It was a special day for Veronica Sotelo and Wendy Contreras Martinez.

Perhaps a precursor for what’s to come.

They were recently celebrated at the Weston Ranch High library in an event usually saved for a top-notched athlete signing a letter-of-intent to college.

In front of family, friends, and classmates, Sotelo and Contreras were honored, respectively, as the Class of 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian.

Both had GPAs in the 4.2s.

“This (event) was special,” said Sotelo, who Is planning to attend Delta College, study Nursing, and transferring to a four-year school after earning her Associates degree.

She is the daughter of Vernie and Loida Sotelo.

Veronica Sotelo reflected on these past four years “as a rollercoaster ride” – by the way, it’s a thrill ride she enjoys.

She came to Weston Ranch High via August Knodt Elementary School, and went from day-to-day classroom and activities, to being stuck at home doing distance learning halfway during her sophomore year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This past year, Sotelo has enjoyed practically everything about school – she was involved in band and orchestra, Be.Vital (Science Academy), Key Club and Boba Club.

Next stop is graduation, scheduled for Thursday, May 26, at 6 p.m. at the WRHS stadium.

“It all went so fast,” said Wendy Contreras Martinez, who is the daughter of Maria Martinez and Gerardo Contreras.

She’ll be attending Washington University in St. Louis in the fall to study Biology, with a focus in Molecular Biology & Bio Chemistry.

Her plans go further than that – as in medical school.

Contreras Martinez had also looked into other colleges such as UCLA, San Francisco State and UC Davis.

She went to elementary school at George Komure School and, looking back, will miss her peers as she moves forward in life.

“We had always worked together (at school) and that helped make me better,” Contreras Martinez said.