CAST Tech
Graduation Speaker
Jazmin Perez

Jazmin be attending Northwest Vista College to start a degree in Criminal Justice.

How have SAISD schools shaped you into the person you are today?

When I first started my education, I was considered to be shy and didn’t interact well with my peers. Over the years in middle school and high school, SAISD schools have helped me find my voice and develop my personality. I have learned to face challenges head on and take advantage of the opportunities around me. I pushed myself with the support of my peers and teachers to pursue opportunities like internships, leadership roles in my job, and even giving this speech at graduation.

As a leader of the class of 2023, what is your hope for the Class of 2023 as they move on to the next chapter of their lives?

My hope for the class of 2023 is that no matter what pathway you pursue, we can always look back to our high school experience and remember we have come this far together and we can achieve so much.

CAST Tech
Graduation Speaker
Alyssa Martinez

Alyssa will attend Trinity University where she will pursue a degree in education and political science.

How have SAISD schools shaped you into the person you are today?

Throughout my time in SAISD, I have been fortunate enough to have many inspirational teachers that have mentored me. In middle school, I had a social studies teacher who really inspired me to become involved in advocacy and started my love of supporting and working on behalf of my community.

My greatest challenge was my transition from middle school to high school as I wasn’t sure what I really wanted to do and I wasn’t sure of what my future self would be proud of. However, now I feel like the stars have aligned and I am able to pursue opportunities that my family, friends and I can be proud of in the fields of education and public policy.

As a leader of the class of 2023, what is your hope for the Class of 2023 as they move on to the next chapter of their lives?

What I dream and hope for is that all of my peers are able to pursue what they love with the support of those around them.

CAST Tech
Graduation Speaker
Michael Hetler

Michael will attend Trinity University to major in Mathematics.

What is the greatest challenge you have overcome during your education so far and how did you overcome it?

The greatest challenge I have overcome in education is learning that grades are not always reflective of understanding and intelligence. I overcame this challenge by taking rigorous courses that challenged me and taught me how to reflect on failure and adapt my studies to improve myself.

My math teacher Mr. King has been a mentor to me in the classroom and has helped me better understand how to apply my studies in the classroom and to better interact with and lead my peers.

As a leader of the class of 2023, what is your hope for the Class of 2023 as they move on to the next chapter of their lives?

I hope that each of my peers finds what makes them happy, a passion that drives them, and that they are able to pursue it.

CAST Tech
Graduation Speaker
Payton Karney

Payton plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to pursue a degree in Aerospace engineering and enroll in their Air Force Reserve Officer training program

What is the greatest challenge you have overcome during your education so far and how did you overcome it?

I would say that my greatest challenge was learning how to approach learning for understanding rather than just getting a high grade. I learned that if you understand a topic, good grades typically follow; but just because you have a good grade doesn’t mean you understand the topic. I learned this lesson through the guidance of my teachers and my enrollment in AP and Dual Credit classes.

Of all of the classes that I have participated in over the course of my education, none of them have made me struggle quite like Mr. King’s classes have. Mr. King has routinely pushed me past what I perceived were my limits, and in the process taught me how to intentionally learn and better myself.

As a leader of the class of 2023, what is your hope for the Class of 2023 as they move on to the next chapter of their lives?

My hope is that they go forward from high school ready to make a better world.

CAST Tech
Class of 2023

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

San Antonio Independent School District
Board Of Trustees

Christina Martinez............President
Alicia Sebastian............Vice President
Arthur V. Valdez............Secretary
Sarah Sorensen............Trustee
Leticia Ozuna............Trustee
Stephanie Torres............Trustee
Ed Garza............Trustee

Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Jaime Aquino

Deputy Superintendent - Office of Academics & School Leadership
Patricia Salzmann

Deputy Superintendent of Operations
Dr. Kenneth Thompson

Assistant Superintendent
Angelica Romero

CAST Tech Principal
Dr. Melissa Alcala

Center for Applied Sciences and Technology
Board of Trustees

Lisa Lewis, CPS Energy Chief Administrative Officer - President
Dr. Shari Albright, Charles Butt Foundation President - Member
Rene Dominguez, Texas Research & Technology Foundation COO. - Member
Katie Chain, H-E-B Education & Workforce Manager - Member
Erik Nieves, Plus One Robotics - Member
Dr. Lyssa Ochoa, Founder and Surgeon The SAVE Clinic - Member

Executive Director of CAST Schools
Jeanne Russell

Program Design & Development Director
Carol Mendenhall

Marketing & Communications Director
Eddie Rodriguez

Community & Educator Engagement Manager
Jennifer Maestas

CAST Tech High School Administration

Principal
Dr. Melissa Alcala

CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION

REGALIA AND HONORS

CAST Pins
Awarded for Exemplary Character, Attitude, Service, and Trailblazing

Gold Double Cord
Summa Cum Laude Graduate (cumulative GPA of 100 or greater)

Silver Double Cord
Magna Cum Laude Graduate (cumulative GPA of 95-99)

White Double Cord
Cum Laude Graduate (cumulative GPA of 90-94)

Multicolor Cord
Student Voice to District or Network

Orange Single Cord
Successful Completion of College, Career, and Military Readiness Indicator

Honor Stole
Successful Completion of Pathway Courses, Senior Activities

Pendant Stole
Member in Good Standing of the National Honor Society

Carmelina Alcala
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship

Noah Alderete
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Jia Li Anaya
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Justin Armendariz
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship

Alex Bazan
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• Texas State University Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at Austin Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Adrian Briseno
• Schreiner University Institutional Scholarship

Katherine Castaneda
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• University of North Texas Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship

Alexis Cervantes
• Texas State University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship

Romy Cisneros
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship

Johanssen Cruz
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Jaden DeLeon
• University of Texas at Arlington Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at Austin Institutional Scholarship
• Trinity University Institutional Scholarship

Jonathan Gamez Martinez
• St. Mary’s University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Scarlett Gill
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Patrick Gonzalez
• Austin College Institutional Scholarship

Adrian Gonzalez
• Texas State University Institutional Scholarship

Emily Hernandez
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Erasmo Hernandez Jr.
• St. Mary’s University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship

Rica Hernandez
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• St. Edward’s University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship
• San Antonio Area Retired Teachers Association (SAARTA) Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation

Michael Hetler
• Colorado State University - Fort Collins Institutional Scholarship
• Trinity University Towers Scholar

Matthias Ikeda
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Payton Karney
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Institutional Scholarship

Luisa Lopez
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• St. Mary’s University Institutional Scholarship
• Stephen F. Austin State University Institutional Scholarship
• Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Institutional Scholarship
• Texas State University Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at Dallas Institutional Scholarship
• University of Houston Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship
• SAISD Foundation Scholarship

William Luna
• Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Institutional Scholarship

Ashley Maldonado
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Alyssa Martinez
• Texas State University Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at Arlington Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at Austin Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship
• Trinity University Institutional Scholarship
• San Antonio Area Retired Teachers Association (SAARTA) Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation

Keith McClinchie
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Andrea Mendoza
• St. Edward’s University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Julian Perez
• Hofstra University Institutional Scholarship
• Michigan Technologyical University Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at Austin Institutional Scholarship
• Trinity University Institutional Scholarship

Jazmin Perez Rodriguez
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Marcelo Ramirez-Salas
• St. Mary’s University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Yalen Rodriguez
• Angelo State University Institutional Scholarship
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• Schreiner University Institutional Scholarship
• St. Mary’s University Institutional Scholarship
• Texas State University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Joseph Rubi Melendez
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship

Katelyn Ruiz
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Robert Salinas
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship

Mandy Sanchez
• University of Texas at Arlington Institutional Scholarship

William Sanders
• Trinity University Institutional Scholarship
• Valero Bowl Scholarship

Jurissalyn Saucedo
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Jocelyn Tiscareno
• Our Lady of the Lake University Institutional Scholarship
• Texas Lutheran University Institutional Scholarship
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship
• University of Texas at San Antonio Institutional Scholarship

Estevan Trujillo
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Marcelo Vidaurri
• University of the Incarnate Word Institutional Scholarship

Stella Affognon
Melissa Alcala
Jacob Barber
Maria Cadena
Hector Camarillo
Sonia Carmona Garcia
Selena Casanova
Javier De Hoyos
Carly Dodd
Silvia Fernandez
Luis Flores
Elizabeth Fox
David Garcia
Kendra Garza
David Guadiano
Ashley Hauptman
Lisa Jones
Richard Juarez
Dayton King
John Kretlow

Ramon Martinez
Sandra McClure
Lauren McDonald
Jacob McMillen
Patricia Montalvo
Jonar Natividad
Melissa Quintanilla-Vasquez
Benedicto Ramos
Bettina Ramos
Susan Ramos
Mario Rodriguez
Yaritza Rodriguez
Claudia Sanchez
Olympia Torres
Analisa Vasquez
Lucilla Vasquez
Cristela Villareal
Jason Walley
Megan Whalon
Kierstin Wilkins