Sixty Canadian High School seniors received their diplomas during graduation ceremonies held on Saturday, May 20, in the CHS Gymnasium.

Following addresses by Salutatorian Ella Walser and Valedictorian Ben Bryant, presentation of the diplomas to each graduate, and the symbolic shifting of tassels from right to left—representing each grad’s crossing over to a new stage in life—Canadian ISD Superintendent Lynn Pulliam named the annual winner of the coveted Liske Cup.

The award is named after Albert Paul Liske who, on 1904, came to the Texas Panhandle and settled in Canadian. Mr. Liske was one of the movers and shakers who hurried the progress of Canadian and the surrounding area to promote business. He founded the Liske Grain Company which, in 1930, offered a beautiful trophy to the best all-around student at Canadian High School—an honor which has been presented each year since to an outstanding member of the CHS Senior graduating class.

The Liske Cup winner is selected by a committee of high school teachers and administrators, based on their scholarship, leadership, citizenship, attitude, sportsmanship, as well as school participation and academic achievement.

“The 93rd winner of the Liske Cup has exhibited all these qualities in abundance,” Dr. Pulliam said. “Today’s winner is talented, involved, and has achieved extracurricular success at the district, region, and state levels.”

“This student participated in, with success, a multitude of extracurricular activities during their four years at CHS, including athletics, UIL Academic events, and One Act Play. This student exhibited leadership and service while at CHS in clubs and organizations such as SADD, NHS, and Student Council and as a class officer. He attended Boys State, [as well as] the Naval, Air Force and West Point Summer Academies. He is active in his church youth group and has served over 100 hours of community service over four years.”

“This student is hard-working, intelligent and kind—all ingredients of success. I am proud to award the 2023 Liske Cup to Ben Bryant.”

Members of the CHS Class of 2023 were: Audrey Abraham, Javier Alvarez, Teagan Ash, Eric Avila, Jaci Bass, Berkleigh Baileys, Cescilly Beach, Berkley Beedy, Nic Benson, Benjamin Benton, Karla Blanco, Ben Bryant, Miranda Calabrese, Javier Cardenas, Brooklyn Cochran, Jed Davina, Roper Davina, Jazmin Dominguez, Mason Drager, Lyndlee Coffee;

Everett Cook, Landon Fuentez, Emily Garcia, Celia Gonzales, Luke Haygood, Maranna Hernandez, Dessa Hext, Jasmin Jimenez, Sam Kendall, Emily Kauk, Dylan Leach, Diego Lugo, Stormy McIntosh, Matt McLanahan, Trace Mitchell, Josh Miller, Tripp Mills, Moraima Morales, D’Wayne Moran;

Leah Moreno, Saira Moreno, Estefania Perez, Mallory Poe, Benny Proffitt, Clara Pulliam, Pacer Quisenberry, Isay Ramirez, Nick Salas, Jaime Salazar, Araceli Saldivar, Camree Slavin, Ethan Stephenson, Joy Stiner, Haeleigh Thompson, Corbin Throgmorton, Jaxtyn Valenzuela, Cree Waite, Alli Wayne, Journey Wood, and Ella Walser.