As the Yorktown Class of 2025’s graduation approaches, scholarly Latin references will walk the stage as surely as the seniors themselves: matriculate, cum laude, valedictorian, salutatorian, alma mater, alumni.
This year’s top graduates have worked extremely hard and deserve every accolade coming their way. As multi-sport teammates, Malayshia Thomas and Sydnie Krueger brought thrills and honor to their school. As students, they made each other better.
MALAYSHIA THOMAS, VALEDICTORIAN
Malayshia “Mimi” Thomas has been praised for her hard work, intellect, and dedication to excellence in both academics and sports.
“She's without a doubt one of the best students I've ever had,” Coach Valton Acree said. “The thing that really impresses me about her is that she knows when she doesn't really grasp something, and so she doesn't hesitate to come ask for help.”
As a history teacher, Acree said he observed Malayshia working even harder to understand points that weren’t immediately clear to her.
“She never ceases to amaze me with her intellect, her hard work and her desire to just be excellent,” Acree said.
Malayshia is the daughter of Michelle Mungia and Lafayette Thomas. In addition to earning 18 hours of dual credit in college courses, she played varsity volleyball, basketball, softball, and track all the while keeping up school spirit on the cheer squad. She participated in the UIL Math team and One-Act Play as well as NHS, Spanish Club, Student Council, Class Officer, Student Advisory Committee and yearbook. She will be attending Texas State University and plans to major in health sciences.
Malayshia said she feels ready for college because the dual credit courses required her to figure out material without much assistance from an instructor.
SYDNIE KRUEGER, SALUTATORIAN
Sydnie Krueger has been praised as a hard-working and creative student.
Girls basketball Coach Acree said Sydnie returned stronger and more determined after an injury in the fall of her junior year that kept her from competing in the spring.
“A lot of times when a kid comes back from that injury,” Acree said, “they're not what they were, but she was just as good, if not better. She's the kind of kid that makes coaching a joy.”
English teacher Laura Meyer said Sydnie is detail oriented, but she also thinks outside the box.
Sydnie is the daughter of Lisa and Phillip Krueger. She credits her parents with pushing her to prepare herself for college. Sydnie competed in varsity cheer, volleyball, basketball, softball, golf and track as well as the UIL Math team. She was class president from 2021-2025, and a member of NHS, FFA, Student Council, and the Student Advisory Council.
Sydnie will attend Texas A&M to major in sports management.
“I've done sports all through high school and from when I was little, so I know I really enjoy sports,” Sydnie said. “And I wanted something in a management position, so I want to go into that field.”
As the May 23 graduation ceremony approaches, seniors are taking their victory laps and looking forward to the after party at Pinstack Bowl & Bite. Project Graduation will chauffeur the Class of 2025 to the gaming arcade to celebrate one last time together before becoming the latest alumni of the Yorktown Wildcats.
