The following newspaper article is one of the many written about Giga.

In the fall of 1992, 19-year-old Giga Martinez was one of 1,717 Latino students in Colorado who went on to college after graduating from high school. For the first time, a greater percentage of Latino high school graduates sought higher education than blacks or whites.

Giga Martinez

According to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, 42% of Latino high school graduates entered college in 1993, compared with 40.5% of Anglo students and 32.8% of blacks. Martinez is one of the thousands of faces behind a year's worth of statistics on Latinos: 10,015 were born in Colorado and 2,165 died; about 9,500 Latino businesses operated in Colorado; and 3,768 students dropped out of high schools.

Latinos, young and old, natives and immigrants, have endured the low points that these statistics portray. But without much fanfare, they are walking into promising futures.

The power of education

"Ever since I was little my parents stressed that I needed to go to college to get anywhere - a career and a life," said Martinez, a graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School and a scholarship student at the University of Denver. Martinez plays the violin with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and the Arapahoe Philharmonic Orchestra.

While the college-bound statistics are cause to celebrate, the high school dropout rate continues to be a concern. During the 1992-93 school year, 3,768 Latino students dropped out of high schools and alternative schools in Colorado, more than those who graduated and went on to post-high school education. Martinez said it will take more success stories and role models to help disadvantaged students strive for education.

Giga is in her fourth year of college and on the go seven days a week. She is a Music Performance Major and plans to attend law school once she has completed her bachelors degree. She's a member of the Arapahoe Philharmonic, Metro State Orchestra, and performs with various Chamber groups throughout the city.

Since many of our Public Schools have been forced to cut several educational programs due to lack of funds, the instrumental classes have been steadily diminishing within our primary grades. However, this enables individual schools to reach out to college students to teach music to children who want to continue learning but unable to afford private lessons. Giga is very excited to be able to do her part in keeping the Arts active by teaching these aspiring young artists in the Cherry Creek School District. She feels it offers children a chance to express themselves and build self-esteem. (Ok, I'll admit this is a plug to support the Arts! :))

In one word, Giga is multi-talented. Well, ok..that might be two :) Her high school years were just as busy as her days are now. She carried a 3.34 GPA in X and AP classes (accelerated and advanced placement college credit). She was head cheerleader, counseled children in grade school and junior high, managed the track team, served on the Mayors Commission on Youth, a member of the National Honor Society, SCORE, on the mock trial team, a peer counselor, MESA (Math, Engineering and Science Association), involved with Higher Vision Pilot Program at at Metro State College and was involved with Junior Achievement. ::pant pant:: She won the Colorado Hispanic Youth Leadership award, Young Women of the Year Award and was presented a plaque for "Outstanding Student" by local businessmen and teachers from the Optimist Club of Denver. Giga auditioned and won a place in the "Music Teachers Association 20th Annual Ensemble Honors Concert" and was featured in "Colorado Women's Magazine." Newspaper and TV interviews have given Giga a crash course in Presentation and Public Speaking.

Giga received many scholarship offers and ultimately chose to attend the University of Denver (a private college) on a $9,000 per year scholarship. Giga later transferred to Metropolitan State College because she saw more of an opportunity to grow as a musician. She feels she made a wise choice and is very happy with the decision.

You can find information on Giga at your local library as she is in the 1991-92 Who's Who in American High School Students, 1992-93, 1993-94, and 1994-95 National Dean's List. She has maintained her 4.0 GPA this year so I'm sure you'll be able to find her in the 1995-96 National Dean's List as well. *proud smile*

Here is a picture of Giga at the age of two, "doin' the dishes". We're hoping this never happens while playing her violin in front of an audience!