“Gratitude is the memory of the heart” ~ Jean Baptiste Massieu ~

Vivian Jones Klein Collins gave me the knowledge that I needed to be extremely successful academically at Schreiner University. In fact, I felt that my first year of college did not challenge me the way the teachers at Klein Collins did. So, with confidence in myself to conquer more difficult tasks, I decided to transfer to a school that would be more demanding. There is no question in my mind that I will continue to apply the work ethic that the teachers and staff so highly expected from me at Collins to Tulane University with ease. Best wishes in this upcoming school year, Tigers! Thanks for all that you have done for the past graduating classes. Please continue to provide the direction that will make us successful.

The teachers at Klein Collins helped me to see my full potential and pushed me to strive for more than I could ever imagine. My teachers at Collins helped to prepare me for Texas A&M (gig ‘em Aggies!) because they believed in me & required I always do even better than my perceived best. They taught me different ways of researching to find my own answers & this has become such a beneficial skill in college and my first year has been a tremendous success b/c of the preparation I received at Collins. Time management, planning, & work completion were also stressed daily by my teachers, & those are skills that have not only prepared me for college but have prepared me for life. I would not be where I am today, if it were not for the great educators at Klein Collins. I will forever thank you for believing in me b/c your faith helped to build my confidence in myself and my abilities. I especially want to thank Mrs. Drugan for her continued help and support, she is still a constant lifeline when help is needed.

J.T. Bates ‘08 Klein Collins really got me ready for college. The teachers and staff were very helpful. Everyone needs to understand that they are looking out for you and trying to help you prepare for the real world and succeed in life. I know they did their job because I am ready for whatever life throws at me. The teachers and coaches had such an influence on my life that I am studying to be a teacher and a coach, too. Look out Collins….I’ll be back! Lions for Life

KC Faculty and Staff: It is hard to believe that it was just a year ago when I was leaving Klein Collins for the unknown land of Norman, Oklahoma! To put it simply, thanks for everything y’all have done for me and continue to do for Klein Collins. College is hard, and I saw a lot of people stumble under the weight of it. I had heard horror stories about the freshman “weed out” classes, but they were no sweat thanks to the quality of education I received at KC. Keep up the good work – I don’t know what kind of shape I would be in without it. Kathleen Evans University of Oklahoma Class of 2012

Stephanie Brumfield To say that my first year at Alabama was great would be insufficient. After taking several AP and honors classes at Klein Collins, I had the confidence to take 18 hours each semester this past year. Not only did I succeed in making the President’s List both semesters, but I managed to accumulate enough hours to be classified as a junior before I even begin my second year of college! I thank all of my teachers at Klein Collins for teaching me valuable study and time-management skills, skills that will allow me to either graduate early or spend an entire year overseas. Thank you so much! The University of Alabama

The University of Southern California TROJANS!!!!!! I would not want to be anywhere else than USC. It is everything I want in ONE spot! I love it out here. “Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you.” –Aldous Huxley- My time spent at KCHS held an incredible range of emotions, but I guess that is life, eh? I struggled tremendously with controlling my emotions and sometimes academic tasks. You guys who’s class I attended stuck with me the whole way. And that I must thank you for. I truly thank you. When I was down, it was you who came to me to see what was up. Now I truly know the meaning of taking ownership of failure builds the foundation for success. After this freshman year at this WONDERFUL school, I know exactly who I am. I know what I stand for. All of what I just said is based off experience. I’m a firm believer in that the greatest wisdom comes from experience. BEING. And from my experience at KCHS, I didn’t notice until after high school what you guys did for me. All the essentials I learned from KCHS staff that I need for a successful life are based upon experience. So thank you. Thank you for being good people. And thank you for being alive. If you’re thinking if I remember you, I do, and always will, those who had me.

“Teachers appreciate being appreciated, for teacher appreciation is their highest reward!” ~ William Prince ~

Ryan Johnson University of Illinois My first year at Illinois was a great experience. I managed to develop close friendships and achieve success in the classroom. I found a balance between academics and social life while making the Dean’s List and joining the Sigma Chi Fraternity. I love attending every sporting event and have even brought home a championship trophy in basketball intramurals. I realize that much of my success is due to the values and habits that I developed at Klein Collins. To my teachers and coaches, I am forever grateful and I appreciate the energy and dedication you put towards your students. Hope all is well. GO ILLINI!

Tori Bennette Being at a prestigious university such as Rice is not only an honor, but also a challenge. However, I am proud to say that I am fully equipped to handle any academic challenges that I am faced with because of the invaluable education I received from Klein Collins High School. All students who pass through the halls of Klein Collins are blessed to be in the presence of the teachers and faculty there because by the time those students graduate, the teachers and faculty at Klein Collins would have molded them into the best people that they can be academically and that is the most that any student could ever ask for. It is with the greatest appreciation and gratitude that I write to the teachers and faculty at Klein Collins thanking them for both the unparalleled education and kindness I received. I would not be half the student or academic thinker that I am today if it were not for the education and skills that I obtained while at Klein Collins High school. It is my fervent and sincere wish that every child could be granted the education that I received and the teachers and faculty that I was so blessed to encounter at Klein Collins High School.

My first year at college was a challenge and a learning experience. I had a great time. Thank you KCHS staff for the hard work you put in preparing our class to be successful in college. Next year I will be attending The University of Texas where I will continue to work hard towards earning my degree in nursing. Ellen Natenberg The University of Oklahoma

Chris Davila The University of Texas at Austin My first year was an adventure to say the least. Large classes, long study sessions, and monotone professors were a few foreign things I encountered this year. However, during all of my endeavors, the one thing that kept me afloat were the core values and study habits that my teachers from KCHS instilled in me. I would try and list all of you, but Mr. Matheson said I could only have one slide so this will have to do... I hope you have a fantastic year! Hook’em Horns

Well my freshman year at McNeese State University was a success. I made the Deans List and Southland Conference Academic team. I know that without the preparation that all of you had given me this would not have been possible. I would like to give a special thank you to Mr. Froebel! Without you I would not be where I am today. I hope all of you have a great year! I will never be able to repay all of you for everything you did for me and how much Klein Collins sculpted me into who I am today. Go Cowboys! Kelly Lindley McNeese State University

“No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another. Thank you.” ~ Author Unknown ~

Whether I was helping my dorm win the spirit competition before a football game (please see photo), volunteering, working on a chemistry problem set, or practicing for my next classical guitar lesson, I gave it my all at Rice. From my years at KC, I learned that diligence would get me far... and that diligence coupled with passion would get me farther. It wasn’t difficult to get excited about my courses with the teachers I had; they showed great passion about their academic subjects and the clubs they sponsored. Such passion would seep into my soul and, in conjunction with their countless words of encouragement and rigorous assignments, would push me to learn more and to do better than I had done before, both inside and out of the classroom. To all of my high school teachers, thank you so much for challenging me academically and for inspiring me to live each day to the fullest! My freshman year at Rice would not have been as incredible as it was were it not for you. Kim Huynh Rice University Class of 2012 Chemistry/Pre-med Photo courtesy of Adrianne Waddell

At first I thought that attending an out of state university where I would only know a handful of people would be overwhelming. However, I quickly discovered that the leadership positions and extracurricular activities I experienced at Klein Collins gave me the confidence and the desire to become involved in campus organizations. Academically, I owe a debt of gratitude to my KC teachers and coaches. Those challenging AP classes pushed me to actually learn study skills and to retain material. I found these same classes were much easier in college. I feel that I had a successful freshman year, both socially and academically and I thank the teachers and coaches for helping me build a strong work ethic and develop time management skills. David McIver KC Class of 2008 BOOMER SOONER

Kayla Thomas The Ohio State University Thanks to my time spent at KCHS, I entered each class this past year well prepared and exceeded my own expectations for college. The teachers at KCHS and the environment as a whole served as a great precursor to my freshman year and the exciting three years ahead. My involvement at KCHS has also readied me for the student involvement aspect of college life as I prepare to serve as President of one of the over 800 student organizations on campus and am an active member in several others this coming year. My success is in large part due to the three years I spent as a Klein Collins Tiger. Thank you teachers, faculty, and staff and continue to let your hard work and passion impact the lives of your students!

Klein Collins has served to diversify my outlook on life. Being surrounded by a great magnitude of kids that come from a high school where the class size is 100 and the interpersonal connections that they’ve acquired are 0, I am proud that I come from a campus with such a large degree of unique personalities. While academically KC has challenged me in several ways, I would say the most helpful experience I’ve had was how different everyone’s teaching styles were. It has kept me on my toes as I set foot in University settings, where one test is usually a third of one’s grade. But the real testament to my abilities has come from the connections I’ve made at KC; the friends who I will always keep and who will always have my back. Richard (Andy) Garcia Texas A&M – Class of 2012

When I look back on my first year in the Gothic Wonderland, I have my upbringing at Klein Collins to account for a large part of my success. While most students worry about how to get noticed in their large classes, I couldn’t escape it. Duke ‘s intimate class room setting of 14 for a majority of my classes terrified me. Without the excellent teachers at KC, I would not have had the courage to answer even one question, but I found my self knowing the answers and searching for more. KC has taught me how to balance my time wisely between dance team, other organizations and classes. KC taught me how to be a confident outgoing student, which might be the greatest skill for a college student to have, because its not all book work! * And with my training as a Collins Crazie I made an excellent Cameron Crazie!!!

We think of the effective teachers we have had over the years with a sense of recognition, but those who have touched out humanity we remember with a deep sense of gratitude. ~ Anonymous student ~

Linda