Maya Sangalang is leaning towards going into nursing.
The East Union High senior has been influenced on what’s currently going on with those working the frontline during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve always been interested in healthcare,” said Sangalang, who is the valedictorian for the Class of 2020.
And what better place to start than the Delta College Nursing program?
That’s her plans as she takes the first step toward her chosen occupation.
Maya Sangalang is the daughter of Melissa and Sean Sangalang of Manteca. Her sister Ryan is a freshman at EU.
During her time at East Union, she displayed her school spirit as a member of the Lancers cheer squad for two years and shared her cultural Filipino dance steps during her involvement with the Asian Pacific Islanders Club.
Sangalang was also a member of K-EU, Robotics Club, Link Crew, California Scholarship Federation and Interact Club.
She earned the top academic honor with her weighted grade point average of 4.3. Sangalang was somewhat aware that she might be in the running for valedictorian. “I think it was that last week when people were telling me I was in the top three,” she recalled.
She came to East Union from St. Anthony’s School, which had a total of 13 students in her eighth-grade class.
That’s a far cry from her EU Class of 2020 with 380 students strong.
“There were two (from St. Anthony’s) who came to East Union from ninth grade on,” said Sangalang, who had fond memories of her days at St. Anthony’s, helping out at the senior luncheon organized by Sr. Ann Venita Britto and her Ministry of Caring.
She adjusted to her new surroundings by becoming involved while balancing her class work during these past four years.
Needless to say, her family was thrilled with her being named valedictorian. For that, Maya Sangalang received a medallion along with a certificate and bouquet of flowers from Principal Raul Mora on Wednesday.
She’s still required to put together a speech despite plans for a commencement ceremony still up in the air.
Sangalang was accepted to UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Merced and the University of the Pacific, but chose to stay closer to home.
Mora applauded her choice, adding that he respects Sangalang’s decision to follow her career path before setting forth to a four-year college.
