McKinney, Texas - The spring storms that forecasters predicted would spoil everyone’s evening politely steered south and east of McKinney on Wednesday, May 8, as MISD officials, teachers, principals, community leaders, students and family members poured into the MISD Community Event Center for one of the district’s most anticipated annual events—the MISD Distinguished Student Awards (DSA) dinner.
McKinney ISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt at the 2024 MISD Distinguished Student Awards Dinner held on Wednesday, May 8, at the MISD Community Event Center
Held each spring, the DSA calls forth 45 remarkable seniors from McKinney Boyd High School, McKinney High School and McKinney North High School to honor them for not only academic achievement but also for their commitment and dedication in a specific area—English, Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Career & Technology, Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Athletics—as well as At-Large honorees and the Valedictorian and Salutatorian. The Distinguished Student Award is the highest award that MISD bestows upon a student.
While the DSA honorees were chosen by the faculty at their respective schools, each of them in turn had the opportunity to name one teacher who made the most significant impact on them over the course of their academic career. Those teachers were honored with the MISD Inspirational Teacher Award.
Accomplished McKinney North swimmer Camille Murray (second from right) who received a Distinguished Student Award for Athletics stops for a photo with her coach and Inspirational Teacher Award recipient Stephanie Cusack and family.
Once the assembled guests had made their way through the dinner serving line and were seated, MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt welcomed everyone, and shortly the evening’s proceedings began in earnest.
“Our Distinguished Student Dinner is one of my favorite events of the year,” Pratt said. “We celebrate distinguished students from each high school in many different categories. They in turn celebrate a teacher who has been inspirational in their educational journey. So, in one night we celebrate some of our best students and teachers.”
2024 MISD Distinguished Students and Inspirational Teachers
Grace Garner · McKinney Boyd High School · English
Inspirational Teacher · Tamara Resmini
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Tamara Resmini, Grace Garner, Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Aila Azizolli · McKinney High School · English
Inspirational Teacher · Scott Patterson
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Scott Patterson, Aila Azizolli, Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Rachel Martin · McKinney North High School · English
Inspirational Teacher · Elizabeth Whittington
(left) Elizabeth Whittington and Rachel Martin
Science Honors
Carly Hunt · McKinney Boyd High School · Science
Inspirational Teacher · Tamara Resmini
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Tamara Resmini, Carly Hunt, Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Jackson Davis · McKinney High School · Science
Inspirational Teacher · Stone Drulman
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jackson Davis, McKinney High School Principal Dr. Paula Kent, Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Branden Bingham · McKinney North High School · Science
Inspirational Teacher · Faisal Khan
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Branden Bingham, Faisal Khan, Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Social Studies Honors
Alena Villalon · McKinney Boyd High School · Social Studies
Inspirational Teacher · Randy Bilyeu
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Randy Bilyeu, Alena Villalon, Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Zainakai Blair-Roberts · McKinney High School · Social Studies
Inspirational Teacher · Mark Bayer
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Mark Bayer, Zainakai Blair-Roberts, Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Olivia Zottneck · McKinney North High School · Social Studies
Inspirational Teacher · Cynthia Povliches
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Cynthia Povliches, Olivia Zottneck, Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Mathematics Honors
Haylee Chapman · McKinney Boyd High School · Mathematics
Inspirational Teacher · Stefanie McCarthy
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Stefanie McCarthy, Haylee Chapman, Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Isabel Norton · McKinney High School · Mathematics
Inspirational Teacher · Theresa Horvath
Theresa Horvath (left) and Isabel Norton
Joshua Duty · McKinney North High School · Mathematics
Inspirational Teacher · Gary Williams
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Joshua Duty, Gary Williams, Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Career & Technology Honors
Beck Warren · McKinney Boyd High School · Career & Technology
Inspirational Teacher · James Martin
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Beck Warren, James Martin, Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Charlie Taylor · McKinney High School · Career & Technology
Inspirational Teacher · Curtis Christian
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Curtis Christian, Charlie Taylor, Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Danica Anaya · McKinney North High School · Career & Technology
Inspirational Teacher · Doug Woodall
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Danica Anaya, McKinney North High School Principal Jae Gaskill, Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Foreign Language Honors
Aaron Shortt · McKinney Boyd High School · Foreign Language
Inspirational Teacher · Joshua Volenik
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Aaron Shortt, Joshua Volenik, Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Jonathan Mikesell · McKinney High School · Foreign Language
Inspirational Teacher · Theresia Dipalma
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jonathan Mikesell, Theresia Dipalma, Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Selim Gurkas · McKinney North High School · Foreign Language
Inspirational Teacher · CJ Shelton
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Selim Gurkas, CJ Shelton, Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Fine Arts Honors
Darren Chan · McKinney Boyd High School · Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher · Lindsey Henderson
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Darren Chan, Lindsey Henderson, Trustee Lynn Sperry
Anya Purdin · McKinney Boyd High School · Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher · Michael Graber
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, McKinney Boyd High School Principal Dr. Jennifer Peirson, Anya Purdin, Trustee Lynn Sperry
Joshua Rabady · McKinney Boyd High School · Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher · Jonathan Pitzer
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jonathan Pitzer, Joshua Rabady, Trustee Lynn Sperry
Emma Berndt · McKinney High School · Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher · Richard McGowan
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Emma Berndt, McKinney High School Principal Dr. Paula Kent, Trustee Lynn Sperry
Graysen Malek · McKinney High School · Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher · Deanne Shaw
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Deanne Shaw, Graysen Malek, Trustee Lynn Sperry
Alejandro Zavala · McKinney High School · Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher · Brandon Fisher
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Brandon Fisher, Alejandro Zavala, Trustee Lynn Sperry
Tonderai Mukahanana · McKinney North High School · Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher · Michael Reed
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Tonderai Mukahanana, Michael Reed, Trustee Lynn Sperry
Peter Stuckmann · McKinney North High School · Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher · Keegan Arnold
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Keegan Arnold, Peter Stuckmann, Trustee Lynn Sperry
Leo Yamauchi · McKinney North High School · Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher · Lamar Smith
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Lamar Smith, Leo Yamauchi, Trustee Lynn Sperry
Athletics Honors
Savanna Luther · McKinney Boyd High School · Athletics
Inspirational Teacher · Jill Nicklas
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jill Nicklas, Savanna Luther, Trustee Larry Jagours
Caleb Millard · McKinney Boyd High School · Athletics
Inspirational Teacher · Keith Pierce
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Caleb Millard, Keith Pierce, Trustee Larry Jagours
Samantha Tillson · McKinney High School · Athletics
Inspirational Teacher · Deb Harris
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Samantha Tillson, Deb Harris, Trustee Larry Jagours
Patrick Means · McKinney High School · Athletics
Inspirational Teacher · Jacob Parr
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Patrick Means, Jacob Parr, Trustee Larry Jagours
Camille Murray · McKinney North High School · Athletics
Inspirational Teacher · Stephanie Cusack
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Camille Murray, Stephanie Cusack, Trustee Larry Jagours
Jayden Walker · McKinney North High School · Athletics
Inspirational Teacher · Melvin Crosby
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jayden Walker, Melvin Crosby, Trustee Larry Jagours
At-Large Honors
Emma Peirson · McKinney Boyd High School · At-Large
Inspirational Teacher · Caris Dunn
Emma Peirson (left) and Caris Dunn
Isaiah Williams · McKinney Boyd High School · At-Large
Inspirational Teacher · Lanai Child
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Isaiah Williams, Lanai Child, Trustee Larry Jagours
Blanca Ramos · McKinney High School · At-Large
Inspirational Teacher · Yaryzza Lira
Blanca Ramos (left) and Yaryzza Lira
John Merrell · McKinney High School · At-Large
Inspirational Teacher · Theresa Horvath
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Theresa Horvath, John Merrell, Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Kaelyn Hamilton · McKinney North High School · At-Large
Inspirational Teacher · Veronica Reed-Hamilton
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kaelyn Hamilton, Veronica Reed-Hamilton, Trustee Larry Jagours
Jack Garza · McKinney North High School · At-Large
Inspirational Teacher · Deanne Pratt
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Deanne Pratt, Jack Garza, Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Salutatorian Honors
Nisal Rajapakshe Gamage · McKinney Boyd High School · Salutatorian
Inspirational Teacher · Tamara Resmini
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Tamara Resmini, Salutatorian Nisal Rajapakshe Gamage, Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Bailey Yu · McKinney High School · Salutatorian
Inspirational Teacher · Dr. Jeff Cranmore
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Dr. Jeff Cranmore, Salutatorian Bailey Yu, Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Benjamin Edwards · McKinney North High School · Salutatorian
Inspirational Teacher · CJ Shelton
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Salutatorian Benjamin Edwards, CJ Shelton, Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Valedictorian Honors
Matthew Johnson · McKinney Boyd High School · Valedictorian
Inspirational Teacher · Dr. Robert Peterson
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Dr. Robert Peterson, Valedictorian Matthew Johnson, Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Nora Kristufek · McKinney High School · Valedictorian
Inspirational Teacher · Theresa Horvath
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Theresa Horvath, Valedictorian Nora Kristufek, Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Sohee Kim · McKinney North High School · Valedictorian
Inspirational Teacher · Shruti Mehrotra
(l-r) Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Valedictorian Sohee Kim, Shruti Mehrotra, Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
More Photos from the 2024 Distinguished Student Awards Dinner:
