Leading the way In addition to being a member of National Honor Society, president of OU Upward Bound and on U.S. Grant’s track, cross country and wrestling teams, Ruiz is known among his peers for his academic discipline and ambition. He says his experience as an immigrant has pushed him to see the probable and make it possible. Ruiz’ conversation with O'Rourke, which led to interviews with KOCO 5, Telemundo and The Oklahoman , so inspired U.S. Grant assistant principal Kandy Hunt that she implored the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Forward Thinking Leadership Development Program to consider his admittance. The program, lead by Sam Presti and open to sophomores and juniors, has mentored more than 500 students from U.S. Grant, John Marshall, Centennial and Star Spencer High Schools over the last nine years. Ruiz was accepted as the first senior in the program. The tenacious teen says he gained a better understanding of the leadership tools he already possesses and how to use his strengths to complement and work with others.
Being undocumented Ruiz has long known that because he is a DREAMer (named after the DREAM Act addressing immigration policy), brought to the United States illegally as a child, that there would be certain opportunities unavailable to him. Ruiz was three days away from becoming eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, before it was rescinded by the Trump administration in September 2017. DACA allowed young undocumented immigrants to receive work permits and exemption from deportation. Recipients can get a driver’s license, pursue their educations and pay taxes. While DACA has never provided a path to U.S. citizenship, DREAMers can receive temporary legal status if they graduate from high school or are honorably discharged from the military and pass a background check. DACA has been criticized because President Obama created it by executive order, while opponents argue that immigration policy is the responsibility of Congress, a key reason cited by President Trump in rescinding the
“The group was so diverse, so you realized you don’t have to have every correct answer or ability as a leader,” said Ruiz. “It all depends on how you use the abilities you have accumulated and grown along the way.” Continuing his trend to stand for what is right, even if unpopular, Ruiz penned a letter to his classmates soon after the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools for the remainder of his senior year and meant the cancellation of traditions like prom and graduation. He challenged his classmates to rethink their perspectives, count their blessings and focus on their positive futures. “I cherish that my classmates took time to read it and decided to make the best of quarantine and our situation,” said Ruiz. Ruiz was named U.S. Grant’s 2020 Student of the Year. “It’s not just the title and the fact that my principal and staff agreed I should be representative of Grant, it really speaks upon believing in yourself and your dreams,” said Ruiz. “I’m an undocumented student reaching many goals, doing something far beyond what stereotypes expect me to be.”
Supporting Change– For the Better
Ten-year-old Brixton Ison volunteers every Friday night at Celebrate Recovery Memorial Road Church of Christ. Whether setting a dining table, distributing informational material, or preparing a dish for a family-friendly dinner, his passion for helping others is a prime example of why we’re inspired by kids like Brixton . At Kimray, our mission is to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Brixton exemplifies this by living out that mission in the service he provides to his community. And that’s The Kimray Way.
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