Student recognized for achievements while overcoming challenges
A student from the Socorro Independent School District is earning national recognition for her accomplishments in the classroom while overcoming a life-threatening medical diagnosis.
Kaitlyn Llanez, a sixth grader at Hernando Middle School, has received the 2017 180 Student Award for reading. She is one of 15 students across the country to be recognized for her achievements.
Kaitlyn’s major obstacle in the classroom was that she had to miss two years of school while she battled cancer at the age of 7.
ABC-7 profiled Kaitlyn and her fight to overcome sarcoma in 2011.
“I never got to go to first and second grade. I didn’t get to learn anything when I was out (of school),” Kaitlyn said.
She underwent 10 surgeries during her treatment. Although she survived, she began to struggle in school, stuttering when she read and avoiding reading aloud whenever she could.
Her attitude changed after she was enrolled in the Reading 180 Program at Hernando Middle School. The program provides individualized instruction to meet each student’s reading needs. Brenda Rios, the program instructor, said Kaitlyn increased her reading capacity at more than four times the average pace.
“She’s such an inspiration to all of us,” Rios told ABC-7. “She inspires me to come into the classroom and do the very best that I could because I see how hard she’s working and I can give her no less.”
Kaitlyn’s improvement in attitude and performance inspired Rios to nominate her for the 180 Award.
“I think that now her eyes are open to the many possibilities that are out there for her,” Rios said. “I don’t know if she realized what an inspiration she truly was. Hopefully that will cause her to see the world differently and see what good she can do for everyone.”
Meantime, Kaitlyn continues to devour books.
“I feel really proud of myself in how much I’ve accomplished in my reading,” she said.
Socorro I.S.D. said in a news release that Hernando Middle School is the only school in the area with three 180 Award winners in reading. Two others were named in 2014 and 2016.
