The Houston Independent School District will pay tribute to the top students from each high school’s graduating class during the annual Scholars Banquet.
The 101 valedictorians and salutatorians will be recognized for their dedication and hard work during the banquet, which will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria, 5011 Westheimer Road.
“We are extremely proud of our class of 2017 scholars who have worked hard in order to reach their goals,” said HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza, who is scheduled to speak at the event. “Their hard work has paid off because these students have made it a personal priority to prepare for college and ultimately their future.”
Among the students being honored at the event is Maria Rodriguez, valedictorian at Northside High School. She plans to attend Brown University to study biology or human sciences and to pursue a career as a researcher or physician.
“Each one of the students who will be honored has undoubtedly made excellence a habit,” said HISD Board of Education President Wanda Adams, who will speak at the event. “Day in and day out, these students have paid attention in class, read, studied, completed assignments on time, and put forth their best effort. I encourage them to keep up these excellent habits, no matter where life takes them.”
Austin High School
Valedictorian: Santos Flores
Salutatorian: Abigail Calva
Bellaire High School
Valedictorian: Edward Dewei Cen
Salutatorian: Anusha De
Carnegie Vanguard High School
Valedictorians: Amrith Prashant Lotlikar and Andrei Alexei Savitski
Challenge Early College High School
Valedictorian: Andrea Subias
Salutatorian: Concepcion Barajas
Chávez High School
Valedictorian: Yemile Zareth Bazaldua Flores
Salutatorians: Gabriela Consuelo Moncada
DeBakey High School for Health Professions
Valedictorian: Tassica Lim
Salutatorian: Aparna Kambhampati
East Early College High School
Valedictorian: Edna Olvera
Salutatorian: Liem Nguyen
Eastwood Academy
Valedictorian: Jed Benedict Eloja
Salutatorian: Christopher Nugent
Energized for E-STEM Central High School
Valedictorian: Tobius Winfree
Salutatorian: Autumn Lewis
Energized for E-STEM West High School
Valedictorian: Kevin Argueta
Salutatorian: Cristina Duru
Energy Institute High School
Valedictorian: Timothy Chung
Salutatorian: Andrew Farias
Furr High School
Valedictorian: Priya Viren Ratanji
Salutatorian: Brianna Chavez
Heights High School
Valedictorian: Edwin Alexander Juarez
Salutatorian: Alec Lee Dickerson
High School for Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice
Valedictorian: Yesenia Mendez Pacheco
Salutatorian: Khrystalsjha Kyominique Black
High School for the Performing & Visual Arts
Valedictorian: Alexandria Elkhadem
Salutatorian: Augustin Liebster
Houston Academy for International Studies
Valedictorian: Faiza Qazi
Salutatorian: Jay Read Tatum II
Jones Futures Academy
Valedictorian: Irving Marquez
Salutatorian: Mairon Nolasco
Jordan High School
Valedictorian: Gerardo Carreon
Salutatorian: Destiny Raven Santos
Kashmere High School
Valedictorian: Bryaunna J’mece Givens
Salutatorian: Brya Jna Curtis
Lamar High School
Valedictorian: Samantha Kate Myers
Salutatorian: Edward Joseph Swart
Lee High School
Valedictorian: Russell M. Maranan
Salutatorian: Tesfamichael N. Negussie
Liberty High School
Valedictorian: Christian Ramos
Salutatorian: Mardia Idris
Jane Long Academy
Valedictorian: Kabita Adhikari
Salutatorian: Kleyder Sanchez
Madison High School
Valedictorian: Enrique Arancibia
Salutatorian: Christina Chantrell Hillard
Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men
Valedictorian: Daniel Saco
Salutatorian: Alexis Ortuno
Middle College High School – HCC Fraga
Valedictorian: Roland B. Bernal
Salutatorian: Daisy L. Constantino
Middle College High School – HCC Gulfton
Valedictorian: Johanna Peralta Lopez
Salutatorian: Joumana Al-Seryani
Milby High School
Valedictorian: Abraham Alvarado
Salutatorian: Rebeca Abigail Zamora Marquez
Mount Carmel Academy
Valedictorians: Charles Nolan Lewis and Chiedu Augustin Nwaobi
Northside High School
Valedictorian: Maria Rodriguez
Salutatorian: Iris Vasquez
North Forest High School
Valedictorian: Deonne Kyerra London
Salutatorian: Jose Washington Rodriguez
North Houston Early College High School
Valedictorian: Sandra Esthella Garza
Salutatorian: Aurelio Alejandro Melendez
REACH Charter High School
Valedictorian: Sade Elise O’Gilvie
Salutatorian: Shataura Anglic Murray
Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center
Valedictorian: Uriel Alberto Iglesias
Salutatorian: Brenda Rubio
Scarborough High School
Valedictorian: Emily Flores
Salutatorian: Jessica Benefiel
Sharpstown High School
Valedictorian: Jasmine Cervantes
Salutatorian: Tianming Deng and
Sharpstown International School
Valedictorian: Elsie Chen
Salutatorians: Jelani I. Kelley and Loi Q. Lao
South Early College High School
Valedictorian: Dominique Ahuixotl Garcia
Salutatorian: Leeah Rache Evella Howard
Sterling Aviation High School
Valedictorian: Jordan M. Owens
Salutatorian: Joe L. Thomas III
Texas Connections Academy Houston
Valedictorian: Cameron Mu-Lan Hah
Salutatorian: Kelly Elisabeth Lyons
Victory Prep North High School
Valedictorian: Paul M. Irvin
Salutatorian: Kevrin B. Flood
Victory Prep South High School
Valedictorian: John Vincent Dockery
Salutatorian: Jarred Jakobi Vanderbilt
Waltrip High School
Valedictorian: Emily C. Fox
Salutatorian: Sean R. Goodman, Jr.
Washington High School
Valedictorian: Adam James Capfer
Salutatorian: Dante Angelo Suyosa Tarzona
Westbury High School
Valedictorian: Monica Anahi Garay
Salutatorian: Vanessa Cantoran
Westside High School
Valedictorian: Ania Juliette Yee-Boguinskaia
Salutatorian: Emma Lani Stange
Wheatley High School
Valedictorian: Tommy Villalva
Salutatorian: Qualond Travon Fogle
Worthing High School
Valedictorian: Cedric Jaquay Jones
Salutatorian: Esmeralda Trejo
Yates High School
Valedictorian: Kenyell Janae Banks
Salutatorian: Dawn Elizabeth Smith
Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy
Valedictorian: Sofia Guadalupe Alfaro Galan
Salutatorian: Desirae Elise Thorne