Your Incredible Neighbors: New graduate builds on community service

Victoria Wilson, a recent Sahuarita High School graduate, is heading to the University of Arizona this fall, building upon a strong foundation of volunteer and work experiences.

“I’m really excited” to start at UA in August, says Wilson, 18, who plans a double major in math and computer science.

This summer, she is working full-time at Green Valley’s Bright Now Dental office, where she served as an intern this past year through her high school’s PIE (Professional Internship Experience) program.

“I work five days week” as an assistant to the secretary, Wilson says.

Her duties include confirming patient appointments, calling insurance companies and helping with the phones and filing.

“I love it. Everyone is so nice and helpful. And I’m getting a good outlook on what a professional job is like,” she says.

In addition to her internship, Wilson was a founding member this year of the Sahuarita Teen Advisory Council, which the Town Council formed to gain input from local teenagers.

STAC, as it is called, “works with the Town Council and helps teens get a voice,” Wilson explains.

Its projects this past year included sponsoring a Battle of Bands at the new municipal complex in March and cleaning up parts of the town’s Anamax Park. STAC members also were able to attend a youth leadership conference last fall in Scottsdale.

Serving with that group “opened my eyes to a different environment,” Wilson says.

“We are the future of this town, and we need to hear from (residents and town officials) and not be clueless (about) what the town does for us and what we can do for them,” she says.

Wilson this year also was a student member of the S.T.O.P. (Sahuarita Team Offers Prevention) committee, which champions programs for local youths and sponsors the annual all-night graduation party in May at Sahuarita High School.

“My friend’s mom was chairwoman of Grad Night, so I joined to help make it extra special this year,” Wilson says.

The students helped check out a DJ for the party, came up with the casino theme for the event and suggested the hypnotist that performed that night.

Several days before the May 22 graduation and party, Wilson was looking forward to a fun Grad Night different from previous years.

Instead of carnival-style rides, the casino-night club atmosphere was set to be “new and great” and open only to upperclassmen this time, she explained.

“It’s been great to be part of Grad Night,” an event that helps new high school graduates celebrate safely and live to see the sunrise, Wilson says.

“S.T.O.P. does make a difference,” she points out.

Wilson also took part this year in a seat-belt education program aimed at teenage drivers following two tragic teen fatalities this past school year.

“Click and Ticket” involved S.T.O.P., STAC, the Green Valley Fire District and Sahuarita Police Department.

During unannounced checks at the high school, student drivers wearing their seat belts would get a ticket from GVFD or SPD officers that made them eligible to win $250 in a drawing.

“It was a really good cause, and it hit home” following the traffic fatalities, Wilson noted.

She has lived in Sahuarita for three years with her parents, Eileen and Bob Wilson.

She also has two older sisters living in Las Vegas, and she has resided in Tucson, New York and Mexico’s Rocky Point community, also known as Puerto Penasco.

According to Marty Moreno, S.T.O.P. chairwoman and member of the Sahuarita Town Council, Wilson “has total commitment to task completion.

She maintains excellent grades, volunteers and works. It has been an honor working with such a wonderful young lady.”

Making a Difference features folks who help make Sahuarita a great place to live. To recommend someone for this weekly series, call Karen Walenga at 547-9739, e-mail to kwalenga@gvnews.com or FAX to 625-1603.