Each year, 500 high school seniors are selected across Washington after thousands apply for the Dell Scholarship. Alexis Guerro Herrera has not only achieved this, but he’s had many successes along his path that have led to this moment.
Alexis is favored around Wenatchee by his peers and professors and is a full-time running start student at WVC. He is involved in multiple extracurricular activities, such as MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Association) and MEChA (which supports and brings awareness to Mexican culture). In MEChA, he is in the officer position of Activities Coordinator.
Alexis is also a seven-year AVID student, coached and secured by teacher Tanner Dotzauer.
“Alexis is charming,” Dotzauer said, “He’s funny, and he’s just whip-smart when it comes to politics and world events.”
After receiving the Dell Scholarship, Alexis has decided to major in administration at the University of Washington. Because of his full-time running start commitment, he will graduate high school with his Associate’s Degree. Alexis’s goal is to work with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) or, hopefully, something within the government.
Alexis has taken many economic and bookkeeping courses at the college, all of which have impacted the way he thinks about his future career. The thing that fascinates Alexis the most about working for the IRS is the auditing process.
Dotzauer has helped Guererro in attaining the Dell scholarship; he has written many letters of recommendation and helped him first hear about this opportunity.
“It was hard; it was a lot of writing and meeting people,” Alexis said. “I feel like it helped me build as a person and be able to talk to more people.”
Dotzauer has been very proud of how far Alexis has come with this opportunity.
“Getting the Dell Scholarship for $20,000? That says a lot about you, right off the bat,” Dotzauer said. “To go to the University of Washington and to have it all paid for doesn’t just happen.”
Dotzauer has been very impressed with how far Alexis has come since they first met.
“He helped me out by being a dogsitter for me once, and that was fabulous,” Dotzauer said. “He’s always been there when I needed something. I can ask him to do things. He follows through. He’s driven, and he pushes other kids to live up to getting things done.”
Alexis has grown a lot socially through academics, from when he first got enrolled in school to now, graduating not only from high school but also with his AA.
“I was very shy, to begin with, so school has helped me be able to talk to people,” Alexis said, “especially when I joined Running Start because I didn’t know anyone over there.”
Alexis. Because of these experiences, Alexis has met lots of new people. One of his best friends he gives a lot of credit to for making his high school experience one of a kind. Carlos Martinez has been with him since the first day of kindergarten and has had a large influence on Guererro’s life.
Harkaran Manak is another example. One afternoon in AVID, the two were working on their Chromebooks. Manak went to plug his own into a nearby cable. When Alexis looked up, he saw a puff of white smoke coming from behind Manak. He had blown up the outlet.
“It just all exploded! He was so confused,” Alexis said.
Funnily enough, he cherishes this memory and sees it as one of his favorites.
Alexis is a hard worker and thrives in academic environments because of it. Along the way, he has built himself a foundation where his highest achievements and greatest dreams no longer feel out of reach. However, through the turmoil it took to get him here, he’s learned a valuable lesson.
He thinks he’s become an overachiever. Alexis loves to try new things but often gets caught up in the stress of it all.
“Nothing is ever good enough,” Alexis said.
Dotzauer argues determination is his biggest strength. With his high level of involvement, Alexis has come to accept what he never thought would be true.
“Grades aren’t everything,” Alexis said. “Try to have fun. It’s not really worth stressing over to get a 4.0. You don’t really have to stress about grades.
Alexis admits that even without perfect grades, he’s been able to build deep friendships, lay the foundation for his bright future and be proud of the person he’s become.
He has ignited WHS with the spark of who he truly is, and his future promises he’ll do the same wherever else life takes him.