CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It was a special moment for students and their families at Corpus Christi Independent School District's 12th annual First in Family ceremony on Wednesday.
CCISD recognized more than 100 students who are the first in their family to graduate from high school. The ceremony was held at Veterans Memorial High School as the audience watched their kids walk the stage.
This comes as students will walk at their own school's graduation ceremony in just a few weeks.
CCISD Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez said the students are breaking the cycle in their family of not graduating, which is why they were honored on Wednesday.
"Tonight, we honor the perseverance, the dedication that they and their families have made to get to this point," Hernandez said.
The audience was filled with family members proudly supporting their kids who will walk the graduation stage for the first time. About 167 students were recognized by CCISD on Wednesday, including student speaker and Harold T. Branch Academy Senior Ashlyn Sosa.
"Being able to say that you were able to break a cycle of generations, or people in your own family, from not graduating definitely pushed me to get where I am today," Sosa said.
Sosa was born in El Paso and raised in Corpus Christi. She is the first in her family to graduate high school and also took college courses there. She earned certificates from Del Mar College and will attend that ceremony on May 17. She will also graduate from high school the next day. During her speech, she talked about why she wants to become a teacher.
"To have the idea to become a teacher and inspire others later on in future generations has always been something that I always wanted to happen," Sosa said.
Sosa plans to start college at Del Mar College then transfer to Texas A&M University-Kingsville later. She said she is interested in both education and engineering.
Hernandez added that thanks to a partnership with Citgo, 15 graduates recognized on Wednesday were awarded $1,000 scholarships. He said that helps give kids an advantage when they move on to what is next for them.
"Whether it's military, workforce, community college, four-year university, we as parents know, and as educators, that every little bit helps for them in that next chapter," Hernandez said.
Sosa will become the first high school graduate in her family on May 18.