A sneak peek at Baylor’s Class of 2025

In about a month, Baylor’s Class of 2025 will arrive on campus for Move2BU, Welcome Week and the start of classes. But we can’t wait; here’s your first look at some of the members of #BU25:

Tremane Smith will have a head start on many of his classmates, having earned his associate’s degree at the same time he was completing high school in southeast Texas. His impressive drive and achievements made Smith one of 300 Gates Scholarship recipients nationwide; the scholarship will help Smith as he begins his studies in biochemistry and works toward becoming an anesthesiologist.

When COVID-19 brought the world to a halt, Brinkley Bounds used her free time — as just a high school senior — to start a business that helps people access mental health services. Selling lemonade from a food truck, the East Texas resident and incoming Baylor Honors College student raised more than $1,000 that she donated to help students needing counseling services at nearby LeTourneau University. She hopes to keep “LemonAid” going as she moves to Baylor.

When Maddie Abor was just 8, she was diagnosed with leukemia. During treatment, blood clots formed in heart, and doctors “were basically telling my mom I wasn’t supposed to wake up.” But she did — and the days and weeks she spent surrounded by doctors as she recovered made her want to become one of them. The Abilene Cooper High School graduate plans to study pre-med at Baylor with hopes of becoming a pediatric oncologist.

Three students at Lubbock’s All Saints Episcopal School tied for valedictorian — and two of the three are headed to Baylor this fall. In addition to topping the class in GPA, Ash Bumstead was a two-time TAPPS 2A state champion in math, earned all-state honors in three sports, and served as president of the Chemistry Club. Graham St. Clair was student body president, played three sports and in the high school band, and used his free time to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association.

Sic ’em, #BU25!