Category: Scholarships

Pueblo Student Named U of A Honors College Baird Scholar

Salma Reyes-Flores

For Salma Reyes-Flores, the dream of becoming a pediatrician just got a little closer. Reyes-Flores, a Class of 2014 Senior at Pueblo Magnet High School, is one of only 10 students in the state to be named a Baird Scholar and to receive a four-year scholarship to the University of Arizona’s Honors College.

The scholarship is for $10,000 each year and is renewable for four years. To earn the scholarship, Reyes-Flores wrote essays, provided letters of recommendation and met ACT score and sustained a top-notch GPA. That last one hasn’t always been easy.

Reyes-Flores is close to her father. He’s a big support for her, and he goes away for long periods to work in the fishing ship industry.
“It’s hard when he’s gone,” Reyes-Flores said. “I don’t feel like I can do much.”

Family is important to the soft-spoken senior. She has two older brothers who attend the University of Arizona, and she knew that was the school for her, too. She wants to be close to home.

While Reyes-Flores hasn’t yet identified her undergrad major, she knows it will in the sciences. She said the science instructors at Pueblo have inspired her.

“I wasn’t really into science before high school. When I came here, I really got into it,” she said.

Reyes-Flores said she didn’t realize the scholarship was possible until Ruben Romero, Pueblo’s college and career coordinator, told her about it.

Romero said one of the remarkable things about Reyes-Flores is what she has achieved at her age. At 16, she is younger than her peers, yet she performs at a high level.

“She has always been focused. She’s quiet, but confidently quiet,” he said. “She has always been at the top of her class.”

Courtesy of TUSD1.org

Warrior Band Members Honored

Congratulations to musicians Mia Enos, Alfonso Gutierrez, and Saul Melendez for a  job well done at the Southwest Honor Band held on January 10-12 at the University of Arizona.  All three made the Honor Symphonic Band and performed with over 60 other very talented high school musicians from around the state.

Saul Melendez, Mia Enos & Alfonso Gutierrez Honored (From Left to Right)

Top honors go to Saul Melendez who was the top tenor saxophone player in the Symphonic Band and Mia Enos who performed so well that she was offered a scholarship to attend the U of A School of Music in the Fall! 

These same three musicians will move on to the auditions for the Arizona Music Educators Association South Central Regional Honor Band next weekend at the U of A’s School of Music. 

Pueblo is proud of these very talented members of our Warrior Band and wish them well as they continue to represent our school across Arizona!

[Courtesy of Band Director Luis Fisher]

Scholar Profile Christian Malena

Christian Malena is a Pueblo Alum from the Class of 2011.  This article appeared in the Arizona Alumni Magazine.

I am a first-generation college student. My father was one of the few on both sides of my family to graduate from high school. My mother only went to school until the 7th grade. Embarking on this new phase of my life, as well as in my family’s life, was both exciting and terrifying. We were entering unknown waters, but we have done it together.

The biggest barrier I faced was fi nances. I am from a typical middle-class family, so I am not eligible for grants and scholarships that are primarily awarded to lowincome families. At the same time, my parents can’t afford to cut me a $20,000 check to pay for tuition and other college expenses each year.

As a scholarship recipient, I truly appreciate my time at the University. I never take this opportunity for granted and being on scholarships encourages me to do my best.

Out of all the applications that the scholarship committee received, they choose to award one of their scholarships to me! The fact that people are willing to invest money in my future gives me confi dence and motivation to succeed.

Scholarships have also provided me with a tremendous support system. Through the UA Hispanic Alumni
scholarship, I have mentors who encourage me and who I can go to with questions. I have had valuable professional networking opportunities, one of which opened doors for me to become a student worker at the UA Alumni Association.

I am humbled by the tremendous blessing I have been given!

Christian Malena Arizona Alumni Magazine

Bill De La Rosa Awarded Gates Millennium Scholarship

Bill De La Rosa (Left) with Brandon Sanchez at NHS Induction Ceremony

Bill de la Rosa, class of 2012 Senior, is one of 1,000 talented students nationwide to receive the Gates Millennium scholarship in 2012. The scholarship provides full funding through graduate school.

“I see this like a once in a life time opportunity, knowing that I will be secure financially for the next four to eight years of college,” says de la Rosa. “The generosity of Bill and Melinda Gates is a gift from God to me that I will benefit from and be responsible for. I know that God has great plans for me and I will make sure to prepare myself to serve others through the degrees I will receive from my education.”

De la Rosa’s notification letter stated that his “accomplishment is especially notable in context of the more than 24,000 students who applied, making this year’s the largest and most competitive group of candidates in the program’s history.”

De la Rosa has been accepted to Bowdoin College, a nationally renowned college of liberal arts and sciences in Maine. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he plans to attend Harvard Law School, with the goal of using his law degree to assist families unable pay for legal representation.

Since his freshman year, de la Rosa has been one of the top five students in his class. He is currently valedictorian, with a 4.12 GPA. He’s achieved his academic success in spite of family hardship, providing care for his father and siblings during his father’s illness.

Pueblo High counselor Teresa Toro says that de la Rosa “has made being smart a ‘cool’ status on our campus. He is very popular among his peers and is highly regarded by his teachers. He is constantly talking to students about the need for them to do their best and be their best.”

Toro states, “I am beyond proud for Bill and his accomplishments. He is a true example that no matter what life throws at you that you cannot make excuses for not succeeding. He has such high standards, walks the talk, and is still so down to earth and loved and respected by all of his peers and faculty. I have such high regard for him that I asked him to be the peer mentor for my son, who is a current freshman at Pueblo Magnet High School. He is truly deserving of this most generous award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.”

To complete the circle of giving, De la Rosa’s goals include establishing his own foundation to provide scholarships to future students.

More information about the scholarship is available at gmsp.org.

Courtesy of www.tusd1.org.

Art Students Awarded

Three of our talented Pueblo Student Artists have been recognized and honored for their artistic excellence.

Christiane Valenzuela, Class of 2011, has been selected as a recipient for the prestigious and highly competitive Pima County Youth Scholarship Award 2011, for her portfolio submission in the Visual Art category. Christiane will attend the Annual Crystal Apple Award ceremony May 6 to receive her Pima County Youth Art Award for $1,200 based on the merit of her artistic excellence.

Christiane Valenzuela presents her award winning portfolio

Nadia Ayon, Class of 2011, has been selected for the Award of Honor Scholarship to the college of her choice by the judges of the 2011 Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild (SAWG) Art Scholarship Competition. Nadia will receive her $750 award at the Annual SAWG Art Scholarship Awards Reception and Ceremony.

Title of award winning ink drawing: Melding the Eye, Hand, and Heart

Nadia Ayon with her award winning piece

Jorge Ramirez, Class of 2013, exhibiting participant in the Joel D. Valdez Main Library High School Art Invitational was selected to receive the Best of Mixed/Other Media Award. Jorge was presented with a gift card to Barnes and Noble at the Artist reception held on April 16.

Title of award winning construction paper assemblage: Ilusión/Illusion

Jorge Ramirez's award winning art piece

Cristiane & Nadia are enrolled in Mrs. Dolores Carrion’s AP Studio Art Drawing Class and Jorge is in Beginning Art.

Congratulations to all of them!

Click To Enlarge

Carlos Ramirez – Coca Cola Scholars Program Finalist

Carlos Ramirez, Class of 2011, has been selected as on of 250 finalists in the 2010-2011 Coca-Cola Scholars Program.  This is an outstanding accomplishment, considering nearly 71,000 applicants and more than 2,100 semi-finalists participated in the program.

Carlos Ramirez celebrating his award!

Carlos has been invited to attend Scholars Weekend April 14-17, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia.  He has the opportunity to be choosen as a:

National Scholar
50 Finalists will receive awards of $5,000 per year for four years of post-secondary study for a total award of $20,000.

Regional Scholar
200 Finalists will receive awards of $2,500 per year for four years of post-secondary study for a total award of $10,000.

Each finalist will be interviewed individually during a 20-minute period by a group of three National Selection Committee members.  Following the completion of all interviews, the Selection Committee will determine the recipients of the two levels of awards.  Finalists will be notified of their status by mail.

Congratulations to Carlos on being a finalists for this distinguished award.  What a way to represent Pueblo!