2025-2026 WHS CTE Students of the Month

Waco High School

April 2025-2026 Senior CTE Student of the Month

JROTC Academy

JROTC Senior - Stephanie Vasquez-Ruiz 

During the past four years of high school, I have been an active member of the Waco High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program. I began as a Private and through my dedication and effort, I grew to become the Executive Officer, which is the second-highest leadership position in the battalion. In this role, I oversee all staff sections. I ensure communication runs smoothly and support the Battalion Commander.

Outside of JROTC, I have been involved in my school's soccer program. I played
defense on the Junior Varsity team for two years and now serve as a team manager. Transitioning from player to manager has allowed me to balance my extracurricular responsibilities. While managing these commitments, I have maintained a strong academic performance in my classes.

Building on the discipline and leadership I have developed through high school. I plan to serve in the United States Armed Forces after graduation. Although I was accepted into Tarleton State University, I have chosen to pursue active duty in the United States Army to continue to challenge myself and grow as a leader.

March 2025-2026 Senior CTE Student of the Month

GWAMA Welding Academy

GWAMA Welding Senior - Edwardo Guerrero

My name is Edwardo Guerrero, I am an 18-year-old high school student in my senior year and currently attending Waco High School and GWAMA. GWAMA has meant a lot to me in my high school journey and I really appreciate all my teachers and instructors that have taught me a lot of new things while attending GWAMA the past three years.

I first started at GWAMA with the goal to pursue welding. I wanted to learn how I could use that knowledge to enter the industry and start my life off with a good career. I was able to learn new skills and compete with others in competitions in my welding program while attending GWAMA which really helped me hone my skills and drove me to get better each day.

GWAMA is a great place to attend because of the many opportunities available, such as learning how to weld, construction, and even robotics. I personally like that GWAMA offers these different programs because it gives students different career paths to choose from. I also really enjoyed how I was able to take my math and science classes here because it made it so much easier for me to go to one class, such as math, and then go straight to my academy class where I would be able to go and weld.

What makes GWAMA unique is the connections they have to different companies in every field. Every year GWAMA hosts a job fair where students can talk to different companies that interest them and maybe try to pursue a career at one. They also host job interviews for junior and seniors, which give many of us opportunities to acquire a position at one of the companies and start working straight out of high school.

I am very thankful to be able to attend GWAMA because I see a future in the welding industry. I see myself out there making good money. With the skills that I have learned and the help of the instructors, I believe that I can make it in the industry and achieve what I have been working toward for the past five years. There are many things that I could say about how GWAMA influenced me to become the person I am today, but mostly, I am just thankful for this program and how welcome it made me feel.

GWAMA Drones Academy

GWAMA Drones Senior - Nathaniel Juarez

Growing up, I was a very curious and shy child. I always wanted to learn how everything works, but I was too shy to ask questions for fear I would get mocked for asking the wrong question. I continued the same behavioral pattern until I reached my first year of high school, when I was placed in pathways in technology early college high school(P-TECH). I was introduced to STEM with the assembly of remote-control RC vehicles and got to race them against other students. It steered my life goals from wanting to pursue law into wanting to pursue a career in engineering and manufacturing, believing that one day I will design and create my own personal project. My first year in P-TECH was fun and a good class, but I wanted to know more, do more, so I enrolled in the Greater Waco Manufacturing Academy (GWAMA) Robotics program.

In my first year of GWAMA, I enjoyed the robotics program so much that I got a couple of friends to convince the teacher to establish the GWAMA robotics team to compete in a series of competitions called VEX robotic competitions. In my first year alone at GWAMA, I understood how to cooperate as a team member, learned to network with others, learned how to be a good leader, learned how to program, and problem solve, and learned real safety on the job site, earning my OSHA 10 certificate. Although our team didn’t make it out of the state of Texas, I will be grateful to have worked as a team to successfully build and program a robot that was able to compete and win a couple of competitions. After the first year GWAMA made a switch in the curriculum from robotics to small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), which sparked my curiosity about the potential opportunities I could get from understanding how drones are built and work. Even though a shift in curriculum from what I wanted to learn at the time to what was being offered at GWAMA, I understand that in today's world, technology shifts and changes so rapidly that my interest in other areas of technology would have evolved to understand and unlock the next piece to creating and designing my own project. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, the fields of robotics and unmanned systems are transforming industries from agriculture to emergency response.

GWAMAs career and technical education program first started as robotics, which leaped forward to a new branch of technology, small UAVs, offering me hands-on experience in exciting, high-demand careers. I am grateful to have learned the fundamentals of coding, sensor integration, and mechanical design that have allowed me and a team to build functional robots. At GWAMA, I have explored the specialized realm of UAV, allowing me to learn the principles of flight, aerial cinematography, and autonomous navigation. Through project-based learning, I have developed critical problem-solving and teamwork abilities essential for the modern workforce. I am confident that by the end of my education at GWAMA, I will be able to establish myself as an essential member of the workforce and continue to use the steps laid out to chase my goal of being able to design and manufacture my own robot and drone.

February 2025-2026 Senior CTE Student of the Month

Education & Training Academy

Education and Training Senior - Jolie Barrientos

As a senior in high school, I tend to think a lot. Mainly about my future and what I need to do to get where I want to be in life. Growing up, I was always told “never rely on a man”. Witnessing the struggles of the women around me, who often spoke of missed opportunities or dependence, encouraged me to live a life I wouldn't regret. Growing up with that expectation was never easy. Even now, knowing I have nieces, nephews, and a little sister who looks up to me, it pushes me to seek every opportunity possible. Speaking of the young children in my life, I’ve always had a passion for nurturing children. This feeling started when I was in the 5th grade. The teacher I had at the time inspired me to want to learn more. He made me feel like I had potential and I wasn’t just a kid who didn’t know how to do math. This made me think that becoming a teacher wasn’t so bad. This idea stayed in my mind up until my 8th-grade year when the dean of P-Tech came to my middle school to recruit students into joining P-Tech. From that moment, I thought I was destined to become a teacher. I joined the program and experienced hands-on learning. I learned public speaking and learned how to plan ahead to become successful in my career. Up until my sophomore year of high school, I enjoyed the program, but there was always something missing. I never felt at peace with the decision to become a teacher. Eventually, I realized I loved the idea of understanding the mindset of others. I wanted to be able to know a person based on their emotions, behavior, and mental process. I was good at communicating and helping people understand their emotions, while also enjoying the company of kids. I put two and two together, did some research, and found out that being a child psychologist is what I want and have always desired.

The more I think about it, the more excited I feel to learn about psychology. Having the opportunity to help children who think so much and don't understand their feelings is one of my main goals in life. Thirty years from now, I hope to become successful by earning my bachelor’s degree, master's degree, and doctoral degree in psychology, along with a barber license as a backup career. My dad owns 2 barber shops and a barber school, and I hope to be able to help him expand his business when I have the opportunity. I’d like to serve four years in the Air Force, a decision I made when I realized I wanted to avoid paying off my student loan. Losing my grandma recently inspired me to take over her Herbalife shop, keeping her hard work alive. Therefore, I'm dedicated to being an entrepreneur while having many more goals in life. Although I have high hopes and expectations for myself, I still plan on enjoying life. I see myself living somewhere that has plenty of land, along with a husband, kids, and animals. I wish for my children to have even greater opportunities in life than I either didn't take or didn't have the opportunity to experience. Being successful to me is going through with my wants in order to provide for my needs. I believe anyone can get what needs to be done for their future if they put their mind to it. It may not be easy, but it's always worth a try. Of course, I wouldn't be accomplishing this all by myself. I have my parents' support and partnership whenever it's needed. The academy I'm in has helped me understand how to handle a child's mood swings and what to do in situations that I’d normally freeze up in. Thanks to this academy, I can go into psychology with hands-on experience and a part of understanding children. I won’t be clueless about everything I learn in college. For that, I'm grateful I went down the pathway I chose because, although it's not a psychology class, I had the opportunity to experience my first dream of being a teacher. Learning from my experiences has never been a regret of mine.

Future Educators (PTECH) Academy

Future Educator PTECH Senior - Ana Enrriquez

Throughout my four years in high school, I have benefited greatly from being part of P-TECH, also known as the Future Educators Academy. This program has been instrumental in my academic and personal growth. It has provided me with countless opportunities, including competing at TAFE, earning an associate’s degree in education, and gaining experience in elementary school classrooms. Because of P-TECH, I have the ability to become a paraprofessional after graduating high school while continuing to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in education. Additionally, I remain motivated and determined thanks to the encouraging teachers at P-TECH who push me to excel. Even when facing challenges, my teachers kept me driven and actively contributed to helping me. Our educators demonstrate and model what successful and effective teachers are. I firmly believe that I would not have taken advantage of these opportunities if it weren’t for the strong academic expectations set by the program. This program has greatly impacted and benefited me in acquiring new skills, getting exposure to new experiences, and uplifting my academic achievements.

I love everything about P-TECH, from the academic advantages to the loving “family”. P-TECH fosters a sense of community with supportive students and teachers. What I love about this program is that everyone knows each other. It’s like a big family. Everyone with diverse backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and education, all gathered in one program. Through our connections and teamwork, we uplift and guide each other towards success. Although every student works hard to maintain a proficient academic status, we create fun activities to unwind. I love getting to learn more about education, while also being able to have fun with the people I love. Each year, the program becomes stronger and more united. I believe this has become one of Waco ISD's best programs. My love and dedication for P-TECH has grown throughout the years. If I could return to Waco ISD as an educator, I would become a teacher at P-TECH. I recommend this program to every high school student due to its many advantages and beautiful experience. P-TECH is beneficial to all, even those who have no interest in becoming an educator. This program has inspired me to continue striving to become an educator and follow the same pathway. It is an honor to be able to represent P-TECH, and I am proud to be a part of this amazing program. I will forever value the meaningful experiences and positive memories I made during my time at P-TECH.

January 2025-2026 Senior CTE Student of the Month

Law Academy

Law Senior - Jonathan Leija Marin

Growing up, I had several interests, as any kid would. For the longest I wanted to be a firefighter or a monster truck driver. Of course, these were dreams of a child, careers forged in adventure and thrill. Yet as I grew older, I soon developed a passion for justice. Sure, the paperwork of a law firm or the organized nature of a courtroom may not be as thrilling as driving a 20-foot truck through a ring of fire, but the concept of being able to uphold justice spoke to me as pungi does to a cobra. Knowing that I had the opportunity to do right in this world mattered way more to me than a cheap thrill. It is for that reason that I chose to be part of the Academy of Criminal Justice, and throughout my time in this academy, I have learned about the justice system, valuable life lessons, and the importance of law enforcement.

Before I even took a step on campus, I remember talking to my counselor about my future and my passion for criminal justice. It was then that she recommended me to be part of the Academy of Criminal Justice, and the rest was history. Since starting, I have continued to foster my love for criminal justice. This is primarily due to Mr. Lewis and Mr. Baker, two phenomenal teachers who have gone above and beyond with my education. They have hammered into me my constitutional rights and the role they play within the criminal justice system. I have learned the role that the police play within our community. Hearing personal testimonies from Mr. Baker during his law enforcement days has taught me to truly value the challenges they endure to uphold justice.

More than the academic lessons I have learned throughout my time in the academy, I have also acquired valuable life skills. One of which is the ability to state my opinions before an entire classroom. I have also become more skilled at communicating with my teachers. I often find myself emailing Mr. Baker and working with fellow classmates during group projects. Responsibility is another important life skill that I have obtained through the academy. Whether it be deadlines for assignments or filing paperwork. I have come a long way from the young teenager that I was when I first started.

Ultimately, I can accredit the Academy of Criminal Justice for fostering my devotion to the law. Through the constant support of Mr. Baker and Mr. Lewis, I realized my true purpose in life, and that is to be part of our justice system. My ultimate goal in life is to become a politician and create laws that help others as well as affect the justice system in a positive manner. This pathway that I have chosen for myself stems from the Academy of Criminal Justice and will hopefully continue once I enroll in the University of Texas at Austin as I pursue a degree in Government. Following that, I plan on entering law school and becoming an immigration lawyer before setting my eyes on a career in politics. Having learned so much from the academy, such as the ins and outs of the justice system, valuable life lessons, and what my goals in life are, has been an immense amount of help for my future. For that reason, I am forever grateful for being part of the Academy of Criminal Justice.

GWAMA Construction Academy

GWAMA Construction Senior - Ceciyaa Adouffei

I’ve been brimming with curiosity since I was a child, always enamored with the world around me and the human mind’s capacity for creativity. Naturally, I’ve always drifted towards the sciences, when I was younger, and as I got older, that shifted towards things like computer engineering. When I entered my freshman year of high school, I had registered for engineering, so you can imagine my surprise when I was dropped into construction technology. I’d tried desperately to fix the mistake, but once the initial disdain started to disappear, my curiosity began to seep in, and I couldn’t do much to fight it. With every lesson, my eyes opened a bit more to the creativity and diversity embedded in construction. However, my change in spirit was really cemented when the CTE program brought me to an after-school program that introduced me to the world of architecture. This newfound passion made my heart soar, and I’d never been so certain about a career path until then. Because of the CTE program, I was able to go in every day and be reeled in by the smell of sawdust and the intricate details of a building standing proud on a page. It felt like I’d found a piece of myself I didn’t know was missing but had so desperately needed.

When I had moved from my home and been registered to a random school three hours away, I didn’t know how I’d function without the familiarity I received from the halls of my old school. But when I arrived at Waco High and realized that they, too, had a construction program to drop me into, I knew there would be something for me to grasp onto. And this fact proved true every time I was able to walk into GWAMA and learn something new about the creativity and human ingenuity that held up our society. Without Waco High’s CTE program, I’d have drowned when I entered my new and overwhelming environment. I’d felt so lonely and lost when I moved, but GWAMA not only taught me how to work with my hands and understand the principles of construction, but also how to build connections with the people around me. I have no doubt that my interactions at GWAMA will guide me through future instances of uncertainty as I start my journey into the real world.

December 2025-2026 Senior CTE Student of the Month

Business Marketing Academy

Business Marketing Senior - Lucius Luna

Choosing business as my path was a pretty simple decision for me, and that is because of an old story that involves my grandparents and my parents. In McGregor, there is a little restaurant called Papi Taco, and that same building used to be where my dad’s parents had their restaurant. My parents told me about it ever since I was little; how my dad would be in the back cutting up vegetables with his siblings, and my mom would be a waitress.

The place used to be called Luna’s Burritos, and they would explain how people all over McGregor loved that small restaurant. My grandparents’ old story seemed so fascinating to me, with the idea of being able to open and run a business with the people you love. From then on, I’ve always had an interest in business, how the entire process works to run one, and especially how to be successful in one. I like how you have many options when it comes to creating a business, such as having the choice of being the boss or having a team, what products you’ll sell, and how you’ll promote or advertise your product. There are so many aspects to a business that can be successful if you simply have the passion and discipline to make it successful, not if you follow the rule book step by step. Just like how Simon Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.” This quote connects with me and can be enlightening to others when it comes to starting a business and making it a successful one.  

The business pathway will, without a doubt, be helpful to me in the future of my life. I have retained knowledge of what kind of businesses there are and how to tell what kind of people come with each business. Even as I may end up pursuing a different career, such as medical, I can still use this knowledge for the benefit of others and my own. I believe helping others goes a long way, and a business can be made out of that kind of service, so I always have the opportunity to start something new and try to have an impact because of it. As my ultimate goal in my career life is to be able to help others with the services and skills I have gained throughout the years I’ve lived.

November 2025-2026 Senior CTE Student of the Month

Arts, Audio/Video Technology, & Communications Academy

Arts, Audio/Video Technology, & Communications Senior - August Zimmerman

Through AV, I explored many real-world applications of my knowledge. In Sports Media, I started off as a camera operator but was then promoted to technical director. In this role, I learned technical skills such as setting up equipment, editing footage, and making promos for both AV and Sports Media. Additionally, I have exercised my creative talents by working on multiple short films. Last year, I co-wrote, directed, and edited a short film with my film partner, Marcoantonio Gayton. We combined technical ability with creative passion, blending our skills to create a film we could be proud of. 

My skill, knowledge, and ambition for storytelling have been amplified during my time in Video Production. I joined AV late in my sophomore year, but my education was fast-tracked to match the passion I held for storytelling. I always knew I wanted to be a screenwriter, but AV exposed me to the larger world of film. This pathway has cemented my love for filmmaking and screenwriting, reaffirming my lifelong aspiration of being a screenwriter. The technical proficiency and artistic craftsmanship I have learned have prepared me for film school and reinforced my interest in the film industry.

October 2025-2026 Senior CTE Student of the Month

GWAHCA Health Science Academy

GWAHCA Health Science Senior - Maria Carrillo Martinez

I never thought that these 4 years in high school would change my way of being and feeling towards others, especially by being in the Greater Waco Advanced Health Care Academy (GWAHCA) program, which has definitely helped me pursue my dreams and aspirations in the healthcare field. In this program, I’ve been able to connect with many people, and I recently got my CNA certification, which I’m glad about because it took me more than just time and dedication to get certified. This wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t have the help and support from all my current and past teachers from both Waco High School and GWAHCA, who all showed dedication to all of their students by teaching us how to be compassionate and understanding with every patient that needs our help. Those teachers know who they are and the immense impact they’ve made in my life, and I’m blessed to still have them here. My experience with patients in nursing homes has confirmed that the Health Science pathway is adequate for me. My goal this year is to get my CCMA certification and soon begin my career in college!

September 2025-2026 Senior CTE Student of the Month

Automotive

Automotive Senior - Kelvin Gilmore

Hello, my name is Kelvin Gilmore Jr., and I am thankful for the automotive program because it has taught me valuable lessons in life and cars. After high school, I want to be a full-time minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This means that I would receive the privilege to preach and teach people about the bible all around the world; however, my dream won’t come true unless I’m able to financially support myself because it’s all volunteer work. That’s where the automotive program has proved to be a blessing. Every day when I walk into class, I know that I’m going to learn something that’ll benefit me forever, like tearing apart and rebuilding an engine, changing tires, bleeding the brakes, changing the oil, working on alignments, and much more. Every day, my understanding of how cars work deepens thanks to the aid of the automotive teachers. Their guidance has enabled me to apply what I've learned in ways that have benefited me and my family. In addition, they’ve prepared me to take what I know to the professional level. This will allow me to find a job anywhere in the world. Without a doubt, this program will set you up for life.  

Even though I’m young, I’m already using what I’ve learned in my personal life. For instance, when my family gets a flat tire, needs their headlights changed, or needs their battery to be jumped, I’m able to perform these tasks without a problem. Although examples like the ones listed above seem small, having someone in the family who knows how to maintain a vehicle in such a way has saved us a lot of money.  

In conclusion, you will learn almost everything you need to know about cars. I’m glad I joined this program and hope to continue to take full advantage of this course throughout the year. In addition, I hope to further my knowledge at T.S.T.C. Waco to gain a broader understanding of how to work in the automotive industry.