Published: May 15, 2008 01:48 pm            

Stockton gets it

Text message from co-nominee starts the day

DUNCAN — The top five students at Duncan High School stepped onto the auditorium stage Wednesday with the knowledge that one of them would receive DHS’s top honor.

And as the awards ceremony came to a close with much suspense, it was Jonathan Stockton who was named the 2008 Crossman winner.

“It feels great,” Stockton said. “It really does. All those years of hard work, although not done for this, have paid off.

“It feels great to know you are the top student.”

The award, which originated in 1946, is the top award at DHS, much like a valedictorian. Five seniors are nominated by teachers based on characteristics including scholarship, leadership, personality, cooperation, citizenship, industry, judgment, common sense, reliability, physical vitality and religious attitude.

While the nominees might be chosen by the DHS teachers, the winner is determined from the nominees through a vote of DHS students.

Aside from Stockton, nominees for this year’s Crossman Award were Lyle Gay, Haley Kincannon, Madeline Murrell and Devin Vassella. Stockton said any of the nominees could have won the award, and it would have been well deserved.

“It is kind of like a toss up,” he said. “They were great nominees, and I’m glad to be part of the team.

“We’re all well-rounded people. I’d trust any one of them.”

The nominees had to muddle through months of suspense, wondering who would receive this year’s award. By Wednesday morning, this suspense had festered into the perpetual butterflies.

Stockton said he received a text message from Vassella that morning.

“I woke up this morning, and Devin sent me a text message saying ‘Today’s the big day,” he said.

And for Stockton, it was.

He said that when he was revealed to be the 2008 Crossman, he felt a bit overwhelmed by the emotion of the situation. This emotion was heightened when he received a hug from fellow nominee Gay.

“I thought I was going to cry,” Stockton said. “I told myself ‘Don’t cry. You’re a guy.’”

Emotion didn’t only have a hold on Stockton when the award winner was announced. His mother, Julie, fueled by pride in her son, could be heard over the crowd, cheering for the Crossman winner.

This jovial display was just an example of what Stockton believes got him to the winner’s circle.

“They’ve been a real help in the development of who I am,” he said. “I really appreciate them.

“I am who I am today because of them. I love them very much.”

But he didn’t just receive support from his family. He said other students and even members of the community backed him in the Crossman endeavor. This support is something his thankful for, he said.

While only seconds passed from the announcement to the podium, those seconds permeated with cheering and an a slathering of emotion. Stockton’s acceptance speech didn’t last long, but successfully summed up the moment.

“It’s such an honor,” he said in his speech.

He said he had things planned out to say in his speech in case he won. But once he was recognized, those thoughts fell to the wayside.

Stockton said he was glad more than just academics was taken into consideration in figuring out the Crossman winner. He said this more accurately shows the top students because it includes all aspects of their lives.

“People recognize that you are a really good person,” Stockton said. “I’m really proud to be a Crossman.”

        

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