TISD Top Ten 2023
VALEDICTORIAN—John Thomas Borowitz II has been named the Valedictorian for the 2023 Texas High School graduating class. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. John Borowitz.
John Thomas is a member of the National Honor Society, the ACT Hall of Fame, the United States Senate Program, the Calculus Club, and the Statistics Club. He is president of the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematical Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society, the Texas High Student Council and Student Body, and the Texas Association of Student Councils.
John Thomas is an Eagle Scout, a member of First Baptist Church Texarkana, TigerVision Anchor, and a National Director of the Student Television Network.
He is a National Merit Commended Scholar, a Coca-Cola Scholarship Semi-finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a Wilbur Award Recipient.
John Thomas is a four-year statistician for the Varsity Basketball Team and a Cheer escort.
He was offered scholarships from Harvard University, University of Texas-Austin Forty Acres, Texas Christian University, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, United States Senate Youth Program, and Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) Scholarship.
John Thomas will attend Harvard University to major in Economics.
SALUTATORIAN—Madelyn Claire Bixler has been named the Salutatorian for the 2023 graduating class of Texas High School. She is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Bixler.
Madelyn is a Quill & Scroll Honor Society member, the National Honor Society, the ACT Hall of Fame, and the Key Club. She is the Treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, Secretary of the AP Ambassadors, student representative on the Imagine 2026 Strategic Planning Committee, the President of the Calculus Club, and the Secretary of the Statistics Club.
Madelyn is also the Student Life and Chronological Editor of the Texas High Yearbook, an ILPC Gold Star Recipient, an NSPA Pacemaker recipient, and the Best in Texas Alternative Copy Recipient.
She has won academic awards in Engineering Design, AP Biology II, and AP Calculus. Madelyn plays tennis and is a three-time Team Tennis District, Bi-District, Area Champion, and a regional semi-finalist. She is also the Girl’s Tennis District Champion, Girl’s Doubles District Champion, and Regional Qualifier. Madelyn has been a student council officer for three years and is the Progressive Dinner Chair for the Rosebuds Dinner Club.
She is a First Baptist Church Texarkana member and serves as a Student Ambassador and member of the Discipleship team.
She was offered scholarships from Baylor University, the University of Alabama, the University of Arkansas, the University of Mississippi, Clemson University, Texas Christian University, Auburn University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University-College Station, the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, Oklahoma State University, Ellene Johnson Rosebud Scholarship, Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) Scholarship, and Christ Nations Church Scholarship.
Madelyn will attend Baylor University to major in biology and pre-medical.
Desiree Angelique Anderson, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Julius Anderson, graduated third.
Desiree is a member of the National Honor Society, the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, the Quill and Scroll Honor Society, the AP Ambassadors, the Texas High Political Society, the Calculus Club, the Leader in Me Lighthouse team, the Art Club, and Club Ujima. She is an AP Scholar with Honors, Editor-in-Chief of the Texas High Yearbook, Key Club President, and HOSA Vice President.
Desiree is a National Merit Commended Scholar, on the Texarkana College President’s List, and a Texarkana Kiwanis Club’s Rick Lindsey Leadership Award recipient.
She was offered scholarships from the University of Texas-Arlington, Howard University, Abilene Christian University, Texas State University, and the University of North Texas.
Desiree will attend the University of Texas in Arlington to study Biochemistry and Pre-Medical.
Lydia Leigh Horton, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jared Horton, graduated fourth.
Lydia is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, Quill & Scroll Honor Society, and International Thespian Society. She is also a member of Leadership, the School Health Advisory Council, the Key Club, the Calculus Club, and the Statistics Club.
She is Editor-in-Chief of the Texas High Yearbook, President of the Rosebuds Junior Garden Club, DASH Committee Chair and Class Representative for the Student Council, and a “Pay It Forward” Committee Member of the AP Ambassadors.
Lydia is on the NSPA Journalism Honor Roll and she has won numerous journalism awards, including several TAJE Best in Texas Awards and ILPC Awards.
She has received Academic Awards in PreAP Chemistry, Accounting I DC, and AP English IV.
Lydia serves as Senior Lieutenant of the HighSteppers, and as a HighStepper, she has won the Most Improved Rookie, Most Improved Veteran, Most Dedicated, and Highest GPA awards.
She volunteers at First Baptist Church Texarkana Preschool, is a Girl Scout, and is a Junior and Assistant Counselor at Brookhill Ranch Camp.
Lydia dances at Judith McCarty School of Dance and with the Texarkana Community Ballet.
She was offered scholarships from the University of Mississippi, Baylor University, Ouachita Baptist University, Texas Christian University, Texas State University, Sewanee-The University of the South, and Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) Scholarship.
Lydia will attend the University of Mississippi to major in Journalism.
Katherine Clay Sandefur, daughter of Ms. Kim Sandefur & Mr. Greg Sandefur, graduated fifth.
Katherine is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, Quill & Scroll Honor Society, Rosebuds Junior Garden Club, Leadership, Student Council, and Statistics Club.
She is the Vice President of the Spanish National Honor Society and the AP Ambassadors, secretary of the Key Club, and Copy Editor for the Texas High Yearbook. She has received the PreAP English II, PreAP Algebra II, and Tiger Strong Awards.
Katherine plays varsity tennis and has won multiple awards, including the Highest Senior GPA. She has qualified for regionals and has been a part of the District Championship team for three years.
She was offered scholarships from the University of Texas-Austin, the University of Mississippi, the Tiger Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) Scholarship, Fearfully & Wonderfully Made Scholarship, and Jaqualyn’s Light Prevails Memorial Scholarship.
Katherine will attend the University of Texas in Austin to major in business.
Reagan Kay Raney, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Raney, graduated sixth.
Reagan is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, and Quill & Scroll. She is also a Student Council, Leadership, and Texas High Yearbook member.
She was offered scholarships from Clemson University, Auburn University, and the University of Mississippi.
Reagan will attend Clemson University to major in Packaging Science.
Reese Elizabeth Langdon, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Brent Langdon, graduated seventh.
Reese is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Quill & Scroll, the International Thespian Society, and the NSPA Journalism Honor Roll. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the Texas High Newspaper and Treasurer of the Rosebuds Junior Garden Club. Reese is also a member of the Student Council.
She has won Academic Awards in AP World History, Theatre Performance DC, Statistics and Business Decision Making DC, and Chemistry II DC.
Reese is the Social President of the HighSteppers, and she has won several dance awards, including six regional dance team awards and 13 national dance team awards. She was selected for the Elite Danceline USA Team and as Miss High Kick twice.
Reese has won numerous journalism awards, including several superior and excellent TAJE Best in Texas Awards, Pacemaker finalist and winner awards for Front Page Design and Infographic/Sidebar Design from JEA/NSPA, and several top ILPC awards. She led the Texas High Newspaper to receive a Gold Crown Award and a SNO Distinguished Newspaper Website and News Story Award.
Reese is a member of Williams Memorial Church, where she is a small group leader and a Youth Representative.
She was offered scholarships from the University of Alabama and Jaqualyn’s Light Prevails Memorial Scholarship.
Reese will attend the University of Alabama to major in Political Science.
Anna Kristen Powell, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jim Powell, graduated eighth.
Anna is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, and Quill & Scroll. She is also a member of the Student Council, Leadership, Texas High Yearbook, and Rosebuds Junior Garden Club.
Anna was a member of the Varsity Soccer Team for two years and a member of the Varsity Cheer Team for one year.
She won an academic award for PreAP English II.
She was offered scholarships from Louisiana State University and the University of Alabama.
Anna will attend the University of Texas at Austin to major in Government.
Natalie Claire Davis, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Craig Jenkins, graduated ninth.
Natalie is a member of the National Honor Society, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement, and the Texarkana College President’s List. She is the President of HOSA and a peer tutor.
She was offered scholarships from Texas A&M University-Texarkana and the University of North Texas.
Natalie will attend Texas A&M University-Texarkana to major in Biology.
Gwendolyn Mouynieng Khou, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Barnsmean Khou, graduated tenth.
Gwendolyn is a member of the National Honor Society, the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, the French Honor Society, and the French Club. She is also a member of the AP Ambassadors, the Multicultural Club, the Key Club, and HOSA.
Gwendolyn is an AP Scholar and a Terry Scholar. She received the Academic Award for French. She is also an algebra and English tutor.
She was offered scholarships from the University of Texas-Dallas: Terry Foundation, Texas A&M University-College Station, the University of Texas-Arlington, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, the Jean James Memorial Scholarship, and AP Ambassadors Club Scholarship.
Gwendolyn will attend the University of Texas in Dallas and major in Software Engineering.
