Category: University of Arizona

Future Wildcats Honored At Assembly

By Emely Villanueva

On Thursday, Sept. 28, Pueblo High School seniors were treated to an assembly to celebrate their acceptance to the University of Arizona. At that time, 63 Warriors had applied and been accepted.

Among the 63 seniors was Aritza Nuñez, who found out she had been accepted to the U of A earlier in September.

“It’s surreal that I’ll be attending the University of Arizona,” Nuñez said. “I’m glad that I’ll be in good condition when I start my college career next fall as so many of my friends will be with me.”

Students who were accepted to the U of A had an opportunity to see different programs and centers at the U of A. The Guerrero and SALT Center, Financial Aid Office, Housing Office, and the Frank Honors college as well as many other organizations offered information for future Wildcats.

Seniors were also given many “goodies” from their U of A admission counselor, which included a tote bag. Students were also able to receive lanyards and candies. Students were free to snap pictures with different U of A props and their friends and family. This event was orchestrated by College and Career Center coordinator Mr. Manuel Avala-Miranda and the U of A Admissions Office.

Since late September, approximately 30 other Pueblo students have been accepted to the University of Arizona, said Avila-Miranda.

“Another 100 or so seniors have applied to the U of A,” he added, “and we’re working on getting even more students to apply.”

He added, “I feel very proud of students who have decided to apply to Ivy League colleges and universities because I believe all students have the potential to apply to top-tier learning institutions. It makes me feel proud for students to discover their potential and confidence, and those students can represent our community and go on to make a bigger positive impact in our society from earning their college degrees.”

Ms. Victoria Leon, one of the Next Steps advisors at the University of Arizona, said, “We’re all so happy to know that even more students are applying to the University and other colleges. This reflects Pueblo’s College and Career goal of having 99.99 percent of students having a plan for post-secondary educational goals—whether it be at a college or a trade school. We’re here to help students choose the right path.”

Paola Salazar, currently ranked number one in her PHS senior class, found out she was accepted to the University of Arizona in mid-August.

“Even though I’m a senior, it doesn’t seem possible that I’ll be in college in less than a year,” said Salazar.

She added that she is flattered to have been accepted to the University of Arizona but is keeping her collegiate options open, including Ivy League colleges on the East Coast.

“I haven’t signed anything in ink yet,” Salazar said, “but I’ve always loved the U of A.”

Former U of A Coach Dick Tomey Visits Pueblo

Coach Dick Tomey Speaking To Warrior Football Players

Courtesy of The Arizona Daily Star

On Saturday, before Dick Tomey spoke to about 300 high school football players and coaches at the Coaches for Charity Kickoff Classic Luncheon, before he spoke with about 400 coaches of all manner at Pima College, he visited Pueblo High School, which hasn’t had a winning season in more than 10 years.

Tomey wanted to see how Pueblo’s new head coach, Brandon Sanders, is doing in his first year as a prep head coach. From 1992-95, Sanders was one of the best safeties in college football, an absolute anchor of the “Desert Swarm” years.

Few coaches in Tucson have a more difficult assignment than Sanders does at Pueblo. Tomey met with the Pueblo coaches and the team. His message was simple: You’ll learn more from your struggles than anything else. Don’t get discouraged.

That’s Dick Tomey. Forget his career victory total (183), he was always about people first, football later.

One of those who attended Saturday’s luncheon at the Double Tree hotel was Tim Davis, who has coached at Alabama, Florida, USC, Wisconsin and for the Miami Dolphins. It was Tomey who gave Davis a career-changing opportunity in 1987, Tomey’s first Arizona season.

“I had been hauling meat in Wisconsin,” Davis said. “Dick called and gave me an opportunity to be a graduate assistant coach. It changed my life. It all goes back to him.”

Tomey, who has been out of coaching for three years, is retired and lives in Honolulu. He is 76, looks 56, and has become an in-demand public speaker.

“I always look forward to coming back to Tucson,” Tomey said. “I could talk about the fond memories of the people I met here forever.”

Three Pueblo Students Participate In The Summer Institute Of Medical Ignorance

From Left to Right: Destiny Mankel, Judith Carranza & Cecilia Machado

Just this past summer, Pueblo had three students accepted into the Summer Institute of Medical Ignorance.  Destiny Mankel, Judith Carranza and Cecilia Machado of the class of 2015 participated in this yearly summer program.

This institute takes place at the UA College Of Medicine in Tucson. Each student was placed with a medical doctor who does research and each of them had a chance to do their own research and present to peers, doctors and medical students.

Only 25 students are accepted from the entire state of Arizona and Pueblo got three in!  We are very proud of these 3 Lady Warriors!

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 Volleyball Visits U of A Practice

Warrior Volleyball watching U of A Practice

On Tuesday, October 1st, our Pueblo Girls Volleyball program had an opportunity to visit the University of Arizona Women’s Volleyball Team during their practice at Mckale Center.  It was great exposure for our students.  They learned about college academics and the student/athlete lifestyle at the collegiate level. For some of the students it was their first time visiting the U of A and a first for many to be inside Mckale Center.

U of A Coach Rubio during Q & A Session

After practice our students were invited to have a Q & A session, received posters and took pictures with the team.

Warrior & U of A Volleyball Teams

Sometimes it’s not just about the wins and loses. It’s about the EXPERIENCE!

2013-2014 Warrior Girls Volleyball Program

Coach Mario Matanza

U of A Students Visit American History Chicano Perspectives Classes

Twenty University of Arizona students from a class entitled “Race, Ethnicity, and the American Dream” visited the American History—Chicano Perspectives classes and did a number of activities with Pueblo students around racism and white privilege.

Group activity that focused on racism & white privilege.

Afterward the students all discussed the potential impact of the ban of ethnic studies classes, which is supposed to go into effect on December 31.

Small groups discussed upcoming ban of ethnic studies classes.

Thank you to these U of A students for taking the time to visit our campus.