HOPE – A Hope High School senior student who will graduate a year early has been named one of ALT Magazine’s Top 10 Seniors in the ArkLaTex region.
Lilly Garcilazo will complete her high school education at age 16 this year, having also earned concurrent course credit for college at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana, and completing the UAHT Certified Nursing Assistant course in December.
“I didn’t really think about graduating early, but they asked and I said, ‘Yes,’” Garcilazo notes of her academic progress.
The daughter of Iris Garcilazo, Lilly has maintained a senior GPA of 4.0, while enjoying extra-curricular time as a Ladycat soccer team member, HHS Student Council member, and National Honor Society student.
“I think it is important to recognize students who are so hard-working and determined,” contest sponsor Mandy Bright, of Bright Images photography, said.
Bright recommended Garcilazo for the contest conducted by the Texarkana-based scene magazine, encouraging her to become a role model.
“I chose her to represent Bright Images photography because she is smart, hard-working, determined and beautiful inside, but importantly outside,” Bright said.
For her part, Garcilazo is modest about the accolade.
“I was honored that my name would go with all the other people,” she said.
After graduation, Garcilazo intends to study criminology at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. She said she wants to apply her studies to working with children involved in criminal investigations.
Garcilazo is passionate about soccer; she wants to attend the 2016 World Cup. And, she also runs in her spare time, and enjoys travel. She admits to being a bit of a fashion fan, which is part of the reason for her representing Bright’s studio as a student model.
Garcilazo is quoted in her ALT profile encouraging fellow HHS students to make the most of their high school years.
“Just have fun,” she told the magazine. “Join clubs, make friends, go to all the dances, and try your hardest in everything you do. Don’t live your senior year just trying to get through. Make those days count and make sure you have more better days than bad.”
Other HHS nominees included Payton Belasco, Brandon Cole, Joe Dansby and Skylar Howard, according to ALT Magazine.
