On Tuesday, May 19, 2020, YES Prep virtually celebrated 2020 Senior Signing Day.
Unable to fill the NRG Stadium with the YES Prep community due to COVID-19, we hosted YES Prep’s “best day of the year” virtually, inviting seniors from our 13 campuses to submit a video declaring their post-graduation plans. This year, we were joined by Eisenhower and White Oak, introducing their first class of graduating seniors.
In addition to the seniors from each school declaring their college of choice, each campus also selected a senior to spotlight. Below we share their accomplishments and the impact they are already making at their respective campuses.
YES Prep West - Ehong Sun
Ehong exemplifies all Marvel values: wisdom, integrity, service, stamina, leadership, and love. As the class Salutatorian, he earned a 1550 on the SAT and enjoys spending his time tutoring other students. He is a QuestBridge finalist, AP Scholar, and Gates Scholarship Semi Finalists. Outside the classroom, he's been a leader in the campus community holding the roles of President and Vice-President of our National Honor Society, playing the violin in Orchestra, managing sports teams, among many other commitments.
Come Fall, Ehong will be attending Johns Hopkins University.
YES North Central - Mariana Chavez
Mariana is an academic juggernaut, a staunch self-advocate, and a student who accomplishes each task placed in front of her. Mariana was selected as a Quest Bridge Scholar and selected for Phi Beta Kappa. In addition to being an amazing student, Mariana is involved in the Women’s Empowerment Club and cross country. She does all this while working part-time and serving as a model for her younger brother at YES Prep North Central.
Duke University, get ready for Mariana!
YES Prep Gulfton - Nathaly Garcia
Teachers describe Nathaly as "the student that teachers chat about before they have the pleasure of teaching her, and her intelligence and compassion for others is exemplary." Nathaly is the class valedictorian, participated in National Security Language Initiative for Youth studying Korean in South Korea between her Sophomore and Junior Year, and was selected as a POSSE Scholar. Outside the classroom, Nathaly is a YES Prep Gulfton cheerleader, a member of the cross country team, and dances in Mixed Generations. Nathaly is taking an important step for her family as the first member of her family to attend a four-year university out of state.
Colby College in Maine, here comes Nathaly!
YES Prep Eisenhower - Jamya Lane
Jamya is a wonderful student, and she is in the top 5% of her class. During her time at Eisenhower, Jamya served as an athletic trainer, athletic videographer, dance team member, and participated in student council. Jamya has taken every single one of the AP courses offered at Eisenhower. She was accepted to 11 colleges and universities, receiving scholarship opportunities from every single one. Jamya is passionate about academics and dance. In addition to being a member of the dance team, Jamya was the choreographer for the annual Black History Month program all four years of high school.
Jamya is now headed to Prairie View A&M University!
YES Prep North Forest - Alfredo Bermudez-Rivera
Alfredo, Freddy, is the epitome of the EPIC values at North Forest, constantly persevering through anything thrown his way all with a smile on his face and a desire to help others. Freddy has spent his time as an active member of the North Forest community - both as an athlete then as a manager for soccer and volleyball. He works with the ACE program and spent last summer as a counselor and mentor for younger students. Freddy succeeds with what he commits to. In the months between Junior and Senior year, Freddy raised his SAT Score by 200 points! Freddy is the first in his family to graduate high school, and we know he will succeed with the same determination in college.
Alfredo is now off to Lamar University!
YES Brays Oaks - Jholibet Alvarado
Jholibet, or Jolly as she is known on campus, is consistently at the top of her class academically, has served as a varsity athlete, manager, and team captain for multiple sports during her time in high school, and is best known for bringing joy and laughter into the Class of 2020 and the entire Brays Oaks campus. Jholibet received over $62,000 in renewable scholarships and grants to college, totaling in at over $400,000. She will be joining another YES Prep Brays Oaks alum in Virginia for college, her brother. Jolly is contributing to a longstanding family legacy!
Jholibet is headed to the University of Virginia!
YES Prep Northside - Maylin Lainez
Maylin has a reputation on campus of academic excellence, kindness, and dedication. She has a genuine hunger for learning, she takes charge of her future and education. Maylin truly connects with others and leads by example as a Student Ambassador. She has also been part of the student council and a member of the basketball team. Maylin moved to the US from Honduras and has worked hard for her dream, and with her hard work will be the first in her family to go to college.
Rhodes College, get ready for Maylin!
YES Prep Fifth Ward - Victor Garcia-Mosqueda
Victor is an outstanding student leader - captain of the cross country team, student trip leader for the Titans Take on Peru summer trip, and member of Social Justice Club. Victor has received multiple full financial aid packages, including IMPACT partners and a no-loans full scholarship/grant to his college of choice. He aspires to major in Aerospace Engineering, and we know he will make a mark on that industry, and maybe end up back here in Houston at NASA.
Purdue University, here comes Victor!
YES Prep White Oak - Alvaro Jaimes
Alvaro is an amazing student leader and a face you have likely seen lighting up the stage at Senior Signing Day. Alvaro lives out what it means to be a founder as part of the inaugural class of White Oak. He was the founding captain of White Oak's dance team, and also serves as Vice President of the student council. He helped found the Pride Alliance Committee. We can’t wait to see how he leaves his mark in college.
Come Fall, Alvaro will be headed to St. John’s University!
YES Prep East End - Aldaid Rincon Zavala
Aldaid is an exceptional student who has defied the odds. Aldaid moved to the US from Mexico, without his parents, at the age of 12 with the goal of going to college and becoming a doctor. Aldaid learned English while excelling academically. Through hard work and persistence, he quickly rose to the top of his graduating class, despite the language barrier at the start of his high school career. He is now preparing to attend his first-choice college, as an IMPACT scholar.
Aldiad is now off to George Washington University!
YES Prep Northbrook High - Sara Reyes
Sara has not only thrived as a Northbrook Senior, but throughout her time at Northbrook. She has embraced learning in our current virtual learning reality. She has been active in AP courses scoring multiple perfect scores on exams, while balancing the debate and basketball teams, and volunteering with the Houston Food Bank. During the last couple of months, she has started doing extra assignments to prepare for her first semester at college. Her dedication to learning shows she is going to make an AMAZING college student.
Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, get ready for Sara!
YES Prep Southwest - Jesus Portales
Jesus is the definition of a humble leader. He has served the Southwest student population and overall community throughout high school, but especially this year as Student Body President. He is always on campus helping with the set-up of various events, playing on the varsity soccer team, and all while balancing a part-time job as an essential worker. He has been an advocate for his senior class and helped create new senior traditions and privileges that will leave a legacy for seniors to come. His leadership experiences and strong performance helped him earn a prestigious Quest Bridge Scholarship.
Jesus, is now off to Northwestern University in Illinois!
YES Prep Southeast - Fabian Luna
Fabian is very bright, a natural leader and extremely humble. Fabian has demonstrated a tremendous amount of perseverance and collaborative spirit as a member of the varsity soccer team throughout high school. Whether it’s the three days of soccer practice a week, his role as campus Ambassador Coordinator, his love for volunteering as Vice President of the National Honor Society, or his unwavering leadership through National Hispanic Institute, Fabian is someone whose uncompromising commitment permeates every activity in which he participates and models what it means to embody service in the community. He is also our Valedictorian with a 4.55 GPA and holds the campus record for the highest SAT score at 1550. He is a National Merit Scholarship and Greer Pagan Scholarship winner and has participated in many competitive summer programs.
Stanford, get ready for Fabian!
To view 2020 Senior Signing Day videos and special teacher message videos, click here.