Two Brownwood High School students were honored Friday, as nominees for the Youths of Inspiration Award at Bruner Toyota. The Youths of Inspiration Award recognizes young men and young ladies from area high schools who have overcome significant life circumstances and having the courage, discipline and stamina to fight past those obstacles to make impressive achievements in school.
Kathryn Walker and Mark Johnson are both seniors who will graduate from Brownwood High School this spring.Looking forward to her upcoming senior year, Kathryn experienced tragedy when she and her father, her #1 cheerleader, was involved in a head-on collision. While she sustained a dislocated elbow and broken wrist, her father did not survive the accident. She suddenly went from being “Daddy’s girl” to a young lady with only memories of her father.
She has spent these past nine months rebuilding her life, learning to use her left hand and depending upon others to help her perform daily activities. Instead of enjoying her senior year and celebrating graduation with her parents, she has concentrated on regaining the strength and agility she had previously taken for granted. She truly is overcoming adversity one day at a time.
Mark has experienced challenges from his earliest years, never having had a father to influence his life. His aunt, who raised him, passed away during Mark’s freshman year in high school, so he lost the one person who had encouraged him and led him to prosper in tennis. His aunt’s passing led him to be around adults who created negative environments.
Through his struggles, he has recognized the blessings in life and concentrated on creating positive experiences. As he says, “I have learned that people come into your life; some are good and some are not.”
Mark advanced to state in HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) his junior year and won the district championship in tennis, advancing to the regional tournament. He has noticed the impact of new people who have entered his life in recent months, and these new friends have helped him deal with the loss of his aunt and move forward. He is applying to colleges and hopes that tennis can open some doors for his future.
“We are delighted to honor two such exceptional students as Kathryn Walker and Mark Johnson, not only for their achievements, but for overcoming adversity,” says Bruner Auto Family President Greg Bruner. “We are grateful to Ms. Vicki Ferguson, the Brownwood High School Counselor, and her team for helping bring Kathryn and Mark to our attention.”
Through the Youths of Inspiration program, Bruner Toyota will recognize two students from area high schools each month during this school year. Each monthly honoree will receive a certificate in the showroom of Bruner Toyota.
Each student must be in good standing with his/her high school and be an exemplary citizen. Individual campus counselors recommend their school recipients of the Youths of Inspiration Award.
On Thursday evening, May 22, at Howard Payne University, Bruner Toyota will host a dinner to recognize each of the 18 honorees from the participating campuses. At the event, Bruner Toyota will award $2,000 in scholarships, selecting one young man and one young woman, who will each receive a $500 scholarship. The school of each selected student will also receive a $500 scholarship donation from Bruner Toyota.
Pictured above, left to right, are Brownwood High School Counselor Sheila Senkirik, Derenda Walker (Kathryn’s mother), Kathryn Walker, Bruner Auto Group General Manager Jim Stanley, Bruner Auto Family President Greg Bruner, BHS Counselor Jenny Williams, Mark Johnson, and Kathryn Hardman (Mark’s mother).
