Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 12-23-21 e-Edition

Thursday, December 23, 2021
Medina-Delgado shines bright in Reedley
The View From Here
I won- dered why I didn’t wear my rain boots.
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
It is the goal of Reedley High senior, Emily Medina Delgado, to one day become an English teacher and in- spire her students as much as she said her teachers have inspired her.
“Multiple teachers have inspired me,” she said on the morning of Dec. 14. “All my teachers have been great.”
Delgado said specifically two teachers have stood out.
“Ms. Moore, she teaches English, AP English,” she said. “She’s so focused on her stu- dents, she places them first if they have questions she pri- oritizes them,”
Jennifer Moore teaches English at Reedley High School and is the head of the English Department.
Delgado also said a big inspiration to her has been Emilio Botello. Who also teaches English.
“Mr. Botello, has been a big motivator also,” she said. “He’s pushed me to reach for more.”
Delgado has been busy throughout her senior year of high school and recently
learned she’s a finalist for a Coca Cola Scholarship worth $20,000.
"When I applied I didn’t think I would make it to the semi finals I applied blindly thinking what do I have to lose,” she said.
“So the next step is the semi finalist round, I submit- ted that application about two weeks ago, so I’ll find out in January if I get to the regional finalist round.”
Delgado said the process began with nearly 60,000 ap- plicants across the country, and with each phase the pool is narrowed.
“Now we’re at 1,617, next step they’re cutting it down to 250,” she said. “And then the final 150 are chosen after the interview process.”
Requirements for the scholarship include academ- ic performance, community and campus involvement and overall leadership skills.
“I cried when I saw the email, I thought it had to be a spam email or something,” she said.
“I didn’t even think I would make it to this round,” Del- gado continued. “I just ap- plied blindly, I didn’t expect
anything of it, so when I saw the email I remember being at home I was in bed look- ing through my emails in the morning.”
Delgado said she will find out in January if she moves on to the next round of finals.
Her goal is to study Eng- lish at either UC Berkley or Fresno State.
Delgado is highly involved in the community of Reedley events.
“I plan to still be involved even after I graduate,” she said. “I started my community service with Parkway Clean- ups, parade cleanups, helping with Toys 4 Tots at the Com- munity Center.”
Delgado said after she be- gan her volunteer work she re- alized that was something she had a passion for and hopes to continue doing it even after she graduates.
She currently serves as the president for the LEO Club.
“I go and find service events for that, thats one of the bigger clubs I’m a part of, once I’m 18, I hope to join the Lyon’s Club.”
Instead
I had on a
pair of white
tennis shoes
,although it
was raining like crazy out- side.
I drove up to the front of Reedley High School and waited for a park- ing space to open up. As I walked toward the campus, I met with Renee Delport. We were at the school on the last day before their Christmas vacation to meet with high school senior, Emily Delgado Medina.
I knew Emily’s name. I have seen her at a vari- ety of local events in town helping out, volunteering and being a leader in her community.
As we sat to talk with Emily she told us that she’d been picked as a finalist round for the Coca Cola Scholarship Foundation.
If she wins, she will re- ceive a scholarship to help with college. Full story on front page of the Lifestyles Section.
Emily is accomplished. There’s no doubt about that. I can tell when a stu- dent is accomplished if we’ve heard their names multiple times long before we meet them in person.
This has been the case with Emily. I knew she participated in the FFA program, and that she’s a member of the Junior Reedley Chamber.
An interesting fact about Emily is that she wanted to go into the med- ical profession. That was her initial goal. “I quickly realized I could not stand the sight of blood,” she said with a laugh. “I can’t do needles, I can’t do any of that.”
Well Emily, I agree with you on that. I once had the very quick thought of join- ing the health care profes- sion but also I don’t do well with the site of blood.
Emily also told me that most of the students who have received the Coca Cola Scholarship have been from out of the area.
“Most students I see win this scholarship have been from Clovis,” she said. “I was the only one from Reedley, other places like Modesto, Pasadena Los Angeles, areas that aren’t that close.”
Emily has a bright fu- ture ahead of her. She has found her passion, which is English, and not medicine. And she has found an inter- est in helping out her com- munity. Way to go, Emily, keep up the great work.
Juanita Adame
Contriubted
Emily Medina-Delgado held up an award she won at the Reedley Chamber Dinner in the spring of 2021.
A gift card, not a ticket this time from Reedley Police
Light up the night held in Sanger neighborhoods
Photo Courtesy The Sanger Scene
The Sanger Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual "Light Up the Night" Home Light Display Contest, sponsored by The Sanger Scene and Sanger M&E Flowers.
Photo of the Week
Contributed
Officer Anthony Jimenez posed for a photo with a local motorist who thought she was being pulled over and would receive a cita- tion; instead she received a Starbucks gift card. The Reedley Police Department conducts the gift card operation each year during the holidays.
Contributed
Officer David Renteria posed for a photo with some happy and re- lieved motorists who were certain they'd be receiving a citation in- stead drove away with a Sinclair gas card.
Contributed
This photo of "Nikki," a 9-month old, Shihtzu-Poodle mix getting her photo taken with Santa Claus was sent in by Danny Ochoa. Have a photo you'd like featured? Email juanita@midvalleypub- lishing.com.