Santa Ana : School Administrators Honor Student Leader

When Mario Bustos started elementary school, he faced long odds against succeeding: He spoke only Spanish and his father died when he was a baby, leaving his mother alone to raise him and nine siblings.

Today however, Bustos is first in his class at Santa Ana High School, where he is also student body president. He now writes poetry in English and Spanish.

In recognition of his achievements, Bustos was recently honored by the California School Administrators Assn. as one of 18 youngsters statewide who typify student success stories, said association spokesman Tom DeLapp.

The association recently took out a full-page ad in its newspaper, EDCAL, featuring a photo of Mario under the headline, “School gave him two languages to call his own.”

His success story will also be highlighted during a narrated slide show at the association’s annual conference later this month, DeLapp said.

Bustos said he was as pleased by the award as he was surprised.

“I didn’t even know I was up for it and all of a sudden my principal called me out of class and said, ‘Look you’re in the newspaper,’ ” he said. “It feels great that you receive recognition for all your hard work.”

Lewis Bratcher, principal of Santa Ana High, praised Mario as a natural leader who is universally respected by school staff and his peers.

“He’s just a super kid. He’s not an outspoken young man. He’s quiet and reserved, but when he speaks people listen.”