to do that.” Nathan was nominated
by Beverly Gibbs and Kathy Williams
who described him as “kind, good-
hearted and willing to help out
anyone in his path.
Grace Kautz
Hardworking Student Volunteer
26
was a blacksmith’s apprentice at
age 11, he is an Eagle Scout and has
played soccer, basketball and run
cross country for Victory Baptist.
Nathan is also a certified EMT and
works as a volunteer fireman for the
City of Aledo. Along with all of this
he is the solitary caretaker of all of
the horses and cattle on a ranch.
When asked how he has accom-
plished so much, Nathan said, “Most
people don’t realize there are 24
hours in a day. I don’t get a lot of
sleep, but I make the time to get
done what I need to get done. What
it comes down to for me is I make
time for the things that I love and
want to pursue. Instead of sitting on
the sidelines, I have actively sought
my dreams. It seems that many are
content with an average life and
seeing their aspirations fade away,
but being above average, seeking
knowledge, and gaining life skills
through experience have been
cornerstones of my life from a young
age. I am extremely passionate about
giving back to my community and
my country that has given me so
much freedom and the blessing of
choice.”
Nathan has big dreams of attend-
ing the US Naval Academy and has
been nominated by both US Senator
Ted Cruz and US Congresswoman
Kay Granger. He said of wanting to
attend the Naval Academy, “That’s
the best place to earn your commis-
sion as an officer in the military. I’m
interested in special operations. It
fits my personality. I’m a busy guy,
but I really enjoy connective envi-
ronments and I want to serve my
country. That’s one of the best ways
“An extraordinary 18-year-old” are
the words used by Weatherford
College’s Kathy Williams and Beverly
Gibbs in nominating Grace Kautz
for Parker County Today’s Horizon
Award.
A 2018 graduate of Weatherford
High School, Grace is expected
to graduate WC this May with an
associates degree. Next stop will be
Tarleton State University where she
plans to earn a Bachelors of Science
in Nursing. She’s a hard worker;
in addition to carrying a full-time
academic schedule, she works as an
anatomy and physiology tutor at WC
and as an emergency department
scribe for Texas Health Systems.
“I chose nursing as a vocation
because I have always loved getting
to help others in a tangible way and
have been fascinated by the science
of medicine,” Grace said. “Nursing
seems like the ideal way to combine
my two passions into a career.”
Faith and service to others is at the
center of the up-and-coming teen-
ager’s life. She attends The Gathering
church in Brock and is a member of
C2 Weatherford, a non-denomina-
tional ministry encouraging spiritual
growth through reading the Bible,
worship, discipleship and fellowship.
It is designed for college and college-
aged (18-29) young people, whether
they are single, dating, engaged or
married.
Grace also volunteered at the Center
of Hope, participated in numer-
ous service projects with American
Heritage Girls and since 2012 has
participated in Operation Christmas
Child.
She has been to Haiti, Guatemala,
Honduras and Brazil with her father
on medical mission trips. She is a
founding member and current vice-
president of the We Care Club at
WC, a group of young people dedi-
cated to serving their fellow students.
PCT’s Horizon Award is likely one
of many to come for this motivated
young lady. Concerning the award,
she said: “It is such an honor to be
nominated for the Horizon Award,
especially by those that I hold in high
regard. I am excited that I will get to
meet my peers that our mentors have
identified as exemplary for our age.”
Congratulations
to all of the
2019
Parker County
Horizon Award
recipients.