Continued from page 13
participated in various other runs as
well, something Luke refers to as sort
of a family tradition.
Asked how he felt about being
nominated for the Horizon Award,
Luke said: “I think it’s great. There
are a lot of great people in Parker
County, and I’m really happy I got
nominated for it.”
Joshua basically echoed his broth-
er’s sentiments, simply saying, “That’s
good!”
Both the Smith boys plan to attend
college, hopefully, Luke said, with
the help of both academic and
running scholarships.
Avery Bullock
Continuing academic greatness
at the collegiate level
members, and other community
leaders across Texas to formulate an
education plan for the next 15 years.
Avery was passionate about bringing
a perspective that highlights access
and equity for all students.
Avery is the daughter of Justin and
Kristal Bullock and is currently pursu-
ing a degree in psychological scienc-
es at Rice University in Houston. She
is on the President’s Honor Roll as
a part of the top 30 percent of total
undergraduates, and is a member of
the Rice Owls Dance Team, the New
Student Committee, Outside Events
Committee, and Best Buddies, which
pairs college students with adults
with intellectual and developmental
disabilities to foster friendships and
help develop leadership and employ-
ment skills.
In the fall, Avery was excited to
learn that she was selected to partici-
pate in the Alternative Spring Break
program where she will have the
opportunity to travel to Miami, Fla.,
to research educational access for
Latina immigrants under the current
US school system. In Miami, she will
be able to meet with organizations
such as Miami-Dade public schools
and the Mexican-American Council,
and also work at an immigration
screening clinic.
Maci Wisdom
Spreading her kindness
throughout Parker County
20
Weatherford High School graduate
and salutatorian Avery Bullock has
continued her academic greatness at
Rice University.
During the 2018 graduate’s tenure
she was president of student council
and National Honor Society, Blue
Belle lieutenant, baseball statistician,
homecoming queen, vice president of
the Superintendent’s Student Advisory
Council, and she volunteered count-
less hours to many organizations.
During her senior year, Avery was
selected to be on the Texas State
Board of Education’s Long-Range
Plan Committee. Avery traveled
to Austin numerous times during
the school year to collaborate with
officials from the Texas Education
Agency, State Board of Education
Extraordinary leader Maci Wisdom
has become something of a big
deal in the 4-H world. The 16-year-
old daughter of Kirk and Michelle
Wisdom of Peaster has served as an
officer in her local 4-H club for the
past eight years, as a Parker County
4-H Ambassador for five years, a
Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador,
District 3 Vice President, and Parker
County’s first Texas 4-H Council
Member. But the reason why she
started 4-H was not for herself, but
for her brother.
“My brother was born with a
congenital heart defect and we knew
he couldn’t do sports that me and my
other brother could do,” Maci said.
“We found 4-H and found it to be
a family activity and we get to do it
together.”
In addition to 4-H, she has volun-
teered at several organizations within
the community including the animal
shelter, Packs of Love Ministry,
Pythian Home, Greenwood Baptist
Exceptional Rodeo, Senior Center,
local nursing homes, and the Parker
County Livestock Improvement
Association. Maci also volunteers at
the Ronald McDonald House of Fort
Worth, holding offices on the student
leadership board there as well.
It was her brother that moved
her to organize a group that made
blankets for babies in the Cardiac
Intensive Care Unit at Cook
Children’s last May after remember-
ing her brother’s time in the unit as a
baby. Maci’s mother remembers that
time when her son, Colt, was in the
unit and the need for special blan-
kets.
“When you get blood on a sheet,
they toss them,” she explained.
“While your baby is in [the unit], you
can’t decorate their room or even
touch them. It warms your heart to
see the pretty sheets with your child.
Seeing a little blue blanket or base-
ball, it helps the mom who can’t take
their child home. They’re always a
need for the sheets, and that’s what
got us involved.”
Maci remembers that time when
she was a child. “I remember and
heard her talking about it warming
her heart. I remembered seeing the
sheets they took away from all the
tubes and cords. I contacted nurses
and sent it out to our county to make
45 blankets. We are going to try and
make it an every year tradition and
do it in February with Congenital