A true leader: Danielle Guerra chosen as Stayton’s Future First Citizen

By Mary Owen

Stayton High School’s 2013 Future First Citizen Danielle Guerra has high aspirations for her future.

“She has plans to continue her education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and major in global security and intelligence studies with a career goal of working in counterintelligence and national security,” said Guerra’s counselor, Jan Fiedler.

Guerra, a senior, will graduate with honors, which means that she has at least a 3.5 grade point average and has taken a minimum of 10 honors classes.

“I am so honored to be named Future First Citizen,” Guerra said. “My older brother was given this award when he was a senior, and I remember thinking how cool it was that he was being recognized for all of his work in the community and hoping that I could make a difference like that one day.”

Guerra has participated in student government during her four years of high school, serving as community service director for two years as well as junior and senior class president.

“She has helped to plan events such as blood drives and canned food drives that have helped the school and community,” Fiedler said. “She is a very active young lady. She has been in concert choir for three years and National Honor Society for two years. She has also been active in Future Business Leaders of America and was a state qualifier her sophomore year. It is obvious that peers look to Danielle as a true leader.”

Guerra views running canned food drives as a highlight of her volunteering, saying she loves “seeing how much the food that we collect contributes to the food bank.”

A four-year member of the Stayton Highlights Dance Team, Guerra has served as a captain for the past two years.

“Some of my greatest accomplishments in striving toward my future include being a captain and president, getting good grades, and I feel like this award is a huge accomplishment,” Guerra said.

Fiedler said teachers describe Guerra as “always having a positive attitude and being fun-loving and caring.”

“When she served as a stat girl for football, the coaches stated that she was their most reliable and dependable stat girl, and that she has a strong work ethic,” Fiedler said. “She is an incredibly talented and compassionate young lady and comes from a very supportive family.”

“The credit for my success definitely goes to my amazing support system,” Guerra said. “My family, friends, teachers and coaches have all pushed me to be my best and help me up when I fall.”

Fielder called Guerra a great representative for Stayton High School and the community.

“She is not only a ‘future first citizen,’ but qualifies to be a present day ‘first citizen,’” Fiedler said.