Alba-Golden Salutatorian
Cameron Galyean

(Photo courtesy of Creative Edge Photography)

Ask Bella Crawford and Cameron Galyean a question about their times at Alba-Golden High School, and the top two graduates of the Class of 2021 are likely to give similar, if not identical, answers.

Isabella Kay Crawford, the valedictorian with a 1.045 grade average, and Cameron Dale Douglas Galyean, the salutatorian at 1.0432, have been on the path to those top two spots since grades first began to count during freshman year.

So it’s little surprise that their travels in August will take them to Texas A&M University at College Station where both plan to major in engineering.

Galyean is planning on computer engineering, influenced by family members who went in that direction.

Crawford is not yet sure which type of engineering to pursue but is leaning toward chemical engineering.

Family also helped influence Galyean’s decision to become an Aggie, having two older siblings who attended there, Meagan and Evan.

Crawford said her choice came down to A&M and Texas Tech, with A&M having the better engineering school.

She’s the eldest of her siblings, with brothers Luke, Levi and Grant also attending Alba-Golden schools in grades 6th, 4th and 1st.

Her parents are Elizabeth and Rusty Goforth, and his are Tony and Angie Galyean.

Both completed their entire public school years at Alba-Golden.

And that’s one thing they agreed they would miss, everyone knowing everyone and looking out for each other.

In a class of 57, they know not only all their classmates but all their school mates.

Both were active in numerous. school organizations, and no surprise, many of the same things, like FFA and math academic competition.

Crawford also ran track for the Lady Panthers, recently competing at the regional meet, and also played basketball.

Both are in the National Honor Society and have been a part of state-qualifying FFA quiz teams since eighth grade.

As for a favorite teacher, Walter Ragsdale topped that list, having taught their higher-level math courses throughout their time at AGHS, concluding with trigonometry and calculus their senior year.

That would help explain advancing to regional competition in calculator, and they also competed in math and number sense.

They agreed they also had some good ag teachers, though a different one each year.

Some of Crawford’s favorite memories include making the basketball playoffs and the way the school celebrates its students’ accomplishments with walks through the halls being cheered on by fellow students.

Both enjoyed advancing to state in FFA contests.

In mid-August they will transition from the red and blue to maroon, where they admit the engineering curriculum will require them to study hard to try to keep up.

They are well on their way, having already accumulated 30 college credits through dual-credit courses from Tyler Junior College.