Local : School Days

By Melanie Corona , Public Information Officer , Gilroy Unified School District

High , Christopher High , Mt . Madonna and Dr . TJ Owens Early College Academy ( GECA ), in virtual and in-person ceremonies . Here , we spotlight seven members of the Class of 2021 .

Alexis Bembry , Christopher High School

Alexis attended Luigi Aprea Elementary and Brownell Middle School before graduating from Christopher High School on June 4 , 2021 . She will attend UCLA as a Public Affairs major , and will pursue a Master ’ s Degree in public policy or attend law school . Ultimately , Alexis wants to pursue a career in urban planning , policy , governance , or law .

Alexis has been involved with student leadership throughout her time at CHS . As a senior , she served as ASB President , and ASB Head Commissioner of Elections and Clubs and Classes . Her extracurricular activities included volleyball , track and field team , and was the co-president and founder of the Red Cross Club , which hosts an annual school blood drive .

Benjamin Anderson , Gilroy High School

Ben attended Lighthouse Preschool , Glen View Elementary and Brownell Middle School , before graduating from Gilroy High School on June 3 , 2021 . He will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall as a history / prelaw major , and plans to attend law school following college graduation . His career goal is to practice law or be a high-ranking government official

During high school , Ben participated in three band programs : Concert , Marching , and Jazz . He was a member of the boys volleyball and water polo teams , and was the co-president of the school ’ s CSF Club , co-founder of the GHS Monkey Club , and completed the biomedical sciences program . He is an Eagle Scout and a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church .

Following graduation , Ben will travel to the Midwest with his family , hike at Zion National Park , and relax before leaving for college .

Sandra Villarreal , Dr . TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy ( GECA )

Sandra attended Las Animas Elementary and South Valley Middle School and was in the dual immersion program from kindergarten through eighth grade . She received her high school diploma and Associate ’ s Degree in May , 2021 . This summer , Sandra will work as a recreation leader for the City of Gilroy and visit Bogota , Columbia . Sandra will attend Cal Poly Pomona in the fall , to obtain a BA in chemistry through the American Chemical Society and a minor in biological anthropology , with the ultimate goal of completing a pharmacy degree .

Sandra ’ s career goal is to be a pharmacologist to understand the relationship between the human body and the substances that it may be exposed to . Her Senior Project ( a GECA graduation requirement ), focused on how the “ War on Drugs ” impacted people of color , and its direct effect on prolonged incarceration sentences . Following her research , she is dedicating her skills to decreasing addiction rates and helping those in recovery .

During her time at GECA , she successfully completed two full semesters of college calculus , served as a GUSD comunications intern , and started a MEChA Chapter along with five of her Latina classmates . Sandra ’ s greatest sources of inspiration are her parents and older siblings . She is the youngest child in a very hardworking , passionate family that has shown her that “ When life puts you in a situation to teach you a lesson , it is up to you to determine what your greatest takeaway will be .”

86 SUMMER 2021 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com