This edition of George H.W. Bush New Tech Odessa’s top 10 students have overcome a lot of obstacles with the pandemic being one of the big issues.
Principal Gerardo Ramirez said they were there for the regular school year as freshmen, but COVID hit during their sophomore and junior year.
“This year they’re having somewhat normal type of school year, so I think they’ve overcome a lot of challenges; a lot of obstacles. We’re very proud of them,” Ramirez said.
Nine out of the top 10 are young women and one is male. Ramirez said it just worked out that way.
He added that this is a very committed and strong group of students.
The valedictorian is 18-year-old Isabella Fanucci-Dishon and the salutatorian is 17-year-old Emily Banda.
“We’re excited. Our graduation is scheduled for Wednesday, May the 25th at 7 p.m. at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center. So that’s going to be our big day, big graduation,” Ramirez said.
Fanucci-Dishon plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in social work.
“I actually want to go to law school afterwards. I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, but specifically a civil rights attorney. That was my kind of childhood dream. My mom is a social worker right now,” Fanucci-Dishon said.
“UT doesn’t have a pre-law program necessarily,” so this seemed like something that she could start off in, she said.
Fanucci-Dishon added that she watched her mother help a lot of people with her degree.
She said being valedictorian is exciting, but everybody who is in her class works hard and pushes each other.
“… I think we have a collective personality of sorts. So if it wasn’t me, it would have been anybody. But I am also excited because, obviously, it’s fun to be up there, give a speech and it’s nice to represent a school that I love,” Fanucci-Dishon added.
Asked if there was any competition between her and Banda, Fanucci-Dishon said Banda is her best friend and she would have been just as happy, if not happier, if Banda was named valedictorian.
She said she doesn’t know if she had the goal of making the top 10, but ever since she learned what a grade was, she was determined to get the best one, just for herself.
“… My mom was the valedictorian. … You see this influence and I just always want to do my best in school …,” Fanucci-Dishon said.
She added that the best advice she would have for younger students who want to be in the top 10 is that there are going to be times when you’re not going to be on your A game.
“There are going to be times where you don’t go home and do all the homework right away and get ahead. So just spend the time when you are motivated, using that to get ahead and … know that you took … all this time doing the quote unquote, right thing. You did the homework when you’re supposed to. So when you are having those moments, don’t feel guilty. Just take those moments and allow yourself to and then just get back to your old self,” Fanucci-Dishon said.
Banda said she is planning to attend Texas Tech University honors college and major in biomedicine. She graduated with an associate degree in general studies from Odessa College.
“I hope to graduate with my bachelor’s and then pursue physician’s assistant program to specialize in pediatrics,” Banda said.
She added that she is honored to be salutatorian.
“It’s been a dream since I was little and the valedictorian is one of my best friends, so it’s very bittersweet,” Banda said.
Banda has one sister who graduated from Texas Tech, as well.
She said she would advise younger students who want to be in the top 10 to work hard, be confident in themselves and remember to find a balance in work and school and make sure to take time for themselves.
1. Isabella Fanucci-Dishon
2. Emily Banda
3. Kendall Mathis
4. Stevie Vore
5. Madison Houston
6. Abigail Murillo
7. Angela Aguirre
8. Mackenzie Campos
9. Elizabeth Blue
10. Justin Pike
Watch the graduation
New Tech Odessa graduates at 7 p.m. today at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.
