A perfect 10

By Lauren Ricks

May 07, 2008 10:07 am

— The end of the school year is fast approaching and graduating seniors will cross the stage in less than a month.
Before the final bell rings, 10 Athens High School seniors — Shelby Comito, Madalyn Smith, Emily Endres, Kaitlin Andress, Blake Rogers, Kathryn Schoonover, Clara Love, Grayson Griffin, Emily Boykin and Holly Eckert — were honored by the Education Committee of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, Athens Noon Kiwanis Club and Trinity Valley Community College on Tuesday.
The students had the top 10 grade point averages among 200 AHS seniors.
TVCC hosted the event and served lunch to the students, parents and community leaders.
“Try to find your niche, where you can be happy because that will determine your success,” said Bobbie Hawkins, board president for the East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society. Hawkins is also the past chair of the Athens Chamber of Commerce.
Former 1995 AHS graduate Conor Bateman also spoke to the students. Bateman gave advice to the students from his personal experience. He was in the top 10 of his class and continued to receive recognition throughout his college career.
Bateman graduated from Baylor in 1999 and University of Arkansas School of Law in 2002. In the fall of 2007 he came back to Athens to practice law in his family’s firm, Bateman & Bateman, L.L.P.
He based his speech on what he called the “Five Cs.”
Bateman encouraged the students to cogitate, or think. He said they should think about their accomplishments and future plans.
He said their character is important to a successful life. Bateman illustrated his point by quoting Booker T. Washington, Helen Keller and Margaret Thatcher.
“When things get tough, it is your character that gets you through,” Bateman said.
Bateman illustrated his third point, courage, with the experiences of Thomas Edison. He said Edison succeeded because he refused to give up, even after 2,000 failed attempts.
One of the quotes he used to illustrate his points was from Helen Keller:
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”
“You are going to be challenged. Courage will help you overcome your failures,” Bateman said.
Bateman said the students will face many challenges but they will serve to strengthen them. The final “C,” he later said, is congratulations.
“You have already overcome one of life’s greatest hurdles, high school,” he said. “Persistence is part of overcoming challenges and achieving your goal.”
Richard Riehn, president of Athens Noon Kiwanis Club, introduced each student and presented them with plaques.

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