ANNIKA COLEMAN
A Gift For Working With Animals
By Gianna Martin
Annika Coleman, senior at Patagonia Union High school, is leaving in May to pursue her pet-loving life. She plans to move to Sierra Vista to complete her core classes and then transfer to Colorado State University to become a veterinarian. She has been influenced throughout her whole life by her grandfather who taught her to love and help her farm animals. Being the animal lover she is, she has been involved in 4-H since she was eight years old. Since then she has been 4-H Grand Champion for Market Lamb, Grand Champion Breeding Lamb, and Reserve Champion Showmanship.
Annika was born with a gift, the gift to nurture and care for animals. Not too long ago she had an opportunity to care for a helpless lamb. She didn’t see it as a burden and took care of the lamb as if it was her own. She bottle fed the lamb and took care of it until it was back to health. She was completely in love with the animal. One day the lamb was attacked by her dog and didn’t make it. Annika was heartbroken and misses Jasper all the time.
Annika first came to Patagonia Schools in 2011 which was her sixth grade year. She played softball her freshman year, and has managed boys’ football, basketball, and baseball for all four years. Her favorite subject is English because she likes the way Mrs. Hayes teaches. Mrs. Coleman, her mother, is her biggest role model because she has educated Annika to be the bigger person, help others in need, and to be the best that she can be.
Annika’s favorite high school memory was freshman orientation with her friends and their seniors. Annika says the person who has always been there for her when she needed it most, was her friend Danny Miranda, who is also a senior. Danny says, “Hugs, tears, bowling, long nights, longer days, great times, and some of the most unforgettable moments when I’m surrounded by Anni, and a neverending bond that will be lifelong.”
Annika hopes that in ten years she will be in Colorado, as a veterinarian with her ten dogs and one hairless cat. Annika Coleman advises us to, “always listen to Mr. Melanson.”
JOSE PEREZ
Ready To Conquer The World of Science
By Guadalupe Bueras and Sabrina Mendoza
When Jose Perez was one year old and someone would ask, “What do you want to be when you’re older?” he would quickly respond with excitement, “an astronomer! an astronomer!” But one day after watching the History Channel seven years ago, the intelligent Jose Perez found that his calling is to become an astrophysicist. Astrophysics is a type of astronomy that applies the laws of physics and chemistry throughout the atmosphere.
Jose Perez has been attending Patagonia Union High School for his high school career and plans to enlist in the Air Force after graduation because he has always wanted to serve for his country. During his career in the Air Force he plans to become a part of the reserves and also attend the University of Arizona with a major in Astrophysics. After having the care of a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Hayes, and wise guidance from Mr. Melanson, Jose knows that he has made the right decision on becoming an astrophysicist in the Air Force.
From spending time with his friends to attending games here at Patagonia, Jose’s favorite memory was playing his first year of football. “It was my first time as a senior playing and I was scared at first, but my teammates reassured me that I shouldn’t be and that day I scored my first touchdown, by far the best memory I will have in high school.”
Jose first arrived to Patagonia not knowing a word of English, but with help of his English teacher, Mrs. Hayes, Jose can now read, write, and speak English fluently. Classmates, teachers and peers have seen Jose develop into a bright young man who is going to conquer the science and mathematical world.
During this past summer, Jose was the only Patagonia High scholar to attend the Joaquin Math Science Honor Program at Arizona State University. He first heard about this program from Mr. Melanson who referred him. During this camp, Jose made new friends all over Arizona and found out what college is like while taking the college course of pre-calculus, a course that only a handful of people are chosen to take each summer during the honor program.
After all the hard work that Jose has put into his life he has found that humble success comes if you “just be yourself—and if you haven’t found yourself, don’t worry, it’s coming.”
WALLY HILL
A Stroke of Genius
By Garrett Fish
For Walter “Wally” Hill, high school was a blank canvas that he transformed into a unique masterpiece. The art enthusiast and producer, emphasizes that high school was an essential time for him to grow into the person he is today, have every day assistance, and an overall sense of belonging. Whether it is Wally’s symbolic grin that PUHS is accustomed to, or the grip of a warm, friendly handshake, students and staff will definitely miss this talented senior next year. What makes Wally’s story even more remarkable is his achievement, despite his challenge with autism.
Wally’s mother finds everyone at school respectful and friendly, which helped Wally become social. Expressing himself through art and how he sees the world pleases him. He loves to draw for an audience and hosted an art show at Patagonia’s Gathering Grounds in April, which showcased his work and for which he received appreciation. Art teacher Elizabeth McCowin says, “Walter is a uniquely gifted artist and human being. He comes to art class each day with a positive attitude and a willingness to try new things. Walter has challenged the students around him to use their own talents with more enthusiasm by the example he sets. He is not afraid to make mistakes and moves steadily forward to the next project with eagerness and passion. His keen curiosity and ardor for trying new materials inspires others to enjoy their learning process, too. Creating art, for Walter, comes as naturally and unconsciously as breathing.”
After high school, Wally plans on attending more art classes and starting part time work, hopefully at an art studio or store in Tubac, Patagonia, or Sierra Vista. Mrs. Hill credits Wally’s art teachers who have fostered him and Ms. Blanca, an aide who worked with Wally through his years at the high school, for a significant amount of his success. Throughout high school, Wally has helped with the fall festival, talent shows, set paintings for drama productions, exhibited art in the county fair, assisted with food preparation for students after school, and helped kids with autism. Three distinctive memories in high school for Hill included: being elected Homecoming King by his peers, singing in the annual spring talent show with his mother, and yoga class with Ms. Art. Wally says, “I like the teachers. I like the students. I like going to school.”
COKELLY HERRERA
“Coke” in A Bottle
By Kathryn Miller
Light streams through the window onto Cokelly Herrera. She sits across from me- smart, beautiful, brave and oh so grown up. I first befriended Coke in middle school and unbeknownst to me, was granted the gift of watching someone bloom. However, as Cokelly sits illuminated in front of me, I feel as though I am seeing her for the first time.
Driven by her will to succeed, Cokelly, or “Coke,” has navigated social pressures to become an ambitious and compassionate senior. Her sophomore year she began working with a nonprofit organization focused on the conservation of hummingbirds. The Hummingbird Monitoring Network is an on-campus after school work opportunity where she now maintains a managerial position. “Cokelly’s skills in leadership and being able to manage her peers as employees is beyond anything I’ve ever encountered on this planet, which leads me to believe that she might in fact, be an extra planetary entity that has taken the corporeal form of a seventeen year-old Patagonia kid. She’s just that good at her job,” says her supervisor Mr. Schrieber. Cokelly carries her superior work ethic to yet another job, a position with Borderlands Earth Care Youth Institute Practicum, where she has developed a sustainable plan for a community-based rural business.
After working all week, Cokelly still manages to find the time to be a stellar student, earning Rotary Math Student of the Month during her senior year. At home, Cokelly cares for her brothers and sisters in an effort to help her parents. “As long as they are happy, then I’m happy,” she says, her eyes beaming. It seems the key to Cokelly’s superhuman abilities, just may be her big heart.
Herrera likes to listen to corridos, Mexican music that tells a story. This comes as no surprise because her family has a story of its own. At the age of 14, Cokelly’s father came to America to earn money for his family. More than 30 successful years later, Mr. Herrera now sends money to Mexico for children in need. Cokelly hopes to carry on her father’s legacy of compassion and perseverance by treating patients in the medical field. She plans to attend school in North Carolina, at Mars Hill University where she’ll live with her aunt.
Our interview ends and we exchange plans to meet up later. As I walk away, I catch myself looking back. Cokelly may not know it yet, but the world lies at her feet.
