We are proud to recognize Matias Aguilar as the Valedictorian of Plains High School, Class of 2026. He’s the son of Dante and Melissa Aguilar and older brother of Emilia. Throughout high school, Matias played a pivotal role in building Plains Debate into a, now nationally recognized, official chapter. As speech captain, he competed in Congressional Debate, qualifying for state twice and earning a spot at Nationals in Virginia this June. He also found success in Extemporaneous Speaking, becoming a three-time state finalist. In debate, he and his partner, Taylor, were two-time regional champions and national qualifiers. He was also avidly involved in journalism and Plains’ own newspaper, The Giddy-Up, serving as a sports photographer and Head of Editorials. He served for two years as a Faith Formation teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and as a Liturgical minister for the past three. He is the President of both Student Council and National Honor Society, and served as his Class President for two years. He also competed in several UIL events, including One-Act Play, Ready Writing, Headline Writing, Copy Editing, Editorials, and his favorite, Persuasive Speaking. Throughout his four years, he amassed a total of 13 state qualifications and 2 national qualifications. He also recently graduated from South Plains College with his Associate of Arts as an Honors Graduate. Matias will attend the University of Notre Dame to study Political Science and Biological Sciences before pursuing law school and a career as a patent attorney. Congratulations, Matias!