Seniors 2012: Valencia High School & Century High School

MAY 16, 2012

S E N I O R S 2 0 1 2

V alenciaHigh School

C enturyHigh School

By DeBorah FoxNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

The first response that came from the Top 10 Valencia High School graduating seniors to what they are looking forward to this summer is, “No more AP (Advanced Placement) summer home-work!”

They are all looking forward to some rest and relaxation before launching their college careers.

Some of the students are looking forward to going on trips with friends or family, some will go camping in Chama, another will visit relatives in California.

One will attend her brother’s graduation in Texas, some will search for summer jobs to help with col-lege expenses, and one says she’ll be in pre-training for basketball.

Some of the school’s students will attend the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico Tech, Highlands University, Northern New Mexico College, Brown University in Rhode Island and Rice University in Texas.

They are interested in careers in politics, theology,

art, film, medicine, physical therapy, entrepreneurial business, music and professional sports.

Bryana Johnson and Michelle Traynham have sports scholarships.

Several students are interested in mechanical, genetic and chemical engineering.

Nisa Rascon is very interested in chemical engi-neering because, she said, you can make pharmaceu-ticals, cosmetics, perfumes and other products.

Frank Espinosa is a devout Evangelical Protestant and would like to become a pastor.

These veteran high school students have some very good advice for incoming freshman — things they wish they would have known and taken seriously when they first started their secondary education.

Rachael Amble was home-schooled, and her first experience of public school was high school. She said she was nervous and quiet her freshman year because she didn’t think she had the “people skills.”

“I was so panicked because I didn’t know anything about ‘people,’” Amble said. “I wish that I knew that I could just start off being myself, and I didn’t have to stay so quiet about my opinions. Like, you can be your own person. You don’t have to hide things, you can be yourself.”

Taking your education seriously is paramount, the

students say. So are making social sacrifices so you can study when you have a test the next day, and building a social network at school of fellow students with the same attitude about succeeding and doing your best in school — finding people who support your success.

“It’s the time to develop your personality and stay focused, because when the four years are over, life starts,” said Newey.

One of the big reveals seniors learned in hindsight was the need to start thinking about college and tak-ing the college entry exams — the SAT and ACT tests — early on in high school.

Scores have to be in the 30s to be competitive — 25 at a minimum — students said.

Some say they would have gotten better scholar-ships if they had known the scholarship’s require-ments.

“I didn’t know how big and important they are,” said Antoinette Strong. “I didn’t study the first time, and the second time I didn’t score that high either.”

They suggest starting in your sophomore year tak-ing both tests to get a feel for them. There is a charge for the test, but students say a fee waiver is available from the counselor.

2 • Seniors 2012: Valencia and Century High School • Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 16, 2012

n See VHS, Page 10

Deborah Fox-News-Bulletin photo

THE TOP 10 Valencia High School graduating seniors are, pictured, from left, Nisa Rascon, Michelle Traynham, Bryana Johnson, Antoinette Strong, Brain Chavez, Mikayla Byer, Kaylee Newey, Rachael Amble, Frank Espinosa and Marlisa Kerbs.

Top 10 VHS seniors know what it takes to succeed

May 16, 2012 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Seniors 2012: Valencia and Century High School • 3

Courtney Abernathy Anita Aguilar Ashley Allen Rachael Amble Kari Angelucci Shawnee Aragon Misty Archuleta Angelica Armijo

Raquela Aumiller Kayla Ayon Audrey Baca Selena Barajas Arianna Barela Samantha Barela-Apodaca

Lana Baughman Kai Benally

Rachel Burris Mikayla Byer Edgar Cabrera Mary Carabajal Roberto Carrasco Jessica Carter Alexandria Chavez Brian Chavez

Ciara Chavez Ryan Clayton Kaitlin Cordova Jose Corral-Chavez Bradley Cosper Adrian Delgado Justin Driskell Desiree Duran

Siro Duran Frank Espinosa Ashalyn Eylicio James Gallegos Josephine Gallegos Mikayla Gallegos Zamira Galvan Oscar Gamboa

Valencia high schoolc l a s s o f 2 0 1 2


Lana Garcia Steven Garcia Victor Garza Joshua Gerken Dillon Gibbs Lewis Glass Morgan Gonzales Sebastian Gonzales

Shelbi Gonzales Samuel Gonzalez Kaitlynn Grace Katherine Graf Carlos Griego Christina Griego Claudia Griego Kassandra Griego

Molly Holliday Maya Holt Dakota Hubler Edward Ibuado Bryana Johnson Clayton Jones Cody Keefe Marlisah Kerbs

Los Lunas Schools are committed to providing a quality education!

Great job... Los Lunas High School, Valencia High School, Century High School

We have helped lay your academic foundation and know that you will join our future alumni ranks of Physicians, Attorneys, Educators, Scientists, Government Officials, Large

and Small Business Owners and many more contributing members to our community.www.llschools.net

Los Lunas Schools Board of Education, Administration and Staff wish to Congratulate the Class of 2012 and wish

them the best in all their future endeavors


Amanda Korfe Jacob Larson Myra Legarda Shane Lewis Isaac Leyba Andrew Lindberg Raquel Lopez Erica Lucero

Kristine Lucero Sarah Lujan Terry Lynn Andres Martinez Jasmine Martinez Lorenzo Martinez MariSol Martinez Robert Martinez

Kristina McCoy Krystal McCoy Josefina Mendoza Priscilla Mendoza Yoel Mendoza Sandy Monsibais Chantel Moya Kaylee Newey

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Jarrod Storey Antoinette Strong Elizabeth Towsend Michelle Traynham

Starlyne Trujillo Ashley Uptain Derrick Valencia Matthew Valencia

Adan Valles Isabel Vargas Lawrence Vargas Jorge Venegas

SenatorMichael S. Sanchez

would like to congratulate

Much Happiness and Success in Your Future!

Senator Michael Sanchez was the author and main sponsor of the Legislative Lottery Scholarship. “I encourage every 2012 graduate to use the scholarship as they continue their education.”

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Andrew MaldonadoEugene MartinezGabriel MartinezJoseph MartinezJustin McClarran

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Edgar ParraMichael RainesJesus RamirezNisa Rascon

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Chelsea WilliamsJames WillsTaylor WilsonCory Zamora

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Daring to dream.Preparing for success.

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Valencia High School

“I know not what the future holds,but I know who holds the future.”

~Anonymous

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Class flower

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Class song

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Dreams start here!The University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus

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Your graduation is adoor opening, not closing

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Enroll now at UNM-Valencia. Summer classes start June 4th.

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VHS: Tests, scholarship advicefrom PAGE 2

Kaylee Newey said taking the tests early will help you know what is being tested.

“So, if you take the test, and you don’t know something on it, but then the next year, you learn it, you’ll remember it,” said Newey. “‘Oh, that was on the ACT, and I didn’t know that, but now I’m learning it, so I’m going to make sure I remember it.’”

“But don’t like overly stress about it,” said Frank Espinosa, “because I freaked out about mine the second time and I could have done better.”

His one regret was only taking the ACT and not taking the SAT test.

“If you start taking them in your sophomore year, that gives you enough time to be able to get a better score,” said Byer.

The SAT is more common sense, and the ACT you really have to know what you have learned, said Espinosa.

For example, on the SAT, there might be four sections of math, and 20 questions to answer within 25 minutes.

“The ACT, there’s not really any-thing on there that we shouldn’t know,” said Marlisah Kerbs. “It’s just if you can figure it out based on the phrasing and stuff.”

Some colleges require the SAT and others require the ACT, so the seniors emphasize taking both tests. Several of the seniors learned the hard way.

They had taken only one or the other test, and when they went to apply to the college of their choice, they found they couldn’t because they hadn’t taken the appropriate test.

They also advise to start looking at the requirements of the colleges of your choice in junior year, because senior year is too hectic.

“Don’t put it off,” Espinosa said.Scholarship applications have to be

completed by Jan. 1 in senior year at the latest, but many have earlier dead-lines.

“You should start applying for scholarships in sophomore year,” Nisa Rascon said. “There’s a lot of schol-arships sophomores and juniors can apply for.”

“I’ve applied for 130 scholarships,” said Strong.

They also suggest taking indepen-dent initiative about finding scholar-ships and not relying on the school counselors through Google, www.scholarships.com and by researching scholarships online.

If a student depends on the counselor to bring scholarship information to them, it won’t do them any good, the students said.

“Look where you are comfortable,” said Amble. “I found scholarships right under my nose, like the hospital where I volunteer. If you volunteer so many hours, they do a student scholarship for you.”

Develop good relationships with your teachers, so they are more likely to write good letters of recommenda-tion for you.

Scholarships usually require a writ-ten essay in the application process.

Be prepared to write a basic essay that answers such questions as, “Why do you deserve this scholarship? What are you going to do if we give it to you? What are your educational goals?”

“If you answer those questions and you have a really well presented essay, you can alter it slightly for each one,” said Amble. “But you have a model saved.”

Even saving some essays from English composition may help with certain scholarship applications.

They also suggest developing a pro-fessional attitude in school, so being there is pleasant for you and fellow students.

“Don’t take everything so seriously,” says Mikayal Byer. “I’m talking like drama-wise, because ...”

“Avoid drama,” the other students say in unison.

They value honesty, kindness, hard work and integrity.

“I just feel that, everybody should have a foundation on what they are uncompromising on,” said Espinosa, “what they won’t cross the line on.”

“You should start applying for scholarships in sopho-

more year. There’s a lot of scholarships sophomores and

juniors can apply for.”

NISA RASCONVHS senior

“So, if you take the test and you don’t know something

on it, but then the next year, you learn it, you’ll remember

it.”

KAYLEE NEWEYVHS senior

Congratulations GRADUATES.You’re making a difference in Albuquerque.

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c l a s s o f 2 0 1 2

C entury

Village of Los Lunas

Robert Vialpando MayorCouncilors

Charles Griego Richard LovatoAmanda Perea Gerard Saiz

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You deserve the best and we know you’ll get it! Always remember these two things - keep God in your heart, for he will guide

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c l a s s o f 2 0 1 2

C entury High School

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WhiteRose

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Seniors 2012: Valencia High School & Century High School