During Mountain View High’s winter graduation last week, four students were honored with special awards. They were Sara Mendez, Jada Jones, Reynaldo Gonzalez Martinez and Brenda Rivera.
English teacher Mary Gray presented the Citizenship Award to Sara Mendez. “This award goes to the person who builds a positive school community,” said Gray. “Throughout her time at Mountain View, Sara has been a model of quiet determination. Ms. Reamer, her ESOL teacher, [told] the faculty last week that Sara went from ESOL level one to earning her high-school diploma in just four-and-a-half years, which is almost unheard of.”
Furthermore, said Gray, “Sara’s teachers will testify that she did it all without complaint when things got tough — without excuses and always with a positive, forward-thinking attitude. Sara’s work ethic, integrity and generous personality have made Mountain View a better place.”
Michele Rock, Business and Information Systems teacher, presented the Personal Achievement Award to Jada Jones. It’s given to students who’ve succeeded academically and personally, despite tremendous pressures and challenges. “Jada has overcome many obstacles in her life,” said Rock. “She’s someone who perseveres, and I’m proud and honored to give her this award today.”
“As Jada’s teacher and mentor for the past two years, I’ve watched her overcome challenging personal issues and adverse, learned behaviors to choosing a positive-growth mindset that has allowed her to become the young lady she is today,” continued Rock. “Inherently, Jada is a survivor; she refuses to give up on herself and the life she wants for herself.”
At Mountain View, said Rock, “Our motto is ‘Family, Love, Respect.’ Always respect yourself for having the courage and bravery to face and overcome your challenges; believe that you are loved and worth loving; and know that you will always be a part of my and the Mountain View family.”
Counselor Michael Todd then presented one of the two Faculty Awards to Reynaldo Gonzalez Martinez. “When students come to Mountain View for the first time, they usually come with a parent,” said Todd. “But at our first meeting, Reynaldo was by himself; he came here on his own.
“He told me he’d been out of school since sixth grade and had been working on a farm because his family couldn’t afford to pay for school in [his native] Guatemala. He came to the U.S. to help his family; his father was sick and needed treatment. So Reynaldo worked both day and night shifts in a restaurant to earn some money. He worked every day — and double shifts on weekends — but he never missed school, no matter how tired he was, because he wanted [an education] so badly.”
As a result, said Todd, “I learned to never doubt him. He completed 25 classes in only three-and-a-half years and earned a 3.63 GPA.” Martinez also won 12 academic awards at Mountain View, plus a scholarship. “He has a gentle, kind nature, with a natural inclination to help others,” added Todd. “And he’s a leader who was selected by his classmates and teachers to represent the school at [various events]. Reynaldo, you’re successful because of you, and we will always remember you.”
Also receiving a Faculty Award was Brenda Rivera. In presenting it, counselor Ellen Fay told the audience she could almost say, “Ditto,” to what Todd had said, but about Rivera. “When she first came here, she came from Reston on four buses and barely spoke English,” said Fay. “And when she started school, she had many obstacles.”
“Brenda was alone in a new country where she had to learn a new language to survive,” continued Fay. “She worked at a job, made her own meals and did her own laundry. Yet she was also a member of [FCPS] Superintendent [Karen] Garza’s roundtable and won a Dream-Catcher award from GMU.”
In addition, Rivera earned more than 20 honor roll certificates, many academic awards and four scholarships. And over the course of 22 classes, she maintained a 3.85 GPA.
Addressing Rivera directly, Fay said, “Your teachers said you were one of their hardest-working students. You are the epitome of the example of the American success story; and in receiving the Mountain View Faculty Award, you’ve received the pinnacle of our awards.”