Since the beginning 25 years ago, the Killeen ISD Education Foundation Starmakers Academic Recognition Banquet has celebrated the brightest stars in the KISD galaxy.
This year’s event Thursday at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center was a silver-anniversary spectacular where a proud community gathered again to honor the very best scholars of the Class of 2026 and the educators and mentors who made them stars.
Six high school principals took turns at the stage to introduce the 10 highest-ranked academic students with their chosen most influential teacher or other mentor.
Most of the 61 students chose a teacher from their four years of high school. Several, though, went further back in their years of schooling.
Eight students chose an elementary school teacher. Three chose a middle school teacher. One chose a receptionist. One chose a permanent substitute teacher. One chose her mother, who is also a KISD bus driver.
“We have the privilege of making a difference,” said Education Foundation Director Leslie Gilmore. “Never forget we are all educators for the children in our community and it’s our responsibility to encourage and build up our students. They truly are our future.”
Levi Robinson, a top Chaparral High School graduate headed to the University of Texas to study neuroscience chose his first-grade teacher Melissa Davis, who still teaches at Saegert Elementary School where he attended.
“She was easily my best teacher,” he said. “Even though it was first grade it was probably my most memorable year. I learned a lot. That was the year I really started wanting to learn…I want to put quality into my work.”
“I had to keep reading that email,” said Davis, explaining how surprised she was to be her star student’s chosen teacher.
“First grade is a long time ago and there are so many wonderful educators along the way. I’m just very honored. I’m so proud of him. He’s always exceled…I’m so honored, blessed and so happy to be here.”
Foundation Board President Brittany Harris highlighted the past year for the foundation, noting a $200,000 KISD employee contribution campaign, $130,000 in scholarships awarded to students and almost $200,000 in grants to teachers.
While the event placed the brightest spotlight on seniors about to graduate, a flash of light splashed over to the leaders and volunteers who initiated the school district foundation and its most important traditions.
Former KISD Superintendent Charles Patterson brought forth the initial idea and guided it to inception in 2001.
Still a strong supporter of KISD and the namesake of a district middle school, the 90-year-old educator addressed the audience in person and through a video produced for the 25-year anniversary celebration.
Two presentations culminated the star-studded event tying together the past and present and looking to the future.
Bill Kliewer joined Gilmore on stage to present his family’s leadership award, a tradition began in 2010.
Thomas Pauley of Early College High School and Rebekah Koh of Harker Heights High School received $1,000 finalist scholarship awards. Garland Potvin III received the $10,000 award.
To end the evening of memories and awards, Gilmore invited Patterson on stage to officially announce formation of the Dr. Patterson Educational Impact Award, an endowed scholarship that begins with $30,000 the foundation raised to initiate the new honor.
A surprised, emotional Patterson expressed his longtime love for a community he helped to shape through decades of service and leadership.
“I have so many friends here, so many people I love. It means so much to me. The foundation was successful because of hundreds of people. I just happened to be the superintendent,” he said, especially praising initial foundation director Dawn Parnell, who attended the event.
“For me, you will always be my favorite Sunday School teacher, my precious friend and beloved mentor,” said Gilmore to Patterson, speaking for hundreds in the audience. “I love you.”
One of the many who made his way to the former superintendent at the end of the program, Potvin, the winner of the Kliewer award gave Patterson a hug and took a selfie with him.
The former Patterson Middle School student said the school’s namesake was a family friend and that he had a collection of selfies with him going back to sixth grade.
“Honestly, I’m really proud and honored I got chosen for this scholarship award and hope I represent the family well,” Potvin said. “I’m really appreciative – all the donors and everything KISD has done. It’s really special.”
Follow this link to see galleries of photos from the Starmakers banquet and from the 25-history of the Education Foundation:
Killeen ISD photo albums: https://www.killeenisd.org/photos
The following is a listing of this year’s top 10 honorees and their chosen educators:
Ellison
Rayven Adkins Dinette Dormeus
Yiliannybet Castillo Bonita Jackson
Angelica Contreras De Aza Christina Chelby
Hunter Emblen Daniel Young
Yaseera Hamid Sylvia DeSantiago
Jadesola Oladipo Alisha Jones
Kristopher Pelayo Robin Scheafnocker
Garland Trip Potvin III Juli Schaub
Belto Villasanta II Stephen Howdeshell
Callie Walker Gerald Nicholas
Chaparral
Keenan Branch Nicole Green
Ahmed Al-Olmairi John Cook
Abigail Cruz Susan Ridgway
Grace Davila Patina Weimer
Jade Gile Sandra Maranto
Alana Green Barbara Tyler
Aireanna Jones Ashley Carrisalez
Samrah Khan Amanda Kistler
Jerome Mina Paul Finnen
Ava Morgan Chad Moore
Levi Robinson Melissa Davis
Early College
Haley Byrd Warren Grannis
Maxymus Channan Llojaira Ramirez-Rosario
Tony Chen Paulino Moralez
Sayuri Fejeran Svenjanicole Smith
Sienna Gonzalez Margaret Sparrow Casanova
Lara Gray Eric Fries
Kaiyah King Kelli Crayton
Thomas Pauley David Lambert
Carina Pitre Terrell Scriber
Aaliyah Vasquez Dorian Evans
Harker Heights
Madison Cho Allyssa Christ
Joshua Duenas Eric Skinner
Alexander Kim Suzanne Neff
Rebekah Koh Margaret Landes
Hannah Shin Lucas Leavitt
Hannah Thompson Michael Resetar
Israel Valdes-Munoz Mercedes Morales
Caroline Vanderburg Eric Skinner
Rachel Yancy Krystal Meredith
Gloria Yi Samantha Leavitt
Killeen
Joselinee Angulo Isaiah McFadden
Marcos Bedolla Sean Empey
Mackenna Dempsey Billie Burris
Nathaniel Ferguson Patricia Hobson
Jake Kilpatrick Kenneth McDaniel
Marie-Noelle Medlin Mitchell Gries
Lizbeth Mojica-Martinez Sonia Douglas
Zakhia Mosley Travis Waltz
Alexis Petty Tasha Mahagan
Arrayah Sanchez Reginald Mouton
Kaylee Wood Jamie Guthrie
Shoemaker
Aiva Bisquera Susan Ridgway
Charles Caraballo Lisa Brown
Alyssa Dell Kristine Trevino
Mark Degano Cindy Treadway
Flavio Gabriel Sean Hill
Maggie Ha Semi Harrison
Brenden Logan Adrienne Poole
Lily Nguyen Stephanie Nguyen
Timothy Mortenson Jr. Michelle Clark
Kharla Ruiz Trudy White