Permian’s Jonathan Martinez was always driven to be successful, whether it was in sports or academics.
His work ethic and dedication led him to become a team captain for the Permian football team during his senior season, while maintaining one of the highest GPAs in his graduating class.
Along with being a two-sport athlete, Martinez set himself up to finish as Permian High School’s Class of 2022 salutatorian.
In his high school career, Martinez needed to make sure he had enough time to focus on his classwork along with going through long practices during football season.
He made some sacrifices with some of his free time, but it ultimately paid off as he received various awards for his hard work.
Through football, Martinez was honored with the George Manly Award for having the highest GPA and the Ed Gray Award for his outstanding contributions to the team this year.
“I kind of had like a little moment for myself, I was just proud of everything I had done,” Martinez said. “It was just nice that I was given those awards at the banquet.”
For his classroom achievements, Martinez was named an AP and Texas Scholar, won a National Math and Science Initiative award and earned multiple scholarships.
One of those scholarships will help him at Texas A&M, where he plans on studying to become a CRNA.
“That was one of the whole reasons I wanted to be in the top 10, valedictorian or salutatorian,” Martinez said. “I knew scholarship money would come with it and I had always wanted to go to a big school, kind of like A&M or UT or something like that.
“Getting that money and being up there was a big goal of mine to get.”
Before choosing to go to Texas A&M, Martinez strongly considered the University of Texas.
He decided to continue his academic future in College Station after visiting the campus and falling in love with the community.
Martinez researched the nursing program at Texas A&M and also became interested in the university’s process of sending students to cities like Corpus Christi, San Marcos or Dallas for CRNA school.
Eric Garcia got the chance to teach Martinez in his AP World History class during his sophomore year.
Garcia isn’t surprised by the route the student-athlete is choosing to take in the next phase of his life.
“He’s kind of this renaissance man that’s doing it all,” Garcia said. “He’s excelling on the field, excelling in his studies, he’s getting out in the community.
“We talked about a standard of excellence and Jonathan most definitely is that standard, he mirrors that standard that we all talk about as teachers about our students.”
Martinez won’t be pursuing athletics in college, adding that it’s bittersweet leaving behind the memories he made in football and track.
He briefly stopped playing football during his sophomore year to properly focus on academics, but returned before the COVID-19 pandemic started because he missed it.
After working hard through his junior year, Martinez felt proud that his teammates selected to be their captain during the 2021 campaign.
Sports taught Martinez about weighing his options out and taking time to avoid making hasty decisions, which he believes will help in college.
He hopes he leaves his younger teammates with the example that strong work ethic pays dividends in the future.
“I always told them no matter what you do whether it’s sports, school, life, any little thing, just give it 110% in everything you do,” Martinez said. “It’ll pay off in the end.”
>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
JONATHAN MARTINEZ
PERMIAN
>> Academic Rank: No. 2 (Salutatorian) of 700
>> Sports: Football; Track
>> Academic bio: National Honor Society; Texas Scholars; National Math/Science award winner (2021); AP Scholars award; national Hispanic recogntion program; Scholarships from Texas A&M and Complex Community Credit Union
>> Athletic bio: Football (Team captain, 2021; George Manly Award for highest GPA; Ed Gray Award for outstanding contribution to team); 100 meters, 400 meters, 4×400 relay
>> Activities: Working out; running; hanging out with friends; family; drawing
>> College and major: Texas A&M University (Health Allied)
>> Goals for the future: Attend medical school and become a CRNA
>> Favorite subject: Science (Biology)
>> Favorite book: Can’t Hurt Me (David Goggins)
>> Favorite musician: J. Cole
>> Role model: Kobe Bryant
