Yes, Mineola High School 2024 valedictorian Chevelle Smith is named for the popular 1960s model Chevrolet, and yes, she even drives one (a ’67 model).

But that’s one of the few areas she and salutatorian Yuka Torres don’t have in common.

The two have spent their entire academic careers in Mineola schools, including all four years of high school in the award-winning Mineola High School Sound of the Swarm band program.

Smith has served as the color guard captain while Torres has been the section leader for the saxophones. Smith is in the percussion section when she’s not waving flags and rifles.

Both also plan to attend the University of Texas at Tyler in the fall, and both plan to pursue degrees in computer science.

They veer onto different paths from there, with Smith hoping for a post with the Federal Bureau of Investigation or something related to cyber security, while Torres’ interests lie in programming and software development.

Both also plan to live on campus in Tyler.

And if their new jobs after college take them away from the area, both are OK with that.

“I like to travel and experience different cultures,” Smith said.

Both are also National Honor Society members, where Smith serves as the treasurer.

In UIL academic competition, both were part of the third-place calculator team, and Torres also competed in spelling.

They have made two trips to the state final in marching band, with Mineola winning the championship in 2021 and runner-up in 2023.

Neither has plans to extend their musical educations beyond high school.

It has been a toss up between the two for who would be the top graduates of the Class of 2024.

“We’re kind of competitive,” Smith said. “It was back and forth.”

Both completed their high school careers with almost a year’s worth of college course credit hours through the Tyler Junior College dual credit program, where they each amassed 27 hours. All but one class were the same.

And both named the TJC teacher, Mrs. Chapa, as among their favorites.

Chevelle is the daughter of Chris Smith and has a younger brother, Bendix, a high school sophomore who also is in the band program, playing clarinet and participating in color guard.

Yuka is the daughter of Christina and Randy Miller and has no siblings. She moved to the United States from the Philippines as a 3-year-old and has lived in the area ever since.

Among  favorite memories at Mineola High School were being part of the state championship marching band for the first time and performing for their fans.

Though they will miss their friends, the student body in Tyler typically includes quite a few Mineola graduates, so there will be familiar faces.