Angela Acosta, San Jacinto High’s Valedictorian for 2017, with a GPA of 4.5, will also graduate in June with an Associates Degree in mathematics from Mt. San Jacinto College. Angela has been part of the concurrent college enrollment program since the summer of 2015, spending part of each school day on both campuses. She is also a member of Upward Bound where she tutors and mentors underclassmen at San Jacinto High in preparation for college entrance. Upward Bound is a federally-supported program for high school students with the goal to increase the rate participants complete secondary education. Angela is currently Vice-President of her high school’s MEChA club, a student-led Mexican-American organization that hosts functions and develops student leaders for meaningful collaborations and conversations. Angela plans to attend Cornell to become a Pediatric Neurologist.
Anneka Manzano was selected as Salutatorian for San Jacinto High’s Class of 2017, and holds a GPA of 4.41 She is also on track to graduate with an International Baccalaureate (IB) Certificate from San Jacinto High’s second graduating class from the IB program, which is a truly rigorous two-year education that meets international academic standards. SJHS is the only public education high school in the San Jacinto Valley approved to offer an IB Diploma Program. Anneka was a founding member her freshman year and current year secretary of the school’s Patriot Tigers club, formed to honor military veterans. Anneka was selected as San Jacinto High’s Student of the Month in March, and has logged in over 228 hours of community service since her freshman year. Her high school experience includes two years on the cross country team and in orchestra. Anneka plans to attend UCLA to become an anthropologist.
Katia Talamantez, San Jacinto High’s Historian for the Class of 2017, holds a 4.4 GPA and is the manager of the Tiger Varsity Tennis team, and current president of Patriot Tigers club and SJHS’ chapter of National Honor Society. She is also on track to graduate as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Candidate and has been the president of the IB Club this year, established to help students with financial burden of IB test fees. Katia has been a key member of numerous other school clubs, including Particle People (Physics), Link Crew (freshman welcome), University of California Early Academic Outreach Program, and Advanced Placement Club (fundraising for AP test fees), as well as a member of the high school’s orchestra for three years. She was a state finalist in 2016 for her National History Day project and a member of the National Honors Society since 2014. Katia plans to attend UCSD and study neuroscience to become a career scientist.