Luis Flores is tired of hearing, “You’re Mexican?  You’re too smart to be a Mexican!”  Raised in a home in Chandler, AZ, where racial and ethnic acceptance was always emphasized, he simply could not believe what he was hearing.  Through remarks like this, Luis learned how negative stereotypes are ingrained into the community and how unaware some people can be about the level of prejudice that affects people of diverse ethnic backgrounds.   

Luis is committed to shattering these stereotypes.  Whether it be running five kilometers over rough terrain in 120-degree heat, subsequently winning wrestling matches, practicing high hurdles for days on end, preparing for International Percussion and Language competitions, or tutoring other students in physics, math, or chemistry, Luis has excelled in everything he sets his mind to do.  He says with pride, “I do what I love, and love what I do, aiming to find myself and show through my accomplishments that my origins are in no way detrimental to my every goal but rather my great source of inspiration.” 

Luis is an excellent wrestler, but he will tell you that it’s not about the medals or trophies.  For Luis, it is the test of will, determination and building of character which have served to put him on a path to success.  He will attend M.I.T. in the fall and pursue a degree combining physics, medicine, nutrition, and math.   

In addition to being a star athlete, Luis is a remarkable student having maintained a 4.0 GPA at Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe.  He won first place in Arizona on the highest level of the National Spanish Examination and has been awarded the title of National Hispanic Recognition Scholar.  Luis also shows his motivational qualities with the speech and debate club.  These qualities were exhibited when he was a child, developing his bilingual skills at the age of two in his hometown of Irapuato, Mexico, where he was always eager to speak and write coherently in both Spanish and English.