Eli Nathaniel Salmeron quickly zeroed in on being No. 1. Ashley Anais Yescas Rodriguez more so went with the flow. In each instance, discipline, diligence, dedication and a lot of smarts helped the two Early College High School seniors reach the top of their class.
Salmeron, who plans to attend UT-Arlington in the fall, in the Class of 2025 Valedictorian while Rodriguez, who is headed to Texas Tech University, is the Salutatorian, and each will address their classmates at the school’s commencement ceremony May 21 at Cadence Bank Center in Belton.
“Initially, my first semester of my freshman year, I was doing what I had done in middle school. I was just doing my normal study routine and getting all A's. When ranks were pulled, I found out that I was number two,” Salmeron recalled. “After that I was like, ‘You know what, I can push for one.’ At the end of that year, I was number one and I’ve held it ever since.”
In between, Salmeron, who lived in Europe and North Carolina before moving to Killeen in 2016, has kept plenty busy.
He took on a challenging workload, discovered his voice and blossomed as a student, and volunteered his time with the non-profit organization Net Impact as the Project Give manager, collecting food for the Central Texas Christian Eagles Nest food pantry for people who are food insecure can receive that food, all while maintaining a top-flight GPA.
“Initially, I was a very shy kid, but then a friend helped me step out of my shell,” Salmeron said. “I took a speech class, which we are required to take, but I really took it and ran with it.”
The finish line is now in sight, and Salmeron, no longer apprehensive, said that the traditional Valedictorian speech was one of the motivating factors in his quest.
After arriving in Killeen, Salmeron, who has an older brother and an older sister, attended Fowler Elementary School and Roy J. Smith Middle School before being accepted into Early College from where he’ll exit with not only his high school diploma, but also an associate degree from Central Texas College.
“I honestly thought it was a nice way to get a degree out of the way, you know, not spend as much money and still get the education that I wanted and be a step ahead,” he said of attending Early College, noting that balancing his school work with other activities was a learned process.
“It just came with time. It was something that I found out by myself.”
When at UT-Arlington, Salmeron will major in bio-medical engineering and hope to be accepted into a different grad school where he can devote his focus to a cause close to his heart.
“I want to do research to develop technology to help with Alzheimer’s Disease, because that disease really impacted my family,” he said.
As for high school, Salmeron is ready to bid farewell.
“It’s an interesting experience but worth it if you make the right connections, do the right things and apply yourself properly,” he said. “I’m definitely not going to take the relationships I’ve made here for granted.”
Coincidentally, Yescas Rodriguez also spent a portion of her young life in North Carolina, though she was much younger when she and her family moved to Killeen.
Yescas Rodriguez attended Nolanville Elementary School and Union Grove and Nolan middle schools before she sort-of mistakenly ended up at Early College –– a scenario that certainly fits her self-described personality.
“Honestly, I applied on accident,” Yescas Rodriguez said smiling. “I didn’t know I was applying to Early College High School but when I figured out what it was, what it could do and the money it could save me, I decided that it was the route I wanted to take. And, I’ve always liked challenging classes and courses, so it was a good fit for me.
“I’m not the type of person who sticks to a schedule or does things ahead of time or plans things out,” Yescas Rodriguez added. “I’m definitely like a last-minute type of person. So, to be the rank I am, I surprised myself and I am very proud of it.”
Part of Yescas Rodriguez’s success can be traced to her attention to details –– at least in a classroom setting. The other part is to her mom, whom Rodriguez says is her inspiration.
“I really look up to my mom. She didn’t get a high education and she’s always pushed me, never pressured me, to go as far as I can. I’ve always had her support, and she’s always reminded me that everything that I’m doing and going to do is worthwhile,” Yescas Rodriguez said. “Her passion for learning rubbed off on me and it’s what pushes me forward.”
Always moving forward was another key to Yescas Rodriguez’s path to Salutatorian and already obtaining an associate degree from CTC.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is, no matter what happens, the next day is always going to come. I can’t be focused on what I’ve messed up or the stress because I know the next day is going to come,” she said. “I shouldn’t let that stress and anxiety hold me back.”
Yescas Rodriguez, who is a member of the National Honor Society, plays the piano, the guitar and is learning to play the violin, will keep her foot on the educational gas pedal at Texas Tech, where she’ll major in business finance and hopes to join the school’s accelerated master’s program. Eventually, she’d like to help her dad with his construction business.
KISD valedictorian and salutatorian photo gallery:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720326167238
