Lake County Gazette

Manny Gomez, a tenth-grader at Westminster High School, is recognized by his teachers and peers as a thoughtful, driven, and curious student. Having been part of the Westminster Public Schools community since preschool, Manny's educational journey has taken him through ECC, Sunset Ridge, Shaw Heights, and now Westminster High School.

"I see Westminster Public Schools as a resource I can use to set up my life before I know exactly what to do with it," Manny said. He is maximizing this opportunity by building a strong academic foundation and exploring future possibilities in hospitality and business.

Manny aims to attend business school and has aspirations for graduate studies to ensure he is "verified for whatever [he's] trying to do. " He possesses a particular interest in the hospitality industry and plans to join the culinary program next year, inspired by his brother Efrain.

Although he has considered colleges as far away as Hawaii, Manny remains practical about tuition costs and affordability. Regardless of his final choice, his commitment to education is unwavering: "I want to get as much education as I can first. "

Manny's interests are diverse. He enjoys baseball, listens to indie music with Brent Faiyaz being his most-listened-to artist, and currently has "Stay Down" by Brent Faiyaz on repeat. His favorite movie is The Sandlot; he enjoys reading Harry Potter books; favors alligators as his preferred animal; wishes for time travel as a superpower; and holds Jessica Coulter, his counselor, in high regard: "She’s put up with a lot but she’s always there to listen. "

When asked what WPS means to him, Manny replied: "It’s all about our community. "

The school proudly acknowledges Manny Gomez not only for his academic achievements but also for his potential in various fields including music.