Northwest Early College High School graduation shows legacy of excellence, service and scholarship

With pride in their hearts and dreams on the horizon, the Northwest Early College High School Class of 2025 gathered one final time at the iconic Abraham Chavez Theatre on Monday, May 19, to celebrate their commencement exercises. 

As the curtain closed on this defining chapter of their journey, one truth stood tall, this class leaves behind a legacy built on bold ambition and extraordinary achievement.

From elite college acceptances to jaw-dropping scholarship awards, the Griffins delivered a performance as powerful as it was inspiring. Collectively, the class earned an astonishing $19.5 million in scholarships. 

Members of the class will attend some of the most competitive universities in the nation, including three headed to Ivy League schools like Yale University, Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania. 

A few standout seniors include Aladeotan Falola, who was awarded the prestigious QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship to Washington and Lee University, Melina Holguin received the competitive full-ride Terry Foundation Scholarship to The University of Texas at El Paso and Elizabeth Marshall has won several distinguished scholarship such as the Texas Leadership Scholars Program to Texas Tech University, a Texas Tech Presidential Scholarship, a Texas Tech AT&T Scholarship and the Terry and Phyllis Winn Endowed Scholarship. 

All these accomplishments are a testament to the caliber of scholars at NWECHS. But it wasn’t just about academic excellence. This senior class logged over 6,000 community service hours, demonstrating a shared commitment to giving back and making a difference, a core tenet of the school’s culture.

Principal Frank Clark praised the class for their grit and heart.

“This is a class defined not just by what they’ve achieved, but by how they achieved it, with humility, compassion and relentless determination, " Clark said. “They are leaders, trailblazers and difference-makers.”

Valedictorian Sebastian Esparza, who will attend the University of Pennsylvania this fall, spoke passionately about the journey and the future ahead.

“It feels exciting and overwhelming to graduate from high school and step into the next step of my academic career. While there were ups and downs these past four years, I am extremely grateful for all the different experiences I've had in and outside the classroom.” Enciso said. “I feel like graduating at the top of my class signals to me that all the academic work I did was validated, and that allowing my own personal interest to lead me in my class choices was the correct choice for me.”

Esparza hopes to become an attorney or work for a non-profit to better serve the immigrant community and focus on bolstering immigrant rights.

Salutatorian Fatima Garcia Meraz, who plans to pursue public policy and economics at Princeton University, feels fully prepared to embark on her next journey and attributes her success to the rigorous NWECHS curriculum coupled with the support of her teachers and peers. 

“My experience at Northwest Early College High School gave me the academic foundation and personal growth I needed to feel confident about the future,” Garcia Meraz said. “The college-level coursework challenged me to think critically and manage my time effectively, while the support from teachers and peers helped me grow as both a student and a person. Teachers like Ms. Akins played a huge role in helping me believe in myself and push beyond what I thought I was capable of. I feel prepared to face what comes next and keep working toward the goals I care about.”

As tassels were turned and caps tossed, the Class of 2025 left the NWECHS campus not just as graduates but as change makers, ready to transform the world with a little Griffin greatness.