Get to Know: Tomball Star Academy's Valedictorian & Salutatorian

Tomball Star Academy, Tomball ISD’s Early College High School, provides a rigorous, supportive learning environment that blends high school and the first two years of college. Students have the opportunity to earn up to 60 college credit hours and an Associates of Art degree by the time they graduate from high school free of charge.

Tomball Star Academy will honor its first graduating class as the school opened its doors in 2017. The Class of 2021 will walk the stage at 7 PM on Thursday, May 27 at the Magnolia Event Center. 

Representing the first graduating class as its Valedictorian and Salutatorian are Joshua Wiley and Adisan Navaira, respectively.

Joshua Wiley
Tomball Star Academy
Valedictorian

What are your plans after you graduate from Tomball Star Academy? 
After I graduate from Tomball Star Academy, I intend to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University.

What has been the best part about attending Tomball Star Academy?
The best part about attending Tomball Star Academy has been the lifelong friends I have made during my high school career.

What will you miss the most about high school?
The thing I will miss the most about high school is the friends I have made at Tomball Star Academy.

What did you learn from your high school experience that you will take with you into college?
My experience at Tomball Star Academy has taught me the study skills, time management skills, and work ethic that I will use in college.

Who would you like to thank?
I would like to thank the excellent faculty at Tomball Star Academy that allowed me to succeed in high school. 

Adisan Navaira
Tomball Star Academy
Salutatorian

What are your plans after you graduate from Tomball Star Academy?
I plan to attend Texas A&M University after I graduate to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Design (Architecture). Then, I hope to pursue my master's and eventually work at a residential firm. I am really excited for this next chapter in my life! My dad is actually an Aggie, class of ’94, and Morgan and I were named after A&M. I’m thrilled to continue the legacy my father began, and to walk in his exact footsteps as I pursue Architecture, the initial degree he sought right after graduating from high school. 

What has been the best part about attending Tomball Star Academy?
Honestly, the best part of Tomball Star Academy is the close-knit community that has developed as the school has grown. I love having a personal connection with each and every one of my teachers, and I believe that the relatively small size of the school has allowed the students in each grade level to bond more intimately than they would be able to in other schools. Moreover, another aspect of Tomball Star Academy that I enjoyed was the opportunity to take classes at Lonestar. I loved being able to engage and interact at a more professional level while also challenging myself academically.

What will you miss the most about high school?
I will miss the school field trips we would take to colleges. I loved experiencing new cities and campuses with my fellow classmates. An outstanding experience I was able to have while at this high school is being a part of the inaugural class. The class of 2021 has endured many firsts, such as being the very first class of Tomball Star students to attend classes at Lonestar, while also being the first to receive Tomball Star Academy letterman jackets, Tomball Star Academy high school rings, a prom, and a graduation. Being able to say that I was the first ever class of this high school and enduring such special events like these is something that I will miss. However, I know that all of these experiences will further encourage me to pass on the joy and happiness I felt while at this high school. Ultimately, however, the thing that I will miss most about Tomball Star Academy is the close bonds that I have made with classmates, teachers, and staff throughout my time at this high school. 

What did you learn from your high school experience that you will take with you into college?
Among some of the most important pieces of advice I will take with me to college include knowing to advocate early on in a semester when I am struggling as well as making a personal connection with my professors.

Who would you like to thank?
I would first like to thank Mrs. McKinney. She was an amazing principal who helped to welcome me into a brand new community and school that I was unfamiliar with after moving from Jakarta, Indonesia. She has helped me handle difficult professors, while also cheering me up and encouraging me when something unexpected occurred in my family. Another person I would like to thank is Mr. Gencer. He is the most amazing teacher, person, and friend. He has gone above and beyond for me. From meeting at Panera during the weekends to help me with Trig, to doing Math Placement Exam Preparation for a placement test I had to take a few weeks ago for Texas A&M, he has encouraged me throughout every single challenge I have faced throughout these past four years. 

ABOUT TOMBALL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 19,000 students at 21 campuses.