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Although the schools in Austin are closed for the time being, the Austin Noon Kiwanis would still like to honor Gabriella Alondra Vasquez-Alva as their student of the month for March.

She is a senior at Austin High School. “Gaby” attended Austin Public Schools in grades K-2, returned to Mexico to complete grades 3-8, and returned to finish at Austin High School.  Her first impression of the High School was, “Wow, that’s a big school” Gaby is enrolled as a fulltime PSEO student at RCC – this spring, she will earn both her high school diploma and AA degree.

Gaby states, “My academic experience at Austin High School was good — all my teachers helped me and pushed me to learn more in all my classes, which helped prepare me to be a post-secondary student and challenged me to continue having good grades.”

Besides being a member of the National Honor Society, Gaby has volunteered for various school and community activities, including IJ Holton Steam Expo, Woodson family craft festival, Austin Art Festival, the Taste of Nations cultural event, Feed a Family program at HyVee during Christmas, face painter for Christmas in the City, and the annual Community Connect event. She has played a role as a volunteer “teacher” in the Adult Learning Program at Riverland.  In addition, she and her mother offer bilingual art classes to children each month – her mother provides art instruction in Spanish and Gaby provides the English translation.

Regarding future plans, Gaby wants to enroll in the 2+2 program for elementary education with Riverland and Winona State.  “Since I was little, I have always wanted to become a teacher and the time is flying by. I am a few steps away to becoming one.  My goal is to go for my Masters Degree and continue studying to become a great teacher.”

“My parents, Humberto Vasquez and Claudia Alva, are the ones that make a notable impact on me,” she added.  They are the people  that helped me through the hard times and have been there to motivate me and help me accomplish my goals and dreams. Without their help, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.  They show me that hard work pays off, and every day I work hard to make sure they see that they’re thankful for all the things they have done for our family.”

On her nomination form, it states:  “Gaby’s attitude toward volunteering and helping others is inspiring.  She always wears a smile and comes ready to help whenever she can.”