The Alcorn Career & Technology Center is proud to recognize Emmanuel Velazquez, a sophomore from Alcorn Central High School and second-year Engineering student, as the 2025-2026 ACTC Student of the Year.
Each year, ACTC instructors select one outstanding student from each of the 13 programs to be recognized as their program’s Overall Student of the Year. This year, 10 students chose to participate in the final interview process, where they met with an esteemed panel of community leaders and professionals who carefully selected the overall ACTC Student of the Year.
Among a group of exceptional students, Emmanuel stood out for his accomplishments, leadership, humility, and inspiring personal journey.
As only a 10th grader, Emmanuel has already earned both his OSHA 10 Hour General Industry Certification and passed the SOLIDWORKS Design Associate Certification (CSWA) Exam- achievements that demonstrate both his technical skill and dedication to the engineering field.
When asked what inspired him to pursue engineering, Emmanuel immediately pointed to his family.
“I decided to take engineering because my dad is an engineer at Caterpillar. I have always looked up to him and how successful he is. He is my role model,” Emmanuel shared. “My mom also studied engineering, and they actually met in college with the shared interest. She was also an engineering teacher in Mexico. They have both played a big role in my interest in engineering.”
Emmanuel’s passion for learning and career preparation has flourished in ACTC’s Engineering program, led by Instructor, Alison Wade.
“This program has given me experience with software that I could use in future jobs and hands-on learning opportunities with machinery,” he said.
Although engineering is already a demanding field of study, Emmanuel is also heavily involved at school. He participates in band at Alcorn Central, where he plays trombone and percussion, and he will serve as drum major during the upcoming marching season. He also participates in archery and plans to explore additional extracurricular opportunities next year.
One aspect of ACTC that Emmanuel especially values is the opportunity to collaborate with students from across the county.
“I really like that other schools come together and it is people that you do not see every day,” he said. “That is the way it will be one day at work. You will work together with people from different places who share the same interests.”
During his Student of the Year interview, Emmanuel also shared his experience of English being his second language - something that deeply impressed the interview panel.
Originally from Mexico, Emmanuel moved to the United States in the eighth grade. Though the transition could have been challenging, he credits his parents and early education for helping prepare him for success.
“I was privileged to go to a private school in Mexico and have been learning English since first grade,” Emmanuel explained. “My parents played a big role in that too. After moving to The United States, they would not let me play video games or watch movies in Spanish. I had to watch them in English to learn.”
Even now, Emmanuel says he continues learning every day, especially through engineering terminology and technical vocabulary.
“It has been a good journey to get here and still is a good journey,” he said.
Despite his many accomplishments, Emmanuel remains humble and grateful for the people who have supported him along the way.
“I was so excited for this honor,” he said. “With English as my second language, I felt like I may have stumbled a little bit in the interview, but I feel so good about this and am very thankful. I know it is hard work paid off.”
He credits his parents and Engineering instructor Mrs. Wade for constantly encouraging him to challenge himself and pursue opportunities like the OSHA 10 and SOLIDWORKS certifications.
“Mrs. Wade was always there encouraging me when I thought I could not do it,” Emmanuel said. “I am very thankful for the vo-tech and especially Mrs. Wade.”
Looking toward the future, Emmanuel plans to continue studying engineering after high school by attending Northeast Mississippi Community College before transferring to a four-year university. He hopes to one day work as an engineer at Caterpillar, following in his father’s footsteps, and is currently interested in Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering.
When asked what advice he would give students considering ACTC and the Engineering program, his answer was simple:
“TAKE IT!”
Emmanuel Velazquez represents the very best of ACTC - hard work, determination, leadership, perseverance, and a passion for learning. ACTC is proud to celebrate his accomplishments and looks forward to seeing the incredible impact he will make in the future. 
