GISD students successful in all areas

Jo Ann Anderson Beken
Groveton Ex-Students Association

What a busy spring. I hope you have been able to follow the accomplishments of our current and former students. We have a Facebook page and lots of good news is shared there. There is a lot to brag about.

Our students have had much success in competitions at major livestock shows, county fairs, as well as FFA/4H, cosmetology, UIL events, team, and individual sporting events. Did you see that Groveton ISD won first place in UIL competitions of each elementary, junior high and high school competition in the district?

Our kids are not just athletes, talented cosmetologists, and agriculture whizzes, they are smart and have great adults as their leaders. Groveton kids’ names were called all over the state for amazing accomplishments. They make us proud.

•As the school year is winding down, we will be reviewing Groveton Ex-Students Scholarship applications at our meeting on May 8 at 1 p.m. in the Board Room at the GISD administration building. We will meet our senior applicants and hear of their plans.

Afterwards, we will make decisions for scholarship awards of more than $75,000 for the Fall of ’24 and Spring of ’25 for the graduating seniors, as well as our current college students. The announcement of these awards will be made at graduation on May 24.

It is a great night as we look toward the bright futures of our new graduates.

•The homecoming game for this year will be played on Sept. 27. This year is “Big” homecoming, and we will play Frankston and we will have lots of activities planned for the weekend. We will be asking for input from the school and community to determine a theme as we get closer to the event. Please plan a reunion/class meeting to catch up with your classmates from days gone by. Kathleen and the staff at GHS will reserve a room for your class to meet.

A complete, detailed schedule for homecoming will be developed and distributed as time gets closer. A homecoming Smoke Signal publication will be created, chronicling the highlights of GHS and homecoming. We will be selling ads so that we can create a great publication for the 2024 homecoming celebration, so watch for Marlena and me in the summer, peddling ads.

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The Ex-Students Association will welcome you at registration on the morning of Sept. 27, and it is a great opportunity to visit with other graduates as they come and go during the day. The pep rally will be that afternoon and we will have our biennial business meeting at 3 p.m. that day.

That night, the homecoming queen and band royalty will be crowned, and an after-game dance will be held in downtown Groveton. It is a fun time. Please come and enjoy the events of homecoming.

On Sept. 28, we will sponsor a homecoming parade. There will be lots of floats and fun for everyone. Winners will earn cash prizes. That afternoon, we will hold an induction reception for those honored as Hall of Fame recipients.

Those people will be determined through a nomination process that will be initiated in early summer. A committee will meet, review nominations, and select honorees. We will celebrate the recipients on the 28th. If you have questions about how to nominate a deserving person, the information is on the Groveton ISD website or you can call me. I’ll be glad to help.

•We are saddened to announce the passing of Mr. John E. Nelson, a former teacher at GHS; Mrs. Fair V. Smith, one of our G.W. Carver ex-students; and Mrs. Florine Johnson Hamilton, GHS class of 1950. The influence of these wonderful people is immeasurable. They will be missed, and we are grateful for their positive impact on our community. We send our prayers for peace and comfort to their families and friends. We also acknowledge a contribution by Jane and Larry Fortenberry to the Ex-Student’s scholarship fund in memory of Mrs. Hamilton.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy May.

Jo Ann Anderson Beken is president of the Groveton Ex-Students Association.