The Texas high school cheerleader stripped of being valedictorian due to a “miscalculation” of her grades had planned to heap praise on her school and teachers in her acceptance speech, The Post has learned.
Maya Veliz was officially announced as north Texas’ Blue Ridge High School valedictorian in March. However, the title was taken from her after the school said they’d made an error involving transfer credits from another school. Her GPA ranking then dropped to third in the class.
Veliz had already written an acceptance speech for the May 23 graduation, her father Jorge Veliz said, but says his daughter no longer wants to attend the ceremony.
The speech, which the family shared with The Post, details how “honored” Maya was to receive the prestigious title she’d worked tirelessly to achieve.
It also includes the now prophetic line: “Failure has made me who I am today and to have found success and persevere regardless of the outcome.”
“I stand here before you tonight, Honored as the valedictorian for the class of 2024,” the draft of Maya’s speech begins.
“Through my experiences at BRHS and what I have learned these past two years is that failure has made me who I am today and to have found success and persevere regardless of the outcome.
“I strive for inclusion and success in everything I do, regardless what anyone says my limitations may be.”
“I owe this (recognition) all of it, to my teachers, to my friends, and most importantly to my family, no one achieves anything alone.
“If I seem too passionate, it’s because I care. And If I come on strong, it’s because I feel strongly.
“So yes, secretly we are terrified of what’s near, but let us embark on a new journey together and see where it takes us.”
Jorge said the family received a phone call from the school’s principal, Trent Hamilton, this month about the miscalculation with the GPA and transfer credits.
In 2022, Maya had transferred from a school in Frisco as a junior. Some of the classes offered at her former institute weren’t offered at Blue Ridge High, according to People.
Those credits were not weighed under the district’s longstanding transfer policy, according to WFAA.
As a result, Maya and her family are now worried she could lose a scholarship at the University of Texas, where she plans to go to college.
Valedictorians from accredited Texas high schools are guaranteed a tuition waiver for their freshman year of college, according to the Texas Education Agency.
“At the end of the day it’s not about the money, it’s about what’s being done to her,” Jorge told The Post.
“She feels sad, she feels left out. They’ve always had her be part of any kind of event at school. They had her give a speech during last year’s graduation.”
Jorge said since going public with Maya’s story, the family has learned of a similar situation with a former student. The student, whom he declined to identify, reached out to Maya on Instagram saying she’s supportive of her efforts.
“The one thing we did find out is the school did this back in 2020 to another student,” Jorge said.
He also pointed to an April 16 Facebook post from the school’s softball team congratulating two students, Destiny for being “ranked #1 and Kaitlyn #2 for the senior class.”
“We will definitely miss them. #1&2,” the post read.
Jorge said the case has lingering questions about why and how his daughter ended up losing the valedictorian title, adding there’s “conflicting information about what triggered the reevaluation.”
The school district has admitted to the “miscalculations,” but said it investigated it as a “private student matter” which was then “communicated with the parents.”
“The district reviews academic achievement, grade calculations, and class rank during this time period each year in accordance with applicable state law and board policies EIC and EIC Local,” a Blue Ridge ISD spokesperson said to WFAA.
“Miscalculations were originally made when finalizing GPA and Class Rank; then corrected to ensure compliance with both of those board policies.”
Veliz starred on the school’s cheerleading squad and was recognized by the College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program for her academic achievements.
Administrators also allegedly told her consistently she was on track to become valedictorian as long as she didn’t fail a class.
“Plans have been initiated to ensure that a mistake like this does not take place in the future. Any further specific student information cannot be discussed pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act,” the schoool said.
The University of Texas did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment on whether they will honor Maya’s scholarship.
