Senior Spotlight: Jessica Tezoquipa

Dedicated. Effervescent. Caring. These three words are how Jessica Tezoquipa, a Richfield High School senior and future first-generation college student, has been described by others. Jessica brings energy, sincerity and a deep sense of purpose to everything she does, whether she’s leading the Colorguard, analyzing literature or dreaming of a future in journalism that makes a difference.

Jessica will attend Augsburg University this fall to study Communications and Creative Writing. Her goal? To become a journalist who sheds light on injustice—whether it’s exposing political corruption or reporting on human rights violations around the globe. “I understand that this is perhaps the most dangerous field I can enter as a journalist,” she says, “but I believe it is an extremely important role that someone must fill.”

At Richfield, Jessica has made her mark in and out of the classroom. She’s a member of GLOW, DECA, Jazz Band and Marching Band—where she proudly serves as the Colorguard Section Leader. One of her proudest moments came last year when the Richfield Colorguard was ranked the best in the state. She’s also dabbled in Track and Field and has developed creative passions outside of school, from reading poetry and skateboarding to playing guitar.

Jessica’s academic journey has been shaped by teachers like Dr. Schiffler, whose CIS Intro to Literature course helped her grow as a writer and critical thinker. “Dr. Schiffler really taught me how to properly interact with literature to fully understand why the author might have written it,” Jessica shares. “Her feedback seriously helped me hone and improve my writing skills over time.”

Social Studies Teacher Ben Powers has been deeply impressed by her thoughtful presence in the classroom. “Jessica is an extremely genuine, bright and fun person to have in class,” he says. “I’m lucky to have her twice daily in very different subjects, and I’ve learned a lot from her over the last year. Teaching her is like teaching a fellow teacher.”

Jessica’s roots are a vital part of who she is. She attended Centennial Elementary and Richfield Middle School and now lives with her mom, stepdad, three younger brothers, a sister and their cat (which is simply named “cat”). Her mother immigrated to the U.S. as a child and instilled in Jessica a strong appreciation for her Mexican heritage. One day, Jessica hopes to visit Axochiapan, Morelos, the village her family came from, to understand their history better and experience the Mexico her mother remembers.

When asked which nonprofit she’d love to support, Jessica doesn’t hesitate: Reporters Without Borders. “There can be no freedom of conscience without freedom of the press,” she says.

And if she could meet anyone? That would be Frank Iero, the guitarist from My Chemical Romance, whose music and resilience inspire her.

Jessica Tezoquipa’s future is as bold and bright as she is. She’s not only ready to take on the world—she’s prepared to change it.