Moore’s Brandon Pham – Academic Athlete of the Month Presented by Republic Bank & Trust

By Kelsey Baucom

In addition to being involved in Student Council, National Honor Society, Key Club, National Technical Honor Society, and the Academic Team, Brandon Pham plays center back for the Moore Lions varsity soccer team. The senior also has the honor of being valedictorian of this year’s graduating class. Despite the busy schedule, Pham has achieved this because he makes sure his academics are his number one priority.

“I always put education at the top of my list,” he said. “I put it before athletics or any other personal tasks like cleaning my shoes. Learning will take you to extraordinary places. I am proud to be the valedictorian of my graduating class at Moore High School. I am thankful for my family and friends who have taught me to work hard in school.”

When it comes to soccer, Pham has played since he was around five or six years old. Over every other sport, he said that soccer came naturally and that nothing felt better than “chasing after the ball and scoring goals as a kid.” Now, playing for Moore High, he enjoys the competition and the comradery that come with it.

“You get to represent your school and compete against other high-level players and teams that all have the same goal,” he said. “You also get to see some of your old teammates or friends outside of high school that have previously played with you when you were young.”

Pham is obviously an individual who is driven to succeed in the classroom as well as on the field. When asked why, he had a simple and sufficient answer.

“I just wish to make the most of what is given to me,” he said. “I do not want to waste any opportunity I am given, and this motivates me to be the best I can be.”

After graduation, Pham plans to go to college and work hard to get a degree in engineering, a field he has been interested in for some time. One person who encouraged him in his education was a former teacher at Moore High, Mrs. Jennifer Parry.

“Mrs. Parry taught pre-engineering my freshman and sophomore year of high school,” he said. “She was very understanding and kind to her students. She really helped me fall in love with STEM because she taught each concept so well and made pre-engineering one of the most fun and interactive experiences in school.”