OHS ‘Secret Weapon’ Jeffry Flores Graduates As Salutatorian
When Jeffry Flores stepped to the podium as Olney High School’s salutatorian in May, he opened his speech with a joke about how far he had come.
“Because of your encouragement and support, I’ve come a long way from being a very quiet elementary student to a moderately quiet high school student,” he told teachers, classmates, and family gathered for commencement at the OHS auditorium.
The remark drew laughter, but it also captured the essence of Mr. Flores’ four years at OHS.
While never the loudest voice in the room, Mr. Flores built one of the strongest academic records in recent school history, earning the title of salutatorian while helping lead Olney’s University Interscholastic League academic teams to success at the district, regional, and state levels. In August, he will attend Texas Tech University, where he plans to study pre-nursing and Health: Human Sciences.
Mr. Flores’ academic success was fueled in part by a friendly rivalry with two former OHS valedictorians.
During his speech, Mr. Flores recalled receiving his first high school transcript after his freshman year and discovering he ranked ninth in a class of 55 students. When 2025 valedictorian Aidyn Bitner and 2024 valedictorian Angel Alvarado found out, they teased him for not being first.
“After that, I became determined to improve, so I took every AP and dual-credit class I could for the sole purpose of surpassing my classmates,” he said. Three years later, he added, “I stand here with a second The joke hinted at the competitive drive behind Mr. Flores’ long list of accomplishments.
He graduated with a 33 composite ACT score and earned top marks at an ambitious schedule of AP and dual-credit coursework while compiling an impressive record in UIL and Texas Math and Science Coaches Association competitions. He earned state medals in Calculator Applications and Mathematics and helped Olney claim multiple district and regional championships during his high school career.
Along the way, Mr. Flores earned a nickname from former OISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Roach, who coached the OHS math teams. Mr. Flores competed at the state UIL contest just days after graduation, finishing fourth in Calculator Applications and 10th in Mathematics as an individual competitor.
“Dr. Roach nicknamed me his ‘secret weapon’ in eighth grade after I suddenly started earning competitive scores and winning first place,” Mr. Flores said.
Outside the classroom, Mr. Flores was equally devoted to music, spending four years in the OHS band, performing at football games, marching competitions, and solo contests. He earned superior ratings at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest on saxophone and said music will be one of the things he misses most about high school.
“I loved being able to create music with the band and play at every football game,” he told his fellow graduates. “I will miss my saxophone very much.”
Mr. Flores also thanked his parents, whose sacrifices brought the family to the United States and provided opportunities that made his success possible.
Lastly, he congratulated his classmates. “To those of you here on stage, I’m proud of every one of you,” he said. “I’m grateful for all the memories we created together, and I’m thankful to share this stage with such an extraordinary group of people.”