Two Viator seniors named National Hispanic Scholars

Saint Viator seniors, Jackie Cruz of Palatine and Caroline Young of Arlington Heights, were named National Hispanic Scholars last month by the College Board. Both are outstanding students, who balance a difficult class schedule with co-curricular activities, in and out of school.

“They are excellent students, grounded in rigorous academic study and well prepared for college,” says Principal Eileen Manno. “Earning this distinction makes them even more desirable to colleges, who are seeking this kind of well rounded student.”

Jackie plays varsity soccer for the Lions, but she also skates year-round with the Chicago Jazz synchronized skating team. In February, her team traveled to Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where they earned the gold medal in the junior division for the 2012 Neuchatel Cup.

Caroline is a four-year member of the volleyball and soccer teams, and currently serves as co-captain of the volleyball team. She also volunteers through campus ministry and with her parish, St. James Church in Arlington Heights.

College Board officials launched the National Hispanic Recognition Program in 1983, to identify outstanding Hispanic and Latino high school students. It fits with their mission to give students access to a quality college education through such programs as Advanced Placement classes and exams, and the PSAT and SAT college testing programs.

The National Hispanic Scholars and those named as honorable mentions were selected from a pool of more than 200,000 students who took the 2011 PSAT and identified themselves as Hispanics. In order to be recognized, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic or Latino.

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