Published: May 30, 2008 11:29 pm      

New Waverly grads receive diplomas

New Waverly High School valedictorian Bethany Franz and salutatorian Jessica Winborn, along with their 78 fellow graduates, received their diplomas at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe last night.

Franz said after a small party on Saturday with her friends it will be time to pack.

“Sunday I am packing to go to Trinity Pines camp and work. I will be working there all summer long,” she said.

Franz is the daughter of Ernie and Denise. Her father is a pilot for Continental Airlines and she said over the years they have been able to take nice vacations, mostly to see family. Her mother works at New Waverly Junior High.

Franz will attend the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to major in social work with the help of a substantial scholarship. She will have a few friends attending there as well and her sister, Brittany Huckabee, and husband, Austin, live near the university, too.

“It’s been a calling in me since I was really small,” she said of her desire to be a social worker. She wants to work with orphans and foster children.

Winborn is an active member in her youth group at the First Baptist Church in New Waverly. Both were members of the Beta Club, an organization promoting the ideals of character, service and leadership among students. Franz was the Beta Club president this past year as well as senior class president.

“I visit the Green Acres nursing home. I try to get with my friends once a week to go there. It’s great. I love it,” said Franz.

The two were in advanced placement biology and were lab partners. Franz said it was a challenging but interesting class.

“We dissected a cat this year and that was fun,” said Winborn.

Winborn plans on attending Sam Houston State University in the fall and getting a master’s degree in forensic science. She wants to work for the FBI’s crime lab.

“Both of my parents went to Sam, too,” she said. Mike and Denise are her parents and she has a brother, Michael. Her grandparents are John and Wynelle Deloney.

New Waverly may have had a small graduating class, but Franz and Winborn were happy about that.

“You get to know everyone and the teachers work hands on a lot more with you than they would be able to at a large school,” said Winborn.

“I’ve never been to a large school, so I don’t know anything different,” said Franz.

Winborn said her senior year was hectic and she never made it home at night before 6 p.m. She was also a member of the basketball team and went to area in U.I.L. One Act Play competition.

“It has been a really fun year but it has gone by so fast. Hang on to the memories because it will be over before you know it,” she said.

Franz said her senior year was a learning experience. “Through it all, God has given me the strength to persevere,” she said.