May 26, 2011 - Senior Leeana Gentry puts on her blue graduation gown, as her class prepares for their Cap and Gown picture, taken Friday morning in the high school gym. - Betsy Blevins staff photo

On Thursday, May 19, the 2011 Leonard High School graduates were invited to First Baptist Church of Leonard at noon for a luncheon of baked potatoes with chicken or beef fajita meat, and lots of other toppings. After the meal, the graduates gathered around the bell tower on the southwest corner of the church property for a photo shoot.

May 26, 2011 - The Leonard Tiger Band Boosters and Band Directors organized the annual Band Banquet this past Monday evening. Attendees enjoyed a barbecue dinner, the recognition of several groups for their successes throughout the year, the presentation of awards in both the high school and junior high, the announcement of next year's leadership team (see pictures at left) and a slideshow highlighting the year's activities.

May 26, 2011 - During the eighth grade awards assembly on Friday, May 20, school officials announced the valedictorian and salutatorian for the eighth grade graduating class. Valedictorian is Sarah Wilkinson (center) with a 97.65 grade-point average (GPA) and Co-Salutatorians are Chyenne Baker (left) and Nayla Gomez (right), who tied with a 97.5 GPA. - Betsy Blevins staff photo

May 26, 2011 - Haley Alicia Brunson is the 17-year-old daughter of David and Patti Brunson. She is a member of First United Methodist Church of Leonard and has attended Leonard schools seven years.

Haley has been active in Drill Team three years, golf three years, FCA four years, student government four years, yearbook staff four years, BETA Club four years and UIL three years. Her honors include the following: drill team officer two years; golf medalist one year and varsity member two years; FCA officer four years, including huddle coordinator one year, secretary two years and president one year; student government secretary one year; yearbook layout designer four years; and the National Who's Who Journalism award for two years.

Some of her favorite things are as follows: food, Taco Bell; drink, Diet Dr. Pepper; color, blue; place, her room; movie, Something Borrowed; actor, Ian Somerhalder; actress, Reece Witherspoon; song, Tonight Tonight by Hot Chelle Rea; person, her sister Kelsie; and book, Harry Potter Series.

Haley's favorite thing at LHS is being a cheer coordinator for powder puff. Her advice for underclassmen is "Follow your dreams." In her free time she likes to watch movies. If she could do anything, she would go to cooking school in Paris. If she had the power to change anything, she would stop child abuse. He pet peeve is listening to people chew.

After graduation, Haley plans to attend TWU and get a degree in Culinary Arts.