Friday, May 8 was a great day for the valedictorians and salutatorians (list below) of Garland ISD’s high schools as they were recognized in a big way. Members of the district’s leadership team, Superintendent Ricardo Lopez and several members of the GISD board of trustees joined a large group of family and friends in a parade to each of the top-performing students’ homes to congratulate them.
The students received balloons, yard signs and trophies, along with in-person congratulations in their own front yards with their families at their side. All the students were happily surprised by this thoughtful gesture.
Jorge Soto, the salutatorian from South Garland High School, acknowledged that his senior year had not ended the way he had thought it would but he was able to find some good in the situation.
“It’s not the way I was expecting it to end, but situations like this help us grow,” he said.
He added that he had put in lots of effort throughout his high school years.
“I’ve been working hard, but I didn’t try to be salutatorian,” Soto said. “I just knew something good would come along if I worked hard.”
He chose to attend South Garland HS because he knew that great things happen there and he said that the school has a bright future. Soto plans to go to the University of Texas at Austin and major in business.
Steve Ewing, SGHS principal, is proud of all his students.
“I am so proud of our top 10 students, our valedictorian and salutatorian. I’m very proud of all our students because they are all going through this crisis together with their families and with their teachers,” he said. “I think it’s important that everyone knows we are in this together and not on an island, not alone.”
Ewing added that their Colonel spirit is helping them cope with the crisis.
The principal’s son is a senior so he is going through it as a father as well.
“I’ve seen my son cry. I’ve seen him upset. I’ve seen him happy on some days, but it has been a roller coaster,” Ewing said.
The principal also said that it has been extremely difficult for him.
“I miss the kids and teachers tremendously,” he said. “I feel bad for my son and I have 2,200 other students that have lost out on activities and the seniors have lost out on a lot of their activities. It makes me feel bad. But we have to stay focused on the future and on knowing that it is going to get better.”
| School | Valedictorian | Salutatorian |
| GHS | Zach Nguyen | Isaac Yu |
| LCHS | Hazel Velasquez Gomez | Kaitlyn Dacpano |
| NFHS | Olivia Glick | Ruth Aklilu |
| NGHS | Mohammad Jamal | Rebecca Workalemahu |
| RHS | David Tang | Kendall Bush |
| SHS | Tarynn Luttrull | Austin Werth |
| SGHS | Cristina Gonzalez | Jorge Soto |