For the first time in history, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) nominated two cadets from our school’s very own criminal justice academy for the PBSO Cadet of the Year. Amy Soria Galvarro and Evelin Nino Lagunas, both seniors at Sanataluces High School, received the Outstanding Leadership Award. This week I got to interview both cadets regarding their accomplishment.
What is this award?
“So the PPSO Leadership Award is only usually given to one cadet every year from a criminal justice field or a school with a cadet program that has a PBSO. However this year, Evelin and I were the first two to get chosen from one singular academy, and it’s just a recognition of how much Evelin and I have been leaders this whole past year. It also gives us a way into PBSO and gives us connections in PBSO,” said Amy.
What does this award mean to you?
“This award means that all the dedication I put into this academy has truly paid off, and it’s a great honor to be recognized and know that my hard work isn’t going to waste, and that people see that my work is worth something,” said Evelin.
“I have to agree. It kind of shows my dedication and hard work the past four years and kind of represents how much I love this academy and truly and honor it, it’s a great achievement in my life to receive this award,” said Amy.
Who has been a role model for you, and did they play a part in you winning this award?
“A role model for me would be my mom, because she is such a dedicated woman and puts 100% into everything she does, whether it’s something big or small. So I would say my mom definitely had a part in how I dedicated myself to my studies, to this academy,” Evelin said.
“I would also say my mom, growing up, she’s always been providing everything for us and gives us the best, even though she might be struggling sometimes. She always puts her best face on for me and my siblings. So, she’s been a great impact in this award, because every time I work in criminal justice or anything I have to do, I always think of how she always tries her best for me, so I want to do the same for her,” said Amy.
How do you prioritize your workload and responsibilities, balancing academics, and cadet commitments?
“I balance it by having a support system. So this includes my family and my friends, and keeping in touch with my teachers, making sure that my academics are always coming first, ’cause that’s what’s gonna help me graduate. So I always prioritize my studies and then, after that, the Criminal Justice Academy. I balance it by having a schedule and knowing what my priorities are and what they aren’t every day,” said Evelin.
“For me, I would have to say planning my weeks, or at least planning my days ahead of time. Having so many activities, including Criminal Justice, it is a lot of work, especially being a leader. So, if you plan ahead and manage your time very well, it is all very manageable. But with the help of my teachers, my classmates and my family and friends, their encouragement really does help me be able to manage everything that I do,” said Amy.
What was your reaction to winning this award, how did others react?
“I had a lot of excitement. It was a great honor, so I was really excited that I won the award. I was just really happy. There’s no other way to explain it besides being happy. It’s just a great recognition, not just by my school, and by my family, but by the whole PBSO, which is so major, and so it was very exciting,” said Evelin.
“I was very excited when I heard about it. Although I kind of knew, in a way, that hard work does pay off, this really did show that, and the way others reacted, they weren’t very surprised, but they were still excited for me. But either way, this award wasn’t just given randomly, it was earned by the both of us,” Amy said.
