Belton ISD honors Belton New Tech @Waskow’s top graduates

May 22, 2025

Special to the Journal

Belton ISD is proud to announce Chinonso Ogwudu as the valedictorian and Tran Le as the salutatorian for the Belton New Tech @Waskow High School Class of 2025.

These two remarkable students exemplify academic excellence, leadership and the core values of the Belton New Tech learning model.

Valedictorian: Chinonso Ogwudu Chinonso, the son of Uche and Ugochukwu Ogwudu of Belton, is a standout leader on campus. He currently serves as president of the National Honor Society and is a member of the tennis team and robotics program. His talents in animation and art complement a wellrounded academic profile rooted in STEM. He strives to be seen as someone who is mature, responsible and an exemplary student. 

He attended Sparta and Southwest Elementary Schools, as well as both Lake Belton Middle School and Belton Middle School, before joining Belton New Tech @Waskow High School. Reflecting on his high school journey, Chinonso cites qualifying for the VEX Robotics international competition as one of his proudest accomplishments. “It was one of the hardest things I've ever done,” he said. His passion for science and technology was further ignited in AP Physics C with Mr. Ewan Thompson, whose mentorship helped solidify his interest in engineering.

After graduation, Chinonso plans to pursue a degree in computer science and business at the University of Texas at Austin, with hopes of joining the Computer Science Business (CSB) Honors Program. Long-term, he dreams of building a business that makes a difference —and returning to invest in the people and programs that shaped him.

“New Tech has helped me grow not just academically but socially,” Chinonso shared. “It’s a place where I felt encouraged to communicate, connect and become the person I wanted to be.”

Salutatorian: Tran Le Tran, daughter of Nhung Le and Tri Nguyen of Temple, is a dedicated and driven student known for her resilience, humility and heart for service. She currently serves as the historian of the National Honor Society, competes on the tennis team and is an active member of the Dragon Council. She began her educational journey at Alice J. Tarver Elementary and continued through North Belton Middle School before enrolling at Belton New Tech @Waskow High School.

Throughout her time in Belton ISD, Tran has overcome significant challenges as an immigrant adapting to a new country and culture. “I don’t see tough times as adversity,” she said. “They’re opportunities. I overcame the fear of not challenging myself.” She credits her growth to the unique learning environment at New Tech, which emphasized collaboration, communication, and independent thinking— skills she says helped her discover her voice and confidence.

Looking ahead, Tran plans to serve in the military and attend medical school at the University of Texas at Austin, where she will pursue her dream of becoming a physician. She says her proudest accomplishment in high school was learning to face fears and push herself beyond her comfort zone. Her message to fellow students: “Give it your all and dream big.”

Tran is quick to express gratitude for the support of her family, especially her mother, who she says has been a constant source of motivation and strength. “I’'m definitely thankful to my mom for always being there and encouraging me.”

Classmate and valedictorian Chinonso shared heartfelt admiration for Tran, saying, “Tran is honestly my favorite person in the world. She’s generous, selfless and has been a role model for me since freshman year.”

Belton ISD congratulates both students on their outstanding accomplishments and wishes them continued success in the next chapter of their journeys.