Superior Service
From PAL to President, Reagan Senior Unites Student Body
By Amy Morgan
Well-rounded. The term might be a cliché, but it accurately describes Ronald Reagan High School senior Sebastian Rangel. President of the school’s student council, Sebastian also is a varsity wrestler who qualified for state competition his junior year following a regionals showing as a sophomore. And those are just the first of Sebastian’s many accomplishments. He’s part of the National Honor Society and has been chosen as a Reagan PAL (trusted leaders who assist with ALE and mentor younger students in the district.) When Reagan introduced water polo as a new sport last year, Sebastian joined the team, despite not knowing proper swimming strokes or how to tread water!
“It was tough, but so much better than I expected,” Sebastian said. He stepped in as goalie the second half of the bi-district game and blocked eight attempts. “I killed it!” he said. “I went from being the guy who could barely swim to the goalie saving the day.”
Practice is at 7 a.m. at the Josh Davis Natatorium at the Blossom Athletic Center – far from his Stone Oak Home. Travel alone is a significant time commitment. Whether he’s treading water, wrestling or planning a PAL Special Olympics event, Sebastian’s dedication shines throughout
his endeavors.
Sebastian looks forward to using his student council position to unite Reagan’s student body. He’s hoping to elevate Homecoming this year. “I want to bring back the hype,” he said, taking inspiration from Saturday Night Fever and the Bee Gees for the fall dance’s disco theme.
Sebastian also developed a Fiesta event for Reagan’s ALE students. Stu-Co officers helped their ALE friends color and decorate shoeboxes with stickers, feathers, and beads to create Fiesta floats that they paraded through the school halls.
“They had the brightest smiles on their faces. It was so heartwarming,” he said.
Volunteering is important to Sebastian. He sorted 35,000 pounds of donations at the SA Food bank and loaded food boxes into the cars of 200 families. He enjoys Reagan’s toy drive benefitting students at Dellview Elementary. The highlight of his day is dressing up in a Santa hat and delivering a special present to each child, he noted.
He also delivers Meals on Wheels during the holidays and participates in Lenten fish fries with the Knights of Columbus chapter at his parish, Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He’s proud of the baseball hat he’s earned for his service there.
Sebastian credits his parents and grandparents with instilling his philanthropic spirit. “I want to give back to the community, knowing I will inspire others to find a way to make somebody else happy,” he said.
His favorite class has been freshman Biology with Ms. Jones, as he enjoys all things related to science. Sebastian plans to attend St. Mary’s University next fall and major in psychology, after which he’ll follow brother Antonio (RHS 2018) into the Department of Public Safety Academy with a career goal of becoming a Texas Ranger. The world will be a safer place when this stellar student earns his badge.
