Cruz and Martin are JCHS top honor graduates
Vanessa Cruz, the daughter of Ruth Ulloa Diaz of Wrens, will be the Jefferson County High School’s 2024 valedictorian.
Vanessa has served as an FFA chapter officer for the past two years and currently serves as the organization’s vice president. She has competed in multiple career developments through FFA including Forestry Field Day (Forest Management) and Forestry 4-man.
She is currently the president of the school’s Spanish Club and an active member of Beta Club, and Key Club.
Over the summer she works at Buck Jones Nursery where she is the only woman and teenager. She is also helps care for her siblings, a 4-year-old little brother and a 1-year-old baby sister.
Vanessa said that she can attribute her many successes to her determination to achieve the American Dream. “I have traveled more than 4,000miles from Honduras to the United States to obtain a better education and future,” she said.
She thanked her mother for raising her and for making all the sacrifices needed to bring her back to the US. She also thanked her advisor Sandy Cook for helping her in school when she needed it the most and motivating her to join the school’s FFA Club. Vanessa said she met some of the most wonderful people through that organization, people who have helped her to become the person she is today.
“I am truly thankful and honored to be part of the Warrior Nation for the environment and the support that I have received throughout my journey,” Vanessa said. “I have attended eight different institutions and without a doubt, Jefferson County stands out from the rest.”
After graduation she plans to attend Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and major in the engineering field.
The 2024 JCHS salutatorian is Ryo Martin, son of Eric and Fumiko Martin of Stapleton.
Ryo has been a member of the Beta Club and Ocean Bowl golf teams at JCHS. He was also the school’s 2024 STAR Student. Outside of school he has worked in marketing management for Giesbrecht HVAC and Suntech Home Service. He also enjoys weight lifting and golfing.
Ryo said he wanted to be a good student to boost his chances at a top university. He said he always felt supported by his parents and teachers who made sure he was responsible for his work and taught him dedication and discipline, helped him through long study sessions and made it all more enjoyable.
He said that he found his education at JCHS to be direct, blunt and immersive and really enjoyed the ability to dual enroll in college courses.
He advises other students who want to pursue academic success to take initiative and act.
“Things won’t be handed to you in life,” Ryo said. ”Take responsibility for everything. Just find something, a method, that works for you. Everyone is special in a way but to be exceptional, you have to find it and exploit it.”
This fall he plans to attend Georgia Tech and major in electrical engineering.
"I also want to join the honors program LLC,” he said. “It’s a program for 250 people specifically STEM majors to get extra hands on, interdisciplinary skills.”
Vanessa Cruz, Ryo Martin, JCHS's other honor students and all of its graduates will be celebrated Saturday, May 25, at 10 a.m. during the schools commencement ceremony on the football field.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Cruz and Martin are JCHS top honor graduates
