Ashley Webb couldn’t sit idly by.
A new transfer to Carter from Townview Magnet Center, Webb was appalled at the actions of fellow students during a student assembly.
Kids laughed or openly mocked those who had asked questions to the motivational speaker, Marion Jones.
Just a sophomore, Webb showed her mettle by walking up to the microphone.
She apologized to Jones and called out her fellow classmates for being disrespectful, knowing full well the wrath that might ensue.
“I was extremely nervous,” she said. “Words can’t even describe it. Here I was, a new girl. I was a small fish in a tank full of sharks. … But when you know something isn’t right, I don’t know, there’s just something in me. You can’t let that happen.”
The Carter senior, a recipient of the Dan S. Petty Scholarship of the Field and Mary Scovell Scholarship Foundation, has shown that type of leadership and moxie throughout high school.
But she’s managed to lead with grace; Webb was both the senior class president and the homecoming queen.
She was also an all-district volleyball player and a cheerleader, a member of various leadership and civic clubs and, at last reckoning, the top-ranked student in her class.
“She’s a great writer, who sees things through a different lens,” said LaQuintus Turner, her AP English teacher. “In all her pursuits, everything she did, she did well.”
Webb plans to attend the University of Texas, focusing on international business at the McCombs School of Business.
HIGH SCHOOL RECIPIENTS
AT&T AWARD
DANIEL LAMAR
School: Red Oak
Age: 17
Notable: Graduating at the top of a class of 405 students. Lamar plans to attend Texas A&M and serve as a member of the Corps of Cadets. He is involved in various civic organizations, including the Lions Club, Unity Park Homeless Shelter and the Salvation Army.
COTTON BOWL ATHLETIC ASSOC. SCHOLARSHIP
BRADY DOWELL
School: Huckabay
Age: 18
Notable: He lettered in basketball, cross country and golf and was named District 25-A Division II MVP in basketball. Dowell is a member of the Future Farmers of America and serves as secretary of the Erath County 4H Club. He plans to attend Tarleton State,
BEN E. KEITH SCHOLARSHIP
JOCELYN LOPEZ
School: FW South Hills
Age: 18
Notable: A member of the National Honor Society and president of the Student Leadership Council. Lopez, who ranks in the top 20 of her graduating class, played softball and volleyball and was the manager of the softball team. She plans to attend TCU.
CATFISH MONTGOMERY SCHOLARSHIP
JUSTIN NEWSOM
School: Rockwall
Age: 18
Notable: President of the DECA team, which was ranked No. 7 in the state and earned a trip to the national championships. Newsom was a member of the National Honor Society and vice president of his church’s Student Action Leadership team. He plans to attend Texas State.
TEXAS TECH SCHOLARSHIP
MOTOLA PETERS
School: Frisco Liberty
Age: 18
Notable: Student council president and the captain of the girls track and field team. Peters also lettered in basketball, was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Student Impact organization, and the Climate Committee. She plans to attend Texas Tech.
E.E. BUDDY FOGELSON SCHOLARSHIP
MEREDITH THOMASSON
School: FW Boswell
Age: 17
Notable: Student body president participated in cross country, track and volleyball. Thomasson ranks in the top 20 of her class, had a perfect attendance record from 2008-11, and has been a member of the student council since 2008. She plans to attend Texas A&M.
HUNT CONSOLIDATED SCHOLARSHIP
JOCELYN TOWNSEND
School: Wylie East
Age: 18
Notable: Will graduate No. 2 in her class. Townsend is the vice president of the student council, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She was also the captain of the school’s inaugural soccer team and won the school’s Spirit of Raiderland Award. She plans to attend Texas A&M.
DAN S. PETTY SCHOLARSHIP
ASHLEY WEBB
School: Carter
Age: 17
Notable: She was an all-district volleyball and softball player. Webb was the homecoming queen, the senior class president and was named an All-American as part of her high school’s cheerleading squad. She plans to attend Texas.
MARY DUPREE SCOVELL SCHOLARSHIP
MATISON WEBSTER
School: Sanger
Age: 17
Notable: Captain of the varsity cheer- leading squad. Webster also competes for Cheer Athletics. She is a member of the student council, the Future Farmers of America and French Club, all while holding two part-time jobs. She plans to attend Stephen F. Austin.
JACK B. PRINCE SCHOLARSHIP
ERICA WILLIAMS
School: FW Polytechnic
Age: 19
Notable: Captained the volley- ball and cheer- leading squads. Williams, in the top 20 in her class, was a member of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, Poly First Ladies and the Poly Collaborative Theatre. She plans to attend North Texas.
COLLEGE RECIPIENTS
E.E. BUDDY FOGELSON GRANT WINNERS
SETH JOHNSTON
School: Texas A&M-Commerce
Age: 19
Notable: Studies music education, with a 4.0 GPA. A McKinney graduate, Johnston is a member of the University Chorale, and leads a weekly Bible study on campus. He also returns home to take part in another bible study at Stonebridge United Methodist on the weekend.
MICHELLE PATTERSON
School: Texas
Age: 19
Notable: Studies management information services in the business honors program, with a 3.8 GPA. A Plano West graduate, Patterson is the vice president of a student organization that raises money for Feed the Children. She is also the special events committee chair for the MIS Association.
COURTNEY RICHARDSON
School: Abilene Christian
Age: 20
Notable: Studies accounting, with a 4.0 GPA as a member of the ACU Honors College. The Celina graduate serves as a teacher’s assistant, is actively involved in intramural sports and college ministry, and volunteers with the College Heights Friendship House After-School Program.
ASPEN RISER
School: Texas
Age: 18
Notable: Majoring in biology, and a member of the Kappa Rho Female Pre-Med Honors Society. The Cedar Hill graduate is a member of the Best Buddies organization, which assists people with special needs; she also volunteers at a local homeless shelter and Dell Hospital.
SARAH THOMAS
School: Texas
Age: 19
Notable: Studies public relations, with a 3.6 GPA. A Colleyville Heritage graduate, Thomas was recently invited to join Senior Fellows, the honors program for the College of Communication. She is vice president of membership development for the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.