Senior Diego Del Villar is well known for his plethora of leadership roles around the school including Senior Class President, FCA Vice President and co-founder, NHS President, Latinos Unidos President, Site Council member, Link Crew member, varsity soccer player (soccer club VP), varsity track distance runner, and swim team captain (swim club president). He is also an active member of the Tucson community, participating frequently in leading youth at his church and in programs such as KEYS and STAR-Lab – both research internships at the U of A.

All of Diego’s clubs and involvements have impacted both Diego and our school in different areas. Student Council has helped him improve his leadership and communication skills. Latinos Unidos “celebrates and connects students at Sahuaro High School to bring Latino culture and influence onto the campus,” Diego shared. Another big change for Diego this year was the improvement of the National Honor Society (NHS) on the Sahuaro campus. Last year, under the previous sponsor, NHS was, according to Diego, “very under the shadows.” After Diego was inspired to find a new sponsor, Mr. Hemmo, the club flourished and now holds meetings twice a month.

This summer, Diego was accepted to and attended a very prestigious research internship at the University of Arizona – called KEYS – Keep Engaging Youth in Science. After completing his in-depth research and presenting it to all who attended the showcase, Diego was given the opportunity to continue his project with the university through a program called STAR-Lab (Students Taking Advantage of Research), and he will eventually use this project to compete in SARSEF – Southern Arizona Research, Science, and Engineering Foundation.

After finishing high school, Diego wants to go to a school in California or the U of A to study architecture. Diego’s dream of being an architect stems from the idea of being a “mediator between the client and the design.” He strives to be able to help people translate their ideas into reality, while including some of his favorite things – math, science, design, and art. Diego also feels that “…architecture is a way to connect people, a way to put together something that in the long run, will help and benefit the community around it.”

While he would love to study in California, he also feels like, “the school doesn’t make the student. The student makes the school,” and that many people care far too much about the school they are planning on attending instead of getting the best out of every opportunity that they are given.

Diego’s biggest inspiration in his life is his deeply rooted faith in God. It drives, “whatever I do, everything that I do. My ambition revolves in loving one another and doing the best for each other.” He also understands that we don’t always accomplish this goal, but commented that “what is nice at the end of the day is that we know we tried and we know we can continue growing as people. We live and then we learn. There will be mistakes we learn along the way, but those mistakes, if they weren’t made, then you’re not going to be someone with much success.”

Another part of the mentality Diego carries is based on the famous Muhammad Ali quote: “You don’t lose if you get knocked down; you lose if you stay down” which he carries into many aspects of his life. Whatever happens in his life, his goal is to always keep going, but never on your own. “I believe that without the help of our community, our friends, our family members, we’re not going to be able to be who we are.”

Thanks to Diego, members of the Sahuaro community can become who they are meant to be – the best version of themselves. Sahuaro could use more people like him, and his presence will be greatly missed after he graduates, but students and staff alike will know that he is taking everything he learned as a leader and a person out into the world.