Monday, May 1, West Liberty High Schools seniors celebrated their next step in life after high school at “Decision Day.”
“Decision Day” is when the seniors path after they graduate. Students names were announced during four different break-out sessions: community colleges and trade schools, state university attendees, private and non-regent university attendees and students who were going into the workforce or the Armed Forces.
“I think it’s a good thing that they do here at the school because the senior class comes all together,” Fatima Martinez-Zavala said. “And get to see where we’re all going.”
Martinez-Zavala will be attending Kirkwood Community College next fall to study to become a Medical Assistant.
“I know they have a really good program with the Medical Assistant and I just always seen myself there,” she said.
Martinez-Zavala is a fluent Spanish speaker and would like to work in a clinic first or doctors office like her aunt, Larissa Zavala.
West Liberty High School Counselor Andrea Shultice said what students do after high school is one of those big life decisions.
“And it can cause quite the distress,” Shultice said.
Students have people who have helped them along the way become who they are including their parents, teachers, administrators and community members, she added.
“This is also a gentle reminder that we’re all constantly in a state of becoming,” Shultice said. “Meaning at some point, it’s OK if you decide to change your mind.”
A sign of maturity is recognizing something isn’t a good fit in your life and making the decision to change course.
“Some of you have always known what you want to do after high school,” Shultice said. “And some of you decided in just the last week.”
They have witnessed the hard work the students have done and are proud of them, she added.
Students were called up to the state in the auditorium during the presentation. Each one received a certificate that they signed and applause from the audience. If they were attending a college or university most of them received a T-shirt of another memento from the schools.
Here is the full list of students announced on Decision Day.
Sydney Rivera – Capri College
Elena Grandstaff – Clinton Community College
Madison Pace Wurr – will work at Simpson Memorial Home in assisted living
Kylie Struck – Iowa Central Community College
Francisco Villegas – Iowa Central Community College
Kelsey Joens – Iowa State University
Mason Benedict – Iowa State University
Karla Velasco – Iowa State University
Bea Goldberry – Iowa State University
Sadie Peters – Iowa State University
Chris Palma – Iowa State University
Isabel Ramirez – Kirwood Community College
Johan Cervantes – Kirkwood Community College
Rylee Goodale – Kirkwood Community College
Marcos Rodriguez – Kirkwood Community College
Sergio Breceda – Kirkwood Community College
Sheyla Madrigal – Kirkwood Community College
Chloe Duesenberry – Kirkwood Community College
Lazaro Aleman – Kirkwood Community College
Vayda Bryant – Kirkwood Community College
Fatima Martinez-Zavala – Kirkwood Community College
Lily Ceron – Kirkwood Community College
Jace Bornsen – Kirkwood Community College
Shane Elder – Kirkwood Community College
Ivan Areguin – Kirkwood Community College
Tye Jones – Kirkwod Community College
Kaitlyn Stultz – Kirkwood Community College
Jacky Juarez Calderon – Kirkwood Community College
Max Pho – Kirkwood Community College
Angela Lozano – Kirkwood Community College
Caylee Oaks – Kirkwood Community College
Colin Cassady – Kirkwood Community College
Ashley Gersten – Kirkwood Community College
Crystal Ledezma – Kirkwood Community College
Aniya Montelongo – Kirkwood Community College
Kaitlyn Stultz – Kirkwood Community College
Mason Young – Muscatine Community College
Ashley Barahona – Muscatine Community College
Sarah Despeghal – Marine Corp
John Quiones Centeno – National Guard
Marcus Feik – National Guard
Juan Bautista-Antonio – Simpson College
Finley Hall – Simpson College
Marina De La Cruz – Simpson College
Josh Zeman – St. Ambrose University
Taylor Eason – UNC Asheville
Tye Miller – University of Iowa
Brandy Lopez – University of Iowa
McKinzie Akers – University of Iowa
Itzel Castillo – University Of Iowa
Magaly Kivi – University of Northern Iowa
Juan Mateo – Wartburg College
Brooklyn Buysse – Wartburg College
Diego Hernadez – Wartburg College
Pedro Machado – West Liberty Foods
Morgan Hodge – William Penn University
Brian Sagastume – work
Kaiden Macias – Hawkeye Community College
Haidyn McHugh – Hawkeye Community College
Money Thammavongsa – Buena Vista University
Preston Daufeldt – DMACC
Ruben Meraz – Grandview University
Adriana Michel-Toribio – Coe College
Blaze Maas – Northeast Iowa Community College
Maite Gonzalez – Mt. Mercy College