Alexander High School senior Wayo Salinas sports a U.S. Naval Academy cap after signing his letter of acceptance Monday morning at Alexander. Salinas was nominated for the academy by U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar. Pictured with Salinas are his parents Daniel and Selika, seated. Standing are AHS Principal Dolores W. Barrera, UISD board member Judd Gilpin, Cuellar and UISD Superintendent Roberto J. Santos. (Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times)

Wayo Salinas exceeded expectations athletically and academically at Alexander through hard work and determination, and those traits led to his greatest accomplishment yet. Salinas became the first Laredoan in a decade accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy and signed his letter of acceptance at a ceremony Monday morning at Alexander.

“I can’t think of a greater compliment than your nation’s government being willing to invest this amount of time, money and effort into you,” Salinas said. “I want to represent Laredo, Alexander and my family as well as I can.”

U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar nominated Salinas, who ranks 14th out of 687 students at AHS with a 4.22 GPA. He is the first Laredo student nominated by Cuellar to be accepted into the academy.