WHS Class of 2024 to graduate Friday night

Whitney High School’s Class of 2024 will graduate at 7 p.m. Friday night, May 24, at Wildcat Stadium.

This year’s valedictorian of the graduating class is Joannah Andis, the daughter of Tiffany Basham and Michael Fields of Whitney and Jeremy and Kimberly Andis of Summerville, South Carolina. She finished high school with a grade-point average (GPA) of 102.566.

Andis plans to major in ocean engineering and minor in Spanish at the United States Naval Academy. She hopes to be a naval flight officer and medical evacuation pilot. 

During her time in high school, she has been a member of and held leadership positions in the National Honor Society and Student Council. She has also served as the student athletic trainer and been active in cheerleading, track, cross country, soccer, UIL academics, yearbook and student tutoring.

In addition to her efforts at school, Andis also completed four years of flight training and received her student pilot’s license.

She has received the College Board Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, athletic and academic awards and completed 34 dual-credit hours while in high school.

Her advice to incoming seniors is: “Never be afraid to speak up and ask for help. No one succeeds alone, so take the time to appreciate your classmates and teachers; everyone brings something to the table.”

Andis said that while she is incredibly proud of her accomplishments inside of school, she is even more thankful for the opportunities, people and lessons she learned while working as a barista at The Lazy Llama. “Watching and learning from my mom as she grew her business and balanced her life has been the most integral and inspiring part of my high school career,” she said.

This year’s salutatorian is Linsey Paige Bledsoe, the daughter of Stephen and Rebecca Bledsoe of Whitney. She completed high school with a GPA of 101.789.

Bledsoe will study communication sciences and disorders at the University of Houston and plans to become a speech-language pathologist.

In high school, she has been an active member and leader in German Club and the German Folk Dance Team. She has also been a member of jazz choir, National Honor Society, Student Council, one-act play, the color guard crew and Gear Up Youth Congress.
Bledsoe placed in five events at the Texas State German Competition. She is a recipient of the Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship, is a Big Future 2023 National Rural and Small Town awardee and received Honorary All-Star Cast recognition her freshman year.

The salutatorian has also completed 32 dual-credit hours during her time in high school.
Bledsoe advised next year’s seniors to be courageous. “Do not let fear stop you from pursuing the things that you love,” she said. “By taking risks and by showcasing your abilities to the world, you can gain amazing opportunities and can truly make a difference in the lives of others.”

Bledsoe said that she wants to express her thanks to her parents, peers and the Whitney ISD faculty members who have mentored her over the years. “I could not have gotten to where I am without your support,” she said. “I hope to make you proud as I move on to the next chapter in my life.”

Other 2024 honor graduates, in order of class rank, include:

– Emily Maldonado, daughter of Jasmin Maldonado of Whitney, plans to pursue a biology major at the University of Texas on the pre-med route. She then plans to attend medical school, become an orthopedic surgeon and open non-profit clinics in some of the most underserved communities in Texas.

– Rylann Rae Hensley, daughter of Tim and Kendra Hensley of Whitney, will attend Texas Tech University and plans to become either a dentist or coach.

– Jonah Aaron Cottongame, son of Shannon Cottongame of Whitney and Seth Cottongame of Laguna Park, will attend the University of Texas at Austin. He plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Nursing Science and ultimately become a nurse practitioner.

– Jaidyn Ann Fisher, daughter of Nicole and Kimberly Fisher of Whitney, will attend the University of Houston and major in political science, ultimately attending law school and becoming a family attorney.

– Ashley Marie Ward, daughter of Mark Ward and Dalia Ward of Whitney, plans to attend McLennan Community College with the goal of becoming a construction manager.

– Jaycee Marie Green, daughter of Donovan and Lisa Green of Whitney, will attend Southwestern University and compete as a thrower on the university’s track and field team while pursing her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. She plans to go into sports medicine and become a physical therapist.

– Vanessa Cruz, daughter of Eugenia and Felicianco Cruz of Laguna Park, plans to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and has not yet decided on a college.

– Emily Monroe Wagner, daughter of Todd and Kyli Wagner of Whitney, will attend college after high school.