Earning a Distinguished Status

On Thursday, February 20, 2019, a ceremony took place for the seniors that were ranked in the top 10% of their grade. This is the first graduating class of Klein Cain, and the first batch of seniors to have been awarded this recognition at the school. Their GPA was among the highest in the campus and they strived to meet their goals throughout the past four years.

Principals gave speeches to the students attending, along with recognition from some of the teachers that have instructed them throughout the past years since the school opened.

“It feels really awesome,” Anya Robinson said.

Robinson was revealed as the first-ever valedictorian for the school. She put in the effort and determination to get herself to where she is now.

“I feel like not just me, but all of us together have set a really great foundation for future hurricanes as the first inaugural class,” Robinson said. “I’m really excited to see what happens after we graduate and it’s a blessing to be a part of this awesome organization with everyone in Klein Cain.”

Robinson didn’t think of it as a competition. She thinks of the people around her as a family that helped each other maintain aspirations.

“I was really surprised because everyone around me were all friends,” Robinson said. “I never felt really competitive. I always felt like we all collaborated together and we all helped each other out when we needed to, so I never thought it as a competition, more as bettering ourselves with our friends around us.”

Head principal Nicole Patin has seen the student body grow and gain recognition across not just the community, but the state as well.

“So I can tell you I did not sleep at all last night,” Patin said. “I’ve probably been up since about 3:30, rewrote my speech twice, but I am so excited. It’s kind of like the next step towards, you know, the big finale in May.”

Patin has helped students grow and create the legacy of Klein Cain. She’s been the principal since the school opened.

“[This is] very emotional because these kids have meant so much to me and this campus and I’m excited to see what everybody’s going to do after graduation but I’m very very proud of them,” Patin said. “They’ve made such an impact on our campus and I can’t wait to see what they do when they leave.”

Teachers and faculty have started getting emotional with the realization that the first class will soon be graduating in a matter of weeks.

“It’s a very odd feeling for me because many students I’ve gotten to teach for two years in a row and I love them all very much,” math teacher and National Honor Society sponsor Diane Hudson said. “Well I’m very very proud and I do know how hard they’ve all worked. I think everybody has earned this.”

Hudson has grown close to some of the top 10 percent of students due to the fact that many of them have enrolled in her class once or multiple times.

“It’s going to be a very tough graduation because once they go I don’t get to see them next year, but I know they’ll go and do wonderful things, so it’s a good thing,” Hudson said. “I’m fortunate to teach a lot of kids who want to be engineers which I think is the coolest thing ever. We have some that are smart enough to go and do anything they want… one of the reasons I teach is I know that someone somewhere is going to have a cure for something and I really do see that in this group of kids. Someone is going to go into research and they’re going to solve a really big problem. I can’t tell what it is but I believe in it with my whole heart.”

She is positive that her students will do great things in their lives. Even though she might no longer see them after graduation, she can’t wait to admire what they have yet to accomplish.

“Being top ten, I already knew I was in it, but it was a really good experience coming here,” Kurt Cole said. “The choir did really nicely. Everything went really smoothly overall.”

Cole enjoyed going to the ceremony and spending time with his friends. Furthermore, he’s planning on going to the University of Texas in Austin.

“It’s kind of like a top ten percent family if that makes sense, but everyone is really close so they know each other,” Cole said.

A lot of students already knew each other for years now. They’re getting excited for graduating as some of the most achieving students on campus.

“Finish strong, don’t forget it’s only February,” Patin said. “… I’m proud of you guys. Thank you for everything that you’ve done for our school and for our community, and remember that this is always your home and you’re welcome back any time.”

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