BLANKET – The Blanket High School Class of 2022 will graduate at 7 p.m. Friday, May 20 at the Blanket High School football stadium. Valedictorian Hayden Rodgers and salutatorian Esther Fuentes are the top two graduates.

Rodgers is the son of Robert and Nicole Rodgers.

Of being the top graduate in Blanket’s Class of 2022, Rodgers said, “It means a lot, but I kind of expected it. I’ve put in the effort and everything so it’s nice to see all that work’s paid off. I was valedictorian my eighth grade year and it just kept up that way.”

Following graduation Rodgers intends to attend Weatherford College with plans to become a firefighter, as he currently serves as a member of the Blanket Volunteer Fire Department.

“My dad is the chief of the volunteer department here and I joined on and have been doing that for a while,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers stated making the adjustment from a smaller school like Blanket to college shouldn’t be as a significant as Weatherford College isn’t as large as many around the state.

“It’s kind of why I picked a smaller college,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t pick a huge one. I figure a smaller college would fit me better because I’ve never moved. I’ve been at Blanket from pre-K through 12.”

During his time at Blanket, Rodgers took part in football, basketball, track, and tennis, as well as FFA events such as judging and showing livestock. He was also an FFA officer and a class officer.

As for what he enjoyed most at Blanket, Rodgers said, “I like the teacher interaction. I know all my teachers and they know me. I feel like I get more of an education because there’s less of us in there so we get better teacher per student interaction.”

Rodgers said the closeness of the Blanket school family is what he will miss most.

“It’s not like a big school where you see a person’s face but you don’t really know them,” Rodgers said. “I know everyone of my classmates and pretty much everyone in the high school.”

Looking 10 years down the road, Rodgers hopes to be, “Working as a firefighter/paramedic at a department and just learning and getting better in that career field to eventually become higher ranked and earn more money.”

Fuentes is the daughter of John and Esther G. Fuentes.

As for being named salutatorian, Fuentes said, “It’s really important and I was really shocked when I got it because I didn’t think I was one of the top ranked in the class.”

Fuentes hasn’t finalized her college plans, but has her heart set on a future in both cosmetology and welding.

“I want to go to college somewhere near here, probably TSTC, and I would like to get a certificate for welding and a cosmetology license,” Fuentes said. “I like welding, I like doing little projects here and there. And cosmetology, I like doing make up, I’ve enjoyed that ever since I was little, doing hair. In the future I could see myself doing that.”

Fuentes took part in athletics – tennis, basketball, track, and powerlifting, the last of which she competed in only during her senior year and stated she wished she started earlier. Fuentes also took part in UIL speaking events as well as computer science.

Regarding what she will miss most about high school, Fuentes said, “The teachers, all my friends in the lower classes, the sports, all of it.”

Looking a decade into the future, Fuentes hopes to be, “Working for a salon somewhere near here and on the side doing welding projects on the weekends.”