By Sarah Faulkner

Senior Renzo Viccina recently received the Gold Award for Innovation and Technology from the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards. He said that there were three medals: bronze, silver and gold. The awards are based on academic performance and submitted essays. The award applies to all colleges and helps pay for tuition.

“When I found out I got the award I felt shocked and really happy – I couldn’t believe it,” Renzo said, grinning. There was an awards ceremony, and Renzo met Cristian Arcega, who was a member of the 2004 award-winning Carl Hayden High School Robotics Team. “It was a great honor to meet him- he is an inspiration to Latinos who want to succeed here in the U.S.,” he said after the ceremony.

Renzo hopes to go to Stanford or Barrett Honors College, at ASU.