tennis
>> Academic bio: All A Honor Roll (Every year)
>> Athletic bio: Bi-district champions in volleyball, basketball; Regional qualifier in track (100, 400 relay, 800 relay)
>> Activities: Cheerleader; National Honor Society
>> College and major: Texas State University, Ag Business and Management
>> Goals for the future: Graduate college
>> Favorite subject: English
>> Favorite book: Percy Jackson and the Olympics
>> Favorite musician: Bob Marley
>> Role model: Sir Dirward Knowles (great grandpa)
Jovannie Romero
Buena Vista
>> Academic Rank: 3 out of 18
>> Sports: Football, basketball, track, tennis
>> Academic bio: All A Honor Roll
>> Athletic bio: Regional qualifier in tennis; all-star selection in football
>> Activities: National Honor Society
>> College and major: Midland College, Nursing
>> Goals for the future: Graduate college
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
>> Favorite musician: Coldplay
>> Role model: Jonathon Romero, brother
Macie Bunyan
Crane
>> Academic Rank: 4 out of 86
>> Sports: Volleyball, basketball, powerlifting, tennis
>> Academic bio: Dual credit; honors classes
>> Athletic bio: Varsity letters in volleyball, powerlifting, tennis; State team tennis (2018)
>> Activities: Prom committee; class representative; student council; marching band/color guard; National Honor Society
>> College and major: UTPB, Criminology
>> Goals for the future: Graduate from college and go to law school at Texas Tech University
>> Favorite subject: English
>> Favorite book: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
>> Favorite musician: Bob Segar
>> Role model: My grandparents, who adopted us when we were very young
David Erfanian
Crane
>> Academic Rank: 1 out of 86
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Tennis
>> Academic bio: National Honor Society; National Society of High School Scholars; UIL Academic Compeition; Band; Class Vice President; TMSCA (Math Qualifier); Science Club; FFA; Honor Roll; Perfect Attendance Award
>> Athletic bio: Football (District champion; Bi-District Champion, Academic All State); Basketball (1st Team Academic All State); Tennis (State qualifier; district champion)
>> Activities: Reading; The Good Doctor; Working for my parents
>> College and major: UTPB, Pre-medicine
>> Goals for the future: Medical school and become a neurosurgeon; create a cure for paralyzed individuals
>> Favorite subject: Math, Science
>> Favorite book: Freak the Mighty
>> Favorite musician: Bruno Mars
>> Role model: My parents
Zenayda Lara
Fort Davis
>> Academic Rank: 2 out of 17
>> Sports: Basketball, Track and Field, Volleyball, Golf
>> Academic bio: Salutatorian; Vice President of National Honor Society at school; Class representative each year; UIL Literary Criticism competition; UIL Accounting competition
>> Athletic bio: Competed in various sports throughout high school
>> Activities: Spanish Club; Theater Arts; UIL One Act Play; Environmental Systems
>> College and major: UTPB, Accounting
>> Goals for the future: Attend college while working at small accounting firm and then open my own accounting firm
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: The Outsiders by S.E. Hilton
>> Favorite musician: La Fiera de Ojinaga, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Bad Bunny
>> Role model: My mother
John Merrill
Fort Davis
>> Academic Rank: 1 out of 17
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Track and Field, Cross Country
>> Academic bio: Valedictorian; UIL Science competition (regional qualifier all four years)
>> Athletic bio: Played football, basketball and ran track all four years; ran cross country the past two years
>> Activities: National Honor Society; FFA; FCA; Student Council
>> College and major: West Texas A&M, Education/Social Sciences
>> Goals for the future: Earn a master’s degree; become a teacher and coach
>> Favorite subject: History
>> Favorite book: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
>> Favorite musician: Turnpike Troubadours
>> Role model: President Donald J. Trump
Kaitlynn Pacheco
Fort Stockton
>> Academic Rank: 1 out of 156
>> Sports: Tennis
>> Academic bio: Honor awards for Geometry, Algebra II, Physics, World History, U.S. History; 4-year Honor Banquet; Dual Credit (47 hours)
>> Athletic bio: Tennis (4-year letterman; First team all district doubles; 2nd team all district mixed doubles)
>> Activities: Cheerleading; National Honor Society (2018-19 President); Student Council; 2018-19 Miss Fort Stockton
>> College and major: Texas Tech University, Business Marketing
>> Goals for the future: Graduate with degree and enter law school
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: The Giver by Lois Lowry
>> Favorite musician: Kane Brown
>> Role model: My mother
Nickolas Johnson
Fort Stockton
>> Academic Rank: 14 out of 156
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Track
>> Academic bio: Three-year member of student council; Two-year member of National Honor Society
>> Athletic bio: Football (Three-year starting quarterback, 2017 second team all district, 2018 first team all district), Basketball(Four-year varsity starter, 2019 first team all district, academic all district), Track (Three-year regional qualifier)
>> Activities: Team community service cleanup; Football Captain’s Council; Meals on Wheels
>> College and major: UTSA, Information Systems
>> Goals for the future: Graduate with a degree in Information Systems and enter business of technology to help companies sell products.
>> Favorite subject: History
>> Favorite musician: Wiz Khalifa
>> Role model: Casey Neistat
Kaitlan Keel
Greenwood
>> Academic Rank: 1 out of 153
>> Sports: Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
>> Academic bio: Valedictorian; National Honor Society; Academic All State (basketball, softball)
>> Athletic bio: Basketball (1st team All District; 2nd team All District); Softball (1st team All District; 2nd team All District); Cross Country (Regional qualifier)
>> Activities: Interact; Students in Philanthropy
>> College and major: Texas A&M, History
>> Goals for the future: Become and attorney
>> Favorite subject: History
>> Favorite book: Redeeming Love
>> Favorite musician: Third Day
>> Role model: My mother
Jake Somers
Greenwood
>> Academic Rank: 7 out of 153
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Track, Baseball, Golf
>> Academic bio: National Honor Society; Academic All State (football, basketball)
>> Athletic bio: Football (District Offensive MVP; 2nd team All-District quarterback); Track (2-time regional qualifier)
>> Activities: Interact; Students in Philanthropy; Senior Class President
>> College and major: Abilene Christian, Business Management
>> Goals for the future: Entrepreneurship
>> Favorite subject: History
>> Favorite book: History
>> Favorite musician: Juice Wrld
>> Role model: My parents
Colbi Maurer
Iraan
>> Academic Rank: 1 out of 36
>> Sports: Cross country, Track and Field
>> Academic bio: Straights A’s in high school (including AP and dual credit); UIL Academic team (Sense, Mathematic, Calculator Applications, Spelling and Vocabulary, Science); 2019 National Merit Scholar
>> Athletic bio: Cross country (2-time district champion); Track and field (competes in 100- and 300-meter hurdles, pole vault and relays; bronze medal in pole vault at 2019 UIL Class 2A State Track and Field Championships;
>> Activities: Student athletic trainer; National Honor Society President; Student Council President; UIL Academics
>> College and major: Texas Tech University, Petroleum Engineering
>> Goals for the future: Graduate with a Master’s in Petroleum Engineering, join a small oil company
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
>> Favorite musician: Lewis Capaldi
>> Role model: Maya Angelou
Brodey Myers
Iraan
>> Academic Rank: 7 out of 36
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Track, Golf, Cross Country, Tennis, Powerlifting
>> Academic bio: UIL, UIL One Act Play, Outstanding Student Award in World History (2017), Outstanding Student Award in Digital and Interactive Media (2017); Highest Theater Arts GPA (2016); AG (Woodworking grand champion, 2017, 2019)
>> Athletic bio: Varsity letter in seven sports; Football (First team all district quarterback (2017), Utility player of the year (2018), second team all district wide receiver (2016), second team all district defensive back (2017); Basketball (2018 Braves Defensive Player of the Year); Track (Area and regional qualifier); Golf (District champion 2017, 2018, 2019; Iraan Golfer of the Year 2018); Cross Country (Regional qualifier 2016)
>> Activities: UIL (Prose, Persuasive Speaking, Speech); One Act Play; Band; Ag; National Honor Society; Student Council (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior); FCA
>> College and major: Texas Tech University, Architecture
>> Goals for the future: Graduate with a degree in Architecture, join a firm to establish a career in my field of study and then eventually create my own firm.
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: Hondo by Louis L’amour
>> Favorite musician: Cody Jinks
>> Role model: My father, Brant Myers
Joshua Ramos
Midland High
>> Academic Rank: 9 out of 651
>> Sports: Football, Powerlifting
>> Academic bio: 4-year academic letterman; Top 10 in class throughout high school; First team Academic All State
>> Athletic bio: Team captain (2018); Two-year letterman
>> Activities: Coach youth sports; Hang out with friends
>> College and major: University of Texas, Mechanical Engineering
>> Goals for the future: Own my own business
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: The Great Gatsby
>> Favorite musician: Juice Wrld
>> Role model: My mother
Kendra Serrano
Marfa
>> Academic Rank: 2 out of 22
>> Sports: Cross Country; Volleyball; Basketball; Track and Field; Softball
>> Academic bio: Salutatorian; Dual Credit (33 college hours)
>> Athletic bio: Cross Country (3-time state qualifier); Volleyball (All District, Academic All District); Basketball (District MPV, All District); Track (District 3,200 meter champion, District 1,600 meter champion, District 200 meter champion); Softball (District MVP, District Defensive MVP, UIL All State)
>> Activities: Band; Cheerleading; National Honor Society; Student Council
>> College and major: Sul Ross State University, Nursing
>> Goals for the future: To become a nurse anesthetist
>> Favorite subject: Science
>> Favorite book: The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez
>> Favorite musician: Drake
>> Role model: My sister
Ian Martinez
Marfa
>> Academic Rank: 9 out of 21
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Track
>> Academic bio: Honor Roll
>> Athletic bio: Football (2nd team all district); Track (Area qualifier in 200 meter and 400 meters)
>> Activities: Hanging out with friends; Video Games
>> College and major: Sul Ross State University or UTSA, Criminal Justice
>> Goals for the future: To become a state trooper
>> Favorite subject: AP English
>> Favorite book: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
>> Favorite musician: Mac Miller
>> Role model: My parents
Denise Perez-Aquino
McCamey
>> Academic Rank: 6 out of 34
>> Sports: Basketball, Athletic Trainer, Softball Manager
>> Academic bio: National Honor Society president; UIL Accounting competition; UIL Ready Writing
>> Athletic bio: Basketball (Most improved)
>> College and major: Criminal Justice
>> Goals for the future: Will join the Army after graduation as a small arms and artillery repairer
>> Favorite subject: English
>> Favorite book: Twenty-eight and a Half Wishes
>> Favorite musician: Dua Lipa
>> Role model: Sandra Perez-Aquino
Keyson Kennedy
McCamey
>> Academic Rank: 8 out of 34
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Track, Golf
>> Academic bio: National Honor Society; Young Man of the Year 2019; Student Council
>> Athletic bio: Football (2017 First Team All District Center, 2018 First Team All District Center, 2018 First Team All District Inside Linebacker, 2018 Team Lineman of the Year, 2019 Just Lester Award Winner); Golf (Team MVP); Basketball (Member of 2017, 2018 District champions); Golf (Regional qualifier)
>> College and major: Angelo State University, Graphic Design
>> Goals for the future: Graduate
>> Favorite subject: History
>> Favorite book: Hunger Games
>> Favorite musician: Jaden Smith
>> Role model: Will Kennedy
Tieranny Griner
Monahans
>> Academic Rank: 24 out of 139
>> Sports: Basketball, Powerlifting, Softball
>> Academic bio: 4 Academic Awards; 33 Dual Credit Hours; National Honor Society; Homecoming Queen; Miss MHS; UIL; CNA program; Perfect Attendance (junior and senior year)
>> Athletic bio: Basketball (Outstanding Defensive Players); Cheer (Most Outstanding Cheerleader); Softball (Offensive MVP)
>> Activities: Crossroads Church Youth Member; Juniorettes
>> College and major: West Texas A&M, Sports Management and Finance
>> Goals for the future: Graduate college with zero debut and manage a professional baseball team
>> Favorite subject: Personal Finance
>> Favorite book: Just Jessie
>> Favorite musician: Mac Miller
>> Role model: My father, Joel Griner
Kye Noyola
Monahans
>> Academic Rank: 15 out of 139
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Golf
>> Academic bio: Treasurer of Senior Class; National Honor Society; Academic All District; Merit Award Winner; Who’s Who
>> Athletic bio: Football (Team Captain, Outstanding Offensive Back, Connie Bean and Joe Vela Memorial Scholarships
>> Activities: National Honor Society; Police Athletic League
>> College and major: UTPB/Texas Tech, Petroleum Engineering Degree
>> Goals for the future: Graduate with an engineering degree
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: Where the Red Fern Grows
>> Favorite musician: George Strait, Alan Jackson
>> Role model: My father, Joey Noyola
Jennifer Serrano
Pecos
>> Academic Rank: 6 out of 133
>> Sports: Cross Country; Track; Basketball; Tennis
>> Academic bio: Dual Credit (will graduate with AA degree in General Studies); National Honor Society
>> Athletic bio: Cross Country (regional qualifier); Basketball (four-year varsity member); Track (2 years); Tennis (2 years)
>> Activities: FFA; Church Activities; National Honor Society
>> College and major: Educational Science
>> Goals for the future: Teach elementary school
>> Favorite subject: English
>> Favorite book: Ophelia by Lisa Klein
>> Favorite musician: Ed Sheeran
>> Role model: Grandmother, Gay Serrano
Aaron Dominguez
Pecos
>> Academic Rank: 3 out of 133
>> Sports: Cross Country, Basketball, Tennis
>> Academic bio: Dual Credit (will graduate with AA degree in General Studies)
>> Athletic bio: Cross Country (regional qualifier); Tennis (regional qualifier)
>> Activities: Member of NSHSS; Community Service Chairman for National Honor Society; Member of Mu Alpha Theta; UIL General Math team; Volunteering at church
>> College and major: Texas Tech University, Civil Engineer
>> Goals for the future: To become a civil engineer
>> Favorite subject: Mathematics
>> Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
>> Favorite musician: Juice WRLD
>> Role model: Teg Lozano
Avery Wyatt
Rankin
>> Academic Rank: 1 out of 19
>> Sports: Cross Country, Basketball, Track, Golf
>> Academic bio: Will graduated with AA degree in General Studies from Odessa College (dual credit); 4-year state qualifier in Calculator Applications (fourth in 2018, third in 2019); Debate (3-year state qualifier, silver gavel at State Cross-Examination Debate); TMSCA state champion in Calculator Applications; UIL Congress (Super Congress qualifier); UIL One Act Play (honorable mention, all-star cast)
>> Athletic bio: Basketball (Regional tournament qualifier), Golf (regional qualifier), Track (regional qualifier)
>> College and major: Texas A&M University, Biomedical Sciences
>> Goals for the future: To become an orthopedic surgeon
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird
>> Favorite musician: Garth Brooks
>> Role model: My brother, Cody Wyatt
Calen Fouts
Rankin
>> Academic Rank: 2 out of 19
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Track and Field
>> Academic bio: Straight A student; Dual Credit (will graduate with an AA degree in General Studies)
>> Athletic bio: Football (3-time playoff qualifier), Basketball (3-time playoff qualifier), Cross Country (4-time regional qualifier, 2-time state qualifier), Golf (4-time regional qualifier), Track (3-time state qualifier, 2019 Class 1A Pole Vault state champion with a state-record height of 15 feet, 3.5 inches)
>> Activities: National Honor Society ; UIL Academics; UIL One Act Play
>> College and major: UTPB, Computer Science
>> Goals for the future: Continue to pole vault during college while pursuing my degree
>> Favorite subject: Science
>> Favorite book: Chop Wood Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great
>> Favorite musician: Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons)
>> Role model: Sam Kendricks (2016 Olympic bronze medalist, pole vault)
Valerie Felix
Van Horn
>> Academic Rank: 3 out of 29
>> Sports: Cross Country; Volleyball; Basketball
>> Academic bio: National Honor Society
>> Activities: Student Council; Upward Bound; Robotics
>> College and major: Sul Ross State University, Criminal Justice
>> Goals for the future: Game Warden
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: Looking for Alaska
>> Favorite musician: Russ
>> Role model: Stepfather
David Correlez
Van Horn
>> Academic Rank: 7 out of 29
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball
>> Academic bio: National Honor Society; Dual Credit
>> Athletic bio: Baseball (4-year letterman); Basketball (4-year letterman); Football (3-year letterman)
>> Activities: Student Council
>> College and major: Undecided, Kinesiology
>> Goals for the future: Become a teacher/coach
>> Favorite subject: History
>> Favorite book: Friday Night Lights
>> Role model: LeBron James for community service, character
Lili-Anna Ramirez
Wink
>> Academic Rank: 6 out of 19
>> Sports: Volleyball, Powerlifting, Track
>> Athletic bio: Volleyball (2nd team all district); Track (200 meter area qualifier)
>> Activities: Student Council
>> College and major: UTPB, Business
>> Goals for the future: Become a real estate agent
>> Favorite subject: Audio Visual Technology
>> Favorite book: The Fault in Our Stars
>> Favorite musician: Drake
Wade Halterman
Wink
>> Academic Rank: 13 out of 19
>> Sports: Football, Basketball, Track
>> Athletic bio: Football (Built Ford Tough Player of the Week, Padilla Poll All State honorable mention); Basketball (District Offensive MVP, TABC All Region Team); Track (2019 regional qualifier in 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and long jump; 2019 state qualifier in 110 hurdles)
>> Activities: Yearbook staff
>> College and major: Undecided, Kinesiology
>> Goals for the future: To become a teacher and coach
>> Favorite subject: History
>> Favorite book: 19 Minutes by Jodi Picolt
>> Favorite musician: Luke Bryan
>> Role model: Jesus Christ
