Alex Orr, Sierra High School’s Class of 2013 valedictorian, has his heart set on a career in the music industry. To get there, he plans to pursue a degree in applied computer science at the University of California, San Diego where he will start his college studies in the fall.

“I want to do something along the lines of …developing software for music recording,” said the 17-year-old senior who will be leading his graduating class on Friday, May 24, at 7 p.m., during graduation ceremonies at Sierra High’s Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

The soon-to-be college student has been involved in music throughout elementary and high school. At Sierra High, his musical background included being in jazz band throughout his four years. He was part of the band that went to perform at Disneyland this school year. He plays several musical instruments including guitar, piano, and base drums.

Extracurricular activities though did not end there. He was also involved in sports. He was on the Sierra High’s golf team for all of his four years in high school. And, during his senior year, he was in the Science Club.

He was active in his community as well in various capacities including that of an after-school volunteer tutor. He was chairman of the Manteca Youth Advisory Commission for three years. He is also a certified AVID tutor at Brock Elliott School where he graduated from elementary. He was a volunteer after-school tutor there throughout his four years of high school.

The Timberwolves’ valedictorian is the younger child of Mark Orr, a civil engineer for Caltrans, and his wife, Mary, a first-grade teacher at Joseph Widmer, Jr. Elementary School in Lathrop. Orr’s sister, Amanda, also a graduate of Sierra High, is in her third year at California State University, Fresno where she is studying pre-physical therapy.