JC Alvarado 

  Jose “JC” Alvarado is a four year marching band member, former clarinet section leader, 1st chair in honor band,  two year drum major, and an active member of AVID. Music “runs through his veins”, and he’s been dedicated to the mighty mission eagle band since 2008. JC has received a superior rating in a class one solo, and been named Best marcher his freshman and sophomore year. For JC, the happiest experience while at MHS was the rush he got after every Pigskin performance. His love for music is very strong.

    Next fall, he hopes to attend Texas A&M to major in music, and hopes to come back to the valley and become a band director at MHS. He wants the students to “experience a love of music” and how it makes a difference in a person’s life. Being the first in his family to go to college, he thanks his mother for that extra push that helped him stay on the right path.

Gabriela Martinez

   Volleyball, basketball, softball and track are just some of the sport her skills have shined.  She received 1st all District for volleyball and MVP for volleyball as well. She was also chosen to participate in the All Star Volleyball Game.

    Gariela has received several awards that include Commended Performance on TAKS, Leadership Awards, and Student of the Month for two different organizations which include, Mission High School’s Athletic Department, and for the Junior Service League of Mission. She is ranked 21 in her senior class and is in the top 10%. She has been a part of HOSA and is currently in the Pharmacy Technician Club, were she is the Vice-President.

     She has done volunteer work that includes helping at the Boys & Girls Club as an assistant coach for 6-8 year old volleyball team, helping her coach in the concession stand, and also for the past two years she has volunteered with the United Blood Services donations at MHS.

     She is determined to become a doctor. Making her favorite teacher Dr. Juarez; a teacher who knows a lot and cares for his students’ needs. She plans to major in Biomedical Sciences and she will do this at Texas A&M Corpus Christi because she believes it has a good degree program.

     Her advice to underclassmen is to try their best in everything they do because the truth is they will only live once, and to keep their head up high no matter what. She knows she will miss many things about high school, she will miss her friends, teachers, but more than anything the great experiences and memories she had at MHS.

Jose Villalobos

     Jose Villalobos is ranked number three in his class of 342 seniors. After scoring a 30 on the ACT, Jose got accepted to UT Austin where he will study to be an engineer. Jose didn’t know what career he wanted to pursue until he researched jobs that included math, since that’s his strongest subject, it was only fitting to be an engineer.

   “Mechanical and electrical engineering sounds interesting. They also pay well,” Villaloblos said.

   He is proud of how far he has come and he thanks his parents for his success. Jose says that his mother would always push him about his grades and would make him feel important. He looks up to his father also because he has tried his hardest to give him a good life. Jose has always wanted to go to college for a good education and hopes to have a better chance of getting a high paying job. His personal goal is to have a good long life so he can financially help his parents in the future.

   “They worked hard for me, it only makes sense that I work hard for them,” Villalobos said.

Cassandra Canizalez

        The title of  Valedictorian falls short in describing Cassandra Canizalez. She is an intelligent, caring, loud, and outgoing person, who always has a friendly ‘hello’ to give to her peers. Always respectful, but not afraid to speak her mind, Cassandra has made her journey to become valedictorian something to admire.

     One thing is for sure, Cassandra has been able to manage her time wisely to be involved in different clubs and sports throughout her four years of high school; not letting her academics be affected by anything. She has been involved in clubs such as Choir, BPA, Environmental Club, and NHS. She has also done volunteer work that involves the trash bash, carwash, maintaining the school garden, and working at the library. Not only is she active in academics, but also in sports were she was in basketball for four years, two of which were on varsity. Also, she participated in cross-country her junior and senior year.

    She will be attending Texas A&M College Station where she will pursue a career in engineering.

     She has admired Biology teacher Mrs. Prukup, because she is strong, helpful to students, and very caring. Her advice to underclassmen is too see the bright side of things instead of dwelling on the negative and only then can you keep on moving. 

   “I was not aiming to be valedictorian I was just doing my best. I do not see it as special just as doing what I needed to do,”Cassandra said.

Chris Rosalez

“Do good in your classes, apply for scholarships as soon as you can, and give it your all in school; show the world your true potential, and just have fun,” this is what Jose Christian Rosalez believes everyone should do during their high school years.