Page 56 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2024 - Online Magazine

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Senior
Senior

Thomas Reynolds

Teaching

with Purpose

by Emme Hocker

r. Reynolds is unlike any Born in Midland, Texas Mr. Reynolds third-generation college students.
teacher I have encountered is familiar with the West Texas His friends encouraged him to think
Mduring my educational landscape. His parents owned their about his future. Mr. Reynolds
career. If this article can give even the own business in Midland when took the SAT because that’s what
slightest insight into how incredible he was growing up. They faced his friends were doing and then
of an educator and human being he hardships due to Midland’s reliance started applying to colleges with
is, then it will have accomplished on the oil and gas economy. No one little understanding of the process.
my goal. Thomas Reynolds is an in his family had attended college, However, even with a lack of
International Baccalaureate Teacher and therefore, he had not thought direction, Mr. Reynolds ended up
at Lubbock High School who about going to college until he got to attending Texas Tech University,
teaches World Topics and Theory of high school. Mr. Reynolds attended double majoring in History and
Knowledge. He is also the Octathlon Robert E. Lee High School (now German.
and Decathlon Coach, having great Midland Legacy) where many of
success each year. his classmates would be second- or

Article Submitted by
Mary Elizabeth “Emme” Hocker LUBBOCK HIGH

Mary Elizabeth “Emme” Hocker is the daughter of Heather and The Honorable Mark
Hocker. She is a senior at Lubbock High School where she is a Diploma Candidate in
the International Baccalaureate program; Captain of the Varsity Tennis Team; Vice-
President of the Student Body; and member of National Honor Society, Student Council,
and the Mock Trial Team. Emme is a founder of the Lubbock High Ping Pong Club and
has helped organize walks to raise awareness for suicide prevention. She is a three-time
Lubbock ISD Scholar and has received several Outstanding Academic Achievement awards. She chairs the Volunteer
Center of Lubbock’s Youth for Impact program and was a finalist for the YWCA Youth Leadership Award. She has
volunteered with National Charity League for six years and is a Lubbock Symphony Guild Deb. Emme is one of two
Outstanding Youths for the Lubbock Lions Club and received their “Dick Van Hoose Memorial Outstanding Youth
Intern” scholarship. She is a member of Lubbock’s First United Methodist Church and participates in Young Life. After
graduation, Emme plans to attend the University of Virginia or the University of Texas to study International Affairs.

56 Lubbock Senior Link