PROFILE

Venture Prep High School senior Jorge E. Linares has demonstrated great academic aptitude deserving of recognition. He maintains a 4.053 GPA, ranking at the top of his graduating class. He is interested in attending the University of Colorado Denver. The school’s faculty named Linares as the Scholar of the Month in February. He’s been a member of Junior Achievement for the past two years. “As the highest ranking student in his graduating class, Mr. Linares continues to demonstrate to his peers that personal success has much more to do with one’s personal outlook on life rather than pure ability,” said his high school counselor. Linares is the first in his family to graduate from high school and will be the first to attend college. He is bilingual and works part-time.

FAVORITE BOOK

“Just Like Us,” by Helen Thorpe

FAVORITE MOVIE

“The Pirates of the Caribbean” series

FUTURE CAREER

Mechanical engineer

HERO

My dad, Jorge.

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“The present is theirs. The future, for which I really worked, is mine.”

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Linares has volunteered with Outward Bound and serves on the board of directors of GreenLeaf, a student-run, nonprofit organization. There, he is involved in numerous projects focused on food justice. Sixteen youths from around Denver turn empty lots into farms and distribute produce to local Denver communities. Linares points to the 3,600 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables they’ve distributed. This summer will be the third year for the organization with members ages 14-18. “We are all part of a large community. I see the whole planet as a large community and I see it as a responsibility to take care of each other.” Linares said.

IF I COULD IMPROVE THE WORLD . . .

“I would make the language barrier a lot easier for a lot of people,” Linares said. He reminisced about learning English as a fluent Spanish speaker.