2025-2026 UHS CTE Students of the Month
University High School
December 2025-2026 Senior Student of the Month
Business Finance Academy
Business Finance Senior - Keylee Deanda
The Business and Finance Academy has taught me valuable lessons that I will use in life. I have learned a lot through the tax program. I have learned how to accurately fill out and understand numerous forms I can use in real life. I have also enjoyed the hands-on experience of working at the bank on campus. This opportunity has shown and helped me learn what it's like to have a career in financial services. It has helped me develop skills like responsibility and communication. Because of all of this, I now have a great desire to pursue a degree in business. My goal is to go to college and eventually get an MBA. My business and education, along with soccer, have set me on a path to have a healthy mind + body and truly thrive in life. I am grateful for my teachers, Mr. Pierce and Mr. Hoefer, who have supported and encouraged me along the way. Overall, the Business and Finance Academy has helped me shape my goals, prepared me for the future, and helped me grow.
November 2025-2026 Senior Student of the Month
Arts, Audio/Video Technology, & Communications Academy
Arts, Audio/Video Technology, & Communications Senior - Rihanna Abor
This academy has helped me dive deeper into my love and passion for photography. The academy has opened many new doors for me along the way. For example, I have to connect with many different coaches and athletes in the athletic department. I was also able to travel with many sports to away and home events and was able to capture pictures for the yearbook as well as for coaches and athletes for personal use. I have also been able to grow my skills and have been able to take pictures outside of school for many different events, for example, weddings, birthdays, graduation, etc. This Academy has also helped me realize photography is what I want to do in college, as well as after college. If I were not in this Academy, I am unsure if I would have known what I would want to pursue in college. However, I now know someday I would like to either get hired on to a big business or create my own business in the photography/videography field.
My teacher, Mr. Thomas, has opened some of these doors for me along the way, as well as always supporting me and being there whenever I needed, and for that, I am extremely thankful. Therefore, I am unsure if I would be where I am if I were not part of this Academy. I have also been able to connect with other photographers in this Academy who share the same interests and goals as me. This has also helped a lot to not only have a teacher there for me, but also fellow students whom I can go to and ask questions as well. The last reason I am thankful for this Academy is that it has helped me build my portfolio early, since this is indeed what I would like to do as a future career. In conclusion, this Academy has opened many new doors for me, as well as being there when I needed to expose myself to new surroundings and friends. It has also made me put myself out there when it comes to connecting with new people in different parts of the athletic department and has helped build my clientele outside of school.
October 2025-2026 Senior Student of the Month
GWAHCA Health Science Academy
GWAHCA Health Science Senior - Dustin Cruz
The Greater Waco Advanced Health Care Academy (GWAHCA) program, the Health Science pathway, and my teachers that I’ve come in contact with have greatly positively impacted me. GWAHCA has been a significant stepping stone for my future success in the medical field, providing me with invaluable, irreplaceable, and unattainable experience. That real-world experience and exposure to the medical world is truly priceless. The health science pathway as a whole holds many great challenges and lessons to be learned. Through the classes leading up to GWAHCA and the supplemental classes there, the pathway as a whole has given me a premise for the healthcare industry that is extremely worthwhile. Regarding the teachers along the way, I had the pleasure of growing by their side, and they've left their mark on my life. Their selflessness and helpful attitudes have shown me what good role models they are, and have pushed me to try harder in my life. They help guide and make things easier along the stressful way. Overall, the GWAHCA program, the Health Science pathway, and my teachers are all amazing, and I am grateful for the time they have greatly positively impacted me.
September 2025-2026 Senior Student of the Month
Automotive
Automotive Senior - Gabriela Guerra Sanchez
What’s been a game-changer in my Automotive class at University High School? It has definitely been learning to ask for help when I need it, working as a team, and embracing respect and responsibility.
Being one of the only girls in the shop has its challenges, but it’s also been a huge learning experience. The guys in the shop are awesome, and when I’ve needed a hand—whether it’s changing a tire or torqueing it down—putting my ego aside and asking for help has always been the best way to get the job done. It’s a lesson that’s going to stick with me, thanks to Mr. Chavez: teamwork makes the dream work.
I’ve learned that asking questions isn’t a weakness—it’s how you grow. No one has all the answers, but by communicating and leaning on others who are willing to teach, the work becomes easier and more efficient. Something that’s been drilled into me over the last four years in this class is respect—for myself, for others, and for the tools and cars we work with. Not everyone will be respectful, but I’ve learned that as long as I stay responsible and do things the right way, I can get the job done.
Taking Automotive at University has sparked something in me—a love for fixing things, getting my hands dirty, and feeling the satisfaction of bringing something back to life. What’s most exciting? Being able to take what I’ve learned and apply it to my own car at home. There’s nothing like the feeling of not having to rely on someone else to do the work. The more I learn, the more confident I get in tackling car repairs on my own, all thanks to the awesome community around me.