Drake Duplechain and Hudson Wright lead the Alba-Golden Class of 2024 as its top two graduates, and they will remain classmates as they pursue their college careers at Texas A&M in the fall.

Each said they plan to take the summer to relax a bit and prepare for the rigorous academic pursuits they have planned.

Duplechain will be enrolling in the architecture program. He said his field combines his creative interests, drawing and sketching, and building things with Legos.

He applied to several colleges and felt A&M had the best program.

Wright wants to be a mechanical engineer, and said that degree could lead him in several directions, and it is a job field with plenty of opportunities.

A&M is one of the premiere engineering schools, Wright said. Math has come easy for him, he said, and also likes to work with his hands, citing his work on ag mechanics projects with fellow students. A fire pit table they built earned blue ribbons at San Angelo and San Antonio shows.

Mechanical engineering combines those two interests.

He could work on wind turbines, nuclear power plants or electric vehicles, to name a few.

The two have been friends since kindergarten, each attending Alba-Golden schools for their entire educational careers.

Duplechain is the son of B.J. and Katrina Duplechain. He is the science department chairman at Tyler Junior College and a microbiology professor, and she is a physician with the Trinity Mother Frances Christus clinic in Lindale.

Wright is the son of Alba-Golden assistant principal Kevin Wright and Callie Wright, a beautician in Mineola. He has a younger sister, Ellie, an eighth grader in Alba-Golden.

Among their common pursuits have been long-distance running – cross country in the fall and distance races during the spring track-and-field season.

Wright said he dropped running this year to prioritize his studies, and it paid off, earning the salutatorian honor.

He noted his friend was well ahead in the academic race for the top spot.

Duplechain said he hadn’t considered being a top grad until his sophomore year, when he realized it was a possibility and decided he could probably do that.

He has been on the student council for four years, served as a class officer, has been in the National Honor Society and served as its president and vice president and has been on the fishing team as well as UIL academic competition.

Among Wright’s interest have been the leadership programs of Future Farmers of America.

He has competed in chapter conducting, twice advancing to state with the chapter leadership team. 

Both readily named advanced math teacher Walter Ragsdale as their favorite.

“He has had such an impact on me, in math and in life,” Duplechain said.

Wright added, “He takes the time to help you.”

Each cited the close-knit family atmosphere Alba-Golden as something they liked and will miss.

That atmosphere extends beyond the school day to church activities.

Wright noted that even though A&M will be a much larger community, it still emphasizes community.

Duplechain said it will be a culture shock going from a class of 40 who all know each other to a campus with thousands of students.

Both cited various school trips with their friends and fellow students for ag contests, cross country and more as being among their favorite memories.

The class graduates Thursday, May 30, 7 p.m. at the Wagstaff Gymnasium, 1720 Apache Dr., Tyler.