OHS Class of 2026 Gets $1 Mln in Scholarships
More than $70,000 in local scholarship funding — and more than $1 million in total scholarships — was awarded to members of the Olney High School Class of 2026 during Senior Awards Night held May 7 in the OHS Auditorium.
The annual ceremony recognized graduating seniors for academic achievement, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and community service as local businesses, civic organizations, churches, and memorial foundations presented scholarships to students preparing to attend colleges, universities, and trade schools across Texas and beyond.
OHS Principal Haylee Haralson said the Class of 2026 distinguished itself through academics and its support for classmates and involvement throughout the school and community.
“This senior class has been a special group to watch over the years,” Mrs. Haralson said. “They have worked hard, supported their peers, and represented the school well in academics, extracurricular activities, and community involvement. They have helped to create a positive culture for the younger students to follow.”
Mrs. Haralson said the amount of scholarship funding earned by the class reflects years of preparation and commitment.
“One accomplishment that speaks to their effort and preparation for the future is the amount of scholarship support they have earned,” she said. “When renewable scholarships are factored over four years, this senior class will receive more than $1 million in scholarships. That number reflects not only academic success, but also the time, work, and commitment these students have invested throughout high school. We are proud of what they have accomplished and excited to see what comes next for them.”
The evening opened with a welcome from senior class president and valedictorian Morgan Simmons. The pledge was led by class secretary Allison Alvarado, followed by an invocation from class vice president Lauren Pham.
Class treasurer Jeffry Flores was recognized as the class salutatorian.
Scholarships were presented throughout the evening by local businesses, foundations, churches, civic organizations, and memorial funds that have long supported graduating Olney students.
Organizations providing scholarships included Air Tractor, Brazos Telephone Cooperative, the L.F. and Carla Perry Foundation, St. Luke Lutheran Church, First State Bank, the Olney Education Foundation, Fort Belknap Electric Cooperative, Freezin for a Reason, Friends of FFA, the Olney Hamilton Hospital Auxiliary, the OHS Coffee Cave, and the Young County Texas A&M Club.
Several memorial scholarships honoring former community members and educators were also awarded, including the James Pace Memorial Scholarship, Kay and Don Berry Memorial Scholarship, Carroll Wooley Memorial Scholarship, Steven Harvey Memorial Scholarship, and the Bryan Odom and Doug Loesch Memorial Scholarship.
Family members, teachers, scholarship donors, and community supporters filled the auditorium to celebrate the graduating class and the investment local organizations continue to make in Olney students.
The annual awards ceremony has become one of the final milestones before graduation, highlighting both the accomplishments of the senior class and the community partnerships that help students pursue higher education and career training opportunities after high school.
School officials said the more than $1 million in scholarship funding awarded to the Class of 2026 represents one of the strongest scholarship years in recent memory and reflects the continued support of local donors committed to investing in Olney’s future.