Texas Border Business
LA JOYA, Texas — On Thursday, October 24, 2019, La Joya High School hosted this year’s first Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol’s Head of the Class Awards Ceremony. The event was held at the beautiful Alejandro H. Saenz Performing Arts Center. Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol Agent Rodolfo Karisch kicked off the Head of the Class Program honoring high achieving scholars from 14 high schools in Hidalgo and Starr counties.
Texas State Representative Sergio Munoz Jr. was the keynote speaker for the event. Representative Munoz congratulated the students on their outstanding academic achievements, service to community, and delivered an inspirational message to the students.
The selected Head of the Class recipients are now in contention for RGV Sector’s “Youth of the Year” award. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Youth of the Year scholarship program. Various organizations and community leaders collaborate with the Border Patrol to honor the Youth of the Year, culminating in a scholarship presentation that will be presented during the annual ceremony near the end of the school year.
Head of the Class Recipients:
Annett Puente – Grulla High School
Gabriela Ramirez – Jimmy Carter Early College High School
Lluvia Garcia – Juarez Lincoln High School
Lindsey Guajardo – La Joya High School
Anahi Molano – Mission Collegiate High School
Alan Castellanos – Mission High School
Linda Flores – Mission Veterans Memorial High School
Itzel Gomez – Palmview High School
Adrian Garcia – Rio Grande City High School
Mariella Reyes – Roma High School
Celene Longoria – San Isidro High School
Lois Baldado – Sharyland High School
Ivory Garza – Sharyland Pioneer High School
Tifanee Gonzalez – Thelma R. Salinas STEM Early College High School
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
