Meet Ernesto Calleros, a 2010 graduate of Galena Park High School, currently working on his PhD in Mathematics at Rice University. Ernesto came to the United States from Mexico in middle school with no English, but this did not stop him from achieving success. He worked arduously to learn the language and excelled academically in the six years he attended schools in GPISD. While attending Galena Park High School, he received numerous awards, including the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, and he graduated with honors, ranking fourth in his class.  

Ernesto attributes his college success to the Pre-AP and AP program offered at Galena Park High School. He believes these classes gave him a strong foundation and prepared him for the rigorous courses he has taken in college. He believes none of this would have been possible without the educators who paved the way to his success. Some of the educators who influenced him most were Mrs. Ledwith, Mrs. Stephens, Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Wagonner, Mrs. Calderon, Mrs. Robinette, Mrs. Feliciano, Mr. Richard, Mrs. Anderson, and Mrs. Cawood. 

Ernesto believes strongly in being involved and giving back to his community. He tutors elementary students in math and science and mentors high school seniors. He also assists high school students by guiding them through the scholarship process, helping them pass AP exams, and providing them with tips for college essay writing. When he is not receiving prestigious awards such as the Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, he enjoys dancing. Currently, Ernesto is a member of the Rice University dance group, known as the Rice Salseros. The organizations and community service projects Ernesto has participated in have helped him develop valuable leadership skills and taught him the importance of giving back.

Ernesto’s future plans include becoming a full-time professor at the university level and continuing research in mathematics. He plans to create and run university programs that introduce students to advanced math topics early in their education and encourage them to conduct research at the graduate level.  

GPISD is proud of Ernesto, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for such an ambitious young scholar.