Past Winners

 

Winners of 2009

Scholarship First Place Winner:  COREY A. SIMMONDS
Scholarship Second Place Winners:
ANGELINA HABASH
ADRIANA MARTIN
Honorable Mentions:
EMELY PALOMO
LESLIE GITCHELL
URIEL ANTONIO
VANESSA GUTIERREZ
TAYLOR TROTTER
ROBERT WHITE
CLARIFELLE ESCUADRO
LISA ADAMS
ADRIANA SEGURA
BRIAN LAM
ROSELYN YEE
BREANA GONZALEZ
 
 
 
 
Leading Spirit
 
To be a leader is to stand firm in beliefs doubted by others
To have evidence of the truths you portray in your way of living
To help others, and be content with their happiness as your reward
To be a leader is to perform at your greatest potential, because you know
someone is watching,
To know when to follow, and learn from those more experienced than yourself
To be a leader is to think of others and be a positive influence on your
surroundings
A soldier is a leader not because of the lives he takes, but for the lives he saves
A soldier is a hero not because he fires his gun but the cause for which he fired it
A soldier, whose duty requires numbed emotions, is an icon because retained…is
the ability to smile
It takes courage to be a leader, and takes a leader to have courage
Daniel P. Cagle, as a solider, as a leader, and as an individual was powerful
Without any of the gear he possessed
And may his legacy shine as bright as his character is strong.
 
-Corey A. Simmonds
 
 
 
 
 
Daniel Cagle Poem
 
Strength, Courage, Bravery
Characteristics you possessed
Being in the worst possible situations, and trying to turn them into the best
There were always stories about men that brave and strong
We read about a dashing Prince saving a fair maiden.
Going through obstacle and obstacle making sure his true love is safe.
We read about people like you
Instead of a prince
You were a strong soldier
There was no maiden but a country and a cause
And those obstacles were a war
You fought hard
In the end you left, but you didn’t lose.
You left with honor, with courage, with grace, and with love
Your story will live forever
And in spirit you will live happily ever after
 
-Adriana Martin
 
 
Daniel P. Cagle
 
Daniel P. Cagle
A man. A soldier. A hero.
With the will, strength, and courage
To stand up to anything and anyone.
But underneath the uniform,
Behind the gun, and the tough exterior is a boy.
A boy full of joy, happiness ,and delight,
With a smile that can light up a whole room.
Above it all, Daniel P. Cagle is a true inspiration
Giving hope and faith to an entire nation.
 
                                            -Emely Palomo
 
                                               
 

 

Daniel P. Cagle
 
Character and Leadership is very important in a person. It is not something you were born with, it is something that you build throughout your life. I believe without character or leadership people will have little to no respect for you.
 
There is a lot of ways a person can show character. Just the way he talks shows the character about a person. Character is a lot of things. It is honesty, patience, responsibility, trustworthiness, respect, fairness, caring and citizenship.  I met a man that had all these characteristics, my Grandfather, Eid Habash. He too was in the Army. Whenever I would go and visit him I could have told him anything because I knew he was trustworthy and he cared about my feelings. He was always honest. One day I asked him if he had ever killed somebody, meaning while he was in the Army and even though I knew he didn’t want to answer he said yes. But he explained why he had to do it.  It was the life of his friend in the Army or the person that could kill again. I always had respect for him. He was so responsible he did everything he was supposed to do and right. I wish there were more people in this world like him.
 
To have character and leadership is a rate ting in this world now a days. So to have many people that still have the respect from people is a great thing. You are nto born with leadership or character, it is something you build throughout your life. I have so much respect for the people that put their lives on the line every minute of everyday for me and you.
 
          -Angelina Habash
 
Character, Leadership, and Freedom
 
Some say Freedom, has not price tag on it, but many also do not believe this ist rue.
Freedom is priceless, many have it, many take it for granted, and many crave it.
Whatever the case freedom is never easy to gain. America as a Union and as a Nation has worked hard to keep us a one and not split us in two. But many, have never felt or smelled freedom. It seems as if they were trapped within their own selves, somewhere where they should feel safe, but they are not. Many would die for freedom and hand on the torch of freedom to someone new, a leader that is willing to complete the mission. This isn’t a simple task. It takes a very courageous man, for instance Daniel P. Cagle who gave his life for his comrades and their lives. No one can predict the future, but we as humans can make a future of peace and freedom. “This is a fight until the finish,” my parents used to say, but to me it seems this a battle with too great a loss. Daniel P. Cagle died, as many should, a hero! Anyone can be a hero; anybody can make a change form positive or negative. You can change form the way you look at life and how you will confront it. Life isn’t easy, we all face problems, many rocks and bumps along the way, but we should never give up. We might stumble a few times, or maybe even fall, but we should pick ourselves up, even if no one helps us. It’s these stumbles though, that make us who we are today. It builds character, it’s who we are. Some can stand amongst millions and speak out words of knowledge and change, bust some can just change one person’s life forever.
 
                                                                                    -Uriel Antonio
We fight
 
We fight
To say on a path that we call leadership
A path that will lead us to great honor and dignity
A path that will teach us
How to be kind to each other
To honor one other
 
We fight
To show this world that we can
To show that we can be unique
That we can be honest to each other
To earn trustworthiness
To be kind to our world
 
We fight
To prove that we can and will work hard
That we can accomplish what we need in school
To succeed in life
To grow up
Strong and ready for whatever and wherever life takes us
We fight For our worlds future
Because we are it
We are the next generation
We will teach the next to fight too
We will make a difference
 
We will fight
Fight till we make our mark on this world
To make our character shine bright
To make sure that we as the next generation
And then following generation
Fight for what is right
 
                                   -Leslie Gitchell

 

Winners of 2008

Scholarship First Place Winner:  AZUCENA CASTILLO

Scholarship Second Place Winners:

 

VICTORIA TORRES

ADRIANNA BAEZA

Honorable Mentions:

Lema Todmia

Liliana Casillas

Mirna Garcia

Charlene A

Brittny Ray

 

 

 

TRUE LEADER TRUE HEART

To stand and fight

for what is right.

To give to those

who need it most.

To support the ones

who can't hold their own.

To care for all

and catch them, when they fall.

To know the truth

and never doubt it.

To never give in

and believe you can win.

To know when you're beaten

but keep going on.

To be a true leader

and have a true heart.

-Azucena Castillo

 

 

 

 

In loving memory of Danny Cagle

What am I?

To some men I am a weapon of mass destruction,

but to Danny Cagle I was his protector,

I was his partner,

I was a part of him.

Being with him through thick and thin,

there was nowhere that he was, where I wasn't.

Even when he rested I lay by his side within arms reach.

In times of trouble, when he awoke, I was ready with him.

In times when I wasn't needed,

he made his fellow comrades forget their troubles, their sadness, and their doubts.

He had a way of making everyone smile and forget their worries.

Anyone could see I was his pride by the way he held me in his grasp.

I always felt his love.

I was ready to fight no mattter when or where.

As his gun I knew my duty.

It was a big commitment to fill being Danny's gun.

He expected excellence every time and I gave it to him.

I perfomred for my soldier without hesitation.

I reacted instantly to command, to please my commander.

When the alarm bells rang we were the first to be ready.

During battle, I could see the hesitation in his eyes,

at the thought of having to take the life of another.

He did whatever was needed to put his fellow soldiers before him,

even if it meant risking his own life.

Each time I felt his strong finger press against my lever,

I was scared I wouldn't shoot fast enough, or shoot far enough.

But I always gave it may best, and each time we hit the target.

Danny knew my limits and yet he still pushed futher.

I could feel the adenaline through the beat of his pulse.
I spit out bullets as fast as Danny could pull the trigger.

In those moments, all that was important was his patriotism to his country.

The day came when he no longer needed me.

He didn't go home to his family,

he didn' go home to his friends,

he went to join his God.

After fulfilling his life's mission and doing all he could in this world,

he left us a brave and courageous soldier.

He was a friend to many,

a son, a brother,

and he will always be my hero.

-Victoria Torres

 

 

 

LEADERSHiP

 

BOLD STRONG CHARACTER iS WHAT A LEADER MUST POSSESS

 

ONE OF THESE QUALiTiES SHiNED WHEN YOU WERE PUT TO THE TEST

 

BEiNG BRAVE WHEN BACKED UP AGAiNST THE WALL

 

NEVER SHOWiNG FEAR AND ALWAYS STANDiNG TALL

 

HAViNG THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND FiGHT FOR WHAT'S RIGHT

 

NEVER BEiNG iNFLUENCED AND KEEPiNG YOUR GOALS iN SiGHT

 

BEING YOUR OWN PERSON AND HOLDiNG YOUR HEAD UP HiGH

 

WHETHER PASS OR FAiL ALWAYS GiViNG iT YOUR BEST TRY

 

BEiNG VOCAL SO YOUR VOiCE WOULD BE HEARD

 

RECRUTiNG BELiVERS WiTH EACH SPOKEN WORD

 

NOT HAViNG ENOUGH TiME TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT YOU COULD DO

 

THOUGH TO THiS COUNTRY YOU ALWAYS STAYED TRUE

 

A TRUE LEADER iS WHAT YOU HAVE BECOME

 

AND THE TiTLE OF HERO iS WHAT YOU HAVE WON

--Adrianna Baeza

 



Caring for all without judgement

Holding on tight to all of their dreams

Always believing in those who have been forgotten

Running through reality with hopes and beliefs

Anxious for what will happen next

Cold is not a description of their hearts

Teaching others to love and care

Earning the respect of all they meet

Running trhough reality with hopes and beliefs

Is the man that I see.

                                 -Lema Todmia

 

 

 

My Mother

 

She tells me no.

 

I tell her why

 

She says she's scared

 

That I might die.

 

I tell her

 

Don't worry

 

And it's okay.

 

She says it's not

 

That she is afraid.

 

I tell her don't be

 

She asks why.

 

I tell her, because I'm not going to die.

 

And if I do

 

Just to let you know

 

I will be in a better place because

 

I believe in what I fought for.

 

I am Daniel Cagle

 

And I am strong

 

I fight for what's right

 

And not for what's wrong.

 

This war is scarey

 

But it's what I wanted to do

 

Just remember I will always love you.

 

-Liliana Casillas

 

 

 

 

Danny Cagle

Courage Poem

I sat alone on a top of a breezy hill

staring of what was facing

forward at me.

People killing each other like if

there was nothing wrong about it.

With brawny fingers, Courage

gave me strength, to keep my head up high.

I felt him smile.

Soothingly, as he captivated

me in his encriclement.

        -Mirna Garcia

 

 

 

Daniel Cagle

You were a great leader

you started off young

then you grew up,

You fought for our country in the war

you are an inspiration to all of us

which makes you and undercover superstar

when you passed,

we though about you

and we decided to write about you

every year

we just want you to know

you will always be in our hearts

we will never forget you

so you are our poptart

        -Charlene A

 

 

 

Daniel Cagle

 

A leader to me,

is a person who is brave,

who could take the pain,

when you're hurting deep inside.

 

A leader to me

has a heart filled with gold

that makes it so strong it will never break.

 

But what's a leader without character.

 

A character to me

has the motivation

to do anything.

the strength to go strong on.

 

A character to me

has a heart filled with gold.

That makes it so strong

it will never break.

 

But the Truth is to be a leader

you have to have

character and to

have character

you have to have

Heart.

 

Thats what a

leader and a character

are to me.

 

                -Brittny Ray