Ella Walser was awarded the 69th Abraham Cup at the Canadian Middle School promotion ceremonies held Friday, May 24. She is the daughter of Randy and Mistie Walser.

The Abraham Cup is a long-standing tradition that represents the pursuit of excellence at CMS. The criteria are citizenship, leadership, personality, and sportsmanship. CISD Superintendent Kyle Lynch made the presentation.

The first Abraham Cup was awarded in 1952. Malouf “Oofie” Abraham initiated the annual award and based the selection criteria on that of the Liske Cup, which is given to a graduating Canadian High School senior.

As a seventh-grader, Walser was in the top 10 and a member of the “All A” honor roll; received Outstanding “C” Awards at the academic assembly; participated in UIL, basketball, track, cross-country, band, and robotics; and placed in several events at the district UIL and district track meets.

As an eighth-grader, she was a member of the “All A” honor roll; placed in several events at the district academic meet and the district track meet; participated in robotics, UIL, basketball, track, and cross-country; participated in band and was a member of the All-Region Band, in both seventh and eighth grades; was awarded the robotics Outstanding Student Award at the academic assembly; was elected the 2018–19 student senate vice-president; and is this year’s co-salutatorian.

A total of 68 eighth-graders received diplomas, which were presented by Principal Bruce Bryant and Assistant Principal Drew Daniel. Awarding the certificates were CISD board members, Kathy Dumbauld, Rudy Godino, Landon Landry, and Andy Orrell.

Pianist Sheila Pankratz performed the processional and recessional. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Lyndlee Coffee. Audrey Abraham gave the invocation, and Miranda Calabrese the welcome. Co-salutatorians Corbin Throgmorton and Ella Walser gave the salutatory address; and Ben Byrant the valedictory address. Clara Pulliam read the class poem. To conclude the ceremony, Everett Cook gave the benediction.

—photo by Laurie Ezzell Brown