17/09/2026
A.MAC is SO proud to celebrate our incredible instructor, Kristin Smith on her induction into the Po-Hi Alumni Hall of Fame!! Such a deserved honor and beautiful recognition of the impact you’ve made in our community. We are so grateful to have you as part of the A.MAC family!
2026 Ponca City High School Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee - Kristin Smith -- Po-Hi Class of 1985
Kristin Smith was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma on July 25, 1967 to Leland and Beverly Smith. She has one sister, Leanne Smith Parr (Po-Hi Class of 1983). Kristin is a life-long Ponca City resident, attending Washington Elementary School, East Junior High, and graduating from Ponca City High School in 1985. She attended Oklahoma State University from 1985-1989, graduating with Honors with a Bachelor’s degree in English. She returned to Oklahoma State University for her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, graduating in 2001. Kristin and Donnie Bohon II were married in 1998 and have a son and a daughter, Luke and Rheagan.
Kristin began her teaching career at Blackwell High School but returned to her alma mater in 1991 and began teaching English and coaching the Po Hi-Steppers. When Kristin began coaching in 1991, the Hi-Steppers were a team of 16, with only 17 girls trying out. Kristin made it her goal to bring the program back to prominence, as she had been a Po Hi-Stepper herself. She immediately began bringing her own coaching style to the program, instilling a sense of pride, leadership, and discipline in the team. Through her efforts, the team’s numbers grew to 36/37 girls throughout her career.
Kristin’s coaching career spanned 34 years (1991-2025), during which time she and her teams won numerous awards. Her teams were named State Runner-up in 1992 and were named Oklahoma State Champions in 1993. Smith’s teams were not just competitive at the state level; they were even more successful on the national level. Her teams have won 96 category National Championships, were named Academic National Champions eight times (the highest cumulative GPA of the team being a 3.94), Large Team Officer National Champions five times, and Large Team overall National Champions five times. She has had five soloists place at Nationals: Kristina Williams, Katherine Roland, Erin Rutherford, Adi Welch, and Rheagan Bohon, two duets place 1st runner-up, and two senior ensembles place either 1st runner up or National Champion. Her teams have also been honored with countless awards for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Technique, and Outstanding Presentation. She has had many girls continue their dance careers on college and professional dance teams.
Kristin has many personal accolades along with her team’s accomplishments. She is a founding member of the OSDDA (Oklahoma State Drill Team Director’s Association) and helped to implement the first OSDDA State Drill Team Competition, a competition that is still being held today. She was also recognized by her peers as the Outstanding Drill Team Director/Coach at National Competition in 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2018. She choreographed for her own team and for several other teams throughout her career. Her choreography has been used as an example of successful, effective choreography on a teaching video by American Dance/Drill Team School. She has long been recognized as one of the most successful coaches in the history of Ponca City High School.
Kristin was elected as a Ponca City High School Teacher of the Year in 2017 and was named Teacher of the Month in 2019. She has dedicated her life to helping the students of Ponca City become the absolute best version of themselves that they can be. Smith has always said that she is more interested in coaching teams to be good human beings, not just good dancers. Her “girls” have said that her “life lessons” of punctuality, discipline, morality, and dedication are lessons they have carried with them throughout their lives. Kristin retired from coaching in 2025 but remains a teacher at the high school. She lives by the saying: “Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”
The individuals selected to be inducted into the Ponca City High School Alumni Hall of Fame for the 2026 ceremony include Stephen Scott (Class of 1972), John Raley (Class of 1977), James Yang (Class of 1979), Kristin Smith (Class of 1985), and Travis Pardee (Class of 1995).
Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at the Ponca City Board of Education, RCB Bank, or online at Zeffy - link in comments below.
Ticket sales proceeds will go towards Ponca City High School Hall of Fame Scholarships.
