The Brownwood High School graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, May 29 at the Brownwood Coliseum. A live video broadcast will be available online HERE.
Kirsten Fijer, daughter of Ginalyn and Marlo Fijer, is the valedictorian, while Emory May, daughter of Zach and Adriane May, is the salutatorian.
“It means everything,” Fijer said of earning the valedictorian honor. “I worked all four years really hard for this. It means the most to be able to make my parents proud because they sacrificed a lot for me to even be here. It’s really nice to be able to represent my family like that.”
For May, being named salutatorian, “Means a lot. I’ve worked really hard to get where I am today. At first I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get that valedictorian spot, but now that I’ve thought about it, it’s still an honor to finish any place at the top of the class.”
The top three graduates in Brownwood’s Class of 2026 weren’t determined until late in the school year.
“All four years of high school I had never been ranked No. 1,” Fijer said. “Freshman year I was ranked No. 2, sophomore year I stayed at No. 2, and junior year I dropped down to No. 3 at one point. Coming into senior year I was tied for the second-place position. Being able to get valedictorian at the last minute was very shocking to me.”
May added, “It was pretty close. It switched at the last minute, actually, but there’s no animosity between any of us. We’re really close, myself, Kirsten and Kyle (Recolizado), he was the third person. We all worked together throughout high school and it’s been fun to be close with them.”
Next for Fijer is the University of Texas where she intends to study architecture.
“That’s been my lifelong goal,” Fijer said. “I just love Austin and UT has a really good architecture program. Ever since I was a kid I’ve had a knack for design. I really loved Lego’s growing up and the HGTV channel, I always had it on in the background watching shows like “The Property Brothers” and stuff like that. I love big cities, the way skylines look, all that sort of stuff. I feel like I was drawn to architecture from an early age.”
May is headed to Texas A&M University and will pursue a degree in Biomedical Science.
“I want to become a veterinarian,” May said. “Both my parents went to A&M so I felt like that was always my path, but also them having such an incredible vet school solidified that for me. I went on a tour and it was really great. I did go back and forth between there and ACU, but I thought A&M would be the better fit for me.”
As for how Brownwood High School has prepared them for college, Fijer said, “The classes that we offer are really helpful. I was able to start taking dual credit classes my sophomore year and on ramps later on my junior year. That really helped me see what it would be like to balance that in college. It’s more of a self-learning type of thing, you have to hold your own self accountable, so it gave me a sneak peek at what college would be like.”
May stated, “They’ve done a great job because I’ve had so many opportunities to do dual credit things. The dual credit and AP that’s offered here has really been helpful because it’s helped me get a taste of what college classes will really be like. I don’t think I would have gotten that opportunity at some of the surrounding schools.”
Regarding extracurriculars, Fijer said, “I was president of Student Council. I really enjoyed that, especially this last year, we did a lot of good work within the school. I was also involved with the media crew in photography.”
May added, “I’m the treasurer for Student Council, I’m secretary for HOSA right now and have been involved with that all four years, and vice president for National Honor Society. I’ve been in tennis all four years and I’ve loved getting to do that. I’ve participated in school musicals and that’s also been really fun. I’ve also been in choir all four years.”
As for their favorite teachers or mentors from their time as students, Fijer said, “It’s hard to choose. I would say all four years of English has had a special place in my heart. Every single one of those teachers has been really helpful to me, and I’ve grown a lot in those classes, and they’re just really great people to confide in. I lean on them a lot for support.”
“I really loved choir and tennis, both of those administrators were great, and I’ve gotten to know them really well – Coach Hutchins and Ms. Reeves,” May said. “They’re a couple of my favorite people.”
Reflecting on what they will miss most about their time at Brownwood High, Fijer said, “I’ll miss the little moments. Being able to walk into the office and say hello to everyone, like Ms. Rodriguez and Ms. Geis, they’re always so sweet. Going down the hallway and seeing my friends, just the little things.”
May said. “The friendships I’ve made. All my friends are splitting up, we’re not going to the same college. It’s going to be hard to see that group go, but I have made some really close friends here.”
As for what excites them most about heading off to college, Fijer said, “The opportunity. Austin is a big change from Brownwood and I think that will be good for me. I’m looking for a big change like that. I’ll always be thankful for Brownwood and what it’s given me, but I’ve grown out of it a little bit.”
May said, “Starting over and having a fresh perspective on things. I don’t have to hold back and I can put my all into everything I do.”
Looking a decade or so into the future, Fijer said, “Hopefully I’ll still be in Texas, I’ll stay close to my parents. Hopefully by then I’ll have my license as an architect. It takes a while after you graduate college, five or so years getting work-hours experience, and six or so exams you have to take to be licensed. That’s the end goal, not many people that graduate with an architecture degree become a licensed architect.”
For May, “I’d love to be a vet. That’s always been my plan for my life. If I’m not doing that specifically, I want to be doing something with animals or science, something like that. I see myself coming back to Brownwood. I really have loved getting to grow up here and I think there’s a good opening to be able to do that here sometime soon.”
Both graduates also wanted to extend a thank you to those who have helped them achieve the successes they have thus far in life.
Fijer said, “I want thank my parents and the Lord. The reason my parents pushed me so hard, they know that God gifted me with something special. All the teachers in the school have been great – Ms. Norvil, Ms. Stephens, Mr. Moore. Ms. Rodriguez and Ms. Geis are always so nice to start the day out with, and then Ms. Nix, I’ve been with her for three years.”
May said, “I would like to thank God because He has gotten me through everything, every trial that I’ve had throughout high school, and I want to thank my parents for always being there to support me.”