Hispanic Heritage spotlight: Pilot, student Alejandro Aguirre ready to soar higher

Editor's note: This is the seventh article in a planned month-long series to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Check future editions of the Daily Press for more stories.

Alejandro Aguirre is a 17-year-old high school senior and pilot whose eyes are firmly fixed on his studies and a future career in aerospace engineering.

Aguirre, who attends the Academy for Academic Excellence in Apple Valley, told the Daily Press that he hopes his future includes attending Stanford University and landing a job designing aircraft for Boeing or Lockheed Martin.

A Cadet Chief Master Sgt. with the Space Force JROTC at AAE, Aguirre became interested in flying through the program, where he learned every aspect of how aircraft work and how to operate them, he said.

It was always cool walking into the ROTC classroom and seeing all the model planes hanging from the ceiling, Aguirre said.

His interest in flying intensified when he had the opportunity to use flight simulators in the classroom.

“I got my pilot's license through a program offered by Air Force JROTC headquarters called Flight Academy,” Aguirre said. “With this, I received a fully-funded scholarship that allowed me to go to a partnered school and graduate from the program with my license.”

The scholarship was valued at $25,000, and the eight-week course was an intense study of aircraft and flying, said Aguirre, who added that the flight school experience was something he would never forget.

Lewis Center for Educational Research President/CEO Lisa Lamb told the Daily Press that Aguirre takes the most challenging courses at AAE while also enrolled at Victor Valley College.

“Add to that his leadership roles in Varsity Soccer, Space Force Junior ROTC, and Ambassadors, and his plate is very full,” Lamb said.

Inspiration & achievements

Academically, Aguirre stands at a 4.0 unweighted GPA and 4.79 when weighted. He also credits his family and his instructors for their support.

“My biggest inspiration is my family, especially my older brother, because of how he is able to complete all his tasks and do it all with a smile on his face, enjoying every single moment,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre was born in Victorville, and his parents are Agustin Aguirre and Maria Vega. His brothers are David, 18, and 15-year-old Ernesto.

Since attending AAE, some of Aguirre’s achievements include the Principal's Honor Roll, President's Education Awards Program, Celebrate Freedom Foundation Award, Boys State Nominee, Daedalian Award, and Aces of the 20068th Cadet Delta.

Aguirre has been the captain of the school’s varsity soccer team since his junior year. He also plays with Apple Valley Soccer Club and credits a teamwork philosophy for their many accomplishments.

The soccer club has participated in Surf Cup, National Cup, CSL Premier, and the California Regional League and was recently accepted into the U.S. Youth Pacific Conference.

Participating in cross country at AAE, Aguirre received a Coach's Award and Cross League Scholar Award and was part of the Cross Valley League 1st Team All-League.

“I also hold many leadership positions, including Lewis Center for Educational Research Ambassadors Vice President,” Aguirre said. “I am also the president of the National Honor Society, the Senior Enlisted Leader for the SFJROTC unit at my school, organizing all extracurricular and community service projects our unit does.”

As an LCER ambassador, Aguirre will represent the school next March when his group travels to Washington, D.C., to talk at NASA headquarters.

'A great future'

AAE’s Senior Space Science Instructor, Ret. Air Force Col. George A. Armstrong III, said he’d known Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Alejandro Aguirre and his family for five years, professionally and personally.

“He is instrumental in the success of the first and only California SFJROTC unit and the only unit in the world at a charter school,” Armstrong said. “He always has the highest dress, appearance, behavior, and academic scores in and out of uniform, which directly contributed to his selection as Cadet Senior Enlisted Leader of a 157-member Cadet Delta.”

Aguirre leads the SFJROTC program with 201 hours of community service performed. He has earned numerous SFJROTC awards, including the Celebrate Freedom Foundation Award, the Academic ribbon, and “Ace of Aces” status for earning straight “A” grades.

“He is the only cadet this year to earn a private pilot’s license through the $25,000 flight academy scholarship,” Armstrong said. “He is the valedictorian frontrunner of the AAE Class of 2023.”

“Alejandro earned the title of Senior Enlisted Leader for Class of 2023, and he is the highest enlisted cadet in the Delta,” said AAE’s Aerospace Science Instructor Ret. AF MSgt. H. "Sonny" Padua. “His responsibility is taking care of the cadets and to ensure the morale and welfare of the cadets are taken care of.”

Alejandro is an easygoing person, and he is very approachable when needed. He is always looking for opportunities to excel in his professional development, Padua said.

Aguirre is intelligent, driven, hardworking, has a great sense of humor, and is quick-witted. His easygoing nature makes it easy to work with him, but keeping up with him is a different story, Lamb said.

She added that despite his busy schedule, Aguirre is approachable and helpful to everyone. “He is truly a remarkable young man who has a great future ahead of him.”

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Hispanic Heritage Month spotlight: Pilot, student Alejandro Aguirre, 17