Tucson, Ariz. – As this year’s academic graduation season comes to a close, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva congratulates the recipients of the Certificate of Congressional Recognition for Community Service for the work they put into making Southern Arizona a better place. Although Grijalva’s office has previously awarded Seventh Congressional District residents with the certificate, this marks the first year the office has offered the award to graduating high school seniors and 8th graders who have demonstrated outstanding and valuable service to the community.
The office awarded 14 8th graders and 18 seniors from the Seventh Congressional Districtthis year. Grijalva and his staff have been touring the district and making presentations to students being recognized personally at the awards ceremonies.
Recognized students include:
Katrina Arroyos of Sunny Side High School
Mireya Ayala of Chaparral Middle School
Evelyn Becerra of San Luis Middle School
Myrka Cano of Sierra Middle School
Vanessa Castenada of Gila Ridge High School
Crispin Chavira of Ampitheater High School
Billie Ciotti of Castle Dome Middle School
Valeria Cooper of Nogales High School
Caitlynn Cowan of Centennial Middle School
Jaime Crocker of Kofa High School
Banpreet Dhaliwal of Raul Castro Middle School
Diego Figueroa of Apollo Middle School
Arelina Flores of Teenage Parent Program (TUSD)
Luis Garcia of Amphi Middle School
Geraldine Guillen of Howenstine High Magnet School
Michael Guyer of Cholla Magnet High School
Vivian Latvala of Calabasas Middle School
Evelyn Mendez of Ajo Elementary School
Holly Milnerof Little Red School
Maileth Ortega of Coatimundi Middle School
Aaron Padilla of Challenger Middle School
Austen Pearce Desert of Wind Middle School
Drazen Pena of Sacaton Middle School
Valeria Peña-Quijada of Tucson High Magnet School
Sheng Qin of Parker High School
Ryann Quick of Rio Rico High School
Ernesto Quintana of Altar Valley Middle School
Arlinne Rodriguez of Wade W. Carpenter Middle School,
Sonora Rogers of Ajo High School
Juan Salcido of Antelope Union High School
Gabriela Serrano of Desert View High School
Dayanara Sixkiller of Baboquivari Middle School
Mathias Valenzuela Baboquivari of High School.
“I was truly impressed by each of these studentsand the way they represent the best of public service,” Grijalva said. “Their dedication to their peers and communityset an example to be followed.”
The students were recommended by the counselors, principals, and administration of their respectiveschool district.