Michael Gaskill, salutatorian of the Alba-Golden class of 2022

Thai Peterson and Michael Gaskill head up the Alba-Golden Class of 2022 as valedictorian and salutatorian.

Peterson is completing his senior year with a 105.87 grade average and has earned 54 hours of college credit through dual credit courses, while Gaskill comes it at 101.5 and has accumulated 40 college credit hours.

Peterson said if not for a scheduling issue, he would have been able to earn an associates degree while still in high school.

Gaskill said he is considering some summer college hours to get him closer to being able to finish his four-year degree in just two years.

Peterson has been the top student in the class through high school, Gaskill acknowledged, while the battle for second was a close one, including Michael’s twin brother, Shawn, who placed fourth, with just tenths of a point separating the top three (including Nick Hallman).

Michael said he set his goal his senior year to become the salutatorian after entering the year as the third-ranked student.

Thai is the son of James and Jessica Peterson and has four siblings. Sister Justina is an Alba-Golden grad while brother Brandt is a freshman and sister Halley and Tayla attend 7th and 6th grades, respectively.

Thai plans to follow Justina to Brigham Young University in Utah where he hopes to major in mechanical engineering.

But first he will serve a two-year mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His sister is serving her mission now, and his father served his in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, which explains the unusual spelling of his name.

Thai will find out his mission field later this summer and said he is looking forward to the experience.

Gaskill is the son of Jerry and Hope Gaskill. Jerry is the longtime county commissioner for Precinct Two.

Michael is one of 10 siblings ranging from 30 to 6, so the Gaskill name is quite familiar around AGISD. Michael acknowledged that when he was younger, he and his twin often battled, but now they get along great. 

He has his sights set on a nursing degree, beginning at the University of Texas at Tyler in the fall.

He said it has been a longtime dream, fueled by this desire to help people.

Two of his sisters are in different medical fields, and he has had the opportunity to take a medical terminology course and to study sports medicine for some hands-on experience.

After completing his bachelor’s degree, Gaskill said he may consider going into anesthesiology.

Both agreed that Alba-Golden is a great community, where everyone knows everyone, and students get individual attention from the teachers.

While they said they are glad to be graduating, they also noted that they will miss knowing everyone and the camaraderie.

Both top grads were integral parts of the Panther football team in the fall that fought through a series of close, nail-biting games to grab a playoff spot.

Peterson has also been on the basketball, track and tennis teams, and competed in regional track this past week.

He has served as president of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Future Farmers of America and senior class vice president. He has also served FFA as Area 6 vice president, where he got to interact with fellow students throughout northeast Texas.

Gaskill has also served as a class and NHS officer and participated in FFA, including leadership competitions.

He has been in the work study program this semester, at Jones Tire in Mineola, which he said he has enjoyed, along with saving up some gas money for college.

Both identified math teacher Walter Ragsdale as among their favorites, along with another math teacher, Marcella Curry.