Odessa High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian are looking forward to big things ahead and glad their efforts have paid off.
Rigoberto Mendoza, 18, is heading to Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., and James Fogle is off to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Mendoza was matched to Emory through the QuestBridge National College Match.
He wants to major in biology and go into medical school. He’s leaning toward pathology and becoming a coroner.
Fogle will be serving the Department of Transportation, which is what the academy is under. He will be transporting goods between the U.S. and foreign countries.
He will have a four-year commitment and then eight years in the reserves in a service branch of his choosing. Fogle said he would probably choose the Air Force.
Meanwhile, he plans to start an escape room in Odessa.
Both are thankful that their efforts have been rewarded.
“It is an honor because there are so many individuals on this campus that … are more than qualified to be the valedictorian as well,” Mendoza said.
He added that he found out about the top 10 when he was in seventh grade.
“It was one of my goals to strive to be top 10. I guess it was an even greater goal to be valedictorian …,” Mendoza said.
There was competition between Mendoza and Fogle, but they said it was friendly. They went back and forth on who was No. 1 and who was No. 2.
Mendoza and Fogle weren’t close friends, but the last few weeks they have gotten to know each other a little better.
Odessa High’s graduation is set for 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Ratliff Stadium. Both Mendoza and Fogle will be speaking.
They both said graduation will be bittersweet.
“… I guess I found my sense of belonging with the communities I’m a part of at the school and it’s going to be difficult trying to let those go, but it is something that I’ve looked forward to for a long time, especially getting out of Odessa,” Mendoza said.
He will come back and visit, though, because his family is here and he plans to stay in touch with his teachers and his friends.
Mendoza is an International Baccalaureate candidate, National Honor Society and Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish National Honor Society). He also plays tennis, volunteered at Ector County ISD’s Camp SIP, Texas Scholars and was part of orchestra.
As part of the International Baccalaureate curriculum, students do a service project. Mendoza and two classmates designed a time capsule that they buried last year and wrote letters to their future selves. The teachers wrote also and the letters were read at a recent banquet.
“… The whole goal was to bring the IB community together in the midst of a pandemic. Reading through our letter and reading the teachers’ letters, it solidified the goal of the project,” he said.
He said IB could be stressful and overwhelming, but it was worth it. Mendoza said he felt like he and other students grew as a result.
“… It inclined us more academically, as well as gaining personal growth because it did give me a sense of belonging and for some people that’s very difficult to find,” Mendoza said.
He has two older sisters and a younger brother. They are excited for him, but also sad that he’s leaving.
“… I grew up very family based and we have a tight bond, not just with my own family, but with my mom’s brothers and sisters (and) my dad’s brothers and sisters,” Mendoza said.
His new environment will be different, but that’s what he was aiming for.
“I just hope I take with me the principles I’ve learned and find communities there, like I’ve done here, where I can feel welcome. That’s the main goal to make my experience of moving away less shaky,” Mendoza said.
To anyone that has heard about the top 10 or valedictorian and salutatorian at a young age, Mendoza urges them not to spread themselves too thin.
“You have to enjoy high school without obsessing over it,” he said.
He added that if students think they can’t make the top 10, he wants to let them know their past does not define their future.
“There are great opportunities here. People just need to take advantage of them,” Mendoza said.
Fogle said he joined the Merchant Marine Academy to be part of something greater than himself and something “more abstract than just a monetary value.”
“Instead of chasing money, I would rather serve something grander than me, so I chose the service academy,” Fogle said.
Born in Lawton, Okla., Fogle moved to Wichita Falls and then arrived in Odessa two years ago.
His biological father was in the Army Reserves for four years.
“He was a sergeant, I believe, but he passed away when I was 8,” Fogle said.
He didn’t want to pursue military service because of that, but as he got older he realized he did want to serve something “greater and better.”
Fogle added that he wanted to become his own person.
Like Mendoza, Fogle said there was some competition between the two of them.
“It was for the most part friendly. It wasn’t like we’re going to hold a grudge against each other because there were points where I was No. 1 and there were points where he was No. 1. It was very fluctuating and I think we both could tell like we were in the running for it. But where the chips landed was where the chips landed,” Fogle said.
He added that he’s glad he is salutatorian.
“It is an honor and not very many people have this, or get to experience this, especially at such a large school. It is a good feeling,” Fogle said.
He added that moving so far away will be an adjustment.
“But I’m used to moving. It’ll be an adjustment for sure just because I’ll be on my own … but I’m excited for it,” Fogle said.
Fogle was in IB, football, powerlifting, academic decathlon, UIL Number Sense, National Honor Society and Texas Scholars. He was a volunteer for Teen Court and is a student leader/servant leader at Stonegate Fellowship.
Fogle has one older brother and one older sister and a younger brother who is in kindergarten. All of them are half siblings, he said.
In general, he said, being in the top 10 takes a special person.
“I don’t think that just anybody can get in the top 10. I think it takes dedication, hard work and strong will. I believe that if you really want this, then you dedicate your time and sacrifice for it,” Fogle said.
He added that he doesn’t think people understand how they could use their time better.
“… A lot of young people … are on their phones constantly for hours on end. Instead, that time can be used to get ahead, or focus on other things that benefit you rather than a cellular device that keeps you stuck. Anything that you do that can move you forward is always good, so that anything that keeps you stuck, or even losing back should be avoided,” he added.
After the Merchant Marine Academy, Fogle said he plans to open an escape room with his future fiance.
The idea came from playing a board game and then he went to Lubbock recently to see other escape rooms.
“… We looked at things that they can’t do, or won’t do and we’re gonna incorporate that into what we’re doing to give ourselves a competitive edge in the market, but especially since we’re the only escape room in the Midland-Odessa area, I think we’re already going to have a competitive advantage,” Fogle said.
They have picked a location.
“We’ve done the numbers and it’s looking very profitable. We’ve got some guys lined up for construction already so we’re gonna go ahead and begin with that later this week,” Fogle said.
OHS TOP 10
1. Rigoberto Mendoza.
2. James Fogle Jr.
3. Melany Coss.
4. Matthew Thompson.
5. Akshathh Mukkera.
6. Thamara Ramirez.
7. Danielle Salgado.
8. Maxine Flores.
9. Elizabeth Alvardo.
10. Princess Frema.
WATCH THE GRADUATION
- Odessa High’s graduation is set for 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Ratliff Stadium.
