Miller Grove High School val and sal announced
Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 18 May 2016 14:57
Derek B. McCreight has been namedvaledictorian and Jasmin Rocio Del Castillo as salutatorian
of the Miller Grove High School Senior Class of 2016.
McCreight was born in Tyler and has lived in Yantis for his entire life. He is the son of Bryan and
Ginger McCreight and brother of Katelyn, who is currently attending Texas A&M-Commerce.
During his time at Miller Grove High School, McCreight was very active in both academics and
sports.
He is the president of his school's local National Honor Society chapter and of his graduating
class, as well as vice-president of the school's Students Against Destructive Decisions
organization. While in high school, Derek has also participated in track and field, golf, basketball and was a
part of the 2014 state champion cross country team.
Additionally, he qualified for the Texas State Science and Engineering Fair and won multiple
awards during his high school career.
Outside of school, McCreight has participated in multiple leadership conferences around the
country, some of which include the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, the East Texas Rural
Electric Youth Seminar and the National Youth Leadership Awards. He was also designated “An
Outstanding Spokesperson for Democracy” by the Sulphur Springs branch of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars association.
When not in school, Derek enjoys managing his own personal stocks and bonds portfolio, as
1/3
Miller Grove High School val and sal announced
Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 18 May 2016 14:57
well as travelling, playing piano, and learning how to code webpages and phone apps. He
hopes to one day launch his own startup company to help improve the world around him.
This summer, McCreight says, he will be matriculating at Stanford University, located near Palo
Alto, Calif., on a full-ride, academic scholarship.
MGHS salutatorian Jasmin Rocio Del Castillo was born in Sulphur Springs and has lived in
Brashear her entire life. She is 18 years old and has attended Miller Grove since kindergarden.
She is the daughter of Francisco and Clara Del Castillo. She is the second youngest in a family
of seven children, which also includes her siblings Diana, Oscar, Mari, Nancy, Alma, Jasmin
and Kate.
Throughout her high school career, Del Castillo has participated in basketball, cross country,
One Act Play, and competed in Ready Writing UIL at the state level.
She is an active member of National Honor Society, serves as vice president of her graduating
class and president of Students Against Destructive Decisions. During her freshman year, DelCastillo volunteered at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science
and rose to the rank of Docent.
In her free time, she likes listening to music and watching musicals. Among her favorites are the
bands All Time Low and Neck Deep; and her favorite musicals differ daily between “Hamilton,”
“A Very Potter Musical” and Spring “Awakening.” She also likes to spend quality time with her
cats. After graduation, Del Castillo plans to double major in English and in musical theatre. In her
lifetime, Del Castillo says, she plans to teach at a performing arts school, become a college
professor, open schools in first and third world countries, correct the education system, and put
2/3
Miller Grove High School val and sal announced
Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 18 May 2016 14:57
up her own productions on and off Broadway.
3/3