Written by: Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic 

Newberg High School senior Antonio Peña Anaya chosen from six candidates

Antonio Peña Anaya was selected from a group of half a dozen youths nominated to become the Newberg Graphic's Amazing Kid for 2017 and, judging from comments made by those nominating him, it's little wonder.

The 17-year-old Newberg High School senior is by all accounts a remarkable young man with a passion for service and a genuine affinity for people. Since migrating to the United States in 2003 from Ayutla, Jalisco, Mexico, with his parents and four siblings, Antonio has made a lasting mark in the community. He is active in student government at NHS and in the Catholic Church and has become a de facto champion for the Hispanic community. He has attended leadership conferences in Portland and has aided his fellow students in the classroom.

"In my eight years in teaching he is one of the most outstanding students I have had the privilege to teach …," Dakota Elder, a Spanish and Heritage Spanish teacher at NHS, says in an email. "In class he patiently and compassionately used his skills as a Spanish scholar to help his classmates achieve greater success as Spanish writers."

But his passion to help students with similar backgrounds doesn't end there.

"Around my school and my community I have seen the lack of involvement of the Latino community," he says. "We are the biggest 'minority' in our community and we need to be represented. Going to the many different leadership conferences and institutes I have found ways I can represent my community in my school and elsewhere."

That passion for service will serve him well in his pursuit after graduation in June: He expects to enroll at Linfield College, where he will major in education with an emphasis on ethnic studies and English as a second language.

"Since I was young I have always wanted to become a teacher," he says. "Especially now that I can use my bilingual abilities to help others."

"I want to become an educator so I can inspire students, especially 'minorities,' first generation and immigrants, to pursue a college education."

About Amazing Kids

In 2014, Pamplin Media Group created the Amazing Kids award to recognize young people who were committed to making a difference in our communities.

This year 29 young people will be honored at our celebratory event May 8 at OMSI in Portland. All honorees will also be featured in our Amazing Kids special section, which will publish the week of May 8 in all Pamplin Media Group newspapers.

In choosing each Amazing Kid honoree, the Pamplin Media Group selection committee placed a heavy emphasis on volunteerism that makes a difference in the lives of other people.

Honoring these amazing kids wouldn't be possible without the generous support of community-minded businesses like Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville. Thanks to their sponsorship, we can share the good deeds of all our honorees in the hopes that others will be inspired to do the same.

The Pamplin Media Group's Amazing Kid event is presented by Pacific West Roofing and made possible thanks to the support of local businesses who believe in the value of giving back to their community. These companies include Coastal Farm and Ranch, EleMar of Oregon, Stonebridge Homes and The Closet Factory.