| A graduate of Eastside College Preparatory School, Joanna Vanessa Leon is the 2005 National Hispanic Heritage Youth Award recipient in Journalism, sponsored by NBC Universal/Telemundo. ?No matter how successful I become I will never forget my Hispanic heritage because it is who I am,? says Joanna. A first-generation Mexican-American and budding young journalist, Joanna loves to tell her story as a Hispanic in the United States, as well as the stories of friends and family. Joanna first got involved in the Journalism program at her school in an effort to improve her writing, but soon realized that it opened up the doors for her to write about subjects that mattered to her, such as low-income workers and illegal immigrants in the United States. Joanna graduated with a 3.94 GPA. Her love of writing carried into one of her community service projects, the Crown?s Project ? a collaboration of Theater Works, a local theater company, and students from her high school?s drama and photography departments. The project focused on what people of different cultures wear on their heads. From a tejana or cowboy hat to dreadlocks -- each ?crown? conveys the different stories of members of the community -- showing pride in each person?s heritage. Joanna will attend Stanford University in the fall. She may major in Psychology or Photography and contemplates one day becoming a photojournalist. |
