Janik, Flynn top students of Wharton High School Class of 2008

KIMBERLY JANIK ...Valedictorian

Kimberly Danette Janik and Shea Flynn are the top seniors of the Wharton High School Class of 2008 and will lead their classmates in commencement exercises at 7:30 p.m. this Friday at Tiger Stadium.

Janik is the valedictorian of the WHS Class of 2008. She is the daughter of Donald and Leanna Janik. and was a member of the Interact Club for two years and participated in raising money for Habitat for Humanity and donating toys and clothes to Good Will.

She was a member of the WHS Spanish club for four years and donated candy to the Boys and Girls Club for their holiday parties as well as various paper goods to the less fortunate.

Janik was inducted into the National Honor Society her junior year.

She is a member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in East Bernard and volunteers each year at the Church bazaar.

Janik has participated in UIL Accounting, Computer Science, Math and Science. During her junior year, her Accounting and Computer Science teams received second place. Individually, she received sixth place in Computer Science.

SHEA FLYNN ...Salutatorian

She also participated on the tennis team for four years, three of which she was on varsity. In WHS Team Tennis, her team received first place at regionals during her sophomore, junior and senior years, advancing and competing at state.

Janik was undefeated her junior year, winning eight team matches and the team set a record by receiving third place at the tournament. The team placed fourth during her senior year.

In individual tennis of her junior year, she placed second in girls' doubles at the district tournament and advanced to regionals. During her senior year, she placed second in girls' singles at district and fourth at regionals.

Seeing her mom work in a pharmacy has inspired her to become a pharmacist. After graduation, she plans to attend the Wharton County Junior College for at least one year.

Shea Mackenzie Flynn is the salutatorian of the WHS Class of 2008 and is the daughter of Keith and Loretta Flynn.

Flynn has been on the WHS Distinguished Honor Roll and received the Award of Excellence four years in high school.

A member of the National Honor Society, Flynn has been in Who's Who Among America's High School Students for four years in its sports edition, Outstanding Cheerleaders & Dancers in U.S. High Schools, National Honor Roll and the National Society of High School Scholars.

A class officer for four years, she currently serves as senior class president. Flynn has been a WHS Student Council and Interact Club member for four years, she was treasurer in Interact her junior year and president this year.

She was also a member of the WHS Spanish Club and Speech and Drama Club four years and is its secretary this year.

She has participated in fall musicals for three years and Speech & Drama tournaments for two years.

Flynn has won UIL awards in Impromptu Speaking, Dance, Record Mime, Poetry Interpretation & Prose Interpretation.

She was inducted into the International Thespian Society her sophomore year.

She's participated at the District UIL meet in Math and Poetry.

She is a member of the Junior Lions and D.A.R.E.

She attended Student Leaders of Tomorrow Leadership conference at Texas A&M her Junior year.

Flynn has competed in varsity level tennis, swimming, cheerleading, golf, power lifting and cross country.

She was a UCA All-Star cheerleader for two years and head cheerleader this year.

In swimming she was district champ, first team All- District for four years, region finalist and All-State Honorable Mention for four years. She's won regional and state awards with the Wharton Tiger Shark summer league.

She's been on the girls' golf team for two years winning MVP honors this past year. Her sophomore year she was a member of the state-qualifying tennis team and ended her season in powerlifting this year ranked 14th in her weight class.

In the community, she has been on the City of Wharton Youth Advisory Commission for six years.

Flynn has taken dancing for 15 years and been a member of a competition jazz team. She's taken tumbling for six years.

She's a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and served as acolyte for 10 years. This summer she will be working at college campuses across the state as a cheerleading camp instructor.

She plans to attend the University of Texas and pursue a bachelor's of science degree in advertising.

Flynn would like to work at a large metropolitan ad agency or own her own business.