Disponible en: Español

Published On: October 20th, 2021By

Aldine ISD Students Recognized for Academic Honors

Disponible en: Español

Victory Early College High School students Laila Adams, Yoselyn Owolabi, Mayowa Ogunbowale, Andrea Cruz, Kelly Irlas Flores, Graciela De La Cuesta, Nashaly Diaz, and Jonathan Ortega were named National Recognition Program Scholars by the College Board. They are pictured with Victory Early College High School Principal Dr. Phyllis Cormier at the Oct. 19 Board of Trustees meeting.


Aldine ISD students have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These National Recognition Programs provide underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded National African American, Hispanic, Indigenous, and/or Rural/Small Town Recognition through College Board’s Student Search Service.

“We’re thrilled that our students have earned this recognition. We are very proud of them for their achievements in their classrooms and on College Board assessments,” Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney said. “These programs specifically help our students stand out to colleges during admissions.”

Students who may be eligible have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American, or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

Eligible students are invited to apply during their sophomore or junior year of high school and will be awarded at the beginning of the next school year. Students will receive their awards in time to include them on their college and scholarship applications.

“By awarding students who excel academically with honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs, our aim is to create pathways to college for underrepresented students,”  College Board Senior Vice President of College & Career Access, Steve Bumbaugh, said. “We hope this inspires many more students to work toward this recognition.”

Congratulations to the following Aldine ISD Scholars!

School Name Student Name Recognition
Aldine Senior High School Lauren Baines National African American Recognition Program Scholar
Blanson CTE High School Alexander Guel National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Elisabeth Zapata National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Gabriel Aguila National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Giovanni Cortes National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Leilani Diaz National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
National Commended Scholar
  Martin Saenz National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Derek King National African American Recognition Program Scholar
  Jonathan Hartfield National African American Recognition Program Scholar
Carver High School Ryan Randolph National African American Recognition Program Scholar
Davis Senior High School  Renny Hoang National Merit Semi-Finalist
  Mike Rodriguez National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
Eisenhower Senior High School  Sydney Prier National African American Recognition Program Scholar
  Tiara Anastacio National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
MacArthur Senior High School Shonease Murphy National African American Recognition Program Scholar
  Alicia Garza National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Emily Villegas Garcia National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Karla Duran National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Mayline Garcia National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Melanie Fabela National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Vanessa DeOsio National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
Victory Early College High School Laila Adams National African American Recognition Program Scholar
  Yoselyn Owolabi National African American Recognition Program Scholar
  Mayowa Ogunbowale National African American Recognition Program Scholar
  Andrea Cruz National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Keilly Irlas Flores National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Graciela De La Cuesta National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Nashaly Diaz National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
  Jonathan Ortega National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar

About the Author: Valonia Walker, APR

Senior Communications Specialist