Jessica Portales graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 2015 at Argyle High School. She plans to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where she will study biology. Portales’ goal is to become a radiologist.
During her time at Argyle High, Portales was involved in band, choir and the musical production of Annie. Her teacher Cliff McCurdy (statistics, pre-calculus, calculus) influenced her the most.
Portales earned several scholarships/grants to schools including Georgetown University, the University of Texas, the University of Arizona and the University of Alabama, Birmingham. She also received a scholarship from the Argyle PTSA.
“The band program changed my life,” she said. “It taught me dedication, introduced me to 90 percent of my friends and earned me three gold medals at marching band championships.”
Samantha Rider is Argyle HS salutatorian for 2015. She plans to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison to study genetics or microbiology, along with economics.
Rider was part of UIL Academics, band, the floor crew and the National Honor Society at Argyle HS. She said McCurdy (statistics, pre-calculus, calculus, physics, Independent Study for UIL) is also the teacher that influenced her the most.
She earned several scholarships, including: the University of Wisconsin’s Chancellor’s Scholarship; the Peoria Tribe; the University of Oklahoma, OU National Scholar; the University of Washington, Purple and Gold Scholar; and Ohio State University’s National Buckeye Scholarship and Maximus Scholarship.
“My favorite memories (aside from time with friends) include winning the Star Marching Band Championship,” she said.
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