BROOKESMITH – The Brookesmith High School graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, May 29 at the Brookesmith ISD Gymnasium.

Ava Hathcock, daughter of Chris and Shouna Hathcock, is the valedictorian, while Aidyn Barnett, daughter of Kevin and April Barnett, is the salutatorian.

This year’s top two graduates were decided earlier in May by .081 of a point.

“Get you a best friend to compete with the whole way. It was very, very serious between us,” Hathcock said in reference to being the valedictorian of the class.” As for the importance of finishing at the top of the class, Hathcock added, “The higher you finish in your class, the more scholarships you can get, and more money. Regardless of where you finish, if you have good grades it’s still a good thing.”

Barnett added, “We’ve been battling since the seventh grade for grades. We knew it was going to be us two for valedictorian and salutatorian, we just didn’t know who. This will definitely help with scholarships to pay for college.”

Hathcock intends to attend Abilene Christian University to pursue a degree in Kinesiology and Athetic Training.

“I like sports and I chose Abilene Christian because I like their campus,” Hathcock said.

Barnett plans to attend TSTC for Business Management

“I want to get my Associates, then probably go to a bigger college and finish out the last two years to a get Bachelors,” Barnett said. “Trade schools are less expensive and get you out quicker, so I won’t have to spend so much money on a four-year, just two years.”

Regarding their extracurricuals, Hathcock was involved in basketball, track, tennis, one-act play, and National Honor Society, and she also played football in eighth grade.

“It was scary, but I was the biggest one on the team and the running back,” Hathcock said of her football experience.

Barnett took part in one-act play and volleyball, and was a member of the National Honor Society as a senior. In past years, she played basketball and was a cheerleader.

Going from Brookesmith to ACU is both exciting and a tad worrisome for Hathcock.

“I’m looking forward to it, but still a little nervous,” she said. “I’m moving out in two or three months and won’t know anybody there.”

For Barnett, her classwork will be handled remotely, so the change in her environment will be a total opposite from what she’s grown accustomed.

“My schooling is online so I don’t have to worry about new people,” Barnett said. “I have to worry about not seeing any people because I’ll be out of school.”

Regarding what they will most about high school, Barnett said, “The social life, the same friends every day.” Hathcock chimed in, “How easy it was to make friends. Here it’s a small school, going away to college there will be way more people there.”

As far as favorite memories from their time at Brookesmith, Barnett said, “Ms. Terri (Heard) and Ms. Wanda (Dodson) for lunch, and the spicy Ranch. And Ms. (Alyssa) Graves with theater.” Hathcock added with a laugh, “The spicy Ranch is real important to our graduation. And I also enjoyed my time with Ms. (Shantel) Elrod and Ms. (Alyssa) Graves.”

Regarding the future, Hathcock plans to work at Hendrick Medical Clinic as a trainer upon graduating from college, then, “Get out of Abilene as soon as possible, get some land, and hopefully get a barndominuim.”

For Barnett, “I want to own a business and run it, I just don’t know what. I can probably get in an as assistant manager at some place, then learn the ropes and eventually do my own thing. And I want to live in a city. I like the busy-ness. Every time I go to some place like Dallas I like it, it’s so fast paced.”