Pilot Point's top two graduates for the class of 2026, Makenzie Neal and Rylee Le-Marr, are excited to celebrate their achievements together.
'Having my best friend being salutatorian, it's just cool that we get to do it all together,' Neal said. 'The things we're nervous about, we're both nervous about. The things that's fun, we're both excited about. It's been a great experience.'
Neal, who wrapped up senior year with a GPA of 104.673, plans to head to Stephen F. Austin University to pursue a degree in horticulture.
'My career is going to be a certified guide dog mobility trainer, so training seeing eye dogs,' Neal said.
She wants to 'combine all [her] passions,' namely her love of dogs and her desire to help people.
She said that one of her most influential PPISD teachers was Kandis Milner, who taught her pre-calculus.
'She's an amazing teacher,' Neal said. 'I don't know anyone who didn't like her.'
Neal moved into Pilot Point ISD in the eighth grade from Denton ISD.
'Being in a small town is great,' Neal said.
Her family has been behind her throughout her educational journey.
'My parents are great,' she said of Eric and Jennifer Neal. 'They support me in everything. I probably couldn't do it without them at all. They literally helped me with anything I could possibly need.'
While in high school, Neal competed in cross country all four years, softball her first two and National Honors Society throughout her time at PPHS.
LeMarr, who has been a Bearcat since sixth grade, is set to head to Texas State University to obtain her degree in nursing.
'I want to become a flight nurse, like a CareFlite nurse, and get my helicopter license,' she said. '... I didn't want a desk job, and I wanted to help people and have something that was very high adrenaline, and it definitely fits that.'
LeMarr's final cumulative GPA was a 103.613.
She credited her parents, Daryl and Mary LeMarr, with helping her, especially her father.
'My dad has helped a lot,' Le-Marr said. '... He has helped me on literally all of my dual credit assignments, so he definitely gets the ball rolling.'
She also participated in athletics, doing basketball for two years, track for three and cross country for four years.
LeMarr also served as the president of the National Honor Society for her senior year, an organization she was part of for all four years of high school.
Band, too, was a big part of LeMarr's life, playing euphonium.
She, too, felt that Milner was a big influence on her, as was Michael Keith.
'He was a genius,' LeMarr said. 'He taught ninth grade English, so [he was my] first teacher in high school.'
She echoed what Neal said about the value of growing together since becoming friends in eighth grade.
'Makenzie didn't say anything until ninth grade,' Le-Marr said. 'She was so quiet.'
Neal chuckled. 'She said everything, but it worked,' she said.
