BEATTY — Down to the wire, photo finish, call it what you will. Beatty High could not declare its 2015 valedictorian until the week of graduation when the final grades of the year were posted.
Two students from Amargosa were tied for the honor, and, as it turned out, the tie was never broken.
Luis Angel Flores, son of Isaias and Irma Flores, and Lorenzo Pinon, son of Ismael and Monse Pinon are co-valedictorians of the Beatty High School Class of 2015.
Flores says his favorite subjects were science, auto shop, and math. He plans to attend UNLV, but has not decided on a major. He is favoring either engineering or pre-med.
Pinon also likes math. He plans to attend the College of Southern Nevada for a couple of years before moving to UNLV. He is aiming toward an MBA degree.
Both valedictorians participated in Family Career and Community Leaders of America, were in the school band, played football and basketball, and competed in track. Flores also played baseball and took part in automotive skills competition and academic Olympics.
Both were involved in youth leadership programs – Flores in the Latin Youth Leadership Conference, and Pinon in the Utah Rural Electric Association Leadership Camp. Pinon took part in Nevada Youth Legislature, and Flores in Boys State.
Flores advises, “Wing it and hit dingers!!” but agrees with Pinon’s “Only sometimes can you wing it and hit dingers.”
Pinon is an optimist who says, “Never give up on your goals, and you will always get what you want.”
Flores says, “In the end you will be happy. If you are not happy it is not yet the end.”
The school’s graduation ceremony for its 13 seniors is today in the gymnasium at 7 p.m.