34th Annual Youth of the Month Program
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
LAREDO (News Release) – Overcast skies, light rain, and COVID measures did not stop Laredo Sector Border Patrol from recognizing the Youth of the Month honorees for the 2020-2021 school year with a vehicle parade held at the Outlet Shoppes of Laredo parking lot.
On Wednesday, May 12, Laredo Sector Border Patrol along with community partners, educators, and family came together to celebrate the incredible achievements and accomplishments of 88 high school seniors, who were honored as Laredo Sector Youth of the Month for the 2021 school year.
For the past 33 years, a Youth of the Month ceremony has been held monthly at a different Laredo high school to recognize the students but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the monthly events were put on-hold for the 2020-2021 school year. This year, following COVID-19 safety precautions, Laredo Sector, its community partners, and high schools’ faculty and staff, held a parade extravaganza to honor the students and give them the recognition they deserve. A total of 88 high school seniors were recognized for the 2020-2021 school. Various Border Patrol assets including the Horse Patrol, All-Terrain Vehicles, Marine Units, Bike Patrol, and others lined the parade route to applaud the accomplishments of these honorees.
Community Partners included The Outlet Shoppes of Laredo, Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Joe Jackson Funeral Chapels, Chick-fil-A, Royal Laser Carwash, AwardmasterZ, McDonald’s of Laredo, Dr. CC’s Tooth Factory, IBC Bank, Webb County Commissioner Rosaura “Wawi” Tijerina, Laredo FOX/Univision Laredo were on hand or contributed items to celebrate the honorees.
Representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Texas Senator Judith Zaffirini, and State Representatives Richard Pena Raymond and Tracy O. King were present to cheer and gift special mementos to the honorees as they drove by during the parade.
Through the Youth of the Month program, Laredo Sector and community partners have recognized Laredo’s top high school seniors for 34 years. At the end of the school year, 11 Youth of the Month recipients, one from each campus, are considered for the prestigious Border Patrol Youth of the Year award which will be announced later this month.
Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Carl E. Landrum recognized the nominees for the Youth of the Year.
Not pictured were the nominees from J.W. Nixon High School and United High School.