'First in Family' ceremony honors 88 Corpus Christi graduates, 15 receive scholarships

The Corpus Christi Education Foundation hosted Corpus Christi ISD's First in Family graduate ceremony Thursday to honor 88 high school students who are the first in their families to earn a high school diploma.

CCISD superintendent Roland Hernandez welcomed the students and their families by kicking off the event at Veterans Memorial High School. As part of the recognition, each student received a medal to wear during graduation to signify students being the first in their family to graduate.

"Students, this achievement brings honor to your entire family and we're so proud of you," Hernandez said.

Araceli Nava, a senior from Harold T. Branch Academy, said growing up in an immigrant household gave her character.

"They had to work very hard to be able to make it in another country that wasn't their home," Nava said of her parents, who are immigrants from Mexico. "Since I can remember, I have encountered many obstacles and challenges. One of them was my language barrier.

"Although it didn't take long for me to learn how to speak English, I still have a difficult time with it. Despite the challenges, I was able to overcome them."

Leanne Libby, CCISD's director of communications, called out the names of each student to walk the stage at the high school's auditorium. While on stage, students were able to fist-bump school board members Alice Upshaw-Hawkins, Dolly Gonzales Trolley and Janie Bell and receive their medal.

Hernandez congratulated the students once more and said they are building a legacy for their families and in the community.

"You're showing your younger siblings and students throughout our area how to prioritize education, even under the most challenging of circumstances," Hernandez said. "We applaud you and admire you for your commitment to finishing high school."

Fifteen of the students also were selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship provided by CITGO Corpus Christi refinery.

Each student had an opportunity to apply for a scholarship. Recipients were selected based on their academic achievements, school and community involvement, financial need and an essay explaining what it means to be the first graduate in their family.

Nava was one of the recipients.

Others were Isaiah Arriaga from Carroll High School; Arianna Martinez from Solomon Coles High School; Amy Cervantes, Jorge Ortiz, Joselin Perez-Torres and Triston Ross from Collegiate High School; Jazlynn Moya and Neriah Ramos from King High School; Rockayla Bernal and Deznaryah Quintero from Miller High School; Alexis Delarosa and Genesis Salas from Moody High School, Madeline De La Garza from Ray High School; and Daylan Pena from Veterans Memorial High School.

Arriaga said he wrote his essay about his mom, Pamela Perez, who became a single mother; his father died when Arriaga was a few months old. He said his mother raised him and his brother all by herself.

"Through everything, she's always made sure that we had what we needed and made sure that our education was our number one priority," Arriaga said. "Unfortunately, she was pregnant with me during her high school term so she wasn't able to graduate because she was more focused on me.

"This is just honestly me doing it for her to make sure that in the future I help her financially and have her health in my hands."

Perez, with tears in her eyes, said it means a lot to her for him to graduate.

"He's been through a lot and he makes me proud," Perez said. "He accomplishes everything he does, is on point all the time, always giving it his all and he deserves it. He definitely deserves it."

Arriaga is set to attend the University of Texas in Austin to major in education. He hopes to become a teacher and one day a principal.

"I've always had teachers to look up to and they've helped me navigate to where I need to be in the best way possible," Arriaga said. "If I can do that to another kid, that would be amazing in my eyes."

FIRST IN FAMILY GRADUATES

• Araceli Nava, Harold T. Branch Academy
• Marlyn Alvarado, Mary Carroll High School
• Isaiah Arriaga, Mary Carroll High School
• Jason Castro, Mary Carroll High School
• Adriyanna Garcia, Mary Carroll High School
• Raul Garcia, Mary Carroll High School
• Chloe Gougen, Mary Carroll High School
• Lienesha James, Mary Carroll High School
• Kyrstin Leal, Mary Carroll High School
• Savannah McMullin, Mary Carroll High School
• Sabrina Phung, Mary Carroll High School
• Tianna Plain, Mary Carroll High School
• Jessica Queen, Mary Carroll High School
• Tristan Rodriguez, Mary Carroll High School
• Arnold Salinas, Mary Carroll High School
• Tyson Sayles, Mary Carroll High School
• Robert Solis, Mary Carroll High School
• Angeleena Davila, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Khianna Garcia, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Vivianna Garcia, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Alejandro Garza, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Melanie Gauna, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Joseph Lazo, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Isaiah Lopez, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Arianna Martinez, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Sheyla Mata-Zamora, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Bethi-Ana Moreno, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Brandon Rodriguez, Solomon M. Coles High School
• America Soliz, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Destiny Villamar, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Sara York, Solomon M. Coles High School
• Amy Cervantes, Collegiate High School
• Shameka Cobb, Collegiate High School
• Cassandra Hernandez, Collegiate High School
• Jorge Ortiz, Collegiate High School
• Joselin Perez-Torres, Collegiate High School
• Crystal Posada-Salazar, Collegiate High School
• Triston Ross, Collegiate High School
• Marianna Fernandez, Richard King High School
• Alexis Jones, Richard King High School
• Alexis Miller, Richard King High School
• Clarissa Morgan, Richard King High School
• Jazlynn Moya, Richard King High School
• Neriah Ramos, Richard King High School
• Angelina Sosa-Barrios, Richard King High School
• Daniel Balboa, Roy Miller High School
• Rockayla Bernal, Roy Miller High School
• Juan Castro-Sanchez, Roy Miller High School
• Faustino Jalomo, Roy Miller High School
• Jose Garcia, Roy Miller High School
• Isabelle Garcia, Roy Miller High School
• John Gonzales, Roy Miller High School
• Jasmine Guerrero, Roy Miller High School
• Jesus Macias, Roy Miller High School
• Elainey Maldonado, Roy Miller High School
• Nikoli Martinez, Roy Miller High School
• Ramiro Martinez, Roy Miller High School
• Nathan Mata, Roy Miller High School
• Ernesto Mejia, Roy Miller High School
• Deznaryah Quintero, Roy Miller High School
• Jamie Rosalez, Roy Miller High School
• Julyette Saldana, Roy Miller High School
• Jose Seballez III, Roy Miller High School
• Mario Salinas Jr., Roy Miller High School
• Ry'Che Simmons, Roy Miller High School
• Alexis Delarosa, Foy H. Moody High School
• Ashley Flores, Foy H. Moody High School
• Haylee Hernandez, Foy H. Moody High School
• Juan Rocha, Foy H. Moody High School
• Genesis Salas, Foy H. Moody High School
• Jesus Vargas, Foy H. Moody High School
• Alquince Walker, Foy H. Moody High School
• Hannah Brady, W.B. Ray High School
• Justin Cantu, W.B. Ray High School
• David Chavez, W.B. Ray High School
• Anelys Cruz, W.B. Ray High School
• Madeline De La Garza, W.B. Ray High School
• Ricardo Horta, W.B. Ray High School
• Jessette Morales, W.B. Ray High School
• Jesus Nunez, W.B. Ray High School
• Emily Rivas, W.B. Ray High School
• Sierra Soto, W.B. Ray High School
• Roland Lemos, Veterans Memorial High School
• Mia Medina, Veterans Memorial High School
• Daylan Pena, Veterans Memorial High School
• Paige Green, Veterans Memorial High School
• Carol Ruiz, Veterans Memorial High School
• Michael Scott, Veterans Memorial High School

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John Oliva covers education and community news in South Texas. Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times.