Recognizing that graduations are monumental for Latinx students as many are first-generation students or even first-generation immigrants, Jolt created the Adelante Virtual Graduation in June 2021 to celebrate them and their achievements. Congratulations to our Texas graduates, who have navigated this challenging time with courage and grace! We at Jolt believe that young Latinos have the power to transform our state into a place where everyone has a seat at the table, and this new generation of young leaders embodies that.
Julianna Cruz
Trinidad Garza Early College
Nohemy Gonzalez
UT Austin
Major:
Statement: It has been incredible to be part of Jolt for the last three years of my college experience. When I entered this organization as a freshman, it was empowering for me to realize that there were people who genuinely wanted to embrace me for who I am as a Latina. I learned to organize, advocate, and take action within the community, and will continue my work through an Americorps program known as City year. For an entire year, I will be serving an under-resourced public school in San Antonio, TX to tutor and mentor students. My goal is to maintain myself connected to my community throughout my life, and I am excited to see how I will change in body and mind after my year of service.
Gisselle Villegas
Trinidad Garza Early College
Saira Castanon
Canyon High School
Statement: I like Jolt a lot. I think the program has grown my interest in politics and has helped me understand the true importance of being an active citizen by truly expressing our voices to the public.
Jack Martinez
Southwestern University
Major: Political Science and Latin American Border Studies
Minor: Feminist Studies
Statement: My name is Jack Martinez and I was the president of the Southwestern University Jolt chapter. Now that I have graduated, I am looking to take a gap year, where I will be working for a law firm in Austin that specializes in immigration law. As I gain experience in law, I plan to use that knowledge when I attend law school a year later and practice law after that. Still, my end goal is to become a politician in the future, with being a US Senator being my biggest goal for my career. I would love to thank Jolt for this because being president of the Southwestern chapter taught me many things. For example, their training and retreats were amazing, simply because they give you the resources and teachings that ensure you use those resources in the real world. From training in the Texas legislature to filling a bill, it was an organization where I was able to learn so much, and I am grateful for their help.
Gabriela Ortiz Adame
Canyon High School
Statement: My name is Gabriela Ortiz Adame, and I am a graduating senior at Canyon High School, as well as the President of Jolt Canyon! I have been a member/President of Jolt Canyon since late fall of 2019, when our High School Chapter was created. Jolt Canyon has not only been a place of safety for me, but as well as others at our school, and it has become a home where our diversity and differences are celebrated, as we educate ourselves and others about issues that matter not only to us,but to many others as well. It has been an honor to be in Jolt, and I hope to do so in university as well. Jolt has allowed me not only to grow as a person but to also learn several skills that I will bring with me throughout college and my daily life, I hope to continue to participate in things such as voter registration and the celebration of hispanic heritage month as well! Thank you to everyone in Jolt who has given me this amazing experience and opportunity.
Leyda Lopez
Trinidad Garza Early College
Eric Rodriguez
Rice University
Major: Political Science, Minors in Business & Politics, Law & Social Thought
Statement: I recently graduated from Rice University with a major in Political Science and minors in Business and Politics, Law, & Social Thought. One of my best memories with JOLT was going to Austin for the Power Up Summit where we met with legislators and held a rally. I plan to work for Deloitte Consulting in Dallas after graduation.
Manuel Ortiz
UT Austin
Major: Anthropology
Statement: I’ve had a wonderful time with Jolt, and I’ve met so many amazing and inspiring people! I’ve learned a lot of valuable things through events like the leadership institute and movimiento, and I hope to always carry that knowledge with me! Some of my favorite things to do with Jolt were voter registration and canvassing, and that’s something I want to continue doing in the future! My future plans are going to be focused on helping my family and community feel empowered as well as finding ways to ensure environmental equity for Black, Brown, and Indigenous folks! Many thanks to everybody who’s helped me along my journey as a first-generation college student!
Monica Puente
Trinidad Garza Early College
