SMEF calls for distinguished alumni nominations

The San Marcos Education Foundation (SMEF) is accepting nominations through Sept. 20 for the 2019 San Marcos High School Distinguished Alumni Award and Young Alumni Award.

Recipients of the awards are recognized during the halftime program at the San Marcos High School Rattler Homecoming football game on Nov. 1. Distinguished alumni are also honored at a pre-game reception in the San Marcos High School Library. 

“The San Marcos Education Foundation is pleased to salute the achievements of outstanding Alumni whose personal lives, professional achievements and community service exemplify the objectives of our Alma Mater,” said Dr. Rosina Valle, SMEF alumni affairs chair.

The purpose of the Distinguished Alumni Award is to recognize and honor graduates of San Marcos High School whose achievements, strength of character and citizenship serve as models to inspire and challenge today's youth. The award is open to any alumnus or alumna who graduated from San Marcos High School (attending for a minimum of two years) and is at least 35 years of age at the time of the nomination. 

The Distinguished Young Alumni Award is also presented each year to an alumnus or alumna who graduated from San Marcos High School (attending for a minimum of two years) and is under 35 years of age.  

Any person may submit a nomination for consideration by the SMEF alumni awards committee. The nomination must include a typed cover letter summarizing the nominee’s eligibility, supporting documents such as a resume or biographical sketch and/or up to three letters of support. Nominations will be accepted through September 20. 

More information and online nomination forms are located on the SMEF website at http://www.smeducationfoundation.org/alumni.

Previous recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award (with their graduation years) are Dr. Gwen K. Smith, 1933; Dottie Sims, 1940; Patty Sherrill Sullivan, 1944; Handler Smith, 1953; Jimmie Scott, Ross King and Fran Contreras, 1954; Fraye Baldridge Stokes and H. C. Kyle III, 1955; Delores Crittendon, William W. Burnett, Harry Max Reasoner, Virginia Witte and Sarah Jane (King) Latham, 1956; Joyce Abel, 1958; William “Bill” Pennington and Dr. Tino Villaneuva, 1960.

Also John A. Diaz, Dale Linebarger and Rita Morrison Jones 1961; Richard “Rusty” Phillips, Melba Vasquez, John Roberts, Edward O. Wiley, and John McBride, 1962; Georgia Hoody Cheatham, 1963; Reece Morrison, Linda Gregg Fields, Rebecca (Becky) Davis Tomblin, Wade Butler and Barbara Jones Chambers, 1964; Richard Cruz, Frank Arredondo, Randall Morris, Rebecca Y. Mendez Sierra, Dr. Janet Barton Speer and Loraine Harrison, 1964; Brenda Dale Perkins Butler, 1967; Homer Guerrero and Connie Laechein Bagley, 1968.

Additionally, Ruben Ruiz, Jr., Liz Champagne Johnson, Dolores Aguirre McAllister, Charles Soechting, Rodney Bingham and Jack Eben, 1969; Dr. Clay Sullivan and Herbert Yarbrough III, and Mary Balance Wortham (Class of 1970) ; Dawn Breihan-Hopp and Allan Van Fleet, 1971; Tricia Tingle and Judge Linda Ann Rodriguez, 1973; David Peterson, Javier Ledesma, Scott Yarbrough, Beth Stephen Beck, Melvin Callender and Dr. Rosina (Ruiz) Valle, 1974; Troy Kimmel, 1975; George Phillip Hansen, Scott Burton and Major General James William Hyatt, 1974; Carol Moore Hanes, Tony Walker and Elizabeth Crook, 1977.

Finally, Rene Ruiz and Elizabeth (Ingram) Tuttle, 1978; Sandra Cavazos, 1979; Mike Wacker, 1980; Darrell Hamlin and Shelley Scott Henry, 1981; Andrea Murdock McDaniel and Veronica Gonzales, 1982; Rob Thomas and Cinnamon Linda Strassman, 1983; Dr. Ellen Grimm, Helen Lowman, Ben Rodriguez, Jesse Lopez, and Kay Stroman, 1984; Kevin Brown, 1985; Robert Rodriguez, 1987; Rebecca Ybarra Ramirez, 1988; Steven Farr and Frank A. Arredondo, 1989; Michelle Castillo Moreno, 1991; Brandon Beck, Daniel Guerrero, and Freddy Duran, 1995; Michelle Cearley Knight, 1997; Kharley (Bagley) Smith and Raquel Cervantes-Nunez, 1999.

Outstanding Young Alumnus Awardees are Jenni Finlay, 1997, and Taryn Guerrero, 2003.