College : Fresno City College Career Goal : Designer / Business Owner / Head of Non-Profit
About Fisayo : Fisayo immigrated to the United States from Nigeria with her family in 2016 , joining other family members already living in Fresno . Her parents and grandparents wanted Fisayo and her older sister to be educated in the United States and have more opportunities . Although Fisayo is only 16 ( she skipped two grades in Nigeria ) she is mature and composed , with a strong sense of purpose . As a freshman , her parents chose Duncan Polytechnical High School for her because of its medical career pathway . But Fisayo developed other goals . She has a passion for design – from hoodies to posters to jewelry – and wants to eventually establish a nonprofit organization focused on arts education . To achieve her dreams , she will attend Fresno City College , then transfer to Fresno State or Johnson & Wales University and major in business administration . Fisayo ’ s activities at Duncan included being associated student body secretary , a lifetime member of the California Scholarship Federation and the Black Student Union secretary . She enjoys writing inspirational poems and loved the challenge of her math classes .
In her words : “ Duncan has been amazing . It brought me out of my comfort zone . I used to be an introvert .”
From English teacher Dominque Caglia : “ Fisayo Amarachi Odozie brings joy to every classroom she enters with her creative vision , poetic voice and thoughtprovoking insight . She is true excellence .”
College : Fresno State Career Goal : Race Engineer
About Oscar : Oscar Nieto Jimenez wants to be a race engineer , a goal he plans to achieve for both him and his older brother , who had to give up on that same dream when their mom passed away . Growing up , the two brothers were obsessed with rally cars , watching races and documentaries on TV and sketching their dream cars . Oscar ’ s brother , Valdemar , talked of wanting to own and work on a Subaru Impreza WRX . When their mom passed away after battling cancer for 10 years , Valdemar felt he could not leave Oscar and their little sister , so he went to Fresno State to become a teacher instead . Fast forward to Oscar attending Duncan Polytechnical High School , where one of his teachers in the automotive service pathway , Pat Dutcher , happened to be a former race engineer who built engines . The dream was reignited ! In a month , Oscar assembled a high-performance engine with two other classmates that “ fired right up .”
Oscar will be a first-generation college student . His parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in 1998 with little education . At age 14 Oscar went to work as a gardener for his uncle to help the family with expenses and during his senior year worked at Denny ’ s on weekends and holidays . Oscar is a valedictorian and was active in the SkillsUSA competition at Duncan , winning a Region 2 gold medal for Maintenance and Light Repair Automotive . He is also a musician , playing the violin in the orchestra in elementary and middle schools and now plays the bass as a hobby and at church .
In his words : “ I am determined to accomplish the goals my brother and I have so I can give back to the family that supported me .”
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From teacher Dominique Caglia : “ He is innovative , focused and patient as a leader , mentor and collaborative group member . He shows academic courage by taking risks , trying new things and meeting challenges head-on .”