Published: April 24, 2009 10:56 pm      

At the head of the class

Making top grades is one thing but Pauls Valley’s David Cabrera has taken that concept to a whole new level.

With a resume that includes overall grades topping the charts, active participation in several school and community efforts and working to support his family, the PVHS senior has received the big-time honor of being named an Oklahoma Academic All-State Scholar.

Put in simple terms that means Cabrera is among the top 100 seniors in the entire state, according to the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

To make sure he got his recognition on a local level, members of the PV Board of Education recently presented Cabrera with a plaque for his outstanding academic accomplishments.

“Only 100 seniors in the state of Oklahoma receive this honor,” PV Superintendent Bobby Russell said. “It recognizes a student who’s an outstanding academic student.

“We’ve had seven out of the last nine years,” he said, referring to PVHS seniors receiving this honor.

“When you figure the thousands of students in the state, this is pretty good to say the least.”

Cabrera was nominated for the honor based on his academic achievement, extracurricular activities and community involvement, as well as an essay.

It came by meeting a slew of criteria, such as an American College Test (ACT) composite score of at least 30, a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) combined critical reading and math score of at least 1340 or a selection as a semi-finalist for a National Merit, National Achievement or National Hispanic Scholarship.

That became a reality as Cabrera, the son of Adela Salgado and Bernabe Cabrera, was selected from 561 nominations statewide who come from 82 different schools in 71 Oklahoma school districts.

High praise for the PV senior also comes from his principal, Peter Campbell, who stresses the honor goes way beyond the classroom.

“It’s a big deal for David,” Campbell said.

“A few years ago his father passed away. David has helped to support his family. His mother works and he works 40 hours and is still involved in a lot of things here at school. I don’t know how he does it,” he said.

Then there’s the award itself; something Campbell says is an honor at the highest level.

“It’s as good as it gets. It’s the top academic honor in the state,” he said.

“He could have gone to any college he wanted to and he chose Columbia.”

The PVHS principal is referring to Cabrera’s plans after he graduates here.

Cabrera has received the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship to Columbia University in New York.

He has also received the QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship and was named to the Columbia Engineering Experience.

As a result, Cabrera plans to study mechanical engineering at Columbia.

As for Cabrera’s work here in PV, his classroom achievement is supported by the fact he’s the president of the PVHS Key Club and a member of the Art Club and Rotary International.

Campbell also echoed Superintendent Russell’s belief that Cabrera’s scholar award also represents an honor for Pauls Valley High School.

“I doubt a school this size has had seven top scholars in the last nine years,” Campbell said.

Cabrera’s official honor comes on May 16 when the state foundation holds its 23rd annual academic awards banquet in Norman. It includes a keynote address by John C. Danforth, former U.S. senator from Missouri.