Young Women's Leadership Academy
Class of 2023 Valedictorian 
Rubi Cervera

Ruby will attend University of Texas at Austin and study neuroscience.

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

I’ve been in SAISD schools since I started school. For elementary school I went to Beacon Hill Elementary and I was in the Spanish bilingual program. That really shaped me as a person because being able to learn both languages in elementary really established my foundation for middle school and high school especially because I was able to keep part of my culture. Having those classes really shaped me as a person, especially since I was around very like-minded peers since we all came from immigrant families.

I think that the most important part of SAISD for me is that a lot of us come from immigrant families, and it just makes me feel much more at home. I always want to make my family proud since I know that I have a lot of opportunities that they didn’t have.

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’m very grateful to be valedictorian. It did take a lot to be here. I’m very grateful for the opportunity, especially since I get to talk to my class and the parents. That was the number one thing that drove me here because I have so much to thank them for, for pushing me and the families as well for pushing their daughters. I just want to thank everyone for allowing all of my class to be here.

The women graduating here are the most resilient, strongest women I’ve ever met. There’s only 45 of us. I want everybody to continue to succeed with a positive mindset and good mental health. I hope everybody continues to reach their full potential while also remembering to take care of themselves.

Young Women's Leadership Academy
Class of 2023 Salutatorian
Emelia Castillo

Amelia will be attending a four-year university to study neuroscience..

Who has been most influential to you in your education this far and why?

Since being at YWLA,  I always want to seek new challenges and take on different things, I think that a certain downside of that is losing balance. Especially over the COVID year. I was like, "I have so much time! I can do more clubs." I started pushing myself more than I was able to handle. Trying to find that balance was difficult but I was able to find it, especially last year after joining theatre.

I found my new passion and creativity in theatre and I was very thankful for that. Mr. Estudillo created a great, warm environment that allowed me to find motivation during school, just having that place to go to after school every day. Overall, I’ve just had very supportive teachers here. I’ve had Ms. Grajeda for two years; I’ve had Mr. Chavez for my third year in math. He encouraged me to take calculus BC and AB so I’m currently in my second year of calculus. It’s just all of my teachers in general have passion for what they do and it inspires me and helps me want to do better for them. In addition to my family, they’ve just been very supportive throughout my entire experience here.

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?

A big part of my personal journey was finding what makes me happy because I feel like there were a lot of things that were embedded in my mind that I felt like that I had to do in order to achieve a certain definition of success. But we’re all different and we all have different pathways.  I hope that as they continue in the future, they stick to what makes them happy, no matter what their definition of success is, because it’s going to be different for everyone. I just hope that they find what is best for them.

Young Women's Leadership Academy
Class of 2023

Senior Class of 2023

Class Song
“Dancing Queen” by Abba

Class Motto
“Per Aspera Ad Astra”
“Through hardship to the stars”

YWLA Pledge
I challenge you to
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.
Watch your actions, they become your habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

Senior Class Officers
Zeina Hijazi - President
Bianca Moreno - Vice President
Isabella Villanueva - Secretary
Gesselle Sanchez de Lara - Treasurer
Liliana Tovar - Historian
Giselle Alcoser - Event and Fundraising Chair
Gabriella Martinez - Spirit Leader

Senior Class Sponsor
Reyna Rodgers
Steven Winters

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 - Innovation Schools
Angelica Romero

Young Women's Leadership Academy Head of Schools
Delia McLerran

Young Women's Leadership Academy Principal
Regina Arzamendi

Cords and Stoles Designations

Navy, Gold and White - Academic Decathlon
Royal Blue and Gold - English Honor Society
Pink and Light Blue - Girl Up
Double Blue and Gold - National Honor Society
Medals - Spanish Honor Society
Blue and Gold - Thespian Honor Society
Red, White and Navy - Cardinal Senator
Red, White and Blue - FIRST Robotics
Light Blue and Gold - Mu Alpha Theta
Purple, Yellow and Green - National Science Honor Society
Red and White - Student Council
Orange and Silver - UT Dual Credit
Single Pink Cord - Choir
Green - Gamma Sigma
Rainbow - National Art Honor Society
Blue and White - Robotics Honor Society
Dark Green and Silver - Transportation You
Purple - Young Poets Society

Graduation Candidates

Giselle Diana Alcoser
St Mary’s University
Washington University in St. Louis

Lizbeth Guadalupe Alvarez Herrera
Austin College
Schreiner University
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas A & M University-San Antonio
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
University of Houston
University of North Texas
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at San Antonio

Aerial Denise Arizola
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Our Lady of the Lake University
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas A & M University-San Antonio
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Kristina Teresa Barrera
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Loyola Marymount University
St Mary’s University
Texas State University
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Georgia
University of the Incarnate Word

Leslie Carrillo
Saint Edward’s University
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas State University
University of North Texas
University of Rochester
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at San Antonio

Emelia Marie Castillo
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Baylor University
Case Western Reserve University
Georgetown University
St Mary’s University
Texas Tech University
Trinity University
University of San Francisco
University of Texas at Dallas
University of the Incarnate Word

Rubi Regina Cervera
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Baylor University
Texas A & M University-College Station
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Dallas
University of the Incarnate Word

Rena Piril Estala
Central Michigan University
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
St Mary’s University
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of North Texas
University of the Incarnate Word
Western Michigan University
Wichita State University

Melissa Lou Faz
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas A & M University-San Antonio
Texas Tech University
University of the Incarnate Word

Lauren Amelia Fowlks
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Northwest Vista College
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas State University
University of Houston
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Caroline Maynard Garcia
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Abilene Christian University
Louisiana State University
Saint Edward’s University
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Denver
University of New Mexico
University of North Texas
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Sara Danielle Poll Garcia
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Pitzer College
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
Trinity University
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of Colorado-Denver
University of Denver
University of Oregon
University of San Francisco
University of Southern California
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Mia Alyxandria Girela
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Baylor University
Rice University
Smith College
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-College Station
Trinity University
University of Houston
University of Rochester
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Kennedy Elisse Gonzales
Austin Community College
Hofstra University
New Mexico State University
Saint Edward’s University
San Antonio College
St Mary’s University
St. John’s College
Texas Lutheran University
Texas State University
University of New Mexico
University of Oregon
University of the Incarnate Word
Willamette University

Elisa Yesenia Gonzalez
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Amherst College
Dartmouth College
Georgetown University
Princeton University
Saint Mary’s College
St Mary’s University
Trinity University
Tufts University
University of Notre Dame
University of Texas at San Antonio

Isabelle Maricela Guajardo
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas A & M University-San Antonio
Texas Tech University
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Arianna Jacqueline Guerra
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Iowa State University
Smith College
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-College Station
University of Texas at San Antonio
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Victoria Lea Gutierrez
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
SAISD Foundation Scholarship
Pennsylvania State University
Sam Houston State University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas Lutheran University
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
University of Connecticut
University of Houston
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Zeina Hijazi
Saint Edward’s University
San Antonio College
Southwestern University
St. Mary’s University
Texas State University
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Trinity University
University of Houston
University of the Incarnate Word

Paola Gabriela Jauregui-De La Rosa
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Boston University
DePaul University
Loyola University Chicago
Northland College
Providence College
St Mary’s University
Texas State University
Trinity University
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of Colorado-Denver
University of Denver
University of Houston
University of North Texas

Isabella Lucia Juarez
Angelo State University
Austin College
Midwestern State University
New York Institute of Technology
Saint Edward’s University
Schreiner University
Southwestern University
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
University of St. Thomas
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Audrey Raquel Lozano
Lehigh University
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
University of Houston
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
University of Texas at San Antonio

Jelicity Amethyst Luna
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Purdue University
Simmons University
Southwestern University
St Mary’s University
Texas State University
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of North Texas
University of Texas at San Antonio

Gabriella Lene Gomez Martinez
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Austin College
Northwest Vista College
Southern Methodist University
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas State University
Trinity University
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Julianne Marie Martinez
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Angelo State University
Houston Christian University
Lamar University
Lubbock Christian University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas A & M University-Kingsville
Texas A & M University-San Antonio
Texas Woman’s University
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Tyler
University of the Incarnate Word

Lillian Rose Martinez
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Angelo State University
Houston Christian University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas State University
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Tyler
University of the Incarnate Word

Adi Sismai Monreal
San Antonio College
University of North Texas
University of the Incarnate Word

Raquel Antonieta Quiroz Morales
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Prairie View A & M University
University of the Incarnate Word

Sarah Nicole Morales
Central Maine Community College
Hollins University
Loyola University Chicago
Our Lady of the Lake University
Sam Houston State University
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas A & M University-San Antonio
Texas State University
Texas Wesleyan University
University of Arizona
University of Houston-Downtown
University of North Texas
University of the Incarnate Word

Bianca Elyse Moreno
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Baylor University
Saint Edward’s University
Southern Methodist University
Tarleton State University
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas Christian University
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
Trinity University
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Keira Rodriguez
Angelo State University
Houston Christian University
Lamar University
Lubbock Christian University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas State University
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of Texas at Tyler
University of the Incarnate Word

Magdalena Rodriguez
Hofstra University
Loyola University New Orleans
Northern Arizona University
Our Lady of the Lake University
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-San Antonio
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word
University of Tulsa
Washington State University

Rwan Mohammad Saleh
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Francis G. Greiner, MD Memorial Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Pennsylvania State University
Sam Houston State University
Texas State University
University of Arizona
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of Houston
University of San Francisco
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Gesselle Mariebelle Sanchez De Lara
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Pennsylvania State University
Prairie View A & M University
Sam Houston State University
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
University of Arizona
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of Delaware
University of Houston
University of Pittsburgh
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Alyssa Nicole Sierra
Lamar University
Stephen F Austin State University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas State University
Texas Woman’s University
University of Arizona
University of Nebraska
University of North Texas
University of Pittsburgh
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Audrey Pearl Smith
Oregon State University
Southwestern University
Suffolk University
Texas State University
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Houston
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of the Incarnate Word
University of Washington

Abigail Rose Soto
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Arcadia University
George Mason University
Hofstra University
Loyola University Chicago
Northeast Lakeview College
Pennsylvania State University
Sam Houston State University
St Mary’s University
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Woman’s University
Trinity University
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of Colorado-Denver
University of Houston
University of North Texas
University of Pittsburgh
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Virginia University

J’Lauren Morgyn Thomas
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Fordham University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago
Marymount Manhattan College
Pace University-New York
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rochester Institute of Technology
Saint Edward’s University
San Antonio College
Smith College
Suffolk University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas State University
Texas Woman’s University
The New School
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of Colorado-Denver
University of Houston
University of North Texas
University of San Francisco
University of the Incarnate Word
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Willamette University
Wingate University

Jaclyn Nicole Torres
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Baylor University
Sam Houston State University
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
University of Arizona
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Houston
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Liliana Tovar
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Texas A & M University-College Station
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
University of Arizona
University of Houston
University of North Texas
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Ruth Abigail Valencia
Baylor University
St Mary’s University
Texas Tech University
University of California-Irvine
University of North Texas
University of Texas at Dallas
University of Texas at San Antonio
Maxwell Monique Vargas
Our Lady of the Lake University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas State University
Trinity University
University of New Mexico
University of North Texas
University of Texas at Austin
University of the Incarnate Word

Isabella Olivia Villanueva
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Emory University
Texas State University

Laylah Jade Votion
San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame Scholarship through the SAISD Foundation
Chapman University
Connecticut College
Moore College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
Schreiner University
Southwestern University
University of California-Irvine
University of California-Riverside
University of California-Santa Cruz
University of Colorado-Denver
University of Denver
University of North Texas
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word

Leo Aguilar
Sarah Aleman
Analisa Arguello
Regina Arzamendi
Edwin Barrios
Michelle Brown
Kimberly Carter
Ashley Cash
Jessica Cavazos
Omar Chavez
Hannah Contreras
Patricia Corpus
Christen Cozart
Mary Alice Cruz
Roselva De Hoyos
Jennifer Delmer
Begona De Ubieta
Jakob Estrada
Maximiliano Estudillo
Eloisa Favela
Guadalupe Fraga
Andrea Garcia

Abby Garza
Michelle Grajeda
Angelick Guerra
Sienna Guerra
Ted Guerra
Ashlee Guerra-Garza
Sylvia Guzman
Karen Harris
Lesley Hernandez
Norma Honesto
Arcelia Jaramillo
Tiffany Jones
Ignacia Kilgore
Ramiro Lopez
Tracee Lopez
Victoria Luna
Kristyna Martinez
Rosario Martinez
Sharriah Martinez
Sarina Miller
Delia Montelongo
Sarah Moran

Eboni Murrell
Krystal Naranjo
Enrique Nunez
Laurentina Perez
Claudia Pilar
Susanna Pineda
Marcia Plested
Caitlin Prichett
Reyna Rodgers
Gloria Rodriguez
Lina Serna
Delma Soto
Adrean Springer
Jessica Torres
Joy Tuxhorn
Oscar Vega
Rosanne Volpert
James Warner
Wendye Watson
Hannah Wiersberg
Crystal Williams
Steven Winters

Christy Banazek
Betty Burks
Graciela Cigarroa
Cassidy Daniels
Jimmie Ruth Evans
Berta Fogerson

Jackie Gorman
Amy Grubbs
Jessica Guerra
Lori Houston
Lynn McBee
Delia Montelongo

Cathy Obriotti Green
Sonia Rodriguez
Margarita Seaman
Suzanne Wade
Katie Wadsworth
Joyce Watson