PROFILE

South High School’s senior Monique Baca maintains a 4.8 semester GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society (NHS) and was awarded the Order of the Daedalians. She is Brigade Commander of JROTC, received the JROTC Achievement Award, and belongs to the JROTC Honor Platoon and Rifle Team. Baca participates in Minds Matter, CU Denver Scholars Programs, Denver Rotary Scholars Program and attended the Brown University Summer Enrichment Program and a research program at the University of Wyoming. She’s planning to apply to Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.

FAVORITE BOOK

“Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck

FAVORITE MOVIE

“Freedom Writers”

FUTURE CAREER

Clinical Psychologist

HERO

“My big sister, Mariah.”

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“You live and you learn.”

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Baca volunteers with The Children’s Museum of Denver assisting staff and cleaning after children. Through NHS, she’s volunteered at clean ups and in school spirit related festivities. She’s participated in back to school night through ROTC. Triathlon Tri for the Cure and Fitzsimons Nursing Home are a few others. Baca spoke about the importance of community involvement, saying, “It teaches you how to be a good person [and gives you] different perspectives because you can interact with people.”

IF I COULD IMPROVE THE WORLD, I WOULD . . .

“I would speak to people about believing in themselves and using whatever skills they may have … to better themselves, creating a better future for themselves. Also, stressing leadership because I think anyone can be a leader and an active citizen.”