Outstanding Alumni 2022
 

                                                                             Maria Lupita Monclova 
 

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Maria Lupita Monclova graduated in the Class of 2000. She was a student in the CIS Program, the Center of International Studies where teachers remember her as an outstanding student involved in many activities. When asked “How does your club help West be best?”, she answered “The West High Folkloric Dancers make West the best because we show the people that no matter what, we still keep our culture and are very  proud to show everyone the beauty of it.”  Mrs Lu Linan was her dance teacher and she often spoke to me about Lupita and how she inspired others to do their best.  

 

Lupita was involved in National Honor, student council, Future Business Leaders, La Unidad Latino American, West Folkloric Dance Club and the Japanese Club. She studied Japanese as her foreign language and traveled to Japan with other West Students and their teacher, Takaaki Matsumoto. She was already a fluent Spanish speaker. 

 

Ms. Heidi Hursh, a retired West teacher, remembered she had a strong sense of justice, speaking out when she saw inequalities in the way individuals or groups were treated. 

 

She attended the University of Denver and continued at The University of Denver for her Law Degree. She is an immigration attorney in Denver where she has built a legal team that includes her sister, Rosita Vasquez as a paralegal and her brother, Arturo Vasquez who is also an attorney.  They believe that helping clients is very important and to treat them as family.  Her own family has always been the main focus in her life. 

 

She often does videos on her Facebook to explain various ways she can help and also instructs people about the process of immigration.  In addition, she recently held an event for Children’s Day which included music, food and drinks, games for children and parents, and dance groups.  

 

She stayed in the Denver area to form her own law practice because she wanted to serve her community. She truly is an Outstanding West High Alumni!!