Mountain View High’s Pratik Shah and Westwood High’s Andrea Luna, Evelyn Nonthe Sanchez and Jessica Slate have been awarded Student Community Service Awards and $1,500 scholarships from the Mesa Citizen of the Year Association.
To be eligible, students must complete at least 150 service hours during high school and demonstrate a commitment to lifelong community service.
Pratik Shah plans to attend Columbia University where he will major in social studies before applying to law school. He will also expand his linguistic skills, continuing his studies in Russian and Spanish languages. Pratik is president of the National Honor Society, along with a member of the student council and the Mayor’s Youth Committee.
“Through my experiences as a leader in a lot of school clubs, as well as a direct voice in my community’s council, I developed a problem-solving mindset unlike before,” Pratik says. “I discovered myself as more of a people’s person and realized my civic duty in helping students and adults gain access to their potential.”
Andrea Luna will attend Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, where she will major in elementary education and minor in Spanish. After that, she hopes to return to Mesa Public Schools to teach and continue her education earning a master’s degree. Andrea is involved in activities such as Interpreters Club, Link Crew, National Honor Society, and Little Warriors.
“As a result of volunteering, I discovered my passion and what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Andrea says. “Interacting with children during summer camp, being a part of Little Warriors and translating during parent-teacher conferences have allowed me to envision myself as an elementary teacher.”
Evelyn Nonthe Sanchez plans to attend Mesa Community College to study psychology. She hopes to become a psychologist and help teenagers overcome mental health issues.
“I’ve learned that I can share light to others’ lives through service because we never know what others may be going through,” Evelyn says. “When serving my community, I have seen the struggles within my Latino community. You have to serve with your heart, and when you do, there is good that comes back and makes you a stronger individual.”
Jessica Slate will attend the University of Arizona Honors College, where she will study biochemistry before applying to medical school to become a pediatrician. Jessica is involved in National Honors Society, IB Mentors and Little Warriors. She also volunteers with Camp Civitan, a summer for people with disabilities.
“My work with Camp Civitan and the disability community is something that is close to my heart,” Jessica says. “In the future, I am hoping to use my surgical skills to do charity surgeries to help those who need it but can’t afford it.”