High School HLI Class II Bio Book

CLASS II HIGH SCHOOL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Sponsored by

PAVING THE WAY FOR THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW

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he HCC STL Foundation has established the High School Hispanic Leadership Institute as a skills-based leadership training program with the goal to develop the next generation of Hispanic Leaders in the St. Louis community. These individuals will be entering post-secondary institutions and the workforce. Thus, this program will equip them with resources to support their personal and professional development.

The High School Hispanic Leadership Institute focuses on three core competences: leading oneself, leading others and leading an organization. The purpose of the program and these competences is to provide students with tools to establish personal values, improve communication and promote strategic decision-making.

The program offers students relevant professional development trainings led by industry professionals and distinguished professors with years of experience in diverse fields and academic settings. Students will also have the opportunity to visit various college campuses each day and connect with university professionals who will be able to share college insight and university specific information.

The participants of Class II are as follows:

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Keyri Alcantar Victor Castellanos Carissa Castro Maria Cerda Lizeth De Jesus Monroy Victor Escobar Gabriela Garcia-Figueroa Salvador Gaspar Eric Holtmeyer Vanessa Holtmeyer

Julianna Jackson IsaĂ­ Karanja-Ramos Carlos Mendoza Brisa Pintor Marco Pluma Rocio Romero Rafael Sanchez Neil Tomala Martin Trujillo-Carrazco Angelica Vigil

CLASS SCHEDULE AND TOPICS

Monday, June 11 Maximizing Your Cultural Diversity Tuesday, June 12 Goal Setting Financial Literacy Wednesday, June 13 The Brand Called You Thursday, June 14 The Importance of Volunteering Self-Mastery Friday, June 15 DiSC Assessment Effective Communication Saturday, June 16 Professionalism The Importance of Self - Awareness

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Keyri Alcantar

Keyri Alcantar will be an upcoming sophomore for the school year of 2018-2019 at Ritenour High School. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she still lives in St. Louis and is happy alongside her family.

As a sophomore, Keyri will be taking Pre-AP English Language Arts 2. She also loves anything that has to do with numbers and is sure to enjoy taking Advanced Algebra 2 with Trigonometry. Keyri is the Vice President of her class of 2020. She really enjoys being a leader and helping her class become better. She is also in a social justice club called Game Changers, a very involved and interesting club.

Out of school, Keyri likes to spend time helping out her church. She has been a leader of a retreat and helped in the process of organizing it. At the annual festival for her church, you will always see her helping out in one way or another. Currently, her church is going to be creating a youth group and Keyri will for sure be involved in organizing it.

When Keyri graduates, she plans on hopefully going to college. At the moment, she is unsure of what she would like to be. However, she loves math and also helping others out, so the path she chooses will definitely include those things.

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Victor Castellanos

Victor Castellanos is currently a senior at Francis Howell North High School and will graduate on June 2nd. He was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, but he now lives in Saint Charles, MO. During his senior year, Victor was able to finish with a 4.0 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale. His academic interests include math, science, and anatomy.

Victor’s favorite subject is math and he was able to join the Mu Alpha Theta Club which is the United States mathematics honor society for high school.

Victor has been very involved in community service throughout his four years of high school. He was an A+ program tutor where he completed 50 hours of teaching, helping, and interacting with elementary school students. He was also a member of National Honor Society where he was able to volunteer at many different events to help the community.

When Victor is not busy doing school work or community service, he enjoys playing and watching soccer, spending time with loved ones, and exercising. Victor played varsity soccer, ran on the varsity track team, and was also a member of DECA throughout his four years at Francis Howell North.

Once graduated from high school, Victor will attend SIUE. He hopes to become a Physical Therapist which he is interested in because of his great passion for sports, helping people, and learning about the human body.

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Carissa Castro

Carissa Castro will be a sophomore at Webster Groves High School in St. Louis, Missouri this fall. Born in Chicago, she now lives in Webster Groves and is happy to call St. Louis home.

During her sophomore year, Carissa will be taking two honors classes: honors algebra 2, and gifted English. She will also be taking accelerated chemistry and accelerated world history. She hopes to further her knowledge in the STEM fields, and is also taking an engineering and drawing course for a semester. She hopes to pursue a career in math or science.

Carissa enjoys playing sports and participating in athletic events. She plays soccer, softball, and just began high school swimming this year! On and off the field she is a leader, and hopes to continue to play softball at a collegiate level. She loves being a part of a team that is so passionate about the game. Carissa also participates in youth group at church and enjoys being able to open up to high schoolers that won’t judge. They also go on mission trips to give back to the community.

When Carissa is not playing sports or at youth group, you’ll find her in the kitchen cooking a gourmet meal or baking a luxurious desert. You’ll also find her practicing her violin or playing in her school’s top orchestra.

After graduation, Carissa plans to attend a 4 year university that will most likely be out of state. She hopes to pursue collegiate softball, and major in either architecture, engineering, or health science.

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Maria Cerda

Maria Cerda was born in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, but was raised in the U.S. for the majority of her life. Her family and she have now settled in St. Ann, Missouri where she attends Pattonville High School in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

This fall, Maria has hopes of being a high achieving junior and more academically involved by officially joining the International Club and hopefully tutoring kids in elementary school. During her junior year, Maria has decided to take a few classes that will benefit her when studying at Law School after graduation. She will be taking Speech and Debate, Intro to Legal Profession, and Sociology. For her senior year, Maria plans to take Psychology and Political Science.

Apart from Maria taking important classes for her future as a lawyer, she volunteers at a store in St. Charles where she organizes clothing, shoes, and other accessories.

Then people buy them and the store owner, Cinthia Besselman, gives all the money made to multiple non-profit missionaries. In addition to this, Maria is in her school’s community service club where she picks up the recyclables from the school’s campus and recycles them every Thursday of the month.

Although, Maria is not officially in the International club, she has helped set up and prepare for the international club’s “ELL Night” at Holman Middle School in St. Ann, Missouri.

In her spare time, Maria likes to go to the gym, shopping, writing, and spending quality time with her friends and family.

After graduation, Maria plans to study Law at the University of Florida. Anyhow, she is uncertain which type of lawyer she will be. She is yet to decide if she would prefer to be a corporate lawyer, personal injury lawyer, immigration lawyer, or criminal lawyer.

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Lizeth de Jesus

Lizeth de Jesus will be a senior at Ritenour High School in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born in Mexico City and currently lives in Overland, Missouri.

During the next year, Lizeth will take two classes of ESOL SKILLS. She is very interested in further developing her knowledge and learning more English. Lizeth has always had an interest in the rights of people and how to defend them.

Lizeth hopes to continue to meet more people and develop an integrated team with people who have the same interest in helping others.

When Lizeth has free time, she is playing soccer with her friends or spending a moment with her family.

After graduation, Lizeth plans to attend the University of Chicago, Illinois.

Although she is not sure what career she wants to pursue, Lizeth has always had a passion for human rights, especially those of immigrants.

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Victor Escobar

Victor Andres Escobar is a junior that attends Francis Howell North in St. Charles, Missouri, where he also lives. He did not always live in Missouri though, for a small period of his life he lived in Miami, Florida where he was born. His parents had moved to Miami from Cuba and he was born in the United States.

Victor’s academic interests involve Biochemistry, Biology and History.

Victor has done volunteer as a translator, and although he has limited history involving community involvement he has always been very open to the idea of being more heavily involved in the community. Victor’s extracurricular interests have always been mostly in sports playing soccer and volleyball.

Victor is planning to continue receiving education after high school at a university. He is just undecided in what he will be majoring.

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Gabriela Garcia-Figueroa

Gabriela Garcia-Figueroa will be a senior at Ritenour High School in St. Louis this fall. She was born and raised in St. Louis and has been living here all her life.

Gabriela will be taking three Advanced Placement classes: AP English Literature, AP Psychology, and AP Statistics. She will also be taking Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, and Business Strategies to further explore the business world. Though these classes are rigorous, she will be studying topics that she is passionate about: Business Administration and Psychology.

Gabriela has served as a Catechist at her church, Holy Trinity, for a year and has helped young children learn about their faith. Gabriela is now currently working on restoring the Kratz Elementary garden. The community service project is also a competition for FBLA, an organization at her high school. Her involvement in FBLA, Future Business Leaders of America, has sparked her interest for business and she is a very active member.

After graduation, Gabriela plans on attending the University of Chicago next fall, though she is undecided in what field of Business Administration she wants to major in. She is certain that she wants to major in Psychology and Political Science.

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Salvador Gaspar

Salvador Gaspar will be a senior at Collinsville High School in Collinsville, Illinois this fall. He was born in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico and now lives in Collinsville and is proud to call it home.

During his senior year, Salvador will be taking three AP placement courses, AP Calculus, AP Physics C, and AP Psychology. Salvador is taking these rigorous courses to further his knowledge in the S.T.E.M. fields. He is fascinated with the universe and the stars and also completes many hours of community service as member of National Honor Society.

Outside of school, Salvador hopes to volunteer at Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Louis as part of a youth group. Also, he plans to volunteer at St. Peter and Paul in Collinsville, Illinois as a tutor for 1st through 8th grade students.

Aside from community service, Salvador loves to play soccer, relax with friends, and read.

After graduating, Salvador is hoping to attend The University of Michigan, where he hopes to major in Astrophysics or maybe Law.

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Eric Holtmeyer

Eric Holtmeyer will be a senior at Rockwood Summit High School in Fenton, Missouri this fall. Born in St. Louis, Eric has lived his whole life there, but has hopes of eventually leaving the Midwest, in hopes to live the rest of his life in California.

Eric has shown immense interest in the STEM field, in particular math.

Eric hopes to one day become a mathematics teacher and to help kids learn about math and to help promote the subject.

When not in school, Eric like to help young kids learn how to wrestle, which he will be doing this summer at Rockwood Summit High School’s wrestling camp. Eric has also been, and will continue, to volunteer for Viva Brazil, at all the events they hold throughout the years.

Eric loves to play sports, video games, and watch movies in his free time.

Eric is also very active with his family and friends, and just about every weekend you will see him spending time with either family or friends.

After high school, Eric plans on attending university at California State University in Monterey Bay, California. Eric wants to study mathematics and hopes to someday become a math teacher.

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Vanessa Holtmeyer

My name is Vanessa Holtmeyer. I am 16 years old and a soon to be junior at Rockwood Summit High School. I was born on May 18, 2002 in St. Louis, Missouri. I have lived in St. Louis my whole life. Though I’ve lived in the same city, I first lived in South County then moved to Fenton right before I started kindergarten.

Throughout school, I have always loved science and doing experiments. I also really enjoy math, specifically algebra. In the future, I hope to go to a university and obtain my master’s degree in Food Science.

I have participated in the orchestra from 3rd grade until 7th grade and the concert band from 6th grade until 10th grade. Starting in 9th grade, I joined the color guard in the marching band. This year, the marching band went to Bands of America Super Regionals in St. Louis and made school history by making finals. In the end, we placed 12th out of 66 bands in the country. After the marching season is over, I am a member of the winter guard. This year we got the bronze medal at the MCCGA Championships in Springfield, MO. Along with that, I have been a part of the crew for the school musical since 8th grade.

I am part of the Latino community because my mom was born and raised in Brazil. Also because when I was first born, my mom took me to get baptized in Brazil and I have a Brazilian citizenship. My family and I go back often to visit my relatives and see what the country has to offer.

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Julianna Jackson

Julianna Jackson was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri alongside her 5 siblings. She is currently going into her junior year at Metro Classical & Academic High School. She also works alongside one of her peers to administer their school’s singing club. She is in charge of running practices and organizing shows or any other events/ fundraisers the club has.

Julianna is very passionate about art & music. She is a creative thinker and has an eagerness to help the people around her. She is also very interested in getting involved in a field dealing with criminal law or forensic science.

She has many interests and is still working on narrowing one down for college. For the time being, she feels that learning how to be a better leader could have an invaluable effect on her professional growth.

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IsaĂ­ Karanja-Ramos

My name is IsaĂ­ Karanja-Ramos. I was born in Jefferson City, MO in 2001. My mother is Mexican-American and my father is East-African.

I am the oldest of three kids, all boys, in a household of five. I will be starting my junior year at Fort Zumwalt West High School this fall. West high is a massive school, and I quickly had to learn to compromise and work well with other students. My school has offered me many leadership opportunities with assignments and after school activities.

I have learned many lessons in my life. I learned to adapt quickly at a young age, as I had gone to six schools by the time I had started 3rd grade.

I have worked hard to maintain an honor roll status for the past 5 years. I have played cello the past five years and am currently playing in the Fort Zumwalt West Orchestra. I am a member of the Cross Country and Track teams, and have improved significantly over the span of two years. Being a member of these teams has taught me the importance of cooperation and hard work. I also feel like I have an overall positive attitude, as well as very organized.

With said lessons in mind, I would like to take moments to better myself.

I enjoy learning about many different cultures, trying different foods, and meeting new people. I recently took a trip to Mexico, and I very much want to return to learn more about the environment and culture there.

I strive to improve myself in many ways regarding leadership, such as communication skills and teamwork, as well as building my confidence.

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Carlos Mendoza

Carlos Mendoza will be a junior at Christian Brothers College High School (CBC) this fall. Born in Rolla, MO and moved to St. Louis when he was one week old.

Carlos is an excellent student with a 4.0 GPA. This fall, he will take three honors classes such as Advanced Algebra, Honors English, and Honors Chemistry. National Honors Society invited Carlos to become a member whose event will take place in October. Carlos is fluent in Spanish since both of his parents are from Venezuela and speak Spanish at home. He is taking French courses at school, where he hopes to take a full four years of this great language and becomes fluent, too.

In freshman and sophomore years in high school, Carlos’s activities have been many. He has been part of the Junior Varsity Tennis Team for the last two years where has participated and won in several tournaments.

Also, he has been a member of the Catholic mission program where every third Sunday of each month, he has volunteered at St. Louis University Soup Kitchen helping to prepare food to the elderly. In addition, every last Thursday of each month he has volunteered at the St. Augustine Soup Kitchen where he has helped to cook meals for the poor. Outside school, he has been a member of Teen Science Cafe where he has helped to organize discussions and key note speakers related to Science topics.

Carlos is very interested in Animation and he is looking for the right college where he can explore, interact and gain the knowledge needed to become one of the best Hispanic Professional in Animation in St. Louis area.

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Brisa Pintor

Brisa Pintor will be a senior at Gateway STEM High School in St. Louis. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri and is currently living in the South City area.

In Brisa’s senior year she will take two majors, EMT and science. She will also take two Advanced Placement courses, AP Spanish and AP Literature.

Regardless of the challenges she will encounter, she hopes to gain more knowledge on how to save lives and know the science behind the human body. She’s interested in finding a part time job that will teach her about marketing such as dealing with money and networking.

Brisa is grateful to have the ability to help her community; she was even nominated as one of the best volunteers in Catholic Charities. She’s been tutoring children with their homework for three years and desires to continue volunteering. She also volunteered as a soccer coach for young children and continues to volunteer at her church with nurturing the babies.

Outside of her school and volunteer work, she’s most passionate about her artistic qualities. She enjoys cooking and dancing, while on the side she loves to create movie scenes and acting them out with her siblings. As much as she loves spending time with her loved ones, she also enjoys relaxing and admiring life and the beauty of Mother Nature.

After senior year, Brisa wants to take a gap year to discover more colleges outside of her home city that best match her interests. She’s uncertain on what she wants to study, but she has high interest in marketing and artistic careers like promoting, illustrating, and creating things for the public view.

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Marco A. Pluma

Marco A. Pluma will be a junior at University City High School this fall.

He was born in Tlaxcala, MĂŠxico, and now lives in University City in St. Louis, Missouri.

During his junior year, Marco will be taking two Advanced Placement courses, AP Government and AP Language and one honors class, Honors Chemistry. Marco is very interested in developing his knowledge and passion in J.R.O.T.C. Also by Marco volunteering in the J.R.O.T.C. program, it makes Marco a better person because he knows how it feels to work without getting paid. Not everything in life is about getting paid, but it’s about helping your community out for free. Marco has always had an interest in serving in the military.

Besides volunteering in the J.R.O.T.C. program, Marco volunteers for TUF, Transforming UR Future. This program helps elementary school kids understand the topics of bullying, violence, peer pressure, and other things. When Marco is not volunteering, he goes to play soccer, exercise, hang out with his friends or go to work.

After Graduation, Marco doesn’t know yet what college he should go to.

Marco wants to be a military pilot.

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Rocio Romero

Rocio Romero was born in Michoacán, Mexico and moved to the U.S. when she was six years old. Since then, she has been living in St. Charles, Missouri.

Next semester she will be a junior at Francis Howell North in St. Charles.

During her junior year, Rocio plans on taking marketing one and a fashion course. Although Rocio has never looked into marketing, she has really high hopes that she can learn so much with marketing and learn how to incorporate something new with something she really loves, which is fashion. Rocio has always been interested in fashion and would be interested to pursue a career in it.

Rocio likes to participate in many school activities like KOE (Knights of Excellency), the A+ program, and the national honor society. Participating in these programs has given Rocio more ways to be involved in school and outside of school. Helping people around the community through these programs is a fun way for her to be more involved and meet new people.

During Rocio’s free time she likes to draw, spend time with her family, and loves to cook with her mom.

After graduation, Rocio plans on attending some kind of art institute where she can expand her skills on fashion. Even though Rocio isn’t sure where she’ll go, she knows that she won’t give up on what she has a passion for.

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Rafael Sanchez Rico

Rafael Sanchez Rico will be a junior at Liberty High School in O’Fallon, Missouri this fall. Born in Michoacán, Mexico, he currently lives in Saint Charles, but later will change homes to O’Fallon.

During his junior year, Rafael will take physics, Algebra 2, English III, and business classes that really interest him. He’s very interested in further developing good skills to know more about business and architectural. He has always been interested in math and that’s why he’s going to take physics to know more about math skills and then study to be an architect.

Rafael has assisted with church activities and helps in various roles. When Rafael is not doing some type of volunteering, he likes to spend time watching his favorite shows, going outside, helping his mom, working, and spending time with his love ones.

After graduation, Rafael is planning to attend to a community college in Saint Louis and then keep on working. Rafael wants to keep learning things and not give up.

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Neil Tomala

Neil Tomala will be a senior at Parkway West High School in Ballwin, MO this fall. He was born in Newark, DE and has grown up and now lives in Chesterfield, MO. Neil has taken AP Calculus, Computer Science and Physics. In the fall, he plans to take AP Statistics and AP Chemistry. Neil has a passion for STEM and competed in the Intel Science Fair in May of 2018.

Neil volunteers to tutor math for grammar school children at Matthew Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club in North St. Louis. He also volunteers as a teacher’s aide in his school.

During his free time, he enjoys reading, playing basketball, playing the piano, eating ethnic foods and playing with his little brother, Sasha.

Neil plans to attend college for a degree in Computer Science after graduation.

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Martin Trujillo Carrazco

Martin Trujillo Carrazco will be a senior at Ritenour High School in St Louis, Missouri this fall. Born in Mexico, he now lives in St. Louis County.

In his senior year, Martin will take three Advanced Placement courses: AP Calculus, AP Physics, and AP United States History. His love for engineering and innovation has inspired him to enroll in the Project Lead the Way capstone course, Engineering Design & Development. In an attempt to become trilingual, Martin will take French II. Lastly, Martin will be one of the Editors in Chief for his school newspaper, The Pepper Box. Starting in his junior year, Martin assumed the role of Science and Discovery Club President.

Also in his junior year, he joined his school robotics team, The Ritenour RoboHounds. He started and led the Computer Aided Design (CAD) Department. Later in the season, Martin was promoted to Co-Team Captain. Through his robotics team, Martin helps promote science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics in his community.

Martin plans on enrolling in a local university to earn a degree in Civil or Chemical Engineering.

He hopes to inspire other first-generation students to work hard to achieve their dreams.

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Angelica Vigil

Angelica Vigil will be a senior this fall at Metro High School in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born in Machachi, Ecuador, but has lived in St. Louis since she was one year old, in South City.

Next year, Angelica will be completing the 2-year IB Film and IB World History classes that carry over from last year, as well as Art, English, Math and Spanish, at her academically rigorous high school.

Angelica loves working in and helping her community as a Girl Scout, helping organize a collection for Nurses for Newborns, and at the Humane Society.

Aside from her love for learning about animals, she plays soccer, volleyball, loves learning about new places, and enjoys time with family and friends.

After high school, Angelica plans to attend college and go to Veterinary school or study Zoology. She is not sure what she wants to do yet, but knows it will be something with animals.

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