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Gonzalez, Valdez lead UHS class of 2023


 This year’s Uvalde High School seniors will graduate on May 26 at the Honey Bowl, led by the top ten students in their class. 

Graduating at the top of the Class of 2023 is valedictorian Ty Gonzalez, with a GPA of 107.714. He is the son of Gene and Terry Gonzalez of Uvalde. He will be attending Texas A&M University at College Station, with a major in construction science. His plan is to establish his own construction company in the future. 

 He already has a background in the business world. He has worked as a ranch real estate photographer and started a business raising and selling exotic animals. 

 Gonzalez has been a top player in the UHS tennis program throughout high school and plans to continue playing on intramural teams in college. He was a qualifier for regional play this season. He has spent part of his time in the tennis program stringing rackets for the team. 

 A member of the National Honor Society, he has also been active in the Business Professionals of America organization (BPA), this year qualifying for state competition in banking and finance.

Salutatorian for this year’s graduating class is Andrea Susana Valdez, with a GPA of 106.595. She is the daughter of David and Susan Valdez of Uvalde. Valdez has chosen the University of Texas at San Antonio to pursue a degree in engineering. She has received the Distinguished Presidential Scholarship at UTSA and has been invited to be a member of the UTSA honors college. 

Also a member of the National Honor Society, Valdez has been performing with the UHS marching band all four years in high school. For the last two years, she has been the trumpet section leader, including this year as the trumpet section doubled in size. She has also been a high-performing athlete, playing basketball for two years and competing in shot put and discus events all four years.

Valdez has been an integral member of the school’s robotics team and served as the College, Career and Military Readiness ambassador representing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math  program. She has also served as a volunteer for multiple track events for younger students and has worked as a community volunteer for trash pickup and Salvation Army Christmas bell ringing.

The following students are in order of their class rank. All are members of the high school’s chapter of the National Honor Society. 

Lyndon Emmanuel Canseco Diongzon is following a long family tradition of top ten UHS graduates. He is graduating with a GPA of 105.441 and is the son of Lyndon John and Charlotte Diongzon of Uvalde. He will be attending Southwest Texas Junior College to pursue a nursing program. He is graduating with a dual degree – an associate’s in general studies from the junior college, as well as his high school degree. In the Early College program, he has earned academic recognition, making the President and Dean’s List. 

Diongzon has been active in the HOSA Health Sciences organization, TRIO and academic University Interscholastic League. He has volunteered in the community at the food pantry, library and church events.

Reagan Dodson is graduating with a GPA of 104.975. She is the daughter of Patrick and Robin Dodson of Uvalde. She will be attending Texas A&M University in College Station, with a major in biology. Dodson has been an outstanding tennis athlete, playing at the varsity level all four years in high school and qualifying for regionals this year. She also participated on the varsity track team for one year. 

In school activities, Dodson has served all four years on the student council, including in an officer position, as secretary. She also participated in FFA, serving in that organization for two years as secretary.

Fifth-ranked Jack Brock is the son of Mike and Cathy Brock of Uvalde. He is graduating with a GPA of 104.818. He will attend Texas A&M University at College Station where he is enrolled in the Mays Business School for an accounting and finance major.

Brock also is a seasoned athlete in tennis and golf, reaching regional level in both of those sports. He has served on the student council and other school organizations, including FFA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and BPA. 

He was a state qualifier one year in the business organization. 

Payton Dodson will join her twin sister, Reagan, at Texas A&M University at College Station, but will pursue a major in business. She graduates high school with a GPA of 103.949. Her sport of choice has been golf, where she qualified for regional play. She has served the school as a member of the student council and school choir. Dodson has also been involved in FCA and BPA, where she qualified for state competition this year.

Ranked number seven, with a GPA of 103.848, Michelle Hernandez is the daughter of Martin and Lorena Hernandez of Uvalde. 

She will be heading to the University of Texas at Arlington for a major in architecture. She has received the Presidential Merit Scholarship, Texas Excellence Scholarship and Academic Scholarship. 

Hernandez has taken on multiple roles at the high school. She is a varsity cheerleader and has participated in cross country and track. An anchor on the Coyote Country News daily broadcast, Hernandez has taken part in academic UIL journalism competitions. She has received academic recognition for all-A honor roll, Academic All District for cross country and athletic achievement for cheerleading and track.

She has served the Uvalde community at the local food pantry, field days, community runs and church activities. 

Shaelyn Rae Velasquez is ranked at number eight, with a GPA of 102.939. She is the daughter of Joey and Joshlyn Velasquez of Uvalde. She will be attending Southwest Texas Junior College before heading to the University of Texas at Austin for a pre-medical program in biochemistry.

Velasquez has played an active leadership role in the school.

 A varsity cheerleader, she has served as vice president and president of the school’s chapter of National Honor Society. She has served on the student council as chaplin and parliamentarian and was named to the student leadership class where she has served for four years. She was chosen as cheer sweetheart for homecoming this year.

Velasquez is a member of the HOSA Health Sciences organization where she was assigned the role of social director. She has maintained high level academics, receiving recognition for A Honor Roll all four years, is EKG-certified, a level earned as part of her health sciences studies, and is a four-year veteran of the University of Texas GeoForce program. 

She was named “Best All-Around” in that program. During her sophomore year, she participated in an online Notre Dame study abroad program, earning two college credits for her participation in that program.

Velasquez has also dedicated time to her particular passion – helping others. She has tutored her peers in writing and science, and has tutored younger students in an effort to foster a love for learning. 

Elizabeth Amaya will be graduating with a GPA of 102.250.

She will also receive dual diplomas as a member of the high school’s Early College program. 

The daughter of Joe and Janet Amaya, she will be attending Texas A&M International University in Laredo, with a major in nursing. She has been named recipient of the TAMIU Achievement Scholarship.

Amaya has been a member of the varsity tennis team, where she qualified for regional competition this year. She is captain of the team, and was selected to represent the tennis team as their sweetheart at homecoming. She is also active in the HOSA organization. 

Valerie Ayala is graduating at number ten, with a GPA of 101.563. She is the daughter of Omar and Rosemary Ayala of Uvalde. Ayala, also a dual-degree graduate, will be attending Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, to pursue a degree in nursing. She has received the TAMUCC Achieve Scholar Scholarship.

Ayala was involved in the high school volleyball program and the HOSA organization. She has served the Uvalde community as a student volunteer at Uvalde Memorial Hospital.