2B The Monitor, www.themonitor.com | TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020

PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE STUDENT OF THE WEEK MIGUEL SANTOS

BIANCA BOYD happy with, I met Jennifer Saxton, an associate PROFILE it, I see it’s not impossible.” AGE: 22 professor in the theatre Miguel Santos has Santos said South MAJOR: THEATRE DESIGN department. She told me worked in the automotive College fi t his needs BACHELOR OF FINE ART costuming stitchers are industry for decades, and he was able to start COLLEGE/DEPARTMENT: in demand right now and but recently he decided seamlessly. COLLEGE OF FINE ART the next day I changed my he wanted to follow his “I’m married, I have two major offi cially to theatre intuition to switch gears. kids and I didn’t want to HOMETOWN: EDINBURG design. “I was in the automotive move around,” Santos HIGH SCHOOL: EDINBURG What do you hope industry for almost 30 years said. “You know there are NORTH HIGH SCHOOL to achieve beyond and I came to a point in my other colleges like A&M, completion of your life where I guess I was in a etc. I was at a point in my Why UTRGV? Originally, I major? I hope to fi nd comfort zone,” Santos said. work that I couldn’t just get was going to study fashion myself designing costumes I had to make a change to up and go cause I had to at Texas Tech, but decided for fi lm, TV or even drive my dream and what I actually quit working.” fi nancially it would be best Broadway in the future. want to do in life.” He also was a fan of the to do my basics here at The feeling you get when Santos entered the affordability in earning his UTRGV. Not to mention that you see your work on Architectural & Engineering degree. it’s down the street from my hero.” It shows that I’m stage is indescribable and Design Technology “It’s more convenient and home and lets me stay with adaptable, that my skills so rewarding. I dream of (AEDT) program with a enrollment is a lot cheaper my old friends while making aren’t just good for dressing being nominated for an concentration in visual than being enrolled at UT new ones. up actors, but doctors, Oscar in best costume technology. or UH or Rice,” he said. What is your role in nurses, fi rst responders, design. The purpose of this “I looked around and this helping the community etc. It’s solid proof that my What advice or program is to prepare the just works better with my during the COVID-19 hands are capable of doing encouraging words do students for employment budget.” pandemic? Normally, my everything from putting on you have for fellow in architectural, visual, and Adult learners are a big job in the costume shop a musical to helping save students pursuing civil engineering technology have a little further to go,” part of the STC student would be sewing and lives. degrees during the industries. he said. “I need to lookup body, with the college constructing costumes for How are you COVID-19 pandemic? The student will be more courses I can take. offering evening and online the actors to wear during maneuvering being One thing I have to remind required to have an I’m thinking about getting classes many more Valley our productions, but now a student during the myself is that it’s not understanding of but not my associates in civil residents are able to keep I’m sewing cloth masks to pandemic? What are your “stuck at home” it’s “safe limited to, the following engineering too.” their careers going or even aid the UTRGV School of greatest strengths and at home.” It may not be areas: principles of drafting, His inspiration came from start new ones. Medicine. challenges? I’m going to ideal but it’s certainly architectural drafting, a unique place, the late His message to other What are some of be honest and say that better than the alternative. civil drafting, layout and South African revolutionary students who might be in the most challenging it’s tough. It’s incredibly Also, don’t be afraid to design, application of the Nelson Mandela and one of similar shoes, as a parent aspects of your job or easy to be distracted while start a group chat with latest drawing software his child’s assignments. or adult learner, was to duties while assisting in working on assignments fellow classmates. You’re programs, current “I decided to pursue this chase those ambitions. COVID-19? By far, the most and I often get called away probably no the only one knowledge of building when my daughter was “Do not be afraid, be challenging aspect is my to do something else by my struggling and it’s easier standards and codes, and doing a project for school, strong, stand solid on your anxiety. There are a lot of parents. I’m a fairly social to approach a professor construction materials and for history. It was a quote feet and just look forward steps in sewing the masks person and being away about a problem if there’s specifi cations. from Mandela that ‘It to never look back and and any little mistake can from my friends and theatre several of you. With two children at always seems impossible see, follow your dreams,” slow the process down. family isn’t easy. Of course, home, he knew he needed until it’s done,’” he said. he said. “If you follow your Despite sewing for the past being able to take a break EDITOR’S NOTE: Dur- to fi nd an institution that “At that point, I was back dreams it’s going to take 10+ years, I still worry that from it all and play some ing these unprecedented would fi t his busy life. and forth about getting hard work, but you will get I’m not fast enough and Animal Crossing with friends times dealing with the “Yeah it was challenging, going or not. At that point there and that will infl uence that I could be making more helps, too! COVID-19 pandemic, but you know getting I saw from him I was like people around you and masks in the same amount What made you decide there are UTRGV students through it and now that I’ve ‘You know what, I’m going you’ll end up inspiration for of time. on your current major? who are making history. gone this far it feels great. I to do it. If I can accomplish them.” How is being able When I was a kid, I wanted Without hesitation, these to assist during these to pursue fashion design students are stepping up diffi cult times helpful to and that dream never really to the front lines of the your future? I think it helps, died. In middle school I fell outbreak to help mitigate not just my future, but the in love with theatre and the virus from spreading future of all entertainment soon enough started sewing throughout their commu- employees. So often when more seriously. I never nities. We are integrating I mention that I’m a theatre considered the possibility these front lines students major, I get scoffed at like of using my sewing skills into our usual Profi les it’s not a viable career for that but after a couple in Excellence series to choice, but now I’ve become of semesters here pursuing recognize the efforts and somewhat of a “hometown an art degree I wasn’t bravery of these students. Courtesy photo McAllen student named National Merit Scholar celebrates top 20 students Donna High School announced its top 20 students for the Class of 2020. Although the David Li, a student from McAllen Independent School District’s seniors were not able to celebrate the occasion at DHS’ annual dinner award ceremony, Memorial High School, who has been selected as a National Merit their academic achievements were recognized during a virtual event. DHS Principal Nancy Scholar. David was selected from approximately 1.6 million students Castillo revealed the rankings of the top students. This year’s valedictorian is Aleea Campos. who entered the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. Only She plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin and pursue a degree in psychology. about 16,000 were named semifi nalists. In order to advance in the The salutatorian is Bryan De Jesus Duran. He plans to attend Texas A&M University College competition and be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, a Station and major in biomedical science. semifi nalist had to become a Finalist by fulfi lling several requirements that included submitting a detailed scholarship application and presenting a record of very high academic performance. Li is a student in the International Baccalaureate Programme based at . IDEA to host Virtual College Signing Day events IDEA Public Schools will be hosting virtual College Signing Day events to honor the Class of 2020. On Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. students, staff, family and the community will be able to view College Signing Day event at www.ideapublicschools.org/ csd2020. College Signing Day is the culmination of years of hard work and marks a momentous occasion in each IDEA scholar’s academic journey. All seniors from IDEA Public Schools are on track to achieve 100% college matriculation. One hundred percent of seniors have been accepted to college. “Combined, the IDEA Rio Courtesy photo Grande Valley Class of 2020, has celebrates top 20 students 4,830 college acceptances, 225 Donna North High School announced its top 20 students for the Class of 2020. Although acceptances into tier one schools the seniors were not able to celebrate the occasion at DNHS’ annual dinner award Courtesy photo and 929 acceptances to tier two ceremony, their academic achievements were recognized during a virtual event. DNHS schools,” said Jill Dominguez, regional Principal Javier Villanueva revealed the rankings of the top students. This year’s valedictorian superintendent for IDEA Rio Grande Valley. “The Class of 2020 has been accepted to is Andrew Thomas Mireles. He plans to attend Stephen F. Austin State University and pursue Yale, Johns Hopkins, Brinmark, Carnegie Mellon, UT Austin, NYU, University of Chicago a degree in kinesiology and dance. The salutatorian is Veliciti Sky Pedraza. She plans to and Texas A&M. They have proven to their teachers, classmates and families, just what attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in English. they are capable of.”

SMITH wood so we’d have something sol- Stadium, where Smith unobtru- more in retrospect. in it. She might not say it directly, id,” she said. “When it rained, we sively manages her students, oc- “One of the kids who wrote me but Smith is proud of the impact From Page 1B would just turn as much stuff off casionally barking a sharp com- (said), ‘I didn’t appreciate your all those extra hours and week- as possible, kids running to turn mand or piece of advice. honesty and tough love when you ends at work had. As the audio video production off the cameras, and then step “If it’s up on the screen, they watched my productions to start “I just do this because that’s the teacher, Smith oversaw the devel- away, because we were dealing did it,” she said. “I sit in the back- with, but I really appreciate it now way I was brought up, my mom opment of the district’s stadium with electricity.” ground and give them hints.” as my career is going forward,’” was a college teacher,” she said. control room. She remembers Eventually, Smith and her stu- When word got out recently that Smith said. “You’ve gotta get used “You do whatever you need to do when it was nothing more than a dents got a concrete slab and Smith was retiring, some of those to people saying no. Fix this. Do so that your students are success- patch of dirt under the stadium. some umbrellas to keep food from students Smith oversaw in that that. That sort of thing.” ful, so I guess that’s why. I mean it’s “We were out under the bleach- the bleachers from falling onto box started sending her messages. Smith says she’s proud of mes- in my genes, in my blood.” ers with tens of thousands of dol- the equipment. From there they Some talked about what her class sages like that, and of her stu- Smith will offi cially retire at the lars worth of video equipment. We upgraded to a plywood structure, did for their career. Others said dents. She’s proud of what that end of May. were in the dirt at one time and and eventually to the professional they could appreciate her dedica- control booth became and the put pizza boxes down and some control room that’s now at Flores tion and devotion to excellence work she watched her students do [email protected]

MISSION istry. He has been teaching which is affi liated with the ing profession. Alicia Bazan, Leal Elemen- ez, Alton Memorial Jr. High for 17 years. state and national programs. The other teachers select- tary School; Alva Salinas, School; Martin Villegas, K. From Page 1B These two teachers were The applications used by ed by their schools as Cam- Midkiff Elementary School; White Jr. High School; Anne selected by a panel of judges Mission CISD are the same pus Teachers of the Year are: Ana Salinas, Mims Elemen- Rodriguez, Mission Jr. High currently teaches English consisting of a cross-section ones used in those programs. Jessica Villarreal, Alton El- tary School; Mario Flores, School; Vanessa Ramos, R. and Math as a part of Special of the Mission CISD area They include informa- ementary School; Rosemarie Marcell Elementary School; Cantu Jr. High School; An- Education Services at the communities. Munguia and tion on the teachers, like: Underwood, Cantu Elemen- Maria Davalos, O’Grady Ele- thony M. Charles, Mission campus. Guanzon will now represent professional background, tary School; Melanie Ra- mentary School; Marisol De Collegiate High School; Car- The Mission CISD Sec- Mission CISD as Teachers educational history, and mos Perez, Castro Elemen- La Rosa, Pearson Elementary olina Ramos, Veterans Me- ondary Teacher of the Year is of the year during the next several questions that delve tary School; Erika Martinez, School; Hortencia Morales, morial High School; Robert Joselito Guanzon from Mis- school year. They will also be into their teaching ap- Cavazos Elementary School; Salinas Elementary School; Nino, Roosevelt Alternative sion High School. Guanzon entered into the Region One proaches, and thoughts on Bonnie Hernandez, Esco- Fabiola Salinas, Waitz Ele- School; Liz Acosta, Options teaches Physics and Chem- Teacher of the Year contest, issues impacting the teach- bar/Rios Elementary School; mentary School. Ana C. Per- Academy.