Valley Vista High School student Sabrina Lara recently earned the National Hispanic Recognition Award from the College Board National Recognition Programs for excelling in college board assessments and school work.

Lara received the academic award, which honors Hispanic American students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more Advanced Placement Exams.

Lara is a senior in the top one percent of her class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and is the president of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America campus club.

After graduation, she aspires to attend a university in California and major in business management, attend culinary school and become a pastry chef. Lara stated that she enjoys giving back to the community through volunteering when she has time. Her love for baking has even inspired her to create a social media account to share her creations.

The College Board National Recognition Program grants underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process.

“We want to honor the hard work of these students through the College Board National Recognition Programs. This program creates a way for colleges and scholarship programs to connect directly with underrepresented students who they are hoping to reach,” stated Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture. “We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor and it helps them plan for their big future.”