By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
Chris Prox and Garrett Lawyer are, respectively, the Athens High School valedictorian and salutatorian for the class of 2015. The announcement was made with some fanfare during the Senior Academic Awards Program on May 28 as the top 20 graduates were named in descending order. It was a touching moment for all to witness as Prox was visibly moved. For social security and disability, you can contact to orange county SSDI lawyer.
“All my life,” he explained later, “I’ve wanted to be number one, and at that point, it was written in stone. I had finally done it, and I was really happy.”
Unlike the majority of his classmates, Prox did not spend most of his school years at AISD. He enrolled at the beginning of his freshman year and, as a fellow honor graduate jokingly quipped, proceeded to “upset the class ranking.”
Prox spent his middle school years in Baytown, where he was voted “most likely to succeed.” When he arrived in Athens, he tackled his academics with focused intensity, in addition to playing football and running track. His sophomore year, he moved to a starting position on the football team, where he played defensive end and was named Newcomer of the Year for Henderson County. He played throughout his high school years and was named Defensive Player of the Year his final season.
When asked where his drive to succeed originates, Prox said he isn’t certain. “From as early as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be the best. I’m lucky to have that drive.” For all that, determination, Prox is humble about his place among his friends. “I know some of my classmates are smarter than I am,” he said, “but I happened to take the right classes and make good enough grades in them.”
Prox is the son of Crystal Meazell of Athens and Paul Prox of Mabank. He will be attending the University of Texas at Austin, where he will major in astronomy with the intention of being accepted into UT’s engineering school.
Salutatorian Garrett Lawyer will be attending Texas A&M University in College Station where he will study kinesiology with the intention of eventually becoming a licensed physical therapist. As a member of the Pinnacle Early College High School program, he received his associate’s degree in May from Trinity Valley Community College.
Like Prox, Lawyer is also sports oriented. He played football, basketball, soccer and ran track, and he, too, started on the varsity football team his sophomore year. “I put pressure on myself,” he said of his drive to do well in everything he sets his mind to. “I know I could do better. I can always do better.”
Dr. Cade Allen, a professor of history at TVCC who taught Lawyer in several courses, describes Lawyer’s work ethic as being “above and beyond” that of the average high school student. “I hope he returns to Athens when he has finished college,” said Allen, “because he will make it better than it already is.”
Lawyer has some advice for incoming freshmen: “When you come in, be yourself. Don’t worry about what other people think. You do you. … And find something to make you want to work hard.”
Lawyer is the son of Michael and Katha Lawyer of Athens and the grandson of Norman and Carol Black, also of Athens, and David and Susan Lawyer of Chandler.
The Athens High School honor graduates, in order of class rank, are: Chris Prox, Garrett Lawyer, Tori McDonald, Jacob Barrios, Lexi Lassiter, Evelyn Sanchez, Travis Takata, Kay Solomon, Marissa Gross, Mallary Rummel, Haley Durden, Marissa Cerrillo, Patrick Moore, Emily Geddie, Omeko Irigo, Camille Koehler, Casey Westmoreland, Bri Grogan, Daniel Bennett, Eloisa Peredia, Carson Sikes, Leslie Hernandez, Kelsey Baldwin, Jennifer Salazar, Kimberly Castaneda, Shawntae Teague, Arely Beltran, Arisa Hearn, Seth Rimpel, Rebecca Archer, Alexis Beltran, Hadley Cain, Chad Head, Robert Lenington, Sarah Waxter, Alejandra Campa, Lindsey West, Sarah Red, Mason Senyckyj, Richard Moore, Ingrid Castaneda and Cynthia Chavez.
The Athens High School Graduation Ceremony will be held Friday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. at Bruce Field. Of the 196 graduating seniors, all applied for college. Thus far, all but four have been accepted.