Reilly Colon and Alex Jaquez-Peralta, two Esperanza Academy High School seniors, recently received a huge honor from College Board, a nonprofit that conducts academic research and connects students with universities. Reilly and Alex received the National Hispanic Recognition Award honoring supreme academic achievement. To be eligible, students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher; have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.
Colon and Jaquez-Peralta have each been enrolled in a total of 10 AP (Advanced Placement) classes during their time at Esperanza Academy. AP classes challenge students to excel and give them a launchpad into university level work. Since Reilly and Alex have passed each of their AP class tests, they are eligible to receive college credit, an incredible way to jumpstart their college careers.
Lori Walinsky, Esperanza Academy Director of Student Success, said “Reilly and Alex’s achievement is especially impressive, given that every student in the world who takes an AP test, takes the same rigorous exam. The fact that they have been able to be so successful with college-level work at this age is testament to how far they will go in their futures.”
College Board says, “These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges across the country and stand out during the admissions process.”
Jaquez-Peralta plans to pursue computer science in college. He has his sights set on Carnegie Mellon University or The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and he recently applied for the extremely selective Gates scholarship, where he was able to list his recently received award to enrich his application and show further proof of his academic excellence.
Colon is hoping to join the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and pursue a degree in the advanced field of nuclear engineering. He would love to work on submarines. He will also share recognition of his award on college applications.
“They are two very talented young men,” said Mr. Roberts, Esperanza Academy High School’s Engineering and Physics Teacher. He is the teacher overseeing both students’ AP independent studies. Colon is taking AP Computer Science Principles while Jaquez-Peralta is studying alongside for the AP Java class.
Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture, says “We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor and it helps them plan for their big future.”
To learn more about the award, check out College Board National Recognition Programs.
