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Brian Jones
Ella Iles Elementary, Hutchinson Middle School, Dunbar High School
Brian attended Ella Iles Elementary school and entered J.T Hutchinson with the first magnet class. He excelled in athletics and academics at Hutch, was a student body officer and was the first inductee into the school's Hall of Honor. Upon graduation from Dunbar High School in 1986, Brian received a football scholarship to UCLA. After his sophomore year at UCLA, Brian returned to Texas to attend the University of Texas in Austin and play football. He was drafted into the National Football League after his junior year and played for nine years. But he returned to the University after retirement from the NFL to complete a degree in corporate communications. Brian represented his College as one of five speakers at the University of Texas graduation convocation. For several years, he was the Voice of the Texas Longhorn football team and has now moved into corporate communications. He hosted a daily national radio broadcast and is now a commentator on CBS Sports Saturday college football. Brian has served on the State Board of Directors for Boys and Girls Clubs of Texas for several years and annually hosts golf tournaments for the benefit of the Boys and Girls Clubs.
David Baake
Lubbock High School
David Baake is a Lubbock High Graduate and will soon graduate from Harvard Law School. David was also a merit scholar when he attended Arizona State. He will be working for the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington , D.C. this fall. He will be an environmental lawyer dealing with climate change issues. Before attending law school, Baake attended Arizona State University, where he obtained a B.S. in Biology and researched the effects of climate change on the timing and success of reproduction in birds of prey. At Harvard Law School, he served as a managing editor of the Harvard Environmental Law Review and worked extensively with the Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School. He also completed internships with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice (through the Harvard Law School semester in Washington, D.C., program), and the Sierra Club. During his time at Harvard Law School, he has also authored two law review articles and one case comment. His most recent article, due to be published in the Environmental Law Reporter this summer, considers whether it would be legal for the President to bind the United States to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by sole executive agreement.
Phyllis M. Goode
Ramirez Charter Elementary School, Nat Williams Elementary School, Hutchinson Middle School, Lubbock High School
Phyllis took a Gap year after graduating from LHS, where she earned an IB diploma. She traveled to China for 6 weeks working at an English Language school; then to Australia and Bali. Now finishing her Sophomore year at Austin College, she has been awarded a GoFellowship from Austin College to go to Taiwan for the summer to work with the Siraya tribe to help them with cultural preservation and gaining indigenous status. Then she will be spending the 2014-15 School Year studying abroad in China, for which she has been awarded a Boren Scholarship of $20,000. She has also been named a Sumner Foundation Scholar, receiving a $10,000 scholarship each year for her Jr. and Sr. years at Austin College. She plans to enter the Foreign Service after Graduation. As her dad, I give credit to her adventuresome spirit, and the teachers she has had in LISD for encouraging her to think big and try things. Especially the teachers in the IB program at Lubbock High.
Jason Wilkes
Lubbock High School
I utilized the LEAP program to attend Lubbock High School, giving me the opportunity to excel in academics, athletics, and NJROTC. When I graduated in 2010, these opportunities resulted in appointments to the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, and a full ride NROTC scholarship to Rice University. I chose to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, where I am currently a senior. I have competed all 4 years as a Division 1 Track athlete, earning Patriot League Conference academic honors and placing top 3 at the conference championship multiple times. My major is Electrical Engineering, with a focus in Photonics and Optics, where I am working with the USMA Photonics Research Center to set a new world record in VCSEL fiber optic communications. Upon graduation in May 2014, I will commission as a Armor Officer in the United States Army. Thanks to the opportunities provided at Lubbock High School, I now have the honor to lead America's sons and daughters in a combat role.
Karen Miles
Whiteside Elementary School
As one of the "Whiteside Originals," I want to say congratulations to such a great school. I started in kindergarten, the first day for me and for the school, and graduated from there in sixth grade only to be accepted to the magnet program at Hutchinson Jr. High. Thirty years later I still remember all of my great teachers, student council, being selected to represent my grade for the school lunch menu on the news, being a whiteside student worker, field days and, of course, our school song and spirit song. Whiteside definitely made me strive to go above and beyond in my educational goals and I hope as a parent that my children are as lucky as I was to have the best experiences.
Spencer Wells
Lubbock High School
Spencer Wells is a leading population geneticist and director of the Genographic Project from National Geographic and IBM. His fascination with the past has led the scientist, author, and documentary filmmaker to the farthest reaches of the globe in search of human populations who hold the history of humankind in their DNA. By studying humankind's family tree he hopes to close the gaps in our knowledge of human migration.
Clif Magness
Monterey High School
Known as Clif Newton while at MHS. Grammy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated Writer/Producer Clif Magness’ career includes over two decades worth of hits, and with over 85 million records sold, Clif is showing no signs of slowing down.Clif was an instrumental part in the careers of two of the biggest female pop stars of the past decade, AVRIL LAVIGNE & KELLY CLARKSON. Being among the first writer/producers to work with Avril, Clif’s writing and production style became the benchmark for her debut album, “Let Go”, and he continued his success with her on tracks from her sophomore hit “Under My Skin.” Clif was also among the first to work with Kelly Clarkson after she won the first season of Ameri! can Idol. Clif produced tracks on Kelly’s debut “Thankful” and co-wrote and produced tracks from her enormously successful follow up “Breakaway.” With such great success working with Kelly Clarkson, Clif has become a favorite go-to guy of Clive Davis and J Records for all of the American Idol winners. Clif has produced tracks for CLAY AIKEN and BO BICE, and is asked by American Idol to write hits for the upcoming winners of each season. But beyond American Idol, Clif has also had the pleasure of producing and writing for numerous other young artists including TYLER HILTON, THE VERONICAS and LANDON PIGG, just to name a few. Clif’s string of hit singles and records began in the 1980s when he had a #1 hit with JACK WAGNER (“All I Need”) and a top 5 hit with WILSON PHILLIPS (“Impulsive”). In 1990 Clif took home a Grammy for the song “The Places You Find Love” from Quincy Jones’ critically acclaimed album “Back On The Block.” Just three years later, in 1993, Clif was nominated for an Oscar and a Go! lden Globe for the song “The Day I Fall In Love” from the film “Beethoven’s 2nd.” Throughout the 1990’s and in to the present Clif has continued to work with outstanding artists such as CELINE DION, HANSON, AMY GRANT, VANESSA AMOROSI, CHANTAL KREVIAZUK, JUDE, THE URGE and LISA MARIE PRESLEY.
Christina Ritter
Hodges Elementary, Hutchinson Jr. High, Lubbock High School
Christina Ritter is Executive Director of Student Performance, Amarillo High Cluster, for Amarillo ISD. She is in charge of seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school campus. Additionally, she oversees multiple departments and programs in Amarillo ISD, including Gifted and Talented, Guidance and Counseling, Safety and Security, Reading Recovery, Safe and Healthy Schools, and Response to Intervention. She attended Hodges Elementary, Hutchinson Jr. High, and Lubbock High.
Christina said, “I have such great memories of my school experiences in Lubbock. I taught at Wilson for approximately half of a year and Cavazos for 3 years as the Life Science Honors (7th grade) and Biology Honors (9th grade) teacher. My experience teaching in Lubbock was equally rewarding as my experiences as a student.”
Cody Comiskey
Monterey High School
While at Monterey, Cody received the President's Education Award for outstanding Academic Excellence. He was also voted Most Likely to Succeed by his peers. He graduated in the top 12% of his class. With the guidance of his teachers and counselors, Cody enrolled at Texas Tech to pursue a degree in Geophysics. While at Tech, Cody was named to the President's or Dean's list every semester. He was inducted into several honor societies including: Alpha Lambda Delta National Academic Honor Society for Freshmen, Phi Eta Sigma, National Honor Society, Golden Key International Honor Society and the greek honor society Order of Omega. He was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa to which membership is only offered to one percent of college undergraduates. Cody also served as President of the Interfraternity Council for two years, where he was named Greek Man of the Year in 2010, and the President of Order of Omega Greek for one year. Cody graduated from Tech in 2011 Cum Laude with a degree in Geophysics and a double minor in Mathematics and Atmospheric Sciences. Cody was accepted to graduate school by Baylor University in the summer of 2011, where he is studying deep earth seismology. After graduation in May, he has accepted a position with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation based in the Woodlands, Texas, as a Geophysicist.
Steve Barker
Bozeman Elementary, Parkway Elementary, Alderson Junior High, Mackenize Junior High, Coronado High School
Steve Barker attended Bozeman, Parkway, Alderson Junior High, Mackenize Junior High, and Coronado High School. After graduating in 1972, he went into the Air Force, and then returned to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University. He graduated from Wayland Baptist University with a degree in Criminal Justice and worked for the Lubbock Police Department for more than 6 years. Steve joined the U.S. Secret Service and was assigned to President G. W. Bush and worked protective detail for Pope John Paul, when he visited the United States. Steve retired in 2005 and now serves as the Director of Security for Covenant Health. LISD gave Steve a great beginning, and he did the rest.
Rece Riney
Nat Williams Elementary
Rece's parents had a choice on where to send her for school, and they chose Nat Williams Elementary. Her mother has taught at the school for more than a decade, and feels that the school and staff are her family. Rece has called Nat Williams her family for five years, and now has the privilege to call her mom her teacher.
Jeremy D. Cortez
Arnett Elementary, Hutchinson Middle School, Estacado High School
Jeremy D. Cortez was raised by a single mom and his extended family on the east side of Lubbock. Jeremy attended Arnett Elementary and Hutchinson Middle School. He graduated in the top 10% of Estacado High School and earned many academic scholarships to Texas Tech. He has impacted and changed many lives at Hutchinson Middle School, Cavazos Middle School, Lubbock High School and Mentor Tech. He has come full-circle and works as an At-Risk/College Advisor at Estacado HS. He has developed and organized many programs at EHS to keep students in school and help them get into college.
Madeline Stockwell
Monterey High School
Madeline Stockwell (MHS 2010) transferred from Cooper school district to Monterey after her 8th grade year. Because of Superintendent Scholars and the excellent math teachers of LISD, she excelled on the PSAT, earned National Hispanic Recognition Scholar, and is currently on a FULL RIDE academic scholarship at THE Ohio State University. Madeline is majoring in Spanish and International Studies and plans to attend graduate school at Georgetown University and then enter the Foreign Service.
Josh Wilson
Coronado High School
Singer/songwriter Josh Wilson grew up the son of a preacher in Lubbock, Texas. He attended Coronado High School. He signed to Sparrow Records in 2006 and released his major label debut, Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup in 2008. The album was met with critical acclaim, hailed by Christian Retailing as “the future of Christian pop” and named among the Top Ten Best Albums of 2008 by GospelMusicChannel.com. Since then he has released numerous No. 1 hits including “Savior Please” and the powerful track “Before the Morning,” which recently landed the No. 4 spot on Billboard’s Year-End Christian Songs chart, while also releasing a sophomore album, “Life Is Not A Snapshot” and a compilation self-titled record. Wilson also attracted national media attention and a breakout viral video when he had travelers at the Newark airport breakout in "Hey Jude" during a 6-hour security lockdown. http://www.joshwilsonmusic.com
Keith Mann
Haynes Elementary, Evans Jr. High, Monterey High
Keith Mann didn’t always dream of becoming president of Lubbock National Bank. In fact, as a student at Haynes Elementary, Evans Jr. High and Monterey High School, Keith was mostly consumed with basketball and baseball. However, after his math teacher at Monterey convinced him that he had a special talent with mathematics, Keith realized that his future would include a future in banking. Keith credits Mr. Fox with giving him the confidence and encouragement to pursue a degree in accounting at Texas Tech University. Thanks to Mr. Fox and a talent in math, Keith’s story has taken him to new heights as the president of Lubbock National Bank.
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