“I present to you…the class of 1998.”
No sweeter words will be heard by this year’s graduating seniors than these, the traditional close of commencement exercises.
These are words that proclaim achievement, that close the door on high school and open the door to the future. We worked with counselors, teachers and administrators from neighborhood schools to share the stories of 10 Lake Highlands High School graduating seniors who have demonstrated an unparalleled drive to succeed.
From the young man who is the first in his family to graduate, to the outstanding scholars, big-hearted volunteers and exceptional athletes, you’ll find much to admire in these neighborhood students who proudly represent the class of 1998.
As Principal Bob Iden pointed out: “We have so many outstanding students, it is quite a challenge to pick out 10 for recognition.”
JENNY BALAZE
MODEL OF SERVICE
As president of the Girls Service League, Jenny Balaze keeps everything on track.
“That’s a lot of work,” she says. “There are six sponsors, 24 officers and 300 members. There’s a lot of synchronizing to be done.”
The hard work is worth it, though. Balaze enjoys helping others through the club’s work, which includes regular clean-up days at White Rock Lake.
Other extra-curricular activities include drill team, where she “learned a lot, especially my first year.” The stand-out activity from her senior year is the opportunity to participate in the school’s management internship program, where she works with a company in the afternoons while earning school credit.
Her interest in advanced cost management led her to intern Downtown at Andersen Consulting. Opportunities to work with marketing, client presentations and a business plan as a special project have made the internship a fruitful one.
Balaze, the daughter of Betsy and Jim Balaze, has grown up in Lake Highlands. The prospect of going away to college – Texas A&M is a front-runner – is both exciting and scary.
“It’s kind of weird,” she says. “I’ve never moved, never been uprooted. But at the same time, I’m ready to go.”
RAFAEL PERALTA
A TRUE WILDCAT
Rafael Peralta came to the United States from Colombia in 1990. Having lived in Lake Highlands ever since, he calls it home: “I’m a Wildcat, a true Wildcat,” he says.
This son of Carlos Peralta and Martha Villalobos Gamez found school “tough” until about 8th grade, when he began to overcome the language barrier. Many teachers encouraged him in his studies, with solid results.
He will graduate from Lake Highlands with an advanced honors degree. Peralta is captain of the swim team and has twice advanced to regional competition. A swimmer since age 6, he hopes to continue swimming competitively at college. His other love is drawing. Often, when visitors see his artwork on the wall, they ask where he bought them. He also was encouraged when he took a picture in for framing and the store clerk waiting on him offered to buy it.
At school, Peralta put his artistic talents to work in AP art class and in T-shirt designs for SADD, Hispanic Pride and the International Club.
“I plan to do this when I grow up,” he says. “I’m thinking of going in computer animation to combine the future and what I do.”
DREW HARDEN
ATHLETIC GLORY
Being voted “most athletic” by the senior class, and scoring four touchdowns against Berkner High School are some of Drew Harden’s senior year highlights.
The achievement that stands above others, however, is earning a four-year football scholarship from the University of Missouri.
“I’m real happy,” Harden says. “The Lord has blessed me with the talent I have and saw me through my last year of high school.”
Harden is the son of Sharon Harden. Off the field, he is a member of Young Life and volunteers as a Peer Helper. As a Peer Helper, he works with youngsters “if they have a problem or just need a friend to talk to.”
“I’m a person who listens,” Harden says. “If someone has a problem, I’m there to listen – not to give advice, but just to listen to them.”
Harden is ready for graduation: “It’s time to grow up, look forward to college.” He plans to pursue history or physical education studies, with an eye toward becoming a high school or college coach.
“I hope to make the NFL someday,” he says.
JOY HIGGINS
SONG IN HER HEART
Earning membership into Espree, Lake Highlands’ elite singing group, is “one of the best things I’ve done in high school,” says Joy Higgins.
“I love singing,” she says. And she takes every opportunity to do so, from church performances to a school variety show duet with a friend singing “How Do I Live.” Only one student is chosen to perform a solo at Baccalaureate each year, and this year Higgins is that student. She will perform Christian singer Michael W. Smith’s “Place in This World.”
Higgins also is a varsity cheerleader. The squad recently came back from a cheerleading camp in California where it placed fifth out of 40 schools.
“Our main goal was to try to reach the finals,” she says. “We worked hard, and getting the fifth place was really neat.”
Higgins, the daughter of Jay and Julie Higgins, plans to pursue a degree in elementary education.
“I love being around kids,” she says. “I think it would be fun to teach them, and I have lots of patience.”
JONATHAN KIM
VIOLIN VIRTUOSO
Jonathan Kim began taking violin lessons as a youngster because his mom wanted him to be involved with something outside of school. He continues to play today simply because he enjoys it.
“Just performing and being able to do something others can’t,” Kim says. “I’m interested in all the things you can do – the different types of music you can play on an instrument known as a classical instrument.”
In addition to being a member of the orchestra (where he is concert master this year), he is a member of National Honor Society, Latin Club and Science Club. Kim also volunteers with the Presbyterian Hospital emergency room.
Kim’s parents, James and Helen Kim, moved Kim and his little sister to Lake Highlands from Seoul, South Korea in 1990. The newcomers found our neighborhood a welcoming one.
“To leave all my friends and language behind was difficult – to adapt to a different culture,” Kim says. “People were nice. We didn’t have a hard time adapting to the Lake Highlands community.”
It’s a community Kim will miss when he leaves for college.
“I really enjoyed Lake Highlands High School and all the schools behind it,” he says. “I really respect the teachers.”
“They challenged me to better myself.”
DEONITA HUBBARD
A FAMILY FIRST
When Deonita Hubbard walks across the stage to collect his diploma, he will become the first person in his family to have earned that degree.
“I feel good about it,” he says. “That’s an accomplishment no one else has made in my family. No one else has done it.”
Hubbard is considering several colleges and wants to become an electrical engineer.
“I like working with my hands,” he says. “I like fixing things and taking them apart.”
Hubbard, the son of Mary and Oliver Siles, has been playing football since he was 6. He considers football one of his best high school experiences, although senior year wound up being “one of my worst years” on the playing field.
Hubbard also held down jobs at Taco Bell and Tom Thumb that he worked through the school’s co-op program. The extra money made a difference during tight financial times for the family.
“It kept me busy,” Hubbard says. “I always had something to do. Going to school and working took up the whole day.”
BETH BOULDEN
A KICK OUT OF LIFE
Beth Boulden isn’t one to sit idly. To try out the new fitness craze, she persuaded some friends to join her regularly for aerobic kickboxing.
“It’s fun,” she says. “Kind of a bonding experience.”
Boulden kicks up her heels in other ways, too, as a violin player for the school orchestra and as a member of her church choir. She doesn’t want to pursue music as a major, but may continue to play violin if an “informal” group is available. Boulden hasn’t yet chosen a college. Biochemistry is a possible major, but she’s “trying to keep an open mind” and plans to try several types of classes before committing.
Boulden has fond memories of her teachers and classes. “Miss Lucy, my calculus teacher, gets so excited about the problems. She has this Greek accent, and when she gets going it’s really funny,” Boulden says.
“We have a really fun time in Latin class, too. We get off topic a lot, but it’s fun.”
Boulden is the daughter of Susan and Mike Boulden.
CLAY FALLS
SCHOOL SPIRIT
When Clay Falls joined the Wranglers, a country-western dance group, he had “no dancing skills.”
“I probably still don’t,” he says, laughing.
But those dancing boots took Falls and other Wranglers to Washington, D.C., to perform at President Clinton’s inaugural ball and will soon carry them off to perform at Universal Studios in Florida.
Falls, the son of Lynda and Spencer Falls, also represents his school as a Bell Boy, student council member and as treasurer of the National Honor Society.
The Bell Boys, responsible for keeping spirits high at games, are chosen by the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands and the student chapter of Exchange. Students are chosen based on grades, service hours and peer recommendations.
Falls also worked with the student council to put together the annual community-wide pep rally, which typically boasts attendance of 1,000-plus.
“I’m really involved in spirit here,” he says.
Falls plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin.
JOHN PALMER
FOOTBALL FAN
John Palmer started playing football later than most. But he considers the sport he has played since 9th grade “the best thing I have done in high school.”
“I love it. It’s a great sport,” Palmer says. “I’ve met a lot of friends I wouldn’t have. You really get to know the guys you work with.”
Palmer hopes he also will be able to play football at his school of choice, Austin College.
Palmer is the son of Martha Palmer. His father, Steve, died before he was born.
“She’s my mom and my dad,” Palmer says. “We get along great. She always worked hard and tried her best for me.”
One activity he shares with his mom is volunteering at the H.S. Thompson Learning Center in South Dallas, which they have been doing “as long as I can remember.”
He enjoys the volunteer work and will soon complete his Eagle Scout project of leading a clothes drive for the school.
“There are a lot of nice people there,” Palmer says. “I think everyone should do something like that, be a volunteer through church or whatnot.”
SERGIO CASTILLEJOS
TIGHT BONDS
Sergio Castillejos has received recognition for his football-playing prowess, including being named first team All-District this year and being voted “most outstanding defensive lineman” by his teammates.
Castillejos, however, is as grateful for the friends he has made as the kudos he has received.
“Playing with a group of guys since 8th grade, you develop some serious relationships,” he says. “You almost feel like you are brothers with every guy.”
“It’s fun to just go out there and play,” he says. “What I will miss most about high school is playing with that group of guys and the atmosphere at the Boneyard – just looking up and seeing all the fans.”
Castillejos, vice president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, has worked with president Aaron Finnin to “get people out to hear the message.”
“We wanted to make a difference, to have an impact,” he says. “I felt we accomplished that this semester. It was a good effort to get out and spread the message of Christ.”
Castillejos, son of Sergio and Dejanira Castillejos, is a National Merit Scholarship recipient and a National Hispanic Scholar. He has not yet chosen a college.
“It seems like yesterday I was putting on my pads for the season,” he says. “It’s kind of scary that a part of my life is ending.”
