The applause inside the auditorium was loud the day Taly Ordonez was named Class of 2024 Valedictorian. But if you asked her about that moment, she would likely tell you about her family.
She would tell you about being the first in her family to attend college. As the first person in her family to attend college, Taly has always understood that her education carries meaning beyond herself. It represents sacrifice. Faith. Long hours. Big hopes whispered across kitchen tables. Great aspirations that Taly modeled for her siblings, also attending Freedom Prep Academy.
For Taly, the graduation stage was not a finish line. It was a beginning.
Her Freedom Prep journey started years earlier our FPA Parkrose campus in the fourth grade. She continued to our FPA Millbranch campus and later to FPA High School at Brownlee, growing up in a network that consistently spoke one clear message: college is possible.
At FPA, conversations about higher education are not reserved for senior year. They begin early as young as kindergarten. They are reinforced often. They are celebrated loudly. From the classroom to field lessons – our FPA students learn about college at an early age.
Taly remembers the quarterly award pinning ceremonies when the entire school gathered to recognize student achievement. Those moments were more than assemblies. They were affirmations. They reminded students that hard work matters. That their names deserve to be called. That excellence belongs to them, too.
Our FPA culture shaped how Taly approached high school. She enrolled in every Advanced Placement (AP) course available at the time. She joined cheerleading for three years, participated in student government, and served as president of the National Honor Society her senior year. She balanced academics, leadership, and work experience with discipline that would later serve her well in college.
Behind the scenes, one staff member made a lasting impact. Former college counselor Mrs. M.L. Weber walked closely with Taly and her classmates through the college application process. From explaining the Common App to encouraging students to apply boldly to competitive universities, she helped expand what felt possible. With her guidance, Taly applied to top institutions across the country.
Then came a life-changing moment. Taly was named a Gates Scholar, becoming the first in Freedom Prep history. The scholarship covers the full cost of attendance at any four year university in the nation. What once felt financially overwhelming suddenly became attainable.
After visiting many colleges and universities, such as WashU, Vanderbilt, and Northwestern, Taly chose Washington University in St. Louis. Wash U’s nationally recognized pre-health program, hands-on research opportunities, and welcoming campus community made her decision clear. Today, she is a sophomore double-majoring in Public Health and Biology on the pre-dental track.
College has stretched her in new ways. Her first year brought rigorous coursework and moments of challenge. But Freedom Prep had already introduced her to rigor and resilience. Instead of retreating, she refined her study strategies, sought mentorship, and stayed the course.
And she is thriving.
Through the competitive St. Louis Fellows program, Taly partnered with a local nonprofit and later secured funding to expand heart health education and CPR awareness in the community. She will serve as a medical interpreter at a local clinic and as a research assistant at the WashU medical school this semester.
Taly has also found joy and belonging beyond the classroom. She is deeply involved in Latin dance, serving as a choreographer and external outreach chair for Carnaval, WashU’s annual Latino cultural showcase. She is a peer mentor for first-year students, helping them navigate their transition with confidence and care.
When asked what she is most proud of, she reflects on earning more than two million dollars in scholarships and becoming a Gates Scholar as a first-generation college student from immigrant parents. Achievements that once felt distant are now part of her lived story.
Still, she remains grounded.
Her advice to current Freedom Prep students is both practical and heartfelt. Take initiative. Apply for scholarships early. Get involved in sports, clubs, jobs, and service. Seek certifications if you are interested in healthcare. Volunteer consistently. Build relationships with mentors. Try. “It’s better to try than to regret not trying,” she shares.
Over the next five years, Taly looks forward to becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. She hopes her journey encourages other students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to believe that extraordinary outcomes are within reach.
Back in those award ceremonies at Freedom Prep, younger students once watched Taly walk across the stage to receive recognition. Today, they can look at her story and see what is possible beyond graduation.
Preparation met opportunity. Belief met action. And a Freedom Prep student stepped forward into a future she worked hard to claim.
Freedom Prep is committed to preparing all students for success in college and in life. Taly’s journey reflects the impact of that commitment. Did you know that over the past nine years, 100 percent of our high school students have been accepted to a four-year college or university? Follow Taly’s progress and learn more here.
