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Ridgewood Student Wins Essay Contest

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 26, 2008

Chosen from a pool of more than 1,000 students, Ridgewood High School's William Velasquez is one of three winners of the state's Hispanic Heritage Month student essay contest.

The contest, sponsored by the state Department of Education and Gov. Charlie Crist, asked students to discuss how Florida's Hispanic legacy can help build the state's economy.

The 17-year-old from New Port Richey gets a full four-year tuition scholarship from the Florida Pre-Paid College Foundation to the Florida state college of his choice and a laptop.

For the Ridgewood senior, though, the true benefit was putting across a message.

"Since immigration is a big issue politically, I wanted to convey the sympathy I felt for the issue," he said. "I wanted to say that people from other countries do a lot of good in America."

Immigration is personal for Velasquez. His parents, Nivia and Humberto, came from El Salvador in the early 1980s.

"They always taught me never to take things for granted and to be glad to be here," he said.

Velasquez is a member of the National Honor Society and the Quill and Scroll writer's honor society. He's also the president of his school's French Club and captain of the soccer team.

Velasquez says many Hispanics share his strong work ethic.

"In my essay I wanted to break the stereotypes of the Hispanic culture," he said. "I wanted to say that many of them are hard-working and help out the country."

Velasquez and his family met Crist at the governor's mansion in Tallahassee.

"The governor told me he was glad to know there were students like me," he said. "He said that students like me are proof that Florida has a bright future ahead."

Velasquez plans to attend the University of South Florida and study architecture.

For information on Florida's Hispanic heritage, go to www.FloridaHispanic Heritage.com.

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