Prescott Honor Students are Servant Leaders

PRESCOTT - Prescott High School Class of 2016 Valedictorian Jaqueline Velazco and Salutatorian Salomon Martinez earned their titles by being the top scholars in their class. But their gratitude, humility, and desire to give back to the community speaks volumes about their character as well.

Valedictorian Jaqueline Velazco, daughter of Jaqueline and Jaime Velazco, ends her high school career with a GPA of 3.85. During high school she was a National Honor Society member, class secretary all four years, competed in Knowledge Bowl, and participated in SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions).

Velazco says she enjoyed participating in WE Day, a Seattle celebration for youth making a difference in their local and global communities. She says her local group made anonymous Valentine's Cards to demonstrate love and kindness and participated in homelessness awareness projects.

Velazco says she enjoys painting but her main hobby is tutoring elementary and middle school students at Vista Hermosa after school. Velazco said an interesting fact about her is that she spent the last four summers working in the fields at Broetje Orchards thinning apples.

When asked if she liked the work she said, "No, but it made me value education more."

Velazco is thankful for the support and encouragement she received as a student in Prescott. "I would like to come back here and work. I like Prescott. I like the school. It's small and I grew up here so it's comfortable."

"I'm thankful for all the resources in the school that helped me initiate a new beginning. I will be a first-generation college student," Velazco said.

Velazco plans to attend WSU Tri Cities to pursue a career in elementary education.

Salutatorian Salomon Martinez, with a GPA of 3.47, is the son of Salomon and Ahine Martinez. He has been active in student government, serving as ASB president, National Honor Society president and treasurer, and as a student representative on the Prescott School Board.

Martinez played soccer and was softball manager four years each. He was a member of the Knowledge Bowl team and drama club. He also served as coordinator for the Every 15 Minutes anti-drinking and driving program, participated in SADD, and is active in the Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Foundation.

Martinez said his attendance at the three-day HOBY seminar as a sophomore was life-changing. In response, he has volunteered 161 hours to the organization over the last three years, serving as an assistant, junior facilitator, and a mentor.

Martinez said that he appreciates all the opportunities that were available to him in Prescott.

"Even though it's a small school there are lots of opportunities because everyone can try out for a sport or a club, which helped me be more involved in my school. I'm really thankful for the staff and those around me that gave me the potential to believe that I could be a leader," Martinez said.

Martinez plans to attend WSU in Pullman to major in management information systems with a possible minor in sociology. He would like to work in a company like Microsoft or Apple, and dreams of starting a scholarship foundation that would help kids visit different secondary schools so they are aware of the educational opportunities available to them.

"I'm blessed to be the first in my family to graduate (high school) and I'm thankful for those who have helped me – though I can't name all of them – through the struggles and ups and downs. I devote my success to them because without them, I possibly wouldn't be in these shoes right now," Martinez said.

Both students credit their participation in a Vista Hermosa youth group for encouraging them toward service and leadership. They will spend their summer together, both working as teacher's assistants at Vista Hermosa's Day Camp.