Jacksonville High School seniors made their final trip to Jan Crow Stadium football field Friday night as students. Jacksonville had 167 graduating in the Class of 2010.
Graduation for Jacksonville High had co-valedictorians Nick Stevens, a National Merit finalist, and William Bouillon. The school also had co-salutatorians Kayla Parker and Jacob Hicks.
Stevens will be attending the University of Central Arkansas Honors College. He is interested in studying law, teaching or politics.
Looking back toward graduation Stevens said, “The night was amazing. I’m really proud of my friends and especially of Bill Bouillon. He and I have been best friends and scholastic rivals since second grade and while it seemed weird at first, I think being co-valedictorians was perfect. It was a true honor to stand as an equal with such a good friend rather than having one or the other coming out on top. Also, the feeling of finality and freedom was simply overwhelming.”
Bouillon will head to the University of Arkansas to study computer engineering. Bouillon had an invitation to attend high school at the Arkansas School for Math and Sciences and the Arts in Hot Springs. However, he said that he chose to stay at Jacksonville to be with his baseball team and friends in choir.
Before graduation ceremonies started, Bouillon said, “It is a weird feeling that it is here. I’m real excited and anxious. It is time to move on.”
Jacob Hicks will attend Arkansas State University. He plans to major in athletic training.
Waiting for graduation to start Hicks said, “It is more than I expected. I though it would be happy, but it’s getting more sad as I see it end (my) high school career.”
Kayla Parker will attend Arkansas State University to study chemistry. She said she was excited to graduate.
Graduating from Jacksonville High School with honors along with Stevens, Bouillon, Hicks and Parker were Meghan Brown, Eduardo Calvo, Ashton Coleman, Allison Cox, Devin Featherston, Zachary Priest, Kyle Stroup and Casey Tyson.
