MAY 7, 2011

Seniors
2011
S c h o o l
i a H i g h c h o o l
l e n c g h S
V CenturyH
a i

VALENCIA
COUNTY
News-Bulletin
2 • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 7, 2011

Top Valencia High School seniors have a lot in common

By Julia M. Dendinger
News-Bulletin Staff Writer
jdendinger@news-bulletin.com
The eight of them chatter and banter
like the old friends they are. Over the
last four years, they have watched each
over morph from awkward freshmen into
confident seniors. With solid plans for
the future in hand, the top graduates of
Valencia High School’s Class of 2011 are
ready to take their academic excellence
to the next level.
As they go around the table, naming
which college they will be headed off to
next fall, possible majors and an exten-
sive list of high school awards and acco-
lades over the years, you get the distinct
feeling they know each other as well as
themselves.
Invariably someone will chime in to
remind a fellow senior about an award
they won — a department academic
award, a letter in sports or academics or
membership in an honors society.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that,” is the
laughing response.
Eight of the top 10 for this year’s grad-
uating class are ready to move on, but
remember where they came from.
They talk about the benefits of graduat-
ing from Valencia County’s newest high
school.
“Well, it is all brand new,” said Joseph
Montoya. “We get to set all the new Julia M. Dendinger-News-Bulletin photo
records.” Montoya plans to attend the
University of New Mexico and study AT THE TOP of their class and ready for higher education, Valencia High School’s top students racked up the accolades
criminology. and encourage underclassmen to keep working hard. Among the top 10 students for VHS, from left, are Alicia Lopez, Rosie
Some of his accomplishments over Simmons-Hogan, Tina Zuniga, Randall Burson II, Joseph Montoya, Danielle Mascarenas, Jacqueline Alvidrez and Kenya
the last four years include membership Musegades. Not pictured are Emma Hart and Lindsey Tafoya.
in National Honor Society, being a let-
tering member of the varsity basketball four years, participated in MESA her Most of these top achievers participated bering his high school career.
team, playing on the VHS football team, freshman and sophomore years, lettered in the concurrent and on-site enrollment Burson, the first chair tenor saxophone
receiving department academic awards in three years in cross country and three programs at UNM-VC. And it’s a route for the VHS band, was named to the
science and math, and earning gold cards years in track for pole vault, received they strongly suggest other students take. all state band twice, spent four years
for the Renaissance program. gold cards for Renaissance and is the vice “Oh it’s great,” Montoya said. “You in honor band, was named outstanding
To attain a gold card, students must president of the high school’s National save a lot of time and money.” Lopez said soloist three times, was a member of
have a 3.5 to 4.0 grade point average, no Honor Society chapter. she has already completed several core the drama club, MESA, National Honor
disciplinary referrals, fewer than four Both students took Advanced classes for her degree, and Mascarenas Society, has received academic awards
days absent per semester and no F’s. Placement classes and took advantage of has a semester of credits out of the way. for science, math, history, language and
Montoya also took advanced placement dual and concurrent enrollment at UNM- Randall Burson II, who will be attend- arts and academic letters all four years.
classes and participated in dual and con- VC. ing Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania The competition for the top is stiff, the
current enrollment with the University of The campus offers two kinds of dual to study biology and Spanish, has racked seniors say, but it isn’t the blood-thirsty,
New Mexico-Valencia Campus. enrollment for interested students. up 36 credit hours through concurrent backstabbing kind found in bad after-
Alicia Lopez said the school offers stu- The first is when students come to the and on-site enrollment. But he’s going to school specials.
dents a lot of options and opportunities. campus for concurrent enrollment. have to look at what he learned in those “There’s competition, but it’s not
“I’m glad I went here instead of Los The second type, on-site enrollment, classes as knowledge for knowledge’s unhealthy,” Burson said.
Lunas (High School),” said Danielle is formerly known as dual enrollment. sake. None of the credits will transfer to The others agree, saying that getting to
Mascarenas. “Because there are fewer of It allows students to earn college credits Swarthmore. the top of the class was simply the out-
us, we get more individual attention from for work done in the classroom. Students “What? You need to talk to somebody come of working hard and earning good
the teachers.” in on-site dual enrollment will enroll in about that,” said Rosie Simmons-Hogan. grades.
Both Mascarenas and Lopez will be a corresponding Web-based UNM-VC “I would be so mad if I did all that work “I just worked to keep my GPA up,”
attending UNM in the fall, majoring in course with the high school teacher pro- and didn’t get the credits.” said Mascarenas. Montoya commented
nursing and civil engineering, respec- viding the bulk of the instruction. But Burson probably won’t be too that his main goal was all A’s.
tively. Mascarenas is leaving VHS with The college professor will provide cerebrally taxed by repeating the course Simmons-Hogan will be attending
four years of academic letters, gold cards supplemental instructional material, work. When it came time for him to run UNM in the fall and is leaning towards
in the Renaissance program, AP honors require additional assignments and/or down his list of accomplishments, the majoring in psychology. While at VHS,
awards and a letter from her time as the examinations and will personally meet rest of the seniors declared his list would she earned academic letters all four
football team’s manager. with students at the high school site on at easily eclipse theirs. That was followed years, was a member of student council,
Lopez received academic awards all least four occasions. by a lot of laughing and “help” in remem- n See Seniors, Page 12
 May 7, 2011• Valencia County News-Bulletin • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • 3

C L A S S O F 2 0 1 1

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4 • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 7, 2011

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 May 7, 2011• Valencia County News-Bulletin • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • 5

“Congratulations
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Congratulates All of Our 2010-2011 Graduates
Great job... Los Lunas High School,
Valencia High School, Century High School
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6 • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 7, 2011

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 May 7, 2011• Valencia County News-Bulletin • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • 7

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8 • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 7, 2011

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 May 7, 2011• Valencia County News-Bulletin • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • 9

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10 • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 7, 2011

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 May 7, 2011• Valencia County News-Bulletin • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • 11

C L A S S O F 2 0 1 1

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12 • Seniors 2011: Valencia High School & Century High School • Valencia County News-Bulletin • May 7, 2011

Seniors: ‘We’re good academic role models’

from PAGE 2
is the co-secretary for National Honor Society and is
the NHS probation officer.
“I get people to show up for meetings,” Simmons-
Hogan said.
“Yeah, you know it’s bad when Rosie is after you,”
Montoya laughed.
While she hasn’t decided on a major yet, Jacqueline
Alvidrez will be attending Western New Mexico
University in Silver City this fall. Alvidrez earned
academic letters all four years, participated in the
Renaissance program, took AP classes and took part
in dual and concurrent enrollment, served as a student
council officer, has received several department aca-
demic awards and was voted “most creative” by the
senior class.
After graduation, Kenya Musegades will begin her
degree in pharmacology at UNM-VC and then trans-
fer to the main campus in Albuquerque. Musegades
has received academic letters as well as a band let-
ter for her work as a flautist, received an academic
department award in U.S. history, is president of
drama club, was public relations officer of student
council, was named all-state for small state band,
was named solo and ensemble best of day in flute,
was in the honor band and received gold cards in
Renaissance.
Tina Zuniga will be attending Fort Lewis College
in Durango and majoring in English. Zuniga is the
student council president this year as well as the
yearbook editor. She is a member of National Honors
Society, played volleyball and was a cheerleader, as
well as the recipient of academic letters each year.
vhs graduation info
Also in the top 10 students are Emma Hart and
Lindsey Tafoya. Graduation:
According to her classmates, Hart will be attending
the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania as a biolo- 7 p.m., Thursday, May 12,
gy and exercise-science major, which is the beginning
of her pre-med academic track. Her accomplishments at the Valencia High School
include four years of varsity basketball and athletic
letters, as well as student council, National Honor football field
Society and gold cards for four years of Renaissance.
They also put their heads together to assemble an
impressive dossier on Tafoya — student council mem- Class song:
ber, academic letters, department academic awards in
French, Renaissance and dual and concurrent enroll- “Don’t Stop Believing”
ment. While they weren’t sure which college Tafoya
had chosen, her classmates said she is planning to go by Journey
into nuclear engineering.
“I think Emma is a good role model overall,” said
Simmons-Hogan. “We’re good academic role models.” Class flower:
As they leave the underclassmen to fend for them-
selves, the top seniors do have some advice. Amaryllis
Mimicking a successful Nike ad campaign she prob-
ably isn’t old enough to remember, Mascarenas says
the key to academic success is for students to, “Just do Class motto:
the work.”
“It’s worth it,” Simmons-Hogan adds. “Hakuna matata.”
“It’s why I’m here,” Montoya said. “It’s not that
hard. Just do the work.”
Zuniga advised those coming after to join in the Class colors:
many activities offered at VHS and participate in
everything they can.
But most important, Lopez said, is “Enjoy your
Red, turquoise and silver
time here.”

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