May 19, 2025 - Comal ISD hosted the 24th Annual Jan Heckendorn Academic Banquet May 6, honoring this year’s top graduating seniors along with an honored educator selected by each student.
The evening included the presentation of the Jan Heckendorn Scholarship by the Heckendorn family and scholarship committee which chose to award three $2,500 scholarships this year. Scholarship recipients are Erika Carrillo from Canyon Lake High School, Annika Coston from Davenport High School and Maeson Frazier also from DHS.
The banquet’s namesake, Jan Heckendorn, was instrumental in the founding and creating of the Comal Education Foundation, and she was the driving force behind the Academic Recognition Banquet. At the time, she wanted to celebrate the academic achievements of students and highlight the educators who helped them reach their goals.
No doubt, she would be pleased that her vision continues today as the district honors 85 students at the banquet including the top 15 from its five comprehensive high schools and the top five from its two schools of choice.
This year’s educators who were chosen, represent all areas of a student’s journey from elementary teachers including a kindergarten teacher and middle school teachers to high school counselors, coaches, band and dance directors, career and technical education teachers in agriculture, engineering and family science as well as advanced placement and dual credit teachers.
Among the 85 honorees from the Class of 2025, were two sets of twins, both from Pieper High School, one National Merit Scholar, one National Merit Finalist, two students with appointments to the United States Air Force Academy and seven students with commitments to play the sport of their choice at the collegiate level.
The students and educators are listed here by campus.
Canyon High School Top 15 and Educator Honorees
- Annalisa Abell and teacher Gary Anderson
- Valeria Arenas Escobar and teacher Christine Warzecha
- Amber Bailey and teacher Sandra Pina
- Anna Benson and teacher Christine Avary-Gibson
- Ben Coronado and teacher Hailey Sansom
- Reed DeWitt and principal Amanda Schumann
- Neil Dobbs and teacher Erin Kinkade-Dyal
- Paige Gately and teacher Sarah Keno
- Isabella Gusman and coach Terrie Nowlin
- Callie Arlene Henderson and teacher Lance Jonas
- Evan Morgan and teacher Sydney Scooler-Rivera
- Presley Patek and teacher Michelle Koehl
- Emelia Marie Storey and coach Heather Sanders
- Kaden James Vincent and principal Amanda Schumann
- Lillian Ann West and teacher Haylie Sansom
Canyon Lake High School Top 15 and Honored Educators
- Ethan Bailey and teacher Eduardo Gonzales
- Sophia Mercedes Balderas and teacher Omar Gomez
- Brenten Barnes and teacher Eduardo Gonzales
- Ella Jenkins and teacher Gaby Torres
- Kaitlyn Erika Kasch and teacher Charles Van Houten
- Gavin Landrus and teacher Jordan Davis
- Ayren Lightfoot and teacher Rosalind Belyeu
- Huntleigh Morast and teacher Ruth Escamilla
- Ava Peralez and teacher Sarah Grudle
- Reagan Reinarz and teacher Kara Stracener
- Savannah Slegers and teacher Ben Matthews
- Jacob Tuckness and teacher Robert Ceyanes
- Barlow Red Fox Williamson and teacher Ben Matthews
- Rylee Wunderlich and teacher Morgan Webel
- Psalm Margaret Belleza Zulueta and teacher Brent Ferguson
Davenport High School Top 15 Students and Honored Educators
- Eli Bliss and coach Mike Burgess
- Adam Elza and teacher John Martelli
- Maeson Emry Frazier and teacher Candice Ornes
- Raithe Fox and teacher Jeff McKinley
- Mabry Haley and teacher Wendy Nosal
- Nathanael Irving and teacher Martin Acosta
- Kinley Keller and teacher Wendy Nosal
- Derek Lock and teacher Candice Ornes
- Caitlyn Long and teacher coach Mike Burgess
- Jacinda Morales and teacher Tyler McClendon
- Dailyn Morgan and teacher Kimberly Moon
- Lathan Naizer and teacherJeffrey Keyes
- Jacob Simmons and teacher Martin Acosta
- Athena Sorenson and teacher Keriann Oertell, Ph.D.
- Molly Woods and coach Trey Woods
Hill Country College Preparatory High School Top 5 Students and Honored Educators
- Jacob Bautista and teacher Louis Cavallaro
- Marley Donovan and teacher Jennifer Fey
- Catelyn Ford and teacher Tracey Anderson
- Caden Jansen and teacherJulie Davison
- Sara Ziegler and teacher A'ndrea Fisher
Memorial Early College High School top 5 Students and Honored Educators
- Sophia Grace Arreguin and principal Ashley Jackson
- Reagan Cecelia Horvath and teacher Francine Miller-Sallese
- Brooke Ashlyn Lohse and teacher Ashley Buehler
- Brooke Michaela Perry and teacher Richard Muenich
- Cali Christiana Wiatrek and teacher Mason Cardiff
Pieper High School Top 15 Students and Honored Educators
- Mya Galvan and teacher Christine Velasquez
- Gabriel Gilbert-Deveraux and teacher Ryan L. Drechsel
- Gideon Gilbert-Deveraux and teacher Spencer Cox
- Brody Izard and teacher Jennifer Koehl
- Sean Lew and teacher James McNeese
- Chloe Monson and teacher Melanie Robison
- Quyen Nguyen and teacher Sabrina Myers
- Leinell Ombaba and teacher Amanda Listiak
- Natalia Ortiz and teacher Spencer Cox
- Sawyer Parks and teacher Christine Velasquez
- Caroline Peterson and teacher Emily Kacyvenski
- John Shenouda and teacher Nydia Herzog
- Michael Shenouda and counselor Kristen Guerra
- Logan Walker and teacher Ryan L. Drechsel
- Rylie Wisecarver and teacher Jennifer Koehl
Smithson Valley High School Top 15 Students and Honored Teachers
- Blake Allen and coach Chad Koehl
- Evelyn Armour and teacher Debora Parker
- Marlowe Berry and teacher Tracy Medina
- Madeleine Chaney and teacher Laura Heldmann
- Bridget George and teacher Robby Andrade
- Erin Mahoney and teacher Shauna Douglass
- Bethany Mann and teacher Kirsten Watkins
- Parker Moeller and coach William Lynch
- Kylah Moller and teacher Melanie Phillips
- Natalia Nava and teacher Kathryn Rutledge
- Hudson Patteson and teacher Christina Post
- Caroline Peter and teacher Klaus Weinelt
- Isabella Rodriguez and teacher Jacob Ulbricht
- Ellie Suarez and teacher Mary Blevins
- Ella Winkler and teacher Richard Chouinard
View photos from the 24th Annual Jan Heckendorn Academic Banquet here.
24th Annual Jan Heckendorn Academic Banquet 2025 Video
Congratulations!
Photo descriptions
-The three Comal ISD seniors receiving the Jan Heckendorn Scholarship pictured from left are Maeson Frazier, Erika Carrillo and Annika Coston.
-Three Comal ISD students received the Jan Heckendorn Scholarship this year during the 24th Annual Jan Heckendorn Academic Recognition Banquet on May 6.