Ariana Leon-Mendoza is the Pueblo Chieftain's Student of the Week
Ariana Leon-Mendoza, a Pueblo East High School senior, has been voted the Pueblo Chieftain's Student of the Week.
Leon-Mendoza has excelled in Pueblo East High School's hospitality and food service program. Months away from completing the program, she also is a Family, Career and Community Leaders of America state placer and national qualifier. As a sophomore and junior, she was a member of the ProStart culinary arts competition team at East.
From March 11 to March 14, Leon-Mendoza and four other high-achieving students were featured in a poll on the Chieftain website in which more than 97,000 votes were cast. Leon-Mendoza received more than 46% of the vote in this week's poll.
Here were the other nominees.
Albanie Cordova, Pueblo County High School
Albanie Cordova is a Pueblo County High School senior who is fully enrolled at Pueblo Community College. She is the first high school student to serve as PCC's Associated Student Government president. Cordova also is a 4.0 student, active community volunteer, mental health advocate and softball commit to Florida National University.
Kaylee Martinez, Dutch Clark Digital Online
Kaylee Martinez is an early-graduating senior at Dutch Clark Digital Online who aspires to travel the world as a flight attendant. She encourages her fellow to students to never give up. "Find something that is very important to you and keep that it the back of your mind for motivation," Martinez said. "Always push yourself to do better and you will be successful!"
Nkechi Onyejekwe, Pueblo West High School
Nkechi Onyejekwe has won the three consecutive state speech and debate championships in Original Oratory. Academically, she is the top-ranked student in her Pueblo West High School junior class. Onyejekwe also is one of Colorado's speediest sprinters. As a sophomore, she placed sixth in the state finals by running 100 meters in 12.53 seconds.
Alison Sample, Pueblo South High School
Alison Sample is a concurrent enrollment student who has spent three consecutive semesters with at least a 4.0 GPA. She also is a four-year academic letter winner with over 400 community service hours, a two-sport varsity athlete and a second-year vice president of South's Key Club. Murals painted by Sample can be seen in South High School's gymnasium and "snake hall."
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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Who won Pueblo high school student of the week? Ariana Leon-Mendoza
