East Central salutatorian 'going to be a force to be reckoned with'

BY ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer
Thursday, May 24, 2012
5/24/12 at 5:29 PM

Hashing out a restaurant franchise plan until 2 a.m. isn't how many 18-year-old young men spend their summer vacation nights, but that's not all that distinguishes Samuel Ramirez from the crowd.

East Central High School's salutatorian and soccer team captain just graduated with a 4.28 grade-point average and will have completed 12 college credit hours when he enters the University of Oklahoma come August.

He will be following his brother, Aaron, to OU. Samuel wants to major in finance and marketing; Aaron majors in accounting. All of that preparation and drive to succeed comes from their plan to expand their parents' restaurant business when they graduate.

"You can't go into business just knowing Step 1. Everything my dad knows, we need to know," Samuel said. "My dad wanted me to be a lawyer, but this is what I want. I was raised in Tex-Mex restaurants."

Samuel has been recognized as one of the most successful participants in Rogers State University's Educational Talent Search program, which provides academic, career and financial aid counseling to students beginning in middle school.

His parents' high expectations assured him that he would be going to college, and the RSU program helped him understand how to get there.

"They explained the finances. It seems impossible when you just look at the costs," Samuel said. "I had all of my credits before, so senior year, my 'classes' were applying for scholarships because the program made me aware that I needed to apply for as many things as possible."

His scholarship awards include Sooner Promise and Sooner Heritage, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, and being named a member of the prestigious OU President's Leadership Class.

Samuel's teachers at East Central say his many successes can be traced back to his extraordinary drive and maturity level.

"You wish you could clone him and have all of your kids be like him - he's smart, athletic, makes good decisions, and his parents are very involved," said Joshua Diamond, English teacher and coach of the varsity boys soccer team.

"He knows he's smarter than most. He could be very egotistical and snobby if he wanted to be, but he's not. Sam's one of the most approachable, friendly kids in the whole school."

Diamond predicts great success for the Ramirez brothers, noting that Aaron Ramirez was salutatorian and a distinguished soccer player at East Central, too.

"They are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Tulsa community when they start franchising out their business. They work hard," he said.

Samuel buses tables, runs the cash register and does whatever else needs to be done five days a week at Senor Fajitas, 4421 S. Mingo Road.

The inspiration he draws from his parents' and brother's examples and the affection he feels for them is obvious when Samuel is asked what motivates him to do so well.

"My dad has high expectations, and he knows we can do it. He wouldn't say a 'B' is bad. He would say, 'Is that the best you can do?' He doesn't want us to know the harder way because he started from Step Zero. We have a head start," Samuel said.

Planning and dreaming of a chain of restaurants with his brother, who is home for the summer from college, is what keeps him up late.

"He's my adviser. I respect him a lot, and we have a healthy competition to push ourselves to do better," Samuel said, smiling. "It's hard to carry on a conversation about business and life with anyone else my age because a lot of kids don't work."

Remaining area high school graduations

All Tulsa Public Schools ceremonies will take place at the Oral Roberts University’s Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis Ave.

Webster: 5 p.m. Thursday
Central: 7 p.m. Thursday
Edison: 9 p.m. Thursday
Innovative Schools: 4 p.m. Friday
Hale: 6 p.m. Friday
Memorial: 8 p.m. Friday

Other school districts

Bartlesville: 8 p.m. Friday, Custer Stadium

Skiatook: 7 p.m. Thursday, Skiatook Activity Center

Original Print Headline: Nothing less than success

Andrea Eger 918-581-8470
andrea.eger@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Samuel Ramirez, salutatorian of the East Central High School class of 2012, works at his family's restaurant, Senor Fajitas, on Tuesday. He and his brother, Aaron, have plans to franchise their parents' business after they finish college. KT KING / Tulsa World

Samuel Ramirez, salutatorian, and Ntsa Iab Vang, valedictorian, speak to their classmates at their final graduation rehearsal last week. Ramirez earned a 4.28 grade-point average. KT KING / Tulsa World

Samuel Ramirez, salutatorian of the East Central High School class of 2012, works at his family's restaurant, Senor Fajitas, earlier this week. After graduation, Ramirez plans to attend the University of Oklahoma and major in finance. KT KING / Tulsa World