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Once at MIT, Wright will study mechanical engineering with a focus in the biomedical field for a good reason. “I want to build smart prosthetics. I grew up in Colorado Springs surrounded by military activities. Living there, we had people who came home (from Iraq and Afghanistan) missing parts, and they became my inspiration.” Wright prides herself in being on Stockdale’s academic decathlon team, NHS, CSF and Link Crew. When asked to reveal something unique about herself, she said, “I taught myself how to play the ukulele by watching YouTube videos.”
Jordan Abel South High School College: UCLA Proposed major: Bioengineering Grade point average: 4.5
South High School is doing something right, and Jordan Abel will be the first to say it. Through their Engineering and Industrial Technology Academy (known as MS³), South High informs its students about summer enrichment programs and research mentorships (lasting up to six weeks during summers) that Abel feels propelled him toward his future area of study, bioengineering. “During the COSMOS program, I was introduced to different biomedical careers. I got to see a robot that helped stroke victims Jordan Abel make use of their arms and realized I could impact people’s lives. I was fortunate that the academy told us about these programs and helped fund them for us.” He also said he chose UCLA not only for its beautiful campus but also because of the friendly leaders willing to help him get good grades, which is important to him. Abel is on South’s We the People team, was a scholar athlete, in Links Leadership Academy, and CSF and NHS. He took second place with his We the People unit at the district level — an amazing accomplishment itself, but especially for him. “I have overcome a stuttering problem.”
Cynthia Cervantes Foothill High School College: UCLA Proposed majors: Health Care and art Grade point average: 4.5
UCLA has been Cynthia Cervantes’ dream college for as long as she can remember because it is close to home and is one of the top college universities in California. Plus, she said, “I want to be enrolled in rigorous classes to keep me motivated.” Cervantes is the vice president of Foothill’s math club, the senior class treasurer, on the Academic Decathlon team and in French club, AVID CSF. She also plays tennis. Importantly, she is also a Dell Scholar, meaning that she receives 76
Bakersfield Life
June 2012
a $20,000 scholarship and new Dell laptop for college. Besides her good grades, Cervantes believes she knows why she got into UCLA. “I spent hours on my personal statement. I was honest and discussed that I had to push myself to end up where I am. I come from a low-income Cynthia Cervantes family and didn’t let that stop me. I haven’t shown any signs that I’m going to give up.” Cervantes plans to double major in health care and art, a passion since she was a small girl. “I’d like to be an occupational therapist and use art therapy,” she said. When asked to reveal a secret about herself, she laughed. “I like to collect rocks.”
Daniel Ibarra Ridgeview High School College: Stanford Proposed major: Mechanical engineering Grade point average: 4.5
Daniel Ibarra’s story is a good one. Born into a migrant farmworker family, Ibarra is called a “migrant student,” a young man who changed schools roughly every three months as his family moved around in the fields. The shortest time he spent at one school was three days. “When I was in second grade, we moved back to Mexico because my parents couldn’t find Daniel Ibarra work,” he said. By the sixth grade, they finally found steady work and a home to buy. Ibarra’s is a success story, as both Yale and Stanford accepted his application. Although he is well-rounded and has earned high scores, Ibarra believes the prestigious colleges accepted him for other reasons, too. “It relates to math and the migrant story,” Ibarra said. “I want to study mechanical engineering because I’m good in math. Math is math in Spanish or English. Many of my classmates have the same migrant experience but didn’t make it.” Ibarra is in Ridgeview’s Math and Mesa clubs, Interact club and Link Crew. He also is CSF and played soccer all four years. The secret hardly anyone knows about him? “I