Raising Cane’s Community Engagement Award: Rivera-Martinez always willing to lend a hand
As a member of Ready’s student council, Angel Rivera-Martinez had numerous opportunities throughout high school to serve the community.
That Rivera-Martinez planned to continue in one of his major volunteering areas this summer after graduating from Ready proves that obligation isn’t what drives him.
“For me, I just enjoy interacting with people,” he said recently. “There are people in need of all sorts of things. This summer I’m going to be serving at the summer camp I’ve worked at previously and I’ll be there for nine weeks.”
Rivera-Martinez’s desire to make an impact in the community is among the reasons he received a Raising Cane’s Community Engagement Award, which was presented during the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 15 at the Ohio Theatre.
Rivera-Martinez completed his third season on the Silver Knights boys track and field team this spring, a few months after he ran much longer distances as a member of the cross country program.
He also was a captain for the boys soccer team last fall.
In addition to his athletic pursuits, Rivera-Martinez was involved in numerous volunteering activities while maintaining a 4.98 GPA that ranked him first in his class.
His sister, 2019 Ready graduate Angelica Rivera-Martinez, also was the valedictorian of her class.
They have two other siblings, including Ready rising junior Angeliz Rivera-Martinez.
“Angel Rivera-Martinez is a great example of a Bishop Ready High School student,” athletics director Steve McQuade said. “Angel demonstrates day in and day out what it means to serve. He (was) part of almost every club in the school. He’s a devout Catholic and is proud of being an active member in his parish. ... He loves what he does and, as a student, he’s a true pleasure to be around. He brings everybody up that is around him.”
Rivera-Martinez, who scored a 32 on his ACT and will study psychology at the University of Dayton, has served as a ZooAide at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, has volunteered in the Holy Family Soup Kitchen and has been on staff with the Catholic Youth Summer Camp.
He also served as president of Ready’s executive board and was vice president of his class as a freshman.
“With the soup kitchen, people need someone who will feed them,” he said. “Obviously at summer camp, I’ve helped kids form a relationship with God, so there’s a spiritual need to answer the call. I’ve worked at the zoo for a few summers starting the year going into eighth grade and would help with a bunch of things, like guest engagement in different exhibits and helping out with the zoo’s summer camp, making sure kids weren’t getting lost. ... I just enjoy helping people out.”
julrey@thisweeknews.com
@UlreyThisWeek
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Ready graduate Angel Rivera-Martinez always willing to lend a hand
