Page 6 - Mid Valley Times 9-9-21 E-edition

she could speak about is- sues that immi- grants face due to witnessing first-hand the lack of programs and aware- ness there are for DA- CA students.
include being stu-
Yaritssa Araujo-Gomez
Emily Rico
Yaritssa would like to be Miss Dinuba because she would like to prove the sta- tistics and racial stereotypes wrong. As Miss Dinuba, she would like to be caring, ac- cepting and kind, while also being a voice for others like the past titleholders have been. Although this is out of her comfort zone, she has ac- cepted and embraced this ex-
Alyssa Romero
Thursday, September 9, 2021 | A6 | Mid Valley TiMes
MISS DINUBA Continued from page A1
retary, is a Spirit Club officer, and is a part of ACCEPT club, CSF, FFA, CSET's #LEAD, MED Academy Pathway, and hiking club. Yaritssa is also on the cross country, track and tennis teams.
She would like to attend Reedley College and then transfer to Stanford Univer- sity to major in chemistry. After graduating college, Yaritssa would like to attend medical school to become an obstetrician or cardiothoracic surgeon. Yaritssa is interested in these careers because she has always had a love for new- borns and an interest to pur- sue a career as a surgeon.
Yaritssa's platform, "Dreamers, the Leaders of To- morrow," is based on the strug- gles that an immigrant DACA student faces while pursuing a higher education. She chose this so
perience because of the way she has grown as a leader and person overall.
SHAYLAH FLETES
Shaylah Fletes is the 17-year-old daughter of Clau- dia and Rick Fletes. She is the oldest of two children.
Shaylah's academic honors include being a National His- tory Day finalist and scholar- ship, being on academic honor roll, and receiving an invita- tion from
Harvard
Univer-
sitytobea
part of the
National
Academy
of Future
Physicians.
Through-
out her
four years
at DHS,
Shaylah
has been involved with com- munity service, varsity swim, volleyball and basketball, has filmed a commercial for Union Bank in Northern Cali- fronia and has danced com- petitively for 15 years and even danced at a halftime show for the Golden State Warriors. Most recently, Shay- lah has spent a great amount of her timer volunteering at a retirement home.
Shaylah plans to attend UCLA or UC San Diego to pursue her bachelor's degree. She would then like to attend medical school to eventually become a sports medicine or- thopedic surgeon to aid ath- letes in their recovery pro- cess.
Her platform, "The Gold- en Years," was motivated by her experience of working with the elderly. Shaylah says "listening to their stories and feeling of loneliness inspired
me to speak out on their be- half." She feels that they often- times go unseen and unheard, yet are some of the individu- als who have given so much of themselves to the world in their young lives.
Shaylah would like to be Miss Dinuba to bring aware- ness to the forgotten gen- eration and exemplify their uniqueness. She plans on starting her own volunteer program where we would visit and volunteer at local retire- ment homes. Shaylah's goal is to keep traditions and values alive for generations to come.
EMILY RICO
Emily is the 16-year-old daughter of Laura and Roland Rico. She is the youngest of nine children.
Emily's academic honors and awards include the color guard Emperor Award, HOBY Leadership award, honor roll, student athlete award, Em- peror of
the Month,
Emperor
Award,
and be-
ing a His-
tory Day
finalist.
Through-
out high
school, she
has been
involved
with stu-
dent council, leadership, col- or guard, varsity volleyball, Skills USA, the High School Enrichment Program at Reed- ley College, FCA as an office, and is the yearbook editor. Emily has done this all while still managing and runner her own event styling business.
She hopes to attend Cali- fornia State University, Fresno, and major in nursing while also pursuing a minor in business. Emily would like to
become a labor and delivery nurse while running her busi- ness on the side.
Emily's platform, "De- structive Decisions," was motivated by her belief that everyone should be more knowledgable about the con- sequences of their action, no matter their age. She wants to spread awareness, support the victims of this prevent- able crime, and put a stop to underage drinking.
Emily would like to be Miss Dinuba because she feels that would give her the opportunity to bring this is- sue to light. "I feel that this opportunity would allow me to represent my hometown and further my ability to be a role model for the commu- nity and the next generation to come." Emily would like to be a positive influence for all the young girls who look up to and dream of becoming the next Miss Dinuba!
ALYSSA ROMERO
Alyssa Romero is the 17-year-old daughter of Rose- mary and Jesse Romero.
Alyssa's academic honors
and awards
dent of the month, be-
ing award-
ed multiple
cheer rec- ognitions, being a
part of
the Valley Champion
cheer team
in 2019,
and being
a four-year
honor roll member.
Throughout her time in high school, Alyssa has been involved with varsity cheer.
Alyssa would like to attend California State University, Fresno, and major in psychol-
ogy. She plans on attending law school to pursue her child- hood dream of becoming a lawyer. Alyssa has found that she has always been fascinat- ed by the psychological mo- tives behind criminal cases.
Her platform, "The Thorns of Love," was motivated by her belief that victims of domes- tic violence deserve to have a voice and know that they are loved. Alyssa would like vic- tims of domestic violence to know that although they may still be bound to their captiva- tor, there is a way out.
Alyssa would like to be Miss Dinuba so that she can be a great role model to young girls throughout our commu- nity. She would like everyone to know that stepping out of your comfort zone results in new beginnings new friends and lifeline memories.
LESLIE VALADEZ
Leslie Valadez is the 18-year-old daughter of Guill- ermina and Modesto Valadez. She is the youngest of three children.
Leslie's academic honors include being on the princi- pal's honor roll, Tulare Coun- ty Board of Supervisors' stu- dent of the month, and the President's Education Award. Throughout her time at Dinu- ba High School, she has been involved with CSET's #LEAD program, HOSA club, and has attended a National Acad- emies Foundation summer program at the University of California, Berkeley.
Leslie's future plans in- clude attending Escoffier Pastry School and become a pastry chef so she can one day open her own small cafe.
She chose her platform,
SeeMISSDINUBAonpage A18
Shaylah Fletes
LAST CHANCE
Reedley Chamber Community Guide & Business Directory
We know 2020 was a difficult year, but now is the time to get BACK TO BUSINESS and we are here to help you get noticed. Mid Valley Publishing is looking forward to working with you to produce a beautiful, informative, and user-friendly publication that will benefit the entire community. The guide, used by the public to locate products and services, will be made available to Reedley residents and visitors. It will be distributed at restaurants, placed in local hotel rooms, and will also be distributed throughout the year at several events and locations both inside and outside of Reedley.
The guide is scheduled to be released in September 2021. Janie Lucio, advertising executive with Mid Valley Times, will be in contact with Reedley businesses and organizations over the next couple of months to discuss advertising opportunities. Please note that Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce Members receive a FREE listing in the directory and will also receive a discount on a purchased advertisement in the guide.
If you are interested in this advertising opportunity, you may contact Janie Lucio direct at: (559) 638-2244 or janie@ midvalleypublishing.com. You can also contact the Chamber at (559) 638-3548 or info@reedleychamber.com.
Deadline SEPTEMBER 10, 2021
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