Graduate
of the Month, July of 2005
 |
Glendale is located on the Western
edge of Phoenix. "The basis of Glendale's economic
progress throughout its 100 year history as a community
might be best summed up by two words: water and
transportation. More than just supporting the usual
needs of the city's population, water actually created
Glendale's industry. The Arizona Canal and Roosevelt
Dam assured a stable water supply and freedom from
the effects of droughts and floods. As a result
of these water sources, Glendale became an agricultural
Mecca, specializing in lettuce, melons, sugar beets,
and cotton.Phoenix's founder, a saloon brawler and
drug addict named Jack Swilling, re-excavated a
network of prehistoric Hohokam Indian canals that
irrigated thousands of acres of farmland along the
Salt River. His efforts also helped give birth to
Southeast Valley Settlements that became the cities
of Tempe and Mesa. Unfortunately, for the northern
and western portions of the Salt River Valley, no
Indian Canals were there to restore. So the lands
that make up Northwest Phoenix, Glendale and Peoria
today remained raw desert more than 15 years after
the East Valley cities had already been settled.
For the barren Northwest Valley to come to life,
it, too, needed that all-powerful resource--water."
A great idea was soon born to build a canal 44 miles
long from its heading on the Salt River in May 1885."
Another powerful resource in the
Glendale area is none other than our own Jessica Szczepaniec.
Jessica graduated from Citizens’ High School
back in April of 2004 with an impressive 3.75 GPA.
Jessica could be considered a hybrid student. She
wanted to home school and attend public high school.
She did just that. She took core courses from us and
took electives from her local high school. This allowed
her to work at her own pace for the tough classes
and attend school for the easier group paced offerings.
Jessica’s love of track related athletics kept
her in the mainstream educational system. Jessica
was fortunate that her high school allowed her to
compete in track and cross country while earning a
diploma from Citizens’.Jessica was so successful
that her younger sister is now a Citizens’ student
too. Jessica is pursuing her bachelor’s degree.
She started with Glendale Community College and will
most likely be moving on to ASU soon. If you visit
the greater Phoenix area look for a Sun Devil running
by you on her way to greatness.
And speaking of greatness… Jessica
is Citizens’ High School Graduate of the Month
for July 2005 |
