Three Samuel Clemens High School seniors will be spotlighted by Fox 29 as part of its tribute to graduates from the Class of 2026. Laila Burcham, Baylee Manselle and James Hoffer were interviewed in the station’s studios by reporter Melissa Vega for its Focus on South Texas show. They described their respective K-12 journeys at SCUC and their plans after graduation.
Burcham, who will attend Texas A&M in the fall, was proud of the job Clemens HS did to make sure students felt a sense of belonging. “It’s been impactful for me, boosting school spirit and making everyone feel welcome,” she said. “It’s been helpful for me and my experience to grow and get out of my shell."
Manselle—who recently won the ProStart Culinary Competition with her shrimp taco recipe (the equivalent of a state title)—will attend St. Phillip’s College to continue her Culinary Arts studies. Her goal is to become a private chef, and her experiences at Clemens were a springboard to her preparation.
“Our whole classroom is a mock-up of a restaurant kitchen," Manselle said during the interview, adding, "It’s just a learning experience for everyone and I got to meet so many new people and visit hotels (restaurants). It expanded my view of the industry.”
Hoffer will attend UTSA to double-major in Business and Entomology. His experience in eight different student organizations, and an officer in five of them, taught him the importance of personal connections and left him prepared for the challenges ahead.
“A title is a title, but that personal relationship with members is most important, including shy freshmen - making sure they’re seen, heard and valued,” Hoffer said. “That’s something that happened to me as a freshman, when seniors took me under their wing and taught me and I made sure to exhibit that to others.”
Following the interview, the seniors were given a tour of the TV station including the joint News 4/Fox 29 newsroom.
The full segment will air on Fox 29 on Saturday, June 6, at 5:30 a.m. and on CW 35 on Sunday, June 7, at 5:39 a.m.
