Senior Alfred Vargas, Sweetwater Union High School’s valedictorian of the class of 2019, will speak at his graduation ceremony, to be held June 7 at Southwestern College.
Vargas has already started to prepare his speech.
“My speech will be a message — to maintain our faith, and our faith can impact the way we act around each other and how we progress as humans,” said Vargas, 18. “I’m Muslim.”
Vargas, an athlete who participates in boxing outside of school and track, and a scholar, made the top of his class of 620 academically with a 4.52 GPA. 
“I’ve been boxing since I was 7,” he said. “I’m hoping to box in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.” Vargas has won numerous boxing titles.
He found out he was the valedictorian when he was studying.
“I was in my English class and we were studying,” said Vargas. “Principal Maribel Gavin said my name and that I was valedictorian.”
The first person he called was his mother.
“I called my mom because all the work she put in. She is the one I dedicate this reward to,” said Vargas.
“I lived in Mexico my first three years of life and then my mom, sister and I moved to the United States about 2003-2004.”
Assistant Principal Alex Salazar considers Vargas a role model for other students.
“Last year, Alfred was a part of the science fair contest at Otay Ranch High,” said Salazar.
“He and his sister Audrey won the science fair contest and competed at the state level.
That’s when he got on my radar. He’s a role model.”
His plans after graduation include college.
“I’m a STEM type of person, I plan on majoring in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley,” he said. “I got the acceptance email April 24.” Vargas will be starting before the fall, July 8, in summer school.
Vargas already has UC Berkeley sweatshirts. He is switching mascots from the Red Devils to the Cal Golden Bear.
“It’s an honor to have the Golden Bear mascot,” he said. “I already have my Cal gear sweatshirts. UC Berkeley has been my dream school since the fifth grade.” Vargas attended Palmer Way Elementary from kindergardten through sixth grade, National City Middle School, then Sweetwater Union High School.
“I plan to continue researching water purification and sustainable generation of electricity to help underdeveloped communities and nations,” he said.
His graduation party will be at his grandmother’s house.
“I’m having a party at my grandma’s house to show my gratitude for my family’s support and friends as well,” he said.
A teacher he wanted to recognize who helped him achieve his goals was Ellen Hall.
“Miss Ellen Hall, she’s an advanced placement English teacher,” he said, “She was like another mother to me sharing her wisdom and giving great advice.”
Vargas’s idea of a graduation gift is not a new car.
“I didn’t ask for anything for a graduation gift, giving the speech is a gift to my family, students and supporters,” he said. “That is the greatest gift I can have.”
The school’s salutatorian was Ronan Esperanza with a 4.51 GPA.
Sweetwater High School’s total student population is a little under 2,600, according to Salazar.
