FILIPINO-AMERICAN Lourdes Victoria H. Ramos, daughter of Luischito G. Ramos and Sonia Hipolito, bested 574 students of Moore High School in Oklahoma City to rank “Top One.” She was set to deliver the valedictorian speech at their graduation on May 19, 2006. Lourdes or LV blew two other contenders vying for the scholastic honor by maintaining straight A grades. This is nothing new to the young over achiever. LV has never received a grade lower than B since the first grade. Her scholastic trophies, awards, plaques, medals, certificates, accolades and laudatory letters reflecting her brilliance and will to excel are enough to fill an entire room.

LV was born on January 7, 1986, at the US Air Force Hospital, Royal Air Force Lakenheath Air Base, in England. The youngest of four children, LV has received monetary grants and awards from state and local government including business sponsored programs for achieving top honors. She received $500 from the National Honor Society and was given $2,000 by the Moore High School Administration for being Valedictorian of Class 2005. She secured an ACT score of 33 (out of a possible 36) guaranteeing a scholastic grant from a school of her choice. She will be awarded $2,000 yearly by the University of Oklahoma (OU) as an Honors Scholar in addition to the $1,000 OU Opportunity Scholarship. She shone even outside the classroom. For her “Icing on the Cake,” LV received $1,500 from the Defense Commissary Agency, and was the recipient of $1,500 from Southwest Airline’s Scholarship Program.

Clearly, may pinagmanahan si LV. She is the granddaughter of Alejandro S. and Celia G. Ramos. Her lolo Andoy was a medaled Philippine Army Major retiring from the Corps of Engineer. In the US, he worked as a Civil Engineer consultant for the Dept. of Commerce, Parks and Recreation. Her daddy, Chito, was also a bemedaled student during his elementary and high school years at the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines. Her elder sister, LC, graduated valedictorian of the Midwest City High School in 1994. She is also the niece of Tess Ramos of Katram Properties in Seattle.

What LV dearly anticipates now are the cash gifts she’ll be receiving from Mom and Dad, her other relatives and especially, from her ninongs and ninangs. LV is now eyeing a career as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force.

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