Travis Early College High School honors first graduating class

Four years ago, 115 students started as freshmen at Travis Early College High School in an academic partnership between this college and the San Antonio Independent School District.

On June 14, 86 of the original 115 students walked the stage in McAllister Fine Arts Center to receive their high school diplomas, marking the beginning of promising futures and setting the bar for future classes.

Travis opened in 2008-09 in the former elementary school building at North Main Avenue and West Dewey Place, providing high school students an opportunity to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and college credit hours.

Travis is one of three early college programs offered in San Antonio; the other two are East Central High School and Judson Early College Academy.

The state has 49 early college high schools, according to the website for the Texas Education Agency Office of State Initiatives.

The class of 2012 attained more than 4,200 college credit hours.

Forty-eight students received an associate degree in liberal arts a month before their high school graduation, and four of those students received two associate degrees.

The class received more than 200 letters of acceptance to universities across the country.

Dr. Conrad Krueger, dean of arts and sciences, spoke to the overflowing crowd.

Krueger welcomed the first graduating class of Travis Early College High School and expressed this college’s excitement for the success of the program.

“Through their professionalism, we have been able to build a strong partnership with respect and open communication needed to ensure the future of this program,” Krueger said.

Principal Orlando Vera, completing his first year at Travis, praised this college for its contributions to the high school.

“Without their support, dedication and great partnership, this (commencement) tonight would not be a success,” Vera said while recognizing this college’s faculty and administrators in attendance.

He introduced the top scholars.

Valedictorian Andrew De Luna received associate degrees in liberal arts and natural and physical science.

“For many years, I wanted to be a doctor,” De Luna said, “but after visiting college, not as a high junior, but as someone who attended the college, I realized how many opportunities are out in the world.”

De Luna will attend Yale University in the fall to dual major in biomedical engineering and economics.

Salutatorian Derek Rodriguez received an associate in liberal arts at this college May 12 and served fours years on the Superintendent Advisory Committee.

“As the first graduating class, our actions here tonight and the coming years will echo, as they set the standards and expectations for the kind of scholar that comes out of Travis Early High School and San Antonio College,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez will attend Texas A&M University in College Station in the fall to attain a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering.

Carlos Castaneda was president of the senior class and this college’s Beta Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society in 2011-12.

“In my four years, I have appreciated and taken advantage of everything SAC has offered,” Casteneda said.

Casteneda will attend the University of Texas in Austin to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business.

Graduate Amanda Davis received an Outstanding Perfect Attendance award for not missing a day from elementary through high school while enrolled in San Antonio Independent School district.

“There were times where I was sick, but I kept driving myself,” Davis said.

Davis finished her senior year with nearly 50 credit hours and will attend Sul Ross State University to complete a bachelor’s degree in animal science.