PROGRESS TIMES
SECTION B
MAY 25, 2018
STEM Early College High School student La Joya senior wins state championship heading to MIT in Prose Interpretation
After putting in years of hard work, Derek Jesus Garcia is on his way to study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall. A senior at Thelma R. Salinas STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Early College High School, Garcia spent his time in high school balancing academics, athletics and various extracurricular activities. He will be graduating with an associate’s degree in Mathematics. Garcia made the interesting decision to apply to MIT early decision and Rice University early action. After getting accepted to both, he felt more inclined toward MIT, and the financial aid package MIT offered was
See DEREK JESUS GARCIA Pg. 23B
Derek Jesus Garcia
Juarez-Lincoln High School senior makes All-State Choir for first time in school history
Setting a goal for yourself that no one else at your school has ever accomplished is an incredible challenge. For Priscilla Valencia, it was what she always dreamed about. “I always wanted my name to be the first one on the empty All-State Choir plaque that hangs at the entrance of my choir room,” Valencia said. “I worked hard for 4 years, each time getting closer, and closer – until I finally made it!” A senior choir member at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, Valencia’s journey to state started back in September with District auditions, where only 20 advanced to Regionals
See PRISCILLA VALENCIA Pg. 23B
Priscilla Valencia
Brianna Robles, graduating from Palmview High School this year, will be attending Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. The school is known for creating Olympic runners for the United States. Robles qualified for state this year. Robles, last year’s All Valley Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year, qualified for state in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs just as she did last year. While her sixth place finishes in both events this year were an improvement over her two eighth place finishes last year, Robles couldn’t help being disappointed in the fact that she fell short of her goal of adding two state medals to her extensive collection of District, Area and Regional medals. “I was mostly disappointed by the fact that I ran the same times as I did last year,”
Oscar Salinas
La Joya High School Senior Eddie Barrera received 1st place in the Nobelity Social Impact Award category and 2nd place in the State Finals during this year’s UIL State Film Festival, which took place on Feb. 28, 2018, at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. Barrera’s documentary titled “33rd Annual Helping Hands of Hope” tells the story of the widely known holiday gift drive initiated by the National Honor Society chapter at La Joya High School. The film shows the process and execution of the drive by students and staff and how it impacts the community. The UIL Film Festival began five years ago, and this is the first time La Joya ISD has ever had anyone make it to the finals. As a 4-year Audio Visual Technology student, and after careful consideration, Barrera decided that his documentary would highlight the Helping Hands of Hope needy drive. The film depicts the efforts and emo-
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Eddie Barrera
STEM senior awarded only RGV LEAD Scholarship
Brianna Robles
LJISD Superintendent’s message 2018 Greetings Graduates!
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LJHS Senior wins big at UIL State Film Festival
Palmview student athlete heading to Adams State University
See BRIANNA ROBLES Pg 23B
Oscar Andres Salinas, a senior at La Joya High School, recently won first place in the University Interscholastic League State Championship in Prose Interpretation. This is the first time a student from the La Joya Independent School District has won this award. Salinas, who plans on attending the University of Texas at Austin to study theatre this fall, credits the whole team for advancing far in the competition. “It’s never just me and my coach, it’s everyone,” Salinas said. “We were all in that room, all the time, practicing to make each other better. We were competing against each other, but no matter what, we were in that room critiquing each other because we wanted the best for each other.” Theatre was his main focus throughout high school, but Salinas also enjoyed band, UIL and mariachi at La Joya High School.
The end of the year is an opportunity to reflect on our many accomplishments and successes as a district. It is also a special moment of bittersweet transition – as our seniors end their time at La Joya ISD and graduate from high school. As we embark upon the last few days with one another, it has caused me to spend some significant time reflecting on your educational experience, your future endeavors, and the district’s role in both of these. Your hard work over the the last thirteen years culminates with your graduation from high school, marking the end of your time with this wonderful network of teachers, mentors, and friends who have taught you, guided you in the most important of times, and shared moments and memories with you that have shaped your Dr. Alda T. Benavides lives. This shared journey of commitment, dedication, and growth, which has prepared you on your journey, will now test and challenge you as you prepare to continue the rest of your journey. Many adventures await you, and I have faith that each of you will make the right choices and decisions as you seek to leave your mark on this world. It is my hope that you leave La Joya ISD prepared and ready to participate in a democracy, positively improve our community, enter the workforce or extend your education. But most importantly, I hope that you are leaving La Joya ISD fulfilled, connected and thriving. It has been my greatest pleasure watching each and every one of you grow, learn, and mature into caring, loving, and amazing individuals. There is no doubt in my mind that you will accomplish great things, change lives, and come back to our community to share your own experiences and successes—inspiring our next generation of graduates. I hope you will cherish these words of wisdom, which will help guide you on your journey, in the words of Dr. Seuss: Never stop learning: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Continue to be passionate about all you do: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” And lastly, always follow your dreams, because anything is possible: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” On Behalf of our Board of Trustees, and Administration we are profoundly proud of every single accomplishment and achievement you have attained throughout your academic journey and wish only the BEST in your future. I cannot wait to see all that you will achieve as young adults, leaders, and members of our great La Joya ISD community! We will eagerly await to hear about all you will achieve and contribute to the success of our La Joya ISD community in the future.
For Leslie Valeria Canales Gonzalez, the accomplishment of winning a $5,000 scholarship was incredibly rewarding for her and her family. Gonzalez, a senior at Thelma R. Salinas STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Early College High School, was recently awarded the Rio Grande Valley Linking Economic and Academic (RGV LEAD) Scholarship. When she graduates, she will be the only RGV LEAD Scholar in the Valley. She plans on attending the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and will be entering with an associate’s degree in Information Technology with an emphasis in Computer Programming already in hand. Gonzalez credits her campus and teachers for preparing her for college and helping her get the RGV LEAD scholarship. “I started the application with hopes, and
See LESLIE VALERIA CANALES GONZALEZ Pg . 24B
Leslie Valeria Canales Gonzalez
Jimmy Carter ECHS student to attend Johns Hopkins University Aiming for a career in the medical field, Erik Cruz is proud and excited to be attending Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland. Cruz, who will be graduating from La Joya Jimmy Carter Early College High School with an associates degree in Interdisciplinary in Arts with a focus in Science, plans to major in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He said that his undergraduate degree is a stepping stone to medical school, which he hopes to attend. “I have a lot of plans for things to do at Johns Hopkins to help me get there [medical school],” Cruz said. He described the process of applying to the private university as fairly long, and remembered the care he took in making sure his stood out. While attending Jimmy Carter ECHS, Cruz participated in the University Interscholastic League Science, Math and Number Sense categories, band, computer science club, math club and book club. Cruz credits Mr. Bernal, his senior English teacher, as being incredibly support-
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Erick Cruz