One traveled the nation and world making numerous stops along the way. The other spent kindergarten through 12th grade in Killeen ISD and helped inaugurate a new high school culture.
Both valedictorian Jerome Mina and salutatorian Alana Green are at the top of the Chaparral High School Class of 2026, the first to go all four years at Killeen ISD’s newest high school.
Chaparral High School graduation is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at the Cadence Bank Center.
Valedictorian Jerome Mina
Mina arrived at Chaparral as a sophomore and wasn’t familiar with class ranks. He began as No. 2, slipped to third last year and finished this year at the top.
The well-traveled valedictorian began school in Germany, arrived at Fort Hood in time to attend Duncan Elementary School on post before it closed, then Douse Elementary School. Next, he moved with his military family back to Germany, made a stop in El Paso and then back to Fort Hood, Killeen and Chaparral High School.
While taking a load of Advanced Placement and dual credit courses, Mina joined the soccer team mostly to stay active. “I never really expected to get to that varsity level. It was more to stay fit and to meet some new people. It was fun.”
Confident and easygoing, Mina said he appreciated the challenges and opportunities of the military life. He figures the cultural experiences will pay off for him.
“I think it was really beneficial for me in terms of experiencing different cultures, meeting different people in different walks of life,” he said. “It helped me in terms of letting go. Life goes on and so do you. You just have to keep spinning.”
He is set to attend Texas State University and to study mechanical engineering, a field that appeals to his desire to understand how things work.
“I like learning about the physics of some of the things we see in everyday life,” Mina explained, using the example of a ride at an amusement park and all the kinetic and gravitational energy it contains. “It really opens your eyes to how systems work.”
Preparing for his next stage, Mina said, “I’ll remember the friends I’ve made along the way and where we’re all headed as we are splitting off to different states and schools.”
Salutatorian Alana Green
The No. 2 graduate spent most of her high school years as No. 1 in the class before Mina overtook her. She admitted she was disappointed at first to slip from the top spot but also thrilled to be second in such a large class.
“It’s a blessing,” Green said. “Especially being here for all four years at Chap. I’ve been here since the paint on the walls was still wet. I actually remember taking a tour (before it opened). It’s a blessing to come this far and be salutatorian.”
Deeply involved in school activities, the salutatorian spent much of her time helping to form Student Council, where she was the inaugural secretary and president last year and is proud of the traditions she was able to influence for future Chaparral Bobcats.
“I’ve grown and expanded my horizons,” she said. “I believe this is the most resilient class because we set the foundation of future Bobcats while dealing with all the regular struggles of high school.”
Green helped start the schools’ visual art club, raised funds to visit a museum and eventually formalize the group into the National Art Honor Society.
She also took animation courses at the Career Center, where she spent half her school days the past two years and was part of DECA.
The salutatorian attended Timber Ridge Elementary School and Liberty Hill Middle School before spending four years at the new Chaparral High School.
She is set to study business and media at the University of Texas at Austin and plans to work in the animation field and produce original work.
“The main thing I’ll remember is building a legacy here and building that foundation for future classes. Not a lot of people can say they are the first graduating class after the first four years. Leaving that legacy here is awesome.”
Photos of all Killeen ISD valedictorians and salutatorians: https://www.killeenisd.org/photos