Several years ago, Ryan Sprouse and Tristan Quinones became friends will being students at Bridgeport Middle School. Several years later, the pair will be delivering the final message to students at Bridgeport High School.

 

Recently, the pair learned that they were chosen as Mr. and Miss Bridgeport High School for the Class of 2014. Not only does the pair get to lead out the graduating class during the May 17 graduation ceremony planned for Wayne Jamison Field, but they are the two students who will deliver the keynote comments during the commencement ceremony.

 

Unlike many things that are chosen at the high school, the selection of Mr. and Miss BHS isn’t the result of voting by their peers. Instead, it’s the result of a vote of faculty and administration at the high school. It’s a safe bet that Quinones and Sprouse would have voted for one another if given the chance.

 

“Ryan and I met during the gifted program years ago and we’ve been friends ever since,” said Quinones, who will be attending West Virginia Wesleyan College and majoring in biology-chemistry as she plans on becoming a dermatologist. “It really is special to be doing this with someone who I consider such a dear friend.”

 

Sprouse is equally pleased to see his friend earn the honor. And he’s not the least bit caught off guard with the announcement she was selected.

 

“I was pleasantly surprised to be chosen, but with Tristan it certainly didn’t come as a surprise. She’s the perfect person for Miss BHS because she exemplifies what it means in terms of character and perseverance and character. It’s great to have this honor with her,” said Sprouse.

 

Quinones is a lifelong Bridgeport resident going through the school system from start to finish. And she’s proud to not only be a product of that system, but to be recognized by the teachers in the final leg of her journey as Miss BHS.

 

“I was really honored because during your four years you don’t have the same teachers over and over. It’s nice know that I made a good enough impression on them from my freshman year to my senior year,” she said. “I really want to thank my teachers, the faculty as a whole as well as my parents and my brother Scott. They’ve been such a big influence on me.”

 

Serving as a speaker at graduation may be a bit unnerving for many Quinones’ age. However, the soon-to-be graduate said that’s not the part of the process that she’s concerned about.

 

“I actually like giving speeches. Writing speeches, well, not so much,” Quinones, who has an older brother Scott that is a BHS grad, said. “I haven’t really begun the thought process, but I know I’ll be talking about the day being a bit of a farewell and not the end of things. I know I will try to find a unique way to address those gathered.”

 

Like his friend, Sprouse isn’t fretting over getting up in front of what could be a few thousand people and giving a speech. And like his friend, he’s more concerned about sitting down and writing it. One thing Sprouse does have to his advantage is that giving a speech as Mr. BHS is a short-time family tradition. Last year, older brother Tyler was given the honor to address the crowd at Jamison Field.

 

“I’ll do what Tyler did and get up and speak from the heart. I’ll just get up and talk as the person I am,” said Sprouse. “I’m certain I’ll talk to Tyler about this, but the main thing I need is to see how he broke it down and begin writing this. That’s the challenge to me.”

 

As for some of his initial thoughts, he said there are some obvious points that he’ll go at. He said he’s certain the rest will come to him.

 

“There’s a chance to express my high level of gratitude for the faculty and to my family for all they’ve done for me; including getting a chance to speak at graduation because there are so many good students at the school. That’s important,” said Sprouse, who plans on attending West Virginia University and studying audiology and speech pathology. “Eventually, the important thing with my message is to stay true to who I am. If I do that, I think I’ll be okay.”

 

 

 

Educators are asked to look at multiple facets, including items such as commitment to the school, perseverance and being involved. And with  quick look at both of their backgrounds, it’s hard to argue that Sprouse and Quinones weren’t good choices.

 

Need proof?

 

Sprouse was a member of this year’s state championship football team and a three-year starter on the Indians’ basketball team. He also serves on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Council and is active in the Bridgeport High School Journalism Department.

 

On the educational front, he also is more than holding his own. He has an overall grade point average of 4.0, a member of the National Honor Society, the Blood Drive Committee, named BHS December Student of the Month, and in his spare time the Bridgeport United Methodist Church member works as a server at Via Veneto and for the Jarrod West Hoop Skillz Summer Camps.

 

Quinones is just as impressive as she has been a four-year member of the BHS Danceline and was captain this past year. She hones her skills taking classes at the Annabel Timms School of Ballet.

 

She has represented her school at several functions. Among the places where she has been the school’s ambassador is the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Camp, a member of Girls States and was a State Senator at Girls Nation among others.

 

At BHS, Quinones, also a member of the Bridgeport United Methodist Church, is a Student Council member and was the class historian this year. She is a member of Key Club and active in the BHS Journalism Department, while also being involved in two school productions. Her arts skills has allowed her to be a four-year member of the orchestra, while those same musical skills have landed her multiple honors.

 

In her spare time she serves as a “Buddy” for the Bridgeport Challenger League of Little League Baseball. She also gives private violin lessons to local elementary students.

 

Sprouse is the son of Brad and Jennifer Sprouse. Quinones is the daughter Benjie and Jean Quinones.

 

Editor's Note: Photo courtesy of BHS Journalism Department; photo by Andrea Cooper.