Each year, the Dispatch profiles a few outstanding soon-to-be
Gilroy High School graduates. Selected with input from GHS staff,
these seniors represent some of the best Gilroy has to offer. We
celebrate them, their families, their mentors and all the
graduating seniors in the class of 2010 for their accomplishments
and wish them the best of luck and a fulfilling future.
Each year, the Dispatch profiles a few outstanding soon-to-be Gilroy High School graduates. Selected with input from GHS staff, these seniors represent some of the best Gilroy has to offer. We celebrate them, their families, their mentors and all the graduating seniors in the class of 2010 for their accomplishments and wish them the best of luck and a fulfilling future.
ANNA COLLINS-TAYLOR, 18
Activities: Future Farmers of America secretary; Showing a steer, market lamb and breeding ewe at county fair
College: Kansas State University
Major: Animal science
Favorite senior moment: When a friend’s steer tried to break out of the school farm – “You’d never think that large an animal would actually try to jump a fence.”
This fall, Gilroy High senior Anna Collins-Taylor will head off to a Manhattan college – in Kansas, that is.
“I’m going to miss California – the beach, the weather,” she said. “But I’m looking forward to the storms.”
A state known for its twisters, Kansas is home to one of the most popular animal science programs in the country at Kansas State University. There, Collins-Taylor will get the hands-on training necessary to become a large animal veterinarian. Life on the farm is her therapy, and joining Gilroy High’s chapter of Future Farmers of America was one of the best decisions she’s made, she said.
But for Collins-Taylor, FFA is more than just life on the farm. It means practicing her public speaking skills, learning responsibility and being a leader. She was recognized by the U.S. Achievement Academy as a student of excellence in agriculture.
After growing up around animals – cats, dogs, a Chinese water dragon – a career in veterinary science only seemed natural. At 14, she went to camp and fell in love with the horses.
“I didn’t even care that I was shoveling horse poop,” she laughed. “I was just happy to be around the horses.”
This year, she’ll show a breeding ewe, a market lamb and her lovable – if sometimes stubborn – steer, Booger, at the county fair.
“The first time we took him out of the trailer, he almost took my hand off,” she said after coaxing the 1,200-pound animals into place to pose for a picture. “The animals are so funny. They just crack me up.”
RYAN AZAD, 18
Activities: Tennis team; Editor-in-chief of yearbook; Photographer for yearbook and newspaper; Works for City of Gilroy
College: University of California, Los Angeles
Major: Leaning toward political science and international relations
Favorite senior moment: “Capturing all the moments” as photographer for GHS newspaper and yearbook.
“Everything in moderation” is Gilroy High School senior Ryan Azad’s motto. This makes sense, if “moderation” means taking three Advanced Placement classes, earning a cumulative grade point average of 4.5, playing on the tennis team, photographing and writing for the yearbook and school newspaper, refereeing soccer games and shooting photos for the City of Gilroy – and volunteering in his spare time.
“My goal is to be as well-rounded as I can be,” Azad said. “I’m constantly asking myself, ‘What am I doing with my life? Do I have a balance?'”
His face typically half-hidden behind a camera, Azad is a permanent fixture at GHS sporting events, performances, assemblies and other newsworthy events. This year, he hopes to take the yearbook “to a whole new level” as editor-in-chief.
“I want to turn it into a journalism experience, with newsier articles on each page,” he said.
With yearbook advisor Veronica Andrade, Azad has spent hours poring over the pages of this year’s volume. Even though Azad has no formal photography training, his passion for documenting the year in pictures and words will leave a lasting impression on the Class of 2010.
“I’m a very nosy person,” Azad laughed. “I like to know what people stand for. It’s really cool to get people’s unique perspectives. I love getting the story behind the person.”
JUAN VELAZQUEZ, 17
Activities: President of GHS Latino Club; Track and cross country; Works at the Gilroy Premium Outlets
College: California State University, Stanislaus
Major: Business
Favorite senior moment: Placing second as team in league in cross country – “We were really happy about that.”
Learning English as a child was no easy task for Juan Velazquez. But once he did, he took off.
Velazquez’s family moved to Gilroy from Mexico when he was 7. He struggled to learn English as Spanish was the predominant language spoken at home. These days, he’s president of Gilroy High’s Latino Club and celebrates his Mexican heritage at club-organized events such as the Cinco de Mayo dance held last month.
Velazquez plans to major in business this fall at California State University, Stanislaus, then attend law school. His goal is to become a prosecutor or an investigator. After watching a few episodes of “CSI,” he was hooked, he said.
A solid student who holds a part time job at the Gilroy Premium Outlets, Velazquez said he’s both happy and sad to leave for school this fall.
“I’m not the first one leaving so my parents have already had some experience saying goodbye,” said Velazquez, the youngest of five children. “I’m looking forward to being on my own.”
But after spending long hours with his teammates, saying goodbye won’t be easy.
“My cross country teammates are my buddies,” he said.
He said he hopes to continue running as a college student.
“Running makes me feel free from everything else,” Velazquez said. “I don’t have to think about school, friends, any problems. It’s time to myself.”
KAYLA LOVING, 17
Activities: Captain of varsity gymnastics team; Club gymnastics; Prom queen; Co-president of Grace club; Works at USA Sports; Proof editor for yearbook
College: Azusa Pacific University
Major: Sociology
Favorite senior moment: Taking the senior panoramic picture on Oct. 9 – “The whole senior class sang Happy Birthday to me.”
Kayla Loving has never missed a day of school. Ever.
Going to school was just a given for the soft-spoken senior. But when she got to high school, maintaining her perfect attendance record became a goal. Even when she had a 104-degree fever, she made it to class.
“Getting an education is important,” she said. “And I like coming to school, most days.”
With a 4.0 GPA, Loving’s dedicated attitude extends beyond the classroom. At the Senior Awards Celebration, she received the Sal Tomasello “Pursuing Victory with Honor” Award. She’s captain of Gilroy High School’s varsity gymnastics team, a sport she started when she was 5 years old. The floor routine is her favorite.
“I love how challenging it is,” she said. “To be good, you need a wide variety of skills, and there’s always more to learn.”
Being crowned Prom Queen was one of Loving’s favorite memories from her senior year. It wasn’t until she arrived at prom that she found out she had been nominated.
“I was so surprised when they called my name,” she said.
As co-president of Grace Club – Gilroy High’s Christian club – and an active member of South Valley Community Church, Loving’s faith plays an important role in her life. After college, she hopes to join an organization that fights sex slavery.
MARK FOLEY, 18
Activities: Football team; Choir; Associated Student Body school board representative; American Legion’s Boy’s State leadership program; Works for Santa Clara County
College: George Washington University
Major: Political science
Favorite senior moment: The senior cruise, which included dinner, dancing and gambling – “Like any good politician, I had to hit the tables.”
If there were a yearbook category for “Most likely to become president,” Mark Foley would take the title hands down.
With more political experience already under his belt than the average adult, the 18-year-old heads to the nation’s capitol this fall to pursue a degree in political science.
“It’s a calling,” Foley said, his crisp suit accentuated by a GWU tie. “I want to be on Capitol Hill.”
Foley got his first taste for politics in the eighth grade when he took a trip to Washington, D.C.
“I fell in love,” he said.
Between Advanced Placement classes, varsity football practice, choir and an after-school job with Santa Clara County inspecting boats for quagga mussels, Foley juggles a busy schedule. Yet, his passion for politics always comes first. As the school board’s student representative, he’s spent many evenings deliberating on districtwide issues well past midnight.
“I want to be a representative for the people’s voice in government,” Foley said, before cutting himself off sheepishly. “Listen to me. I sound like a politician, don’t I?”
Though he’s serious about his career goals, he tries not to take himself too seriously and often jokes with friends and classmates about appointing them to his cabinet when he’s president. Though he’s excited to move to D.C., Foley’s “senioritis” has turned into nostalgia.
“Until three or four months ago, I was so glad to be getting out of here,” Foley said. “But these last few months, I’ve been noticing all the ‘lasts.’ This year went by so fast and I’m going to miss it here.”
