Community

May Board Briefs: Recognitions

During the May meeting of the Midway ISD Board of Trustees, students and staff were honored for their exceptional achievements and meaningful contributions that have positively impacted the district and its community.

Recognitions included:

FCCLA

Sponsor: Alice Emmert

The Midway High School FCCLA students being recognized tonight competed through Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a national student organization focused on leadership development, career preparation, and service learning. Students advanced through regional and state-level competition in events designed to strengthen communication, career readiness, and leadership skills.

Recognized Students:

  • Melanie Jimenez
  • Madelyn Sousa
  • Vivian Baker
  • Kole Shirey
  • Victoria Pratt
  • Adiel Tarango

Culinary Arts State Competition

Sponsor: Tonya Lee

These students competed at the state level in Culinary Arts competition, showcasing advanced culinary preparation, teamwork, presentation, and industry-level kitchen skills through timed competitive events.

Recognized Students:

  • Ulissa Rojas
  • Javier Solis
  • Peyton Schneider

BPA

Sponsors: Kyle Rogers, Jamie Beavers, Jennifer Kolb, Justin Davis, Leann Schneider

Midway High School BPA students are being recognized for outstanding achievement through Business Professionals of America, a national organization that prepares students for careers in business, finance, technology, health administration, and leadership. Students competed in rigorous academic and professional events at the state level.

Recognized Students:

  • Miela DeLue
  • Marcus Morgan
  • Juliana Riojas
  • Alex Shuetz
  • Anna Ho
  • Sarah Whitaker Delgado
  • Lilianna Leverington
  • Sam Trakselis
  • Chloe Delue

HOSA

Sponsors: Sharlet Bond, Tara Stepanski, Azul Purcell, Liberty Adair

Midway High School HOSA students are being recognized for their success in Health Occupations Students of America competition. HOSA prepares future healthcare professionals through competitive events focused on medical knowledge, leadership, teamwork, and career readiness in health science fields.

Recognized Students:

  • Zoe Betancis
  • Brandi Dixon
  • Sidra Fathima
  • Nandini Kadakia
  • Pari Sharma
  • Laiba Ullah
  • Jessica Phan
  • Liam Rama

FFA State Competition Teams

Midway FFA students competed at the Texas FFA State Career Development Events, where students demonstrate technical knowledge and real-world agricultural skills through hands-on and written competitions. Midway students earned multiple top-three finishes across the state.


Range – 1st Place Team

  • Hank Barkley
  • Ethan Blanc
  • Davis Rutherford
  • Greyson Haynes

Homesite – 1st Place Team

  • Kaylie Wardell
  • Maddy Ortiz
  • Grayson Bracken
  • Noah Griffin

Entomology – 1st Place Team

  • Aparna Ancha
  • Lina Riojas
  • Sal Pizzino
  • Pierce McLendon

Wildlife – 2nd Place Team

  • Greyson Haynes
  • Ethan Blanc
  • Bo Biggs
  • Paisley Inglis

Poultry – 2nd Place Team

  • Grant Gebhard
  • Paxton Jones
  • Tatum Wheeler
  • Tenleigh Kindred

Nursery Landscape – 2nd Place Team

  • Jeremiah Ocampos
  • Quan Nguyen
  • Vala Jenkins
  • Evelyn Whitley

Milk Quality – 3rd Place Team

  • Jonas Blanc
  • Henry Haynes
  • Nadia Pizzino
  • Beau Sipple

Floriculture – 3rd Place Team

  • Anyssa Pena
  • Mariah Wallace
  • Lili Biddy
  • Emmanuel Maxey

Dairy Cattle – 3rd Place Team

  • Madison Stanford
  • Mileena Ocasio
  • Prestley Ashley
  • Austin Lewallen

Veterinary Science – 3rd Place Team

  • Eden Smith
  • Chloe LaPoint
  • Collin Hess
  • Cason Ingram

Forage – 2nd Place Team

  • Greyson Haynes
  • Pierce McLendon
  • Sal Pizzino
  • Noah Griffin 

Cotton – 1st Place Team

  • Anyssa Pena
  • Madison Grygar
  • Lillian Arrendondo
  • Abigail Whitten 

High School VASE Art

Sponsors: Kim Abercrombie & John Storm

These Midway High School students are being recognized for success in the Visual Arts Scholastic Event, commonly known as VASE. VASE is the official UIL art competition for Texas high school students and celebrates original student artwork evaluated through a rigorous adjudication process focused on creativity, technical skill, and artistic understanding.

Recognized Students:

  • Maia Diaz
  • Adam Eubank
  • Eleanor Goodman
  • Alyssah Griffin
  • Walter Holsapple
  • Lyla Murry
  • Damita “DeeDee” Narongkachavana
  • Emily Nguyen
  • Jeremiah Ocampos
  • Elise Snider

Middle School Junior VASE Art

Sponsors: Cambelle Starnes & Adriana Crespo

These middle school students are being recognized for achievement in Junior VASE, a statewide visual arts event designed to encourage artistic growth and creative expression among middle school students.

Midway Middle School: 

  • Katie Osborne

River Valley Middle School

  • Jaelyn Licea
  • Adeleigh Pierce

Yearbook

Sponsor: Jamie Beavers

These students are being recognized for excellence in scholastic journalism and yearbook production. Through photography, design, writing, and publication management, yearbook students help document the student experience and preserve Midway history.

Recognized Students:
  • Quintin Carter
  • Cade Tullis

National Merit Finalists

Sponsor: Cindy Cates

These students have earned recognition as National Merit Finalists, one of the nation’s most prestigious academic honors. Finalists are selected based on exceptional PSAT performance, academic achievement, leadership, and school involvement.

Recognized Students:

  • Zoe Betancis
  • Kennedy Williams
  • Lily Lu

UIL State Golf

Senior Paityn Carter represented Midway High School at the UIL Class 6A State Golf Tournament, earning a Top 10 finish in one of the most competitive classifications in Texas. After narrowly missing a state berth last season, Paityn returned this year with determination and resilience, advancing to the state tournament and finishing 10th overall among the state’s top golfers. Her accomplishment reflects years of dedication, consistency, and excellence both on and off the course. Congratulations to Paityn Carter on an outstanding senior season and state tournament finish.

UIL State Track & Field

Midway High School student-athletes Keaton Washington and Maddie Valoria represented Midway ISD at the UIL State Track & Field Championships, competing against some of the top athletes in Texas Class 6A competition.

Keaton Washington — 400 Meter Dash

Madalann Viloria — High Jump

Competing at the UIL State Track & Field Meet represents the highest level of achievement in Texas high school athletics and reflects the dedication, discipline, and hard work these student-athletes demonstrated throughout the season.

Posted 
May 19, 2026
 in 
Community
 category