PWHS announces Douglas, Cleaves ’26 valedictorian and salutatorian

Palestine-Wheatley High
School has named its
valedictorian and salutatorian for
the Class of 2026.
Taylor Douglas is this year’s
valedictorian, and McKinley
Cleaves is salutatorian.
Douglas is the daughter of
Adam Douglas and Melissa
Douglas. She is the granddaughter
of Charlie Williams and the late
Naomi Williams, along with the
late Thomas and Andrea Lou
Douglas.
While in high school, Douglas
played volleyball, participated in
robotics and was a member of the
quiz bowl team.
In her spare time, she enjoys
reading, art, game development,
weightlifting and mix martial arts.
Douglas will graduate with a
4.14 grade point average along
with 51 concurrent credit college hours.
She plans to attend The
University of Texas at Dallas to
pursue a master’s degree in
applied cognition and
neuroscience.
Cleaves is the daughter of
Kresher Cleaves and James Dowell
and the granddaughter of Delores
Hall and Henry Hall.
At PW, she played volleyball
and was a member of the track
and field team.
She is a member of the Grand
Avenue Seventh Day Adventists
Church.
She enjoys cooking, trying new
food, traveling and watching
Netflix.
Cleaves will graduate high
school with a 4.0 grade point
average along with 68 concurrent
credit college hours.
She plans to further her
education and one day become a
psychiatrist.
PWHS plans to hold its
graduation ceremony on Tuesday,
March 5, at 7 p.m., at Patriot
Stadium.