PGISD Top Ten 2023
Stephanie Marie Nguyen, the Valedictorian of the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the daughter of Le and Hung Nguyen. She is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program, the University Interscholastic League Scholars Awards Program, and the Top 10% of her class. Stephanie is a 2023 Hall of Fame recipient for Career & Technology. Stephanie is a member of the National Honor Society. She received the 2023 Outstanding Academic Achievement awards in AP Music Theory, English 4 Honor Dual Credit, AP US Government, and Practicum in Graphic Design & Illustration Honors. She also received the 2022 Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in AP Biology, AP European History, Dual Credit Trigonometry, Graphic Design 2 Honors, the 2021 Outstanding Academic Achievement in Sports Marketing 1 Honors, and the 2020 Outstanding Academic Achievement in Interpersonal Studies. She is an Art and Graphic Design member and a Staff Writer in The Edge Newspaper. She is President of the National Technical Honor Society, a member of National Honor Society, and Keyettes. Stephanie has received various awards in UIL Literary Criticism and Science and is a graphic design student intern at Pleasant Grove Central Services under the Director of Marketing and Communications. She is an AP Scholar with honors and was named to Texarkana College’s Fall 2021 Spring President’s List. Stephanie is a Celebrate Art and Articulate All-State Art winner and published artist, receiving honorable mention in Scholastic Art and Writing for personal essays and memoirs. She is an Adobe Certified Professional and certified in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Microsoft PowerPoint and Word. Her community involvement entails participating in Keyette collection drives, operating the screen media board during pep rallies and sports games, and being a representative during high school tours. Stephanie received the PEO Women’s Scholarship from the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Good Citizen Award Scholarship, the Keyette Membership Scholarship. She was accepted into two Ivy League Universities, the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. She received a full scholarship to Harvard University, where she has chosen to attend. Stephanie’s intended major is Molecular and Cellular Biology on the Pre-Med Track to become a Forensic Medical Examiner and minor in History.
Anna Guan, the Salutatorian of the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the daughter of Shanhai Guan and Dr. Yang Zhong. She is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program, the University Interscholastic League Scholars Awards Program, and the Top 10% of her class. Anna is the 2023 Hall of Fame recipient for Mathematics. Anna received the 2023 Outstanding Academic Award Achievement in Statistics Dual Credit and Economics Honors. She is a member of the Gifted Talented Program, National Honor Society, Student Council, Keyettes, Robotics Team, Newspaper, earning the NSPA National 2022 Design of the Year and Gold Crown Award, UIL Math and UIL Newspaper and a member of the PG Hawk Tennis team. Anna serves her community by logging in over 800 hours of student teaching other students and shadowing work at the local hospital. She plans to attend UCLA and major in Human Biology and Society.
Rebekah Rose Anderson graduated third in the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the daughter of Jan and Dr. Kurt Anderson. She is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program and a member of the University Interscholastic League Scholars Awards Program, and the Top 10% of her class. Rose is the 2023 Hall of Fame recipient for English Language Arts. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Gifted Talented Program, the Student Council, Keyettes, Art Club, Varsity Volleyball, Varsity Tennis, and Hawk Robotics team. Rose is a 2023 State Qualifying VEX Robotics Team member placing third in competition. She earned the Regional Judges Award and was a 2x World Qualifier. She was a 2022 VEX Robotics State Champion and earned the State Excellence Award. Rose is a member of First Baptist Church and volunteers at Region 8 for VEX TQ Robotics and volunteers for various community outreach programs. Rose received the Academic Merit and Engineering Scholarship and plans to attend the University of Mississippi and major in BioMedical Engineering with Medical Device Research.
Alexander Peyton LeGrand graduated fourth in the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the son of Angela and Drew LeGrand. He is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program and a member of the University Interscholastic League Scholars Awards Program, and the Top 10% of his class. Peyton is the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Academic Award for Computer Science. Peyton is a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the Student Council, serving as Vice President, a member of National Technical Honor Society, serving as Secretary, and a member of the PG K-12 attendee group. Peyton was Class President during his Sophomore and Junior year and currently serves as National Honor Society President. He is a Varsity Hawk Cross Country member and four-year Varsity member of Hawk Soccer, serving one year as Varsity Captain; he received the 2023 1st Team All-District award, the 2022 2nd Team All-District award, and the 2021 Honorable Mention. Peyton is a Williams Memorial United Methodist Church member and volunteers for Community Cafe and Pumpkin Patch through community programs. He received the Out of State Achievement Scholarship and plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in Business/Pre Law.
Madison Jade Loucks graduated fifth in the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the daughter of Melissa and Trent Loucks. She is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program and a member of the University Interscholastic League Scholars Awards Program, and the Top 10% of her class. Madison received the Outstanding Academic Award for Accounting 1 Honors and the Outstanding Academic Award for Accounting 2 Honors Dual Credit. Madison is a National Honor Society, Keyettes, and Student Council member. She is a four-year member of Hawk Cheer and a three-year member of Hawk Shotgun Club, placing 10th in State Varsity Trap Shooting. She placed first in 2023 UIL District Accounting Competition. She is a member of the Hawk Cheer UIL competition Team, which placed second in the 2023 State UIL competition. She is also a Hawk Cheer NCA Competition Team member, which placed fourth at the NCA High School National Championship. Madison volunteered over 80 hours at Richmond Road Animal Hospital and participated in the 2020-2022 “Night to Shine” event as well as assisted with Special Olympics. She also volunteered in the “To Reach Every Youth” (TREY) Golf Tournament. Madison received the Dell Scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin, where she plans to attend and major in Business Economics and Accounting.
Camille Smith Harrelson graduated sixth in the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the daughter of Lori and Chad Stewart, and Steve Harrelson. She is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program and a member of the University Interscholastic League Scholars Award Program, and the Top 10% of her class. Camille is a member of the National Honor Society serving as Secretary, Student Council serving as President, Keyettes, serving as President, a member of National Technical Honor Society, a three-year member of the Quill & Scroll Honor Society, Editor of the Award-winning Hawk yearbook, and a four-year member of Hawk Cheer. She is a member of a discipleship group at First Baptist Church. Camille received the All-Orange Scholarship and plans to attend Auburn University and major in Psychology.
Garret Scott Harrison graduated seventh in the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the son of Nikki and Scott Harrison. He is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program and a member of the University Interscholastic League Scholars Award Program, and the Top 10% of his class. He received the 2023 Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for Health Science Job Shadowing. He was awarded the 2022 Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in Dual Credit Chemistry. He is a member of the All A Honor Roll as well as a member of the National Honor Society. He is also a member of the Kindergarten through 12th Grade Attendee Program. Garret is a four-year member of Hawk Baseball, including 2022 District and 2023 Regional Quarter Finals Baseball Champions, and a three-year member of Hawk Football, including being a part of the 2019 State Football Championship team. Garret received the Presidential Distinguished Scholarship from Southern Arkansas University and will be majoring in Biology/Nursing to pursue a career as a Nurse Anesthetist.
Ava Jane Keyes graduated eighth in the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the daughter of Casie and Night Keyes. She is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program and a member of the University Interscholastic League Scholars Award program, and the Top 10% of her class. Ava is a member of National Honor Society, a member of National Art Honor Society, a member of Art Club, serving as Project Service Chair, a member of Keyettes, serving as Product Service chair, and a National Art Honors Society Award winner. She is a nationally published Artist and was awarded the National ARTiculate gold Medal and Scholastic Silver Key Medal and featured her work in the local Art Museum. Ava is a member of Hawk Varsity Cheer, serving as Dance captain. Ava plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin on a scholarship and major in Marketing & Business, and pursue a career in Business Entrepreneurship.
Darcy Elizabeth Coker (Ellie) graduated ninth in the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the daughter of Sissi and Gregg Coker. She is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program and a member of the University Interscholastic League Scholars Award program, and the Top 10% of her class. She received the 2023 Outstanding Academic Award in Practicum in Graphic Design & Illustration LAB Honors. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Art Honors Society, Art Club, and a previous member of Varsity Tennis and Freshman Volleyball. Ellie also interns as a Graphic Designer at Ledwell & Sons. Ellie volunteers in Art Club Shows and Christmas Art Parties. She also volunteers as a caretaker for her brother. Ellie plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in Arts and Entertainment Technology.
Emma Lynn Henard graduated tenth in the 2023 graduating class of Pleasant Grove High School and is the daughter of Joy and Jeff Henard. She is a member of the President’s Education Excellence Awards Program and a member of the University Interscholastic League Scholars Award Program, and the Top 10% of her class. Emma is the recipient of the Outstanding Academic Hall of Fame Art Award. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Keyettes, PGTV, and is a certified professional in Adobe Premier Pro. Emma has received numerous scholastic Art and Writing Awards, is a three time Articulate Gold Medalist Published Artist, and has been awarded a Gold Key for her entire AP Art Portfolio. She received the PGHS Purchase Award and Texas Governor’s Award. Ema is a four-year member of Hawk Cross Country, a 2021 4A District Champion, a 2021 State Qualifier, a 2x Regional Qualifier, and Texas A&M-Texarkana Eagle Opener Champion and College Record Holder. Emma is a three-year member of Hawk Varsity Track, a 2021 1600m District Champion, and a 2021, 2023 3200m District Runner up Area Qualifier in 1600 and 3200m. She is also a three-year Lady Hawk Varsity Basketball member and was nominated to play in the FCA All-Star Showdown on June 1, 2023. Emma is involved in her youth group at Beech Street First Baptist Church, serves on mission trips and service activities, and participates in community outreach projects with Keyettes. She assists with Youth basketball camps and the Children’s Art Workshops. Emma received the Dallas Baptist University Presidential Scholar Award, the Christian Service Scholarship, and the DBU Award. She plans to attend Dallas Baptist University and major in Biology or Kinesiology and possibly become a Physician’s Assistant.
