The Houston Independent School District paid tribute to the top students from each high school’s graduating class during the annual Scholars Banquet on Tuesday evening.
Every spring, HISD honors the top two scholars at each of its high schools with a formal celebration of the accomplishment of finishing first or second in their class academic rankings. During the banquet, the 94 valedictorians and salutatorians were presented with a medallion in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.
“This has been a challenging year for HISD, but you are proof that great things are happening throughout the district,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan. “Given what you have accomplished so far, there is no limit to what you can do in college and beyond.”
In addition to their outstanding academic achievements, the 94 valedictorians and salutatorians, along with the rest of the Class of 2019, has garnered more than $67 million year-to-date in scholarship offers, and will no doubt surpass last year’s total of $414 million.
As the Salutatorian for Austin High School’s Class of 1997, Chief of Communications Rebecca Suarez offered some inspiring words for the graduating seniors.
“On your journey, do not be afraid to fail,” she said. “Be brave and be strong when things do not go your way. When life knocks you down, do a push up, and find the energy to stand up again.”
HISD Board Trustees Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Elizabeth Santos, Diana Davila, Dr. Sergio Lira and Holly Flynn Vilaseca were also at the event, which was sponsored by Smart Financial Credit Union.
To see photos of the valedictorians and salutatorians, find out where they are going to college, their favorite subjects, and more about them, visit Meet the Top Students From HISD’s Class of 2019.
Austin High School
Valedictorian: Melissa Hernandez
Salutatorian: Isaias Alonso
Bellaire High School
Valedictorians: Patrick Roy Han and Michelle Janet Miao
Carnegie Vanguard High School
Valedictorians: Manith Naresh Luthria and Shilpita Mitra-Behura
Challenge Early College High School
Valedictorian: Carol Elizabeth Lahana
Salutatorian: Sinan Kekic
Chávez High School
Valedictorian: Truong Lap Nguyen
Salutatorian: Duyen Thien Thi Nguyen
DeBakey High School for Health Professions
Valedictorians: Ritu Ranganath Sampige and Pranooha Veeramachaneni
East Early College High School
Valedictorian: Sara Sánchez Alarcón
Salutatorian: Ricardo Escamilla
Eastwood Academy
Valedictorian: Vanesa Gonzalez Torres
Salutatorian: Ashley Blanco
Energy Institute High School
Valedictorian: Derrick Nhat Ngo
Salutatorian: Nasario Trejo, Jr.
Energized for E-STEM Central High School
Valedictorian: Nestor Delgado Andrade
Salutatorian: Frank Yan Guzman Gomez
Energized for E-STEM West High School
Valedictorian: Albalene Rodriguez
Salutatorian: Norma Lizeth Martinez Fuentes
Furr High School
Valedictorian: Leslie Jarinzy Carbajal
Salutatorian: Cesar Octavio Hernandez
Heights High School
Valedictorian: Ryan Maxwell Ebel
Salutatorian: Dagny Elise Carlsson
High School for Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice
Valedictorian: Christania Ijeoma Okafor
Salutatorian: Karen Milagros Garcia
High School for the Performing & Visual Arts
Valedictorians: Margaret Emma Fair and Ewan James Curtis
Houston Academy for International Studies
Valedictorian: Patrice Stubblefield
Salutatorian: Ryan Martinez
Jane Long Academy
Valedictorian: Rosine Mpozenzi
Salutatorian: Jonathan Herrera
Jones Futures Academy
Valedictorian: Monique Jones
Salutatorian: Maria Caballero
Kashmere High School
Valedictorian: Yodi Lizette Pineda
Salutatorian: Hera’Emperatrize Angelena Gipson
Lamar High School
Valedictorian: Amara Nicole Sen
Salutatorian: Rebecca Marie Zivley
Liberty High School
Valedictorian: Karla Alejandra Montero Rivero
Salutatorian: Mario Enrique Pineda Garcia
Madison High School
Valedictorian: Ebonee Dachelle Ellison
Salutatorian: Jerlin Grisel Perez
Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men
Valedictorian: Gustavo Adolfo Flores
Salutatorian: Armando Mendoza Jr.
Middle College High School – HCC Fraga
Valedictorian: Melissa Hernandez
Salutatorian: Michelle Sepulveda
Middle College High School – HCC Gulfton
Valedictorian: JaDaisha C. Ryans
Salutatorian: Christian S. Orellano
Milby High School
Valedictorian: Erik Rodriguez
Salutatorian: Himelda Yanet Escuadra
Mount Carmel Academy
Valedictorian: Cesar Lara Jr.
Salutatorians: Miranda Marie Zaebst
North Forest High School
Valedictorian: Jamel Lancelot Jolivet
Salutatorian: Christopher Wayne French
North Houston Early College High School
Valedictorian: Aushanae Nicole Haller
Salutatorians: Vanessa Hernandez and Josephine Carlota Ibarra
Northside High School
Valedictorian: Jaime Salazar-Elizondo
Salutatorians: Danielle Portice
Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center
Valedictorian: Yoana Lizeth Pineda
Salutatorian: Jessica Vasquez
Scarborough High School
Valedictorian: Bhavik Harishbhai Patel
Salutatorian: Jacqueline Dominguez
Sharpstown High School
Valedictorian: Angie Verenice Pineda
Salutatorian: Angelica Barreras Camba
Sharpstown International School
Valedictorian: Juan Carlos Venancio
Salutatorian: Adriana Carolina Badena
South Early College High School
Valedictorian: Zulima Moyosoreoluwa Ike
Salutatorian: Edgar Ivan Sanchez
Sterling Aviation High School
Valedictorian: Heather Coleman
Salutatorian: Farrahnecia Green
Texas Connections Academy Houston
Valedictorian: Matthew Donald Whorton
Salutatorian: Victoria Brooke Loomis
Waltrip High School
Valedictorian: Marissa Danielle Ortiz
Salutatorian: Jaqueline Rocio Valdez
Washington High School
Valedictorian: Zakheya M. Johnson
Salutatorian: Michael C. Bess
Westbury High School
Valedictorian: Stephanie Vanessa Quiroz
Salutatorian: Alirma Khadijah Davis
Westside High School
Valedictorian: Aurian Ray Maleki
Salutatorians: Jaelyn Janel Taylor
Wheatley High School
Valedictorian: Therina Mare Valentin
Salutatorian: Doris Keesha Crisp
Wisdom High School
Valedictorian: Ethan Wei-Ning Song
Salutatorians: Mauricio Guerrero and Mohammad Fahad Javed
Worthing High School
Valedictorian: Duyen Cao Ky Nguyen
Salutatorian: Darius Jacques Hines
Yates High School
Valedictorian: Josue Osvaldo Alvarado
Salutatorian: Charley-Renae Baham
Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy
Valedictorian: Casey Jamilett Calixto
Salutatorian: Nancy Landeros