In The Spotlight
• Taylor Niehues has been named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist based on his Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. He qualified out of 1.4 million National Merit Program entrants throughout the nation, and will now compete with 16,000 other semifinalists for the scholarships, with winners being named in February. Taylor, a senior at GCHS, is the son of Tibby and Rory Niehues.
• GCHS senior Lauren Plagens was named Homecoming Queen and senior Colton Schwartz was named Mr. Bearkat during homecoming activities Sept. 22. Lauren is the daughter of Connie Plagens and the late Douglas Plagens. Colton’s parents are James and Cecilia Schwartz. Other nominees were Emily Gully, Mikela Barton, Evan Jansa and Alex Halfmann.
• Elia Briseno, a junior, was named Band Sweetheart and junior Juan (Pancho) Zuniga was named Band Escort. Elia is the daughter of Manuel and Maria Briseno, and Pancho’s parents are Juan and Gabriella Zuniga. Other nominees were Shyla Curry, Stacey Enriquez, Adrian Arzola and Luis Zuniga.
• Boyd Batla, a 2002 GCHS graduate and the son of Garry and Darla Batla, recently graduated from Texas Tech and was accepted into the medical program at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Batla, who plans a career in pediatrics, received his white coat during a ceremony in July. He thanks his “super” teachers at GC, who helped prepare him for this endeavor. Special thanks to Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Gartman and Mr. Long for their support and words of encouragement. He could still use ‘good ole GC support’ and would love to hear from his GC friends. His address is: 4900 Medical Drive #517, San Antonio, TX. 78229.
• Chelsea Schwartz, a senior mass communications major at West Texas A & M University, has been named an atmosphere/entertainment reporter with the "Kimbrough Live Crew Team" at WT home football games. She is in her second consecutive semester as the news director for college radio station KWTS and is featured on the weekly entertainment segment, "Campus Beat," for Channel 10 in Amarillo. Schwartz, a 2003 graduate of GCHS, is the daughter of Floyd and Martha Schwartz.