Quitman High School senior Joisalyn Tarno has made history in her educational journey. She is the first QHS graduate to also earn an associate degree from Tyler Junior College during her senior year.

Her list of accomplishments could fill pages. 

Tarno has been the Key Club and National Honor Society president and vice president of Quitman Future Farmers  and Student Council. She also made the President’s List at TJC, where she majored in general studies.

She is ranked first in the 2023 class of 74 students. Add to that, her grade point average at TJC was a perfect 4.0. 

While being involved in studies and activities in the community, Tarno found the time for an internship at Quitman Veterinary Clinic.

She put in 300 hours at the clinic. She wants to become a large animal veterinarian working with livestock in rural communities. 

In her internship she sterilized equipment, worked with retraining and calming animals, cleaned and disinfected work and animal holding areas, along with feeding, watering and examining pets and other animals. She also had the task of cleaning and maintaining kennels.

Tarno has achieved certification as an artificial insemination technician.

“I learned how to properly inseminate and breed cattle while insuring reproductive health,” Tarno noted. 

Tarno has also received the prestigious scholar award from the College Board of National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program.

“I do not feel as though I have done anything extraordinary,” she said. “I have just taken full advantage of the opportunities offered to me. I have focused on my goals and stayed determined on accomplishing them. I am just an ordinary student that put in extra effort towards my future plans.”

She plans to attend Texas Tech University in the fall and has been accepted into the Honors College.

She will be majoring in pre-veterinary animal science.