The Brownwood High School graduation ceremony for the Class of 2024 will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, May 31 at the Brownwood Coliseum.

Olivia Ringer, daughter of Steve Ringer and Stacy Lofton, is the valedictorian while Emma Delgado, the daughter of Abraham and Lilly Delgado, is the salutatorian.

“It’s something we both worked really hard for,” Ringer said of graduating at the top of her class. “It means that we’ve put in a lot of hard work over the years and it proves that we tried really hard in our academics.”

While Ringer has known about her status as valedictorian for a while, Delgado learned she would be the salutatorian around a month ago.

“I was surprised because we didn’t move a lot in our rankings and then at the end they told me I was the sal,” Delgado said. “It’s something I’m really proud of.”

In terms of advice the graduates would offer those who hope to follow in their footsteps and finish as class valedictorian or salutatorian, Ringer said, “You definitely have to start as freshman. I know a lot of people in our grade took off their freshman year because it was a transition year, especially coming out of COVID. You can’t take those times off, you have to work hard all four years.”

Delgado added, “Take advantage of all the classes that they offer here.”

After graduation, Ringer intends to attend The University of Texas and major in Biology.

“Biology will be a foundation for my hopeful medical pathway in the future,” Ringer said. “UT Austin is one of the top medical programs in a Texas public school and my valedictorian scholarship only counts to Texas public schools.”

Meanwhile, Delgado is bound for Dallas Baptist University with plans to study Accounting and Economics.

“I really like the university and that it’s Christian-based,” Delgado said. “And I’m studying Accounting and Economics because I want to build a business in baking.”

Regarding how Brownwood High School helped prepare the duo for college, Ringer said, “I like the classes that they offer, how you can choose how rigorous you want your education to be, from dual credits, APs, on-ramps and normal classes. It gives a personalized education to everybody and it fits their needs better. Personally I took a lot of dual credits because I wanted the dual credit hours. I felt it was rigorous enough for me.”

Delgado said, “Just the opportunity to have those dual credit classes gives you a chance to get ahead in the future.”

Extracurriculars for Ringer included four years of basketball, four years as volleyball manager, four years of HOSA, two years of National Honor Society with one year as vice president, and she was part of the production “Grease: The Musical” earlier this semester.

For Delgado, she was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council for two years, and played varsity tennis all four years with a trip to regionals earlier this month in girls doubles action.

As for what they will miss most about Brownwood High, Ringer said, “The people because I feel like me and all my friends are going different directions. It’ll be a little hard trying to meet new people and not being in constant contact with the same people eight hours and instead just calling them once a week or texting them throughout the day.”

Delgado chimed in, “The tennis team. I built a lot of good friends there.”

Reflecting on those who helped them along the way on their academic journey, Ringer was thankful for, “Just the overall support of all the staff. I’ve had good teachers throughout my time growing up. Whenever I first moved in sixth grade Ms. Means was my favorite teacher in the world. I also had Coach Munguia and Coach Hohertz that helped me a lot, and teachers like Mr. Bowen and some of the staff like Ms. Lupeda, our custodian in the gym, is amazing and so sweet. They’re all amazing and helped shaped my experience.”

Delgado expressed thanks to, “Ms. Harrell and Mr. Bowen and Ms. Stephens. They always pushed me to work hard, along with my coaches, Coach Hutchins and Coach Blazek.”

Twenty years down the road, Ringer plans to be finished with medical school and, “Hopefully be in some Northeastern state. I want to go to medical school in Boston. I think Boston is beautiful. I love nature and I love the beach, but I don’t like the sand and a lot of the northeastern states have a lot of rocky beaches surrounded by the woods. Hopefully I’ll have a career in Pathology and I’ll be doing some independent research in a facility up there.”

Plans for Delgado are, “To have started my business in baking here in Texas. I want to bake macaroons but I also want to focus on gluten free desserts. My sister and my mom can’t have gluten, and some of my friends, and it’s hard to find different desserts that don’t have a lot of gluten.”