The 93706 produced a top valedictorian at Edison High. See what she had to say.
Uzueth “Uzi” Ramírez-Gallegos wanted the audience that was witnessing the Edison High School Class of 2023 graduation ceremony to know that she stood apart from others on the Save Mart stage Monday night.
“Out of the 16 summa cum laude valedictorians on stage with me, I’m the only one whose zip code is 93706,” said Ramírez-Gallegos to loud cheers.
“I’m a proud community member and student of the West Side,” said the UC San Diego-bound graduate. “Let’s keep it real, though. It’s been a while since one of us was up here.”
Ramírez-Gallegos, who will pursue a degree in biochemistry in her goal of becoming a cardiologist, said she is proof that the southwest Fresno environment doesn’t stunt a person’s educational achievement.
“I can graduate with the highest honors despite the lack of resources and violence we we endure on the West Side,” she said. “I believe we can all reach our goals because we have a legacy of creating the change we want to see.”
During the summer, she helped set up movie nights at the Frank H Ball Neighborhood Center.
Ramírez-Gallegos, in her valedictorian speech, said that in the 93706 environment “many friends were lost in the path of violence.”
“We continue to push harder for them. We continue to be resilient by getting involved in the community, by painting murals, by protesting that our voices be heard,” she said.
In Spanish, she thanked her parents for their support.
At a glance
Edison High / June 5, 2023
Save Mart Center
Graduates: 423
Valedictorians: 89, including 16 summa cum laude (higher than a 4.32 GPA)
Latino enrollment: 71.2%
Highlight: There were actually two: First, graduate Ethan Hinds played the national anthem on an electric guitar to set the mood for the evening; then, school board trustee Keisha Thomas said she was going to throw out T-shirts with money wrapped inside them to the graduates but opted not to during her speech. Later, she threw out at least two T-shirts.
Quote: Principal José Luis Muñoz, whose daughter Rubi Jole Muñoz was among the graduates: “I want you to be selfish with your time. Many people don’t deserve it. People inspire you or they drain you. Pick them wisely. I want to encourage you to seek your passions now. Build a life of purpose today and surround yourself with people who invest in you no matter your age. These are valuable lessons for ensuring your life has significance.”
This story was originally published June 6, 2023 at 1:31 AM with the headline "The 93706 produced a top valedictorian at Edison High. See what she had to say.."