By Camyllie Huynh
Michael Lopez, a La Cueva High School student, is a 2023 Albuquerque Public Schools Selfless Senior. The honored seniors have been recognized as those committed to helping others without expecting praise. They are nominated by school staff, non-profit organizations, and people in their communities.
Lopez is the co-president of LCHS’s Key Club and, last year, he set up the Project GRUB program that collected over 350 pounds of food from school for those in need. He would set up a table to collect uneaten food in the cafeteria during lunch before taking what he had gathered to a non-profit organization called ABQ Mutual Aid about once a week.
He also started up a project which involved refurbishing computers himself and giving them to low-income families who had “inadequate access to technology” when everything went online. “It was about seeing a need for [them] in the community, about seeing injustices, and realizing that I could do something to help,” he said.
“Selflessness is all about seeing others and putting their needs before yours, making sure that you’re someone who builds others up rather than tearing them down,” Lopez said. He believes that even something as simple as holding the door open for somebody can help lead to positive change.
He intends to major in Mechanical Engineering. While in college, “I plan on continuing to stay involved in my community through both student and community organizations,” he said.
“He does everything from his heart and he never looks for any recognition. In fact, when you ask him to say something nice about himself, he kind of shies away. He is humble in the most positive way,” Eva Flores, Lopez’s gifted mentorship teacher, said. “He’s great.”
Lopez aims to make the world “a place where everyone helps one another and no one is left behind.” He invites everybody to join him.