The Mineola High School Class of 2022 will be led by Sunni Ruffin, valedictorian, and Jack Heard, salutatorian.

Ruffin moved to Mineola from Lovejoy six years ago. She is the daughter of Jim and Angie Ruffin.

Heard has been a Mineola student his entire career. His parents are Jacob and Julie Heard. Mrs. Heard is a longtime teacher in the district, now teaching 11th grade English.

Ruffin’s brother, Buddy, is a sophomore, while Heard has two older sisters who are Mineola graduates, Olivia and Sophia.

Ruffin plans to attend Baylor where she plans to major in health sciences and wants to be a physician’s assistant.

She attributes her interest in the medical field to time she spent in the hospital during her junior year with a brain injury.

“It was an environment I wanted to be in,” she said.

Heard plans to attend the University of Texas at Dallas and major in mechanical engineering.

He said he likes to build things and take things apart.

Both have been very active throughout their school careers, in a variety of areas.

They recently returned from the state floriculture contest through the Future Farmers of America.

Ruffin would like to use what she learned by working part-time for a florist during college.

Ruffin and her teammates won the state FFA agriculture advocacy competition this year, and she serves as an area FFA officer.

She is the vice president of the National Honor Society chapter and was a cheerleader for three years. She is also a state officer in FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America).

She heads to Austin next week to take part in the state golf tournament with the MHS team for the second straight year.

Ruffin and Heard teamed up in mixed doubles this year and advanced to the regional tennis tournament.

Heard has played baseball for Mineola and has also been active in FFA and National Honor Society.

He has also played golf four years, has been involved with the Junior Historians, took part in the FFA quiz team and this year competed in chapter conducting.

He has worked at Wing Dingers in Mineola for three years, where he said he has enjoyed getting to learn different jobs.

Heard said he likes being able to take part in so many activities in a smaller school.

Dallas will be a culture shock, having spent his whole life in Mineola.

“I’ll miss the small town,” he said. “It’s all I’ve ever known.”

Ruffin agreed that the smaller school environment made it easier to be involved, having moved from a larger, growing district near Dallas.

She listed among her favorite teacher’s Jack’s Mom, who at the time was teaching 8th grade.

She was so welcoming, Ruffin said, and loves her job. Ruffin enjoys writing, which Heard encouraged.

She also named ag teacher D.J. Wernecke, whom she has invited to the top 10 banquet.

Heard will be taking Coach Dakota Heinaman, who was his JV basketball coach and also assistant baseball coach. Heard enjoys Heinaman’s coaching style.

He also named science teacher Deborah Armstrong, who teaches engineering and “made it fun.”