The Whitney High School Class of 2026 will walk the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 29, at Wildcat Stadium. There are 86 graduates this year, with Valedictorian McKenna Lynn Driessner and Salutatorian Eliyah Grace Hughes at the top of the class.
Driessner is the daughter of Chad and Tierni Driessner of Whitney. She is graduating with a grade-point average (GPA) of 99.692 and will study business management at Texas A&M University in the fall.
During her time in high school, Driessner has participated in varsity volleyball and track and was a varsity cheerleader. She has also been active in Whitney FFA all four years of high school, serving as greenhand president her freshman year, chapter officer her sophomore and senior years, and chapter president her junior year.
The valedictorian is a member of the National Honor Society, served as varsity volleyball team captain her senior year and has earned many personal and team awards as a member of the FFA’s state-qualifying nursery/landscape team.
She already has a head start on college courses, as she will graduate with 42 dual-credit hours.
Driessner’s advice for incoming seniors is not to be so hard on themselves. “You are likely to face some rejection senior year, whether it’s rejection from a college/university, rejection of a scholarship or even just feeling overwhelmed with the workload and anxious about college,” she said. “Know that the best you can do is give everything 100 percent effort. If things don’t go your way, keep your head held high and be proud that you tried your best.”
Hughes is the daughter of Emily Hughes and Michael Leverett of Whitney. She is graduating with a GPA of 99.352 and will study environmental engineering at Tarleton State University for one year before transferring to Texas A&M University to study biological engineering.
During high school, the salutatorian has participated in marching band, concert band, choir, National Honor Society, Student Council, the Anti-Bullying Committee and Wildcat Strong.
Her high school honors include: best new marcher (2022), assistant music librarian (2023), marching band section leader (2024), drum major (2025), Whitney High School Student of the Month (October 2024), Lake Whitney Chamber of Commerce Young Person of the Year (2026) and John Philip Sousa Award (2026).
The salutatorian’s advice to incoming seniors is: “If you haven’t already, make a schedule or have a planner for all of your assignments, tests, events or anything else significant,” she said. “Assuming that phones won’t be allowed next year, a planner or personal calendar is the next best thing to have during school, especially if you do sports, dual credit and/or have a job.”
Hughes also thanked the people in her life. “I’d like to thank all of my family, no matter how much blood we do or do not share,” she said. “All of your love and support over the years nurtured my personality, which now lets me bloom and flourish wherever I land.”
Honor Graduates
Kambree Ward: Parents – Cherri and Karry Ward; College/Career Plans – attend Texas Tech University and study biology with pre-medicine emphasis with the goal of working in orthopedic medicine
Shaylin Shelton: Parents – Dameon and Angela Shelton; College/Career Plans – attend University of Texas at Arlington and major in nursing, with plans to become a CNA until college in the fall, then become a CRNA
Chelsea Lynn Rodriguez: Parents – Gloria and Julian Rodriguez; College/Career Plans – attend Texas A&M University and major in architecture with the goal of helping people build their dream homes and businesses
Shaela Smith: Parents – Billie and Mark Smith; College/Career Plans – finish business associate’s at Hill College and transfer to study cardiovascular sonography
Mason Andrew Pelham: Parents – Sonya Moore and Chad Pelham; College/Career Plans – attend Oklahoma Baptist University and major in marketing
Cate Meador: Parents – Desiree and Ricky Meador; College/Career Plans – attend Texas A&M – Corpus Christi for a year then transfer to Texas A&M to double major in biology and nursing
Emily Taylor: Parents – Danielle and Matthew Taylor; College/Career Plans – attend Texas A&M – Corpus Christi to major in marine biology with a minor in psychology with the goal of training sea lions
Taylor Ray-Garcia: Parents – Bertha and Clay Ray; College/Career Plans – attend Texas A&M – Galveston for a year then transfer to Texas A&M to complete a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
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