Campus Top Ten web pages will be updated as student responses are received.
Alexa Morton
Valedictorian
What college will you be attending next year?
I am going to major in Medical Laboratory Science at the University of Texas at Austin. I’ve already received a full tuition scholarship, and I’ve also been accepted into UT’s Freshman Research Initiative, a program designed to allow freshmen to learn more about the research process and conduct research of our own in specific topic areas or “streams.” I hope to conduct, or at least assist with, a decent amount of scientific research during my time at UT. I’d like to pursue a career in either scientific research or the medical field. I’m hoping my major will adequately prepare me for both, so I can be confident no matter which one I end up choosing in the end.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Canyon Vista Middle School and Round Rock Early College High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
One of my best memories would have to be that of ECHS Owl Con 2020. It was the culmination of months of hard work by myself and my friends, and it was one of the best ways to celebrate the last day of the school year before we realized it was the last day at all. My friend Daisy and I finally got the payoff we’d been working towards when Theatre Club (which we co-lead) put on its first ever performances that day. Additionally, I got to raise money for both Theatre Club and Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) so those clubs can continue to operate after I graduate. It was an amazing day to socialize with friends and for us to educate each other about our clubs and cultures, and I’m glad I can hold onto that memory as the last one of my senior year.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
My most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD would have to have been Mr. Julian Jones, my Pre-AP World Geography teacher and the sponsor of GSA, of which I’m secretary. He’s always been supportive of me and my peers in our academic endeavors, but he’s been especially supportive of me and the other GSA leadership for these last 4 years. I don’t think that our club would have had the same environment or impact had it not been for his legitimate support and understanding of us and our mission to educate and communicate about LGBTQ+ issues.
Pari Patel
Salutatorian
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending UT Austin and majoring in Computer and Electrical Engineering. I hope to work at one of the tech companies in Austin.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Round Rock Early College High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
While there have been so many everlasting memories during high school, and it was quite difficult to pick just one, I believe the best memory was when our school arranged a visit to Texas State. The bus ride to the campus, time spent around the campus looking around, all the free food, the dehydrating walk back to the bus (because it was so hot), and the ride back to school was a roller coaster in itself. We laughed and sang on the bus and I felt really connected to my second family.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
It was, yet again, difficult to pick just one teacher who had influenced me the most but if I absolutely had to pick one, it would be Mr. Spillers. He has been my math teacher since sophomore year and still is. Our school also has “family” teachers who also happens to be Mr. Spillers for me. He has been the person I have always wanted to be. A man with integrity and compassion. While he speaks very little and to the point, he has immense care for all of his students he can’t fully express. I, myself, am a person who is not the best at expressing my emotions at all times, but only I know how much I care about the people around me. Mr. Spillers seems the same way and this was confirmed when I joined his family this year. He talked about his wife, his coworkers, and us (the students) so proudly and so compassionately and I really saw a new side of him. Even during these hard times our class is going through, he has been checking up on us and has been replying to all of our comments, questions, concerns no matter how personal or sad or delightful they are.
Isaiah Blackwood
No. 3
Saamy Nahidi
No. 4
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending The University of Texas in Austin next year to study Biology. Hopefully, fingers crossed, Dell medical school in Austin. There I will study, again hopefully, to become a radiologist.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Robertson Elementary, Hernandez Middle School, and Round Rock Early College High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
The best memory isn’t one memory, it’s a bunch of memories smashed into each other to create one awesome memory, and that memory is making a bunch of awesome friends. My friends have created awesome memories with me and that is something I’ll forever be in gratitude for RRISD for because without school I don’t think I could have found Sunshine, Ryan, Susan, Quetzal, Roszlyn, Sofie, Martin, and literally so many more I can’t even imagine these years without them.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Ms. Elizondo. She was my biology teacher for 1 year, then became our schools vice principal for the rest. She would always create the best learning environment and have fun class discussions. She sparked my passion in biology which has ever been developing for the past 4 years and ultimately made me want to also major in biology in UT Austin. She was always there for me to talk to not only about school work, but also general discussions. Its clear to say that she was an awesome teacher, and a fabulous vice principal. BTW shout out to all the teachers, and the professors who I have had the honor to share a classroom with!
Vedant Vaideswar
No. 5
What college will you be attending next year?
I am attending Texas A&M to study engineering. I plan on being a mechanical engineer and keep up my music hobby.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Cedar Valley Middle School and Early College High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
The long lunches during my sophomore year, where I would aimlessly walk around and chat with my friends, were some of my favorite memories. These lunches were the only time I could let go during the school day, and after a hectic college algebra class, it was exactly what I needed.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mr. Spillers is the most influential teacher I had. His class was always organized and he always had a plan. His themed projects were so much work to make, but every unit, I could count on a fun way to apply what I learned be it an escape room, the exploration of a lost temple, or a way to save the world from an asteroid. When I would come back from college algebra class, I could count on big money $pillz to explain everything I did not understand in a simple yet interesting fashion. It has been a privilege having a teacher like Mr. Spillers.
Jackson Barnes
No. 6
What college will you be attending next year?
I’ve decided to take a gap year due to uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, but I intend to reapply to UT Austin to study aerospace engineering next fall. My long-term dream is to work as an engineer for a space-faring company such as Space X or Blue Origin. How realistic this is I do not know.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Round Rock Early College High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
For whatever reason, there was one day where our grade had to be shuffled around to different classrooms. It was probably due to the freshmen or sophomores testing but I’m not quite sure. Either way, they forgot to give our club a teacher. While we did eventually go down to the office and get the situation sorted out, for a good ten to twenty minutes we had one student act as the “teacher” of the class. I can’t give specifics about the lecture, but it was a very funny situation.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mr. Adrian Barrera. That man has an almost inexplicable ability to make the most boring sounding concepts entertaining. He was super easy to talk to and always made his classes fun and educational. Just a really great guy.
Ian Irish
No. 7
What college will you be attending next year?
I’m going to the University of Texas at Austin staring next fall. I will be studying History and political science. I hope to get a job that not only fills me with happiness and pride. But can also pay the bills and my student loan debt. Unfortunately, I don’t know exactly what that is yet, but eventually, I will figure it out.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Early College High School, Hopewell Middle School, and Union Hill Elementary School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
My best memory of my time in RRISD would be the first summer bridge for ECHS. It shouldn’t be because that year summer bridge was on my birthday. I had to get up “early” in the morning to get dropped off to stay several hours in Stony Point’s lunchroom. The reason why I look back at that memory and smile is because that was my first exposure to ECHS.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
To give this award to only one teacher, would be a great disservice to the rest. Every teacher I had the honor to meet at ECHS, has influenced me in a long-lasting positive way. Each teacher not only taught me about their chosen subject with excellency, but taught me to be the best version of myself. The instructions have told me to keep each answer to about 5 sentences, so I will leave a brief answer to a question that deserves a several-pages long paper. Which teacher has been the most influential to me would be the whole teaching staff at ECHS.
Jaehzel Icaro
No. 8
What college will you be attending next year?
I will attend Texas A&M Univesity to study psychology. Psychotherapy and then owning a little flower shop.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Double File Trail Elementary, Teravista Elementary, Hernandez MS and Early College High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
Developing the friendships that helped shape me into the person who I am today and who I’m meant to be in the future.
Janell Misplay
No. 8
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi studying Criminal Justice. After college, I hope to pursue a career in or surrounding the field of law enforcement.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Round Rock High School & Round Rock Early College High School
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
One of the best memories from my time in RRISD is simply the time I spent with the registrars and admin in the front office of ECHS. I met a lot of really great people through this and the fact that they would ask specifically for me to help showed the trust they had placed in me.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mr. Adrian Barrera and Mrs. Lynn Albright were two of the most influential teachers during my time in Round Rock ISD. Both of them showed how much they cared for their students and were more than willing to assist in any way they could, even if it went beyond their classroom.
Arielle Alston
No. 10
