St. Philip's Early College High School
Class of 2023 Valedictorian
Diego Carlos Reyes Citalan

Diego will attend the University of Texas at San Antonio and study mechanical engineering

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

“The greatest challenge I have successfully overcome during my education is entering a dual credit high school without knowing how to speak, read, or write fluently in English. I would spend about four to five hours every day reviewing the material, readings, and assignments, translating them into Spanish to understand and back into English to turn in, which got me frequently exhausted and frustrated. Still, I couldn’t let my mental barriers determine my pathway; thus, I stayed consistent and never gave up on any course. I have proved to myself that there is no challenge bigger than the challenger where resilience and hard work are present. I also became fluently bilingual, and I am currently on track to graduating high school as Valedictorian and being the first person in my family to hold a US college degree.”

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?

“There is not a single, but multiple paths to success in life. Therefore, my hope for the Class of 2023 is for every one of my classmates to find their own path to success. I also hope my classmates find their passion and thrive in it every day until they achieve that goal that brings genuine and ever-lasting happiness/satisfaction to their lives. Lastly, I have plenty of trust that this generation can achieve great things and be the brightness the future will need to improve and positively impact this world.”

St. Philip's Early College High School
Class of 2023 Salutatorian
Torrynce Jade Armstrong

Torrynce will attend Texas A&M University and study mathematics.

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

“I first became part of the SAISD family my freshman year of high school. During these 4 years I have grown both academically and personally. SAISD has provided me with the support of my teacher and peers as well as opportunities to step out of my comfort zone. From personal experience, I can proudly say that SAISD cares about their students in and out of the classroom.”

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?

“As the Class of 2023 moves on from high school, I hope that they find and follow their passions.”

St. Philip's Early College High School
Class of 2023 Salutatorian
Alondra Tamar Gonzalez

Alondra will attend Texas A&M University San Antonio and major in Political science.

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 during my education would be taking college classes while still in high school; a great opportunity but still challenging. My parents always encouraged me and believed in my abilities to achieve greatness; because of them I never gave up.

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 they all achieve their goals, whether they be big or small. I hope they all move on to their next chapters feeling proud of what they have accomplished and move on to do even more.

St. Philip's Early College 
High School
Class of 2023

SENIOR CLASS OF 2023

Senior Class Colors
Blue and White

Class Flower
Hollyhock

Class Song
“Spins” by Mac Miller

Class Motto
“Life has no remote....get up and change it yourself.”
- Mark A. Cooper

Senior Class Officers

Elaina Kay Williams - President
Ruben Armenta - Vice President
Emily Elizabeth Palmer - Secretary
Jennifer Miguel Orellana - Treasurer

Senior Class Sponsor
Ana Maria Juarez

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

Chief of Strategy
John Norman

Assistant Superintendent - Office of Innovation
Angelica Romero

Director of District Charter Partnerships for Alamo Collegiate Network
Sara Mann

St. Philip’s College President
Dr. Adena Williams Loston

St. Philip's Early College High School Principal
Ashlyn Barrientes

GRADUATION CANDIDATES

Layla Galdina Acosta
Roy Andrew Arcos @
Ruben Armenta + ^ ! # ** @
Torrynce Jade Armstrong + ! ** @
Jesse James Auyon @
Klarissa Renae Basulto # @
Kevin De’Shawn Boston ** @
Jeremiah Nicholas Brown
Joe Benito Casias
Mauricio Cervantes Ocegueda + ** @
Tamiya Joy Dunn @
Scarlette Rain Fears @
Amiya Monae Flemings @ #
Nicole Karyn Gardner ! @
Alondra Tamar Gonzales ! # ** @
Lesly Idxel Gonzalez
Haydin Lamont Harris
Kairo Ali Henson ** @
Anastacia Pauline Herrera
Arriana Love Herrera
Josepth Armando Huerta @
Alexis Lopez + ** @ #
Mark Jeremy Lopez + ! # ** @
Salin Abigail Lopez Medina + ! @
Ava Danielle Malone # @
Sergio Guadalupe Martinez ** @
Jennifer Miguel Orellana ^ ** @
Noah Gabriel Monreal + ** @
Karen Montano + ! # @
Aaron Moreno ** @
Joshua Isaiah Moreno
Mycal Jai Munoz + ! # @
Christalina Ochoa-Green @
Audy Alexis Oviedo @
Emily Elizabeth Palmer + ^ ** @
Richard Lee Pferrman III # ** @
Mario Alberto Ponce Jr. ** @ #
Ana Posada @
Sarah Renee Ramirez
Briseyda Gishelle Ramos
Diego Carlos Reyes Citalan + ! # ** @
Montserrat Rivera Ochoa + @ #
Yasmine Cruz Rodriguez Cisneros
Cristina Ariel Rosas Govea + ! # **
Celeste Selena Ruiz # ** @
Irene Marie Salinas @
Jocelyn San Miguel @ #
Isarelie Sigala @ #
David Don-Anthony Sullivan @ #
Devin Ray Miles Wallace ** @
Jamari Learon Warner ** @
Elaina Kay Williams + ^ # ** @
Eliajah Blue Williams + ** @
Shantae Nell Gertrude Woods @

CORDS AND STOLES DESIGNATIONS

** Orange/Silver Cord - Graduated with Associate’s Degree and/or
Level 1 Certification from St. Philip’s College

@ Blue/White Cord - Dual Credit (Earned 15+ Hours)

! Honors Medal - Top 10 Graduate

# White Cord - Community Service 150+ Hours

+ White Stole - National Honor Society (NHS)

^ - Senior Class Officers

Torrynce Jade Armstrong
President’s Achievement Scholarship, Texas A&M University College Station
Regents’ Scholarship, Texas A&M University College Station
Maverick Academic Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington
Presidents Excellence Tuition Scholarship, Northern Arizona University
Gateway Scholarship, St. Mary’s University
Baumberger Scholarship

Jesse James Auyon
OLLU Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University

Klarissa Renae Basulto
UTSA Scholarship, University of Texas at San Antonio
OLLU Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University
Greater Foundation of Texas, Texas A&M University San Antonio

Kevin De’Shawn Boston
OLLU Achievement Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University
Trustee Scholarship, Coe College

Mauricio Cervantes Ocegueda
OLLU Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University
Greater Foundation of Texas, Texas A&M University San Antonio

Tamiya Joy Dunn
Dean’s Merit Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University
Gateway Scholarship, St. Mary’s University
Alondra Tamar Gonzales
Greater Texas Foundation Scholarship, Texas A&M University San Antonio
OLLU Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University

Mark Jeremy Lopez
OLLU Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University
Achiever Promise Scholar, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Alexis Lopez
OLLU Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University
Achievers Scholar, Texas A&M University San Antonio

Salin Abigail Lopez Medina
Texas State Merit Scholarship, Texas State University
Trustee Scholarship, Coe College

Ava Danielle Malone
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, Abilene Christian University
ACU Endowed Scholarship, Abilene Christian University
Tiger Paws Scholarship, Texas Southern University

Jocelyn San Miguel
OLLU Moye Heritage Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University

Karen Montano
President’s Achievement Scholarship, Texas A&M University College Station
Regents’ Scholarship, Texas A&M University College Station
Greater Texas Foundation Scholarship, Texas A&M University College Station
Distinguished Presidential Scholarship, University of Texas at San Antonio
Texas State Merit Scholarship, Texas State University
John C. Stevens Award for Academic Excellence, Abilene Christian University
Dean’s Scholarship, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Presidential Scholarship, University of the Incarnate Word
Presidential Merit Scholarship, Texas Tech University
Distinguished Scholarship, Angelo State University

Aaron Moreno
OLLU Dean’s Merit Scholarship

Emily Elizabeth Palmer
OLLU Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University

Diego Carlos Reyes Citalan
EnCap Flatrock Midstream Excellence in STEM Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
President’s Achievement Scholarship, Texas A&M University College Station
Regents’ Scholarship, Texas A&M University College Station
Rotary Club of San Antonio Scholarship
Greater Texas Foundation Scholarship, Texas A&M University College Station
SMU Second Centry Scholarship, Southern Methodist University
LMU Arrupe Scholarship, Loyola Marymount University
LMU Early Action Scholarship, Loyola Marymount University
Montserrat Rivera Ochoa
OLLU Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University

Cristina Ariel Rosas Govea
Gateway Scholarship, St. Mary’s University

Celeste Selena Ruiz
Honor Scholarship, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor

Elaina Kay Williams
Distinguished Scholarship, Angelo State University
Merit Presidential Award, McMurry University
Texas State Merit Scholarship, Texas State University
Presidential Excellence Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University
Gateway Scholarship, St. Mary’s University
Dean’s Achievement Scholarship, St. Edward’s University

Eliajah Blue Williams
Christian Service Scholarship, Dallas

Baptist University
Presidential Award Scholarship, Dallas Baptist University

Joel Alvarado
Science

Dora Carreón
FACE Specialist

Angelica Castillo
Counselor’s Clerk

Patience Evans-Kerley
English

Samuel Flores
Physical Education

Ana Maria Juarez
Spanish

Holly Kasper
Social Worker

Veronica Marines
English

Irene Mojica
Principal’s Secretary

Purificacion Montes
Nurse

Zuriel Morales Romero
Science

Myla O’Neal
Special Education

Antonio Panella
Social Studies

Jasmine Quiroz
Art

Nicole Reyes
Data Clerk/Registrar

Jennifer Salazar
Science

Patrick Ward
Social Studies

Jon Zimmerman
English