2. From the
Klein Collins
Class of 2007
THANK YOU!
 No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. St. Ambrose , Bishop of Milan

4. What office is there which involves more responsibility, which requires more qualifications, and which ought, therefore, to be more honorable, than that of teaching?
Harriet Martineau

5. Kendall Jenkins Texas A&M University
Overall my first year at Texas A&M was wonderful! I know this was due to the preparation I received from all my teachers at Klein Collins. It was easy to adjust to the large classes, busy days, and intense test weeks. Ironically, the chemistry class I had to work hardest for in high school was the class I felt extremely prepared for in college. I strongly believe that my teachers strived to challenge us academically and live up to Klein Collins motto of “excellence without compromise.” Thank you Klein Collins Staff and Faculty for making my high school years so great!
Thanks and Gig ’Em 5

6. Nick Bates GEAUX TIGERS! Class of ‘07
When I arrived at LSU, a school with over 30,000 students, and the Honors College, I wasn’t sure what would happen. Some of my classes had over 260 students in them, and I started to think that this was going to be impossible. Many of my classmates were actually valedictorians of their classes but were not nearly as prepared as I was because of KCHS.
My first year at LSU was definitely much different than I expected. Being on your own for the first time is truly a wake up call. There is no one there to tell you to study or get ready for your next test but because of Klein Collins, I truly was prepared for my experience. I want to thank all of the teachers and coaches of Klein Collins. They truly prepared me for college life.
I would also like to give a personal thank you to Coach Grimm. Since my freshman year he has always believed in me and without him, I would not have made it as far as I have.
Class of ‘07
GEAUX TIGERS!

7. Malorie Harding Texas A&M Class of 2011
My first year at A&M was better than I could have ever imagined. I made friends and learned lessons that will last a lifetime. I am so lucky to have come to A&M with the competitive edge my teachers gave me. The personal advice they gave me is priceless, and I cannot thank them enough for taking the time to share it with me. I know what I learned those four years will continue to help me as I pursue a degree in Finance. I could not be more excited about the next three years!
Texas A&M
Class of 2011

8. Rick Hague Rice University
My expectations heading into college were high, but they were attainable because of my experiences at Klein Collins. I learned I could handle difficult situations both academically and physically. I thank my teachers and coaches for contributing to my successful first year. Thank you for your dedication to excellence. I am looking forward to my future years in college, but I will never forget my years at Klein Collins. Thank you for everything.
Rick Hague
Rice University 8

9. Cameron Wendt – Petroleum Engineering The University of Texas at Austin
My first year of college was by the far the most difficult year of my life. The transition was tough due to all the distractions, the fact that you are living on your own, and by far the most difficult of all…class. Although school was very difficult, I actually did very well and can credit most of that success to the teachers and coaches at Klein Collins High School. The attitude that you all instilled in me made me mentally tough and determined to conquer anything that came my way. Thanks again for all your help and support during my stay at Klein Collins.

10. Jordan Miller Texas Tech University
My first year at Tech was definitely a challenge as I’m sure it is for most freshmen. The teachers and staff at Klein Collins had prepared me over the years and I was ready to take on my first semester. I want to thank everyone at Collins who pushed me to do more than just what was expected because it really made a difference when I got to college! At KC I learned some really useful study skills that I use in college, I soon figured out what teachers were talking about when they said time management, and most importantly, I learned how to be responsible. These are all things I want to thank the KC faculty and staff for because I may not have learned these things at any other school so, THANK YOU!
Wreck ‘em Tech!!!! 10

11. Texas Christian University
My first year of college was definitely a challenge, and most of my success can be credited to my teachers at Klein Collins. In college there is so much free time and distractions that one can find themselves focused on the wrong things; however, the strong work ethic and values that the KC teachers instilled in me kept me on the right path. I felt like I was ahead of the game in most of my classes because much of the material I was being taught in my first year at college I had already learned in high school. The time I spent at Klein Collins has helped prepare me for college and life, and I am thankful for it all.
Aaron Schultz
KCHS
Class of '07

12. “There's no word in the language I revere more than ‘teacher’
“There's no word in the language I revere more than ‘teacher’. My heart sings when a kid refers to me as his teacher, and it always has. I've honored myself and the entire family of man by becoming a teacher." --Pat Conroy, Prince of Tides

13. Kayla Krug Texas A&M University
Hey Klein Collins!
My freshman year at Texas A&M exceeded all of my expectations and confirmed that I had indeed made the correct choice in schools. Not only did I learn a great deal about studying and planning ahead at Klein Collins, but the importance of getting involved and showing school spirit has helped me focus in the classroom as well. Though I continue to study late nights and wake up for early morning exams, I am forever grateful to the staff at Klein Collins that I will always remember. Oh, and please remember, I am the proudest member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2011!!
Kayla Krug Texas A&M University

14. Daron Kirsch
SHSU
I've done a lot this year. I've been to China, and performed concerts in Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an and Shanghai. Less than a year ago, I was in all the places you're seeing on TV for the Olympics. That picture? A shopping mall in Tianjin. Nothing anyone told me about college really prepared me for it. It's like riding a bike: you can read all the books about it, but you won't know a lick about it until you put your feet on the pedals and push. And that's what you have to do: push, and push hard.
High school, and college, are what you make it: if you take the time now to prepare, then you're fine. It may not make sense, but you're not here to learn Biology, English, or Calculus. You're here to learn how to learn. And you'll need every ounce of what you can absorb here to survive in college. For these skills, I cannot thank my high school teachers enough. You know who you are.

15. Katie Watts Texas A&M University KCHS Class of 2007
Aggies
I was very excited to go off to my first year of college at Texas A&M. I knew it was going to be a challenge, but also a great experience. First semester was one of the most academically challenging times of my life. It was a huge adjustment going from thirty kids in a classroom to three hundred. It would have been difficult to make it through if I had not gotten the great preparation from the Klein Collins faculty and staff. Thank you all for being such a great influence and having such high expectations for your students. Texas A&M has been such a wonderful adventure and I can not wait to see what the future holds for me there!
Thanks - and Gig’ Em! 15

16. ARMY
CODY SHORTER
AT FIRST I WAS WORRIED ABOUT BOOT CAMP BUT THEN CAME THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL. I TOOK 20 HOURS EACH SEMESTER WHILE PLAYING BASEBALL ON TOP OF THAT. IT WAS DEFINITLEY A CHALLENGE BUT THE TEACHERS AND STAFF AT COLLINS PREPARED ME TO ADAPT AND SUCCEED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SPECIAL THANKS TO MY BASEBALL COACHES FOR DEVELOPING ME INTO A GREAT PLAYER AND PERSON.
~"The strangest secret in the world is that you become what you think about.”~

17. Megan Lichentenwalter – KCHS ’07 University of Texas
Thank you too all of my teachers at Klein Collins for helping prepare me for college. I enjoyed my experience at Klein Collins and have many great memories! 17

18. Ross Sandlin
Aerospace Engineering major at the University of Oklahoma.
I’d like to thank the teachers at Klein Collins for teaching me the skills I would eventually use to excel in college, you have really made it an easy transition.
As you can see, college is all about hard work and studying.

19. Often, when I am reading a good book, I stop and thank my teacher
Often, when I am reading a good book, I stop and thank my teacher.  That is, I used to, until she got an unlisted number.
~Author Unknown

20. Martha Garcia University of Houston
I remember in high school when all the students would complain about having too much homework or difficult tests, my teachers would always say that we would be better prepared for college and they were right. I survived my first year of college thanks to the wonderful teachers at KCHS that challenged me. Thanks to the teachers at KCHS my first year of college was easier than I thought it would be. I am currently starting my classes at the College of Education at UH in my third semester and I am definitely prepared for these higher level classes thanks to the KCHS faculty and staff. Thanks for all the hard work you all gave me because in the end it really did pay off!

22. Erica Carter Belmont University
Thank you so much for all that you did for me, I truly loved my years at Collins! In college now people always reflect on their high school years and have complaints, but I am so proud that I can truly say that my years were amazing. I am so thankful for all the work that the faculty did for me and you have contributed to making me be the best that I can be! I feel like the success I have had and what is to come will always stem from my experiences at Collins.

23. Rochelle Prins class of ‘07
After my first year at UT I’m currently interested in advertising and possibly pre-law. I joined a sorority (ZTA) and keep very busy with that and school. I love it here in Austin and am excited for the next three years!
Rochelle Prins class of ‘07 23

25. Bree Kulhanek KCHS Class of 2007, University of Texas at Austin
I was well aware of UT's enormous student population when I applied to
the school, but the first step on campus definitely opened my eyes. At first, I wasn't sure if I was cut out to be one of the thousands of students, but then I realized I was prepared and had been working towards this goal all through high school. Thanks to the teachers and staff at Klein Collins, I succeeded in my classes because of the time management, study skills, and confidence that was instilled in me at KC. Being involved in extra-curricular activities in high school helped me not only get involved at UT, but also learn to balance my school work and other activities. Thank you so much for the time you put in not only being our teachers, but our mentors and friends.
Bree Kulhanek 
KCHS
Class of 2007, 
University of Texas
at Austin

26. JUSTIN BARBIN Northwestern University
The independence gained upon graduation leaves many daunted by the possibilities that lay ahead. Fortunately, the four years I have devoted to Klein Collins has provided me the experience necessary to have finished freshman year with the confidence to continue my college career towards a bright future.
My high school experience was wrought with endless amounts of stress involving not only the rigorous course work from the teachers who knew I could handle it, but also the numerous clubs and organizations of which I was deeply committed. That hasn’t changed, but the practice of balancing time and energy in high school has served me well in the electric atmosphere of Northwestern’s ambitious faculty and student-body population.
I am forever indebted to the tremendous faculty and staff of Klein Collins for their faith in my intellectual and artistic capacity especially to Mr. Cooper, Mr. Grueneich, Mrs. Faldyn, Mrs. Grier, and Mrs. McGown.
Special thanks also goes out to every dedicated AP teacher, supportive UIL coach, and sleepless fine arts director because without your presence, I would not have discovered the potential within me.
JUSTIN BARBIN
Northwestern
University

27. Brendan Posterick Wofford College (Spartanburg, SC) KC Class of ’07
Writing Mrs. McGown’s traditional first-day essay for AP…daunting. Explaining the “meaning of life” for my first Philosophy essay…no problem. My ability to handle the demanding coursework in college is no doubt thanks to the confidence instilled in me by the fervent teachers and staff at KC. So thank you to those who truly cared – you know who you are.
Currently, I’m still debating between Environmental Studies and Biology, but I am ready to follow my true passions in life. While I have yet to start a Wofford chapter of the Friday Wavers Club, I have plans to start The Squirrel Catching Society or something similarly outrageous, ridiculous, and fun. And for the record, I did sell out and join a fraternity (Sigma Nu). Ha, no regrets. Thanks again!
~Brendan

28. Elliot Howard Texas A&M
This past year at A&M has been absolutely amazing! I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Petroleum and Arabic. This summer I interned with Chevron in California. In the spring I will study abroad in Qatar and then return to an offshore summer internship with Hess.
I cannot thank my high school teachers enough. You all pour yourselves into your students, often without the opportunity to see the end result, but we are indebted to you, and so grateful! I learned much more than just math and English at Klein Collins – I learned how to learn. You all gave me a solid foundation from which I can pursue my dreams, wherever they may take me. My life has been forever changed because of you.

29. "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."
- Kathy Davis