VIN'S PEOPLE: Manatee Schools honors graduates at 36th annual Migrant Awards Ceremony
Congratulations to the 24 graduating seniors recognized at the Manatee School District’s 36th annual Migrant Education Awards Ceremony. They were honored for their academic success, overcoming the barriers of language, poverty and relocating often with their families work.
“Life has not been easy for them,” said Mario Mendoza, coordinator of the district’s Migrant Education Program that has 408 students. “They’ve faced many challenges and they still got here.”
Esteban Perez-Martinez is proud of it.
“I’m the first one in my family to graduate,” said the Lakewood Ranch High senior with multiple scholarships. “Hopefully, my younger siblings do the same thing.”
The honorees include his Ranch classmates Wendy Lisset Aquino-Godinez, Daniela Chavez-Pureco, Zayra Contreras, Juanita Garcia, Carla Dayana Gutierrez-Sotelo, Emanuel Ibarra, Juan Carlos Lerma-Sotelo, Yoni Miguel Morales, Nathaly Ovalle and Axel Adair Torres-Vega.
Then there are Palmetto High’s Jazmin Bautista, Ruth Centeno Figueroa, Daniel Centeno Jr., Erik Abel Lopez, Delila Michelle Olvera, Eduardo Perez-Gonzalez, Janeth Rodriguez and Matthew De Jesus Rodriguez.
There are also Bayshore High’s Isaac Paredes Rodriguez, Manatee High’s Christian Jesus Martinez-Gutierrez, Grizelda Venegas Venegas from Manatee School for the Arts, and Melissa Hernandez-Jose and Rocio Jose-Jose of Team Success.
Twelve students received scholarships ranging from $300 to $2,000. Four earned Take Stock in Children scholarships. That’s full tuition for four years, a value of more than $42,000.
“And some of our donors make it clear – if more financial assistance is needed, they are willing to support these students,” Mendoza added.
• Well done to Jonathan Xavioer, Southeast’s latest National Merit Scholarship recipient. He joins fellow senior Alexander Aldama-Apodaca.
• Big ups to Palmetto High baseball, district winners for the first time in 27 years. The District Eight champion Tigers are Cameron Banta, Aidan Collins, Chris Conboy, Brecken Fair, Dalton Frasier, Luis Garrido, Tyler Goforth, Daniel Kaczmarek, Christian Kretzer, Trey Lawrence, Jerry Martinez, Jackson Moates, Matt Novarro, Rodriguez Perry, Jayden Peters, Josh Podobnik, Aiden Shea, Andrew Spahn, Colin Stover, Baden Wallace, Clayton Williams and Hunter Wingate.
Head coach Nolan Lofgren’s staff includes Steve Cucci, Fred Glass, Adam Levins, Jimmy Little, Dave Stove and Rob Williams.
• That’s 50 years of wedded bliss for Maria and Richard Eurice.
• Lauren and Michael Ohlman named their first bundle of love, Tate Phillip. Word is junior has big hands like his dad, a catcher in professional baseball for a decade.
• And welcome home to niece Lauren Pierce, honors graduate at St. George’s University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada. The Florida Gator is off to North Carolina State in June to complete her education. Lynn and Fred are beaming.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: Graduates honored at 36th annual Migrant Awards Ceremony
