McKinney, Texas — With the sun soon to set on the 2025–2026 school year, McKinney ISD paused to honor 45 remarkable seniors on Thursday, May 7, with the highest award the district bestows on a student — The Distinguished Student Award — at its annual Distinguished Student Awards Dinner.
Held each spring at the district's Community Event Center, the dinner and award ceremony shines the spotlight on the most outstanding seniors from McKinney Boyd, McKinney High School and McKinney North who have been chosen not only for their academic achievements but also for their commitment and dedication in a specific area—English, Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Career & Technology, Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Athletics—as well as At-Large honorees and the Valedictorian and Salutatorian from each school.
McKinney ISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt at the 2026 McKinney ISD Distinguished Student Awards Dinner held on Thursday, May 7, at the MISD Community Event Center
While the DSA honorees were selected by the faculty at their respective schools, each of the students in turn had the opportunity to name one teacher who made the most significant impact over the course of their academic career. Those teachers were honored with the MISD Inspirational Teacher Award.
The evening was filled with poignant moments as the Inspirational Teachers heard from the students how they impacted them.
"To our teachers," Pratt said at the podium, "congratulations on being selected. We're blessed with outstanding teachers in McKinney ISD, and they create magic in the classroom. They are where the rubber meets the road for our students. So, teachers, thank you very much."
And then Pratt addressed the Distinguished Student Award recipients. "Your academic excellence, your contributions to your school and your commitment to character and integrity set you apart, and the future is bright because of you. As you move forward in the next chapter of your journey, I encourage you to use the talents you have to make a positive impact on the world and to serve others."
Congratulations to the 2025–2026 Distinguished Students and their Inspirational Teachers!
English Honors
Geneviève de Gaalon — McKinney Boyd High School — English
Inspirational Teacher — Stefanie McCarthy
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Stefanie McCarthy, Geneviève de Gaalon, MISD Trustee Corey Homer
Samantha Sneller — McKinney High School — English
Inspirational Teacher — Ricardo Sneller
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Samantha Sneller, Ricardo Sneller, MISD Trustee Corey Homer
Anna Largaespada Castillo — McKinney North High School — English
Inspirational Teacher — Tara Zappe
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, North Principal Justin Penio for Tara Zappe who was unable to attend, Anna Largaespada Castillo, MISD Trustee Corey Homer
Science Honors
Namasvi Patel — McKinney Boyd High School — Science
Inspirational Teacher — Kerry Roy
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kerry Roy, Namasvi Patel, MISD Trustee Corey Homer
Zachary Neverdousky — McKinney High School — Science
Inspirational Teacher — Rhea Nordberg
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Rhea Nordberg, Zachary Neverdousky, MISD Trustee Corey Homer
Shreya Chougule — McKinney North High School — Science
Inspirational Teacher — Faisal Khan
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Shreya Chougule, Faisal Khan, MISD Trustee Corey Homer
Social Studies Honors
Hebbah Hussain — McKinney Boyd High School — Social Studies
Inspirational Teacher — Mikaela Schababerle
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Hebbah Hussain, Mikaela Schababerle, MISD Trustee Larry Jagours
Andrew Indrea — McKinney High School — Social Studies
Inspirational Teacher — Richard McGowan
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Andrew Indrea, MHS Principal Dr. Paula Kent for Richard McGowan who was unable to attend, MISD Trustee Larry Jagours
Riley Morriss — McKinney North High School — Social Studies
Inspirational Teacher — Stephanie Cusack
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Riley Morriss, Stephanie Cusack, MISD Trustee Larry Jagours
Mathematics Honors
Brylee Weisz — McKinney Boyd High School — Mathematics
Inspirational Teacher — Amy Heischman
(L-R) Brylee Weisz and Amy Heischman
Taro Higuchi — McKinney High School — Mathematics
Inspirational Teacher — Robert Mierow
(L-R) Taro Higuchi, Robert Mierow, MISD Trustee Larry Jagours
Cayden Rios — McKinney North High School — Mathematics
Inspirational Teacher — Erica Trammell
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, North Principal Justin Penio for Erica Trammell who was unable to attend, Cayden Rios, MISD Trustee Larry Jagours
Career & Technology Honors
Oliver Miller — McKinney Boyd High School — Career & Technology
Inspirational Teacher — James Martin
(L-R) MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell, James Martin, Oliver Miller, MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt
Samantha Moses — McKinney High School — Career & Technology
Inspirational Teacher — Jacob Parr
(L-R) Samantha Moses, Jacob Parr, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Isabelle Procaccini — McKinney North High School — Career & Technology
Inspirational Teacher — Jacob Mannis
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jacob Mannis, Isabelle Procaccini, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Foreign Language Honors
Zaynah Farah — McKinney Boyd High School — Foreign Language
Inspirational Teacher — Mikaela Schababerle
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Zaynah Farah, Mikaela Schababerle, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Alicia Akinola — McKinney High School — Foreign Language
Inspirational Teacher — Gregory Shields
(L-R) Alicia Akinola, Gregory Shields, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Nellie Romanchenko — McKinney North High School — Foreign Language
Inspirational Teacher — Lizbeth Testa
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Lizbeth Testa, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell (Nellie Romanchenko was unable to attend)
Fine Arts Honors
There are three Fine Arts Award recipients from each high school.
Andrea Dingui — McKinney Boyd High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Vanessa Santamaria
(L-R) Vanessa Santamaria, Andrea Dingui
Addison Kinnon — McKinney Boyd High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Caris Dunn
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Addison Kinnon, Caris Dunn, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Evie Miller — McKinney Boyd High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Samuel Thomas
(L-R) Samuel Thomas, Evie Miller, Caris Dunn, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Zalana Aguillard — McKinney High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Jeffrey Harvick
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Zalana Aguillard, Jeffrey Harvick, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Drew Dossett — McKinney High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Jessica Lawrence
(L-R) Jessica Lawrence, Drew Dossett, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Ryan Hoppe — McKinney High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Ryan Kuster
(L-R) Ryan Kuster, Ryan Kuster, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Camila Alvarez Reyna — McKinney North High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Elizabeth Wright
(L-R) Elizabeth Wright, Camila Alvarez Reyna
William Ruthardt — McKinney North High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Connor Vaughn
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Connor Vaughn, William Ruthardt, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Warner Yan — McKinney North High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Lamar Smith
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Lamar Smith, Warner Yan, MISD Trustee Stephanie O'Dell
Athletics Honors
There are two Athletics Award recipients from each high school.
Oliver Bryant — McKinney Boyd High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Chris Walker
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Oliver Bryant, Chris Walker, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
Ava Simpson — McKinney Boyd High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Katie Abel
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Ava Simpson, Katie Abel, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
Johnny Allen — McKinney High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Ralph Rubalcaba
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Ralph Rubalcaba, Johnny Allen, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
Keira Gallegos — McKinney High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Kristi Hager
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kristi Hager, Keira Gallegos, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
Danny Forrester — McKinney North High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Jeffrey Sher
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Danny Forrester, Jeffrey Sher, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
Gabriella Rodriguez — McKinney North High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Libby Rodriguez
(L-R) Libby Rodriguez, Gabriella Rodriguez
At-Large Honors
There are two At-Large Award recipients from each high school.
Caleb McCoulskey — McKinney Boyd High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Amy Harrington
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Amy Harrington, Caleb McCoulskey, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
EmilyKate Eckenrode — McKinney Boyd High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Stefani Gundel
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Stefani Gundel, EmilyKate Eckenrode, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
Daniel Nwaekwe — McKinney High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Mark Bayer
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Daniel Nwaekwe, Mark Bayer, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
Danielle Howard — McKinney High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Cindy Erhart
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Danielle Howard, Cindy Erhart
Aiden Trusty — McKinney North High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — David Drueckhammer
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Aiden Trusty, David Drueckhammer, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
Elijah Trusty — McKinney North High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Jessica Richards
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Elijah Trusty, Jessica Richards, MISD Trustee Kenneth Ussery
Salutatorian Honors
Keira Bose — McKinney Boyd High School — Salutatorian
Inspirational Teacher — Jennifer Quigley
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jennifer Quigley, Keira Bose, MISD Vice President Harvey Oaxaca
Carson Holland — McKinney High School — Salutatorian
Inspirational Teacher — Theresa Horvath
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Carson Holland, Theresa Horvath
Sophie Yu — McKinney North High School — Salutatorian
Inspirational Teacher — Erica Trammell
(L-R) Sophie You, North Principal Justin Penio holding picture of Erica Trammell who was unable to attend
Valedictorian Honors
Cole Wakefield — McKinney Boyd High School — Valedictorian
Inspirational Teacher — Megan Hart
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Boyd Principal Dr. David Hodum for Megan Hart who was unable to attend, Cole Wakefield, MISD Vice President Harvey Oaxaca
Kammie Kristufek — McKinney High School — Valedictorian
Inspirational Teacher — Ryan Newhouse
(L-R) Kammie Kristufek, Ryan Newhouse
Rafaela Zentner — McKinney North High School — Valedictorian
Inspirational Teacher — Lizbeth Testa
(L-R) Lizbeth Testa, Rafaela Zentner
More Photos!
