Our first student spotlight is Arturo Ballesteros, the Class of 2020 Valedictorian.
Arturo Ballesteros (Class of 2020) has earned the spotlight! Arturo spent the last four years at BOYCP engaging in rigorous and challenging coursework including AP and DP courses, and he was an integral part of of many extracurricular activities including Bobcat Baile Folklorico, Boys’ Volleyball (JV and Varsity), City of Chicago Math League (Algebra II Team Captain), National Honor Society (Chapter President), Running Club, Student Voice Committee, and writer art director for The Maroon student newspaper.
In addition to his academic coursework and extracurricular activities, Arturo also participated in Aspen Challenge, Questbridge College Prep Scholars, University of Chicago Collegiate Scholars, and the Youth Leadership Institute at University of Chicago. Arturo is the recipient of many awards including High Honor Roll for all eight of his consecutive semesters at BOYCP, AP Scholar (2018), Cook County Board of Commissioners Resolution in Honor of Achievement (2019), and Special Congressional Recognition for Outstanding and Invaluable Service to the Community (2019). Not only was Arturo one of only 100 people in the world to earn a perfect score on the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam in 2018 (out of 189,658 people who tested!), he also is one of this year’s Gates Scholarship recipients and will be attending University of Chicago on a full-ride provided by UChicago Promise’s Chicago Public Schools Scholarship and the Odyssey Scholarship Program. Arturo gave an address in the BOYCP Virtual Graduation Ceremony as the Class of 2020 Valedictorian (viewable at the BOYCP HS YouTube channel; first aired on Saturday, June 13), and he was featured in the CPS citywide virtual graduation ceremony, “Graduation 2020: For Chicago. By Chicago.” which aired on Sunday, June 14, via Mayor Lightfoot’s social media channels and on local television networks.
Congratulations, Arturo! We are so proud to call you a Bobcat!
