Vanessa Prado. Photo courtesy of El Concilio Family Services
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Services 2014 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Saturday, May 31 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Registration is now closed. Click here or call 805-486-9777 for more information.
Amigos805 staff reports
Vanessa Prado, a graduate of Hueneme High School, was born in San Dimas, lived in Chino Hills before moving to Port Hueneme.
She is a graduate of Hueneme High School and is the commanding officer of the Hueneme High Navy Junior ROTC union that was awarded a four-year $180,000 Navy ROTC scholarship.Prado was one of 10 students in the Southern California/Arizona area chosen to receive the award.
Prado also gives back to her community by volunteering numerous hours of service to the Oxnard Police Department’s Kid Safety Program, the Oxnard Alzheimer’s Association, Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Annual Toy Drive.
She also helps her parents with the family business. She now to attends Norwich University, a military college in Northfield, Vermont.
Retired U.S. Navy Commander John Mills, who teaches Navy ROTC at Hueneme High School, wrote in a nomination letter that Prado has a bright future in the Navy. “I’ve been doing this for 13 years and she’s in the top three of all the students I have taught. She has those leadership skills necessary for the Navy of the 21st century. She leads by example and never complains. She’s extremely good in motivating others into moving. She’s a very patriotic individual, very hardworking. I’ve never had a high school student as good at teaching other students.”
For more information on El Concilio’s programs and services, visit www.elconciliofs.org or call 805-486-9777.