The Bowie Softball Lady Dawgs surged to the 6A state championship game before falling to defending champion Keller 5-1. The finish matches the program's best ever, joining state finalist squads in 2008 and 2010.

"I'm so proud of the the way this team persevered game after game," said Head Coach Liz Wissel. "They showed remarkable resiliency and grit."

Nearly 600 Akins High School seniors celebrated receiving their diplomas this morning at the Frank Erwin Center. The ceremony marked the first graduation for the school since the death of its namesake, Dr. Charles Akins, earlier this year.

"My grandfather lived his vision out," said Justin Charles Inglehart, grandson of Dr. Akins. "I pray the same for each of you."  

Accomplishments celebrated at the school this year included:

· The Akins Women’s Choir winning their first UIL Sweepstakes Award in 15 years.

Austin High School awarded diplomas to more than 450 seniors at a graduation ceremony this evening at the Frank Erwin Center.

Class valedictorian Daniel McCutchen exhorted his classmates to "serve others, because there's always someone in need." 

Notable achievements at Austin High this year included:

· The girls’ varsity soccer team went undefeated and won the district championship. The team also earned bi-district and area championship honors, and was a regional quarter finalist.

 Lanier High School today presented 289 members of its senior class with their high school diplomas at the Frank Erwin Center.

 "Challenge yourself to go beyond your limits," said valedictorian Chris Pham. "Fortune favors the bold."

Among the school’s accomplishments this year: 

· The Lanier Viking Band was the top-ranked band in the Capitol City Marching Contest and received the top-ranked visual score of all the bands in the contest.

· The Lanier UIL math team won first place in the calculator application category.