The Brownwood High School Class of 2022 will graduate at 7 p.m. Friday, May 27 at Gordon Wood Stadium with valedictorian Weston Burns and salutatorian Olivia Fowler leading the charge.

Burns is the son of Matt and Laci Burns and is bound for Texas A&M University, while Fowler is the daughter of Jim and Lisa Fowler and will be attending the University of Texas.

“It means a lot,” Burns said of the valedictorian accolade. “I know a lot of people really worked hard with the position that we’re in. It wasn’t easy. I was hoping it would be but (Olivia) was always right behind me.”

Fowler said of her status as salutatorian, “I think we’ve worked pretty hard. We’ve both been competitive, competing against each other and that’s helped excel us and push us to our limits. I’m blessed to be given the gifts to achieve this.”

Burns said of his decision to attend Texas A&M, “They have a really good Engineering program and I love to watch their football games. I really enjoy it.”

As for pursing a degree in Engineering, Burns said, “I really like doing math, I feel like I’m good at it. I like science and solving problems. I feel like that would be a good use of my skills.”

Fowler is following in family footsteps in her journey to Texas, stating, “The campus is great. I like the energy there. I’ve grown up going to the football games and going to Austin, it feels like home. It’s a little weird but I’ll get over that. The academics there are great.”

Bio-chemistry is the field of choice for Fowler, who added, “I’m hoping to go to medical school in the future and I think that will help me, taking science courses. That will help me get where I want to be.”

Both members of the Class of 2022 attributed a portion of their success at Brownwood High School to dual credit courses.

“We’ve been able to take dual credit which I think has helped a lot” Fowler said. “I was able to take classes at Howard Payne and then through UT On Ramps and I think that helped. The teachers and staff really encouraged us to do those classes so they could prepare you for college.”

Burns said, “Dual credit really helped in getting some of the classes I don’t really want to take in college, like English classes, getting those out of the way. AP also really helped prepare me. That was the hardest I’ve really had to work in class. UT On Ramps are really good classes and HPU was an actual college environment so that helped a lot.”

While in high school, Burns participated in “athletics – basketball, cross country, pole vault, the 400,” he said. “I was in HOSA for four years, NHS the last two years, student council this year and Key Club. It’s been fun being involved in all those activities and organizations.”

Fowler said, “I was in varsity volleyball four years, track my freshman and sophomore years, NHS, Key Club, and student council.”

Asked about their favorite classes and teachers, Fowler said, “I really enjoyed the math classes I got to take like Calculus and Algebra 2. My favorite teacher was Mrs. (Terri) Stephens. I liked her class, she talked to us a lot and made it enjoyable.”

Burns replied, “I really liked Physics with Coach (Derrick) Stacks, who is also one of my basketball coaches. Normally coaches aren’t known for being the best teachers, but he was a really good teacher and put in a lot of effort and tried to help everyone in that class. I really enjoyed that class and having him as a teacher.”

As for what they will miss the most about high school, Burns said, “My friends and hanging out with people I’ve known my whole life. Having to start new friendships will be weird.”

Fowler echoed those sentiments, stating, “I’ll miss my friends and family the most. It’s a pretty small town so you’re pretty close to everyone in your grade. The community is really good, I’ll miss that the most. Austin and UT, it’s a pretty big campus.”

Looking 10 to 15 years down to the road, Burns hopes to be working as an engineer.

“I really want to work at an aerospace company, maybe like NASA, Boeing or SpaceX,” Burns said. “I want to be involved with something where I feel I’m making a difference and doing something worth while.”

Fowler said of her long-term goals, “Hopefully I’ll be a doctor, but I’m not sure what type yet. I want to be able to serve others and make an impact. I enjoy learning about the body and everything that holds. Hopefully I’ll also be married with children.”

Both students thanked their family, friends and teachers for helping them achieve their goals.

“My family has played a huge part, my friends, people like (Olivia) that made me work harder than I wanted to through high school,” Burns said. “I had some teachers that really made me think about what I was doing and understand what I was doing instead of going through the motions.”

Fowler added, “My family for sure, I couldn’t have done it without them. I got to look up to my brother and sister, they helped push me for sure. My parents, their support was immense, and my teachers really helped. I just had a great time in high school.”