A prospective opera singer and aspiring doctor are at the top of the Killeen High School Class of 2025.
Valedictorian Georgia Daskalakis and salutatorian Daysha Covarrubias pursued far different fields of interest in high school but expressed similar feelings of gratitude and satisfaction nearing graduation.
Daskalakis attended Bellaire Elementary, Nolan and Manor middle schools and Killeen High.
The valedictorian was active in Student Council, serving as president her senior year and in HOSA, serving as president the past two years. She was also in National Honor Society. She attended the Career Center, earning a medical assistantship certification.
Daskalakis is set to attend Texas A&M University and study biomedical sciences on her way to medical school and becoming an emergency room doctor.
Early in high school, she was ranked seventh in her class, jumped to second as a junior, then moved to the top spot as a senior.
“It was amazing,” she said of finding out she finished first in the class. “I couldn’t believe it at first. I was stressed when senior snapshot was coming out. It feels amazing to have that support here. I’m feeling happy right now.”
Close friends and supportive teachers have marked her time in high school.
“Definitely my teachers have helped me. I’ve been able to rely on them for more than academics. My friends made this unforgettable. I’m glad they have been a part of my life,” she said. “I’ll always have those memories.”
“I formed deep relationships with my teachers. I was never afraid to ask questions or have feedback,” she said. “I can go back to them even when I’m not in their classes anymore.”
Covarrubias was born in California. She moved to Killeen in middle school and attended Nolan and Manor before Killeen High.
“I feel very accomplished, very proud of myself. The past four years have been such a journey,” she said. She was ranked sixth and fifth through most of high school and was surprised in the final ranking to end up No. 2 in her class.
She said she was grateful to achieve any ranking in the top 10 of her class and overwhelmed to find out how far she moved up.
Covarrubias is an accomplished fine arts student. She has been very active in both choir and theater, performing at the varsity level in both for all four years. She is also part of the Vocal Spectrum select ensemble and is choir president.
She was also in National Honor Society and took a huge load of Advanced Placement courses.
“It’s a lot to balance all at once. I think I’ve done a good job,” she said.
“I’ll remember the valuable relationships I’ve formed with my teachers and directors, and the opportunities they have blessed me with,” she said. “Going to all the theater rehearsals teaches you discipline and time management.”
She is set to attend the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to study music performance in hopes of becoming an opera singer and vocal coach.
Killeen High School graduation is 9 a.m. Friday, May 23 at the Cadence Bank Center.
KISD valedictorian and salutatorian photo gallery:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720326167238
