CONGRATULATIONS IDEA MONTOPOLIS!

My Dear Bulldogs, Class of 2023,

It brings me immense honor to stand before the best and brightest senior class. You are scholars who see college as not only what comes “next,” but the passport to pursuing a passion and creating a future you deserve. Your experiences and your challenges have paved the way to becoming the next immigration lawyer, the next cardiologist, the next engineer, and the next leader.

You are already proving the possible—with Bryan Escalante, who’s been named a National Quest Bridge scholar and who will receive a full 4-year scholarship to one of the nation’s most selective colleges. With Maritza Aguilar and Diana Lopez, who have been named Dell Scholars and who demonstrate drive and promise. And for the first time ever, we have Elena Barcenas in the founding cohort of the Hector and Gloria Foundation Scholarship, receiving a full ride!

Class of 2023, you have achieved 100% college acceptances, 75% Tier 1/Tier 2 acceptances, and have been awarded over 6 million dollars in scholarships and grants.

AND IN four years from now, you will be college graduates, and many of you will be the first ever in your family to graduate from college. Do not ever underestimate your potential: you belong in the college of your choice, and you will make it to and through college.

AND before you reveal your college decisions, I am going to leave you with this message: Remain humble, remain hungry, and seek to understand.

And as always, remember, we are bulldogs. Be determined, be optimistic, be generous, and be strong. If no one tells you they love you, we love you and always will.

Congratulations, Montopolis Bulldogs!

Desiree Novodvorschi Principal, IDEA Montopolis College Preparatory