Angela Milan has spent her entire academic career in Irving ISD. She attended Townley Elementary and de Zavala Middle Schools before joining Singley Collegiate Academy – a decision that was ignited by her desire to get a jumpstart on earning college credits, free of cost. Through the district’s partnership with Dallas College, Milan will not only graduate with her high school diploma but her associate’s degree as well.
“When I was in 8th grade at de Zavala, that was the first year of the pandemic. I remember looking into Singley Collegiate online, and I was very interested in the school and its offerings. That’s when I decided to apply,” she says.
Motivated by one of her teachers, Kyle Schmeltzle, Milan was determined to get involved and make a name for herself on Singley’s campus. During her freshman year, she recalls being very timid and still trying to find her way at a new school post-Covid. However, when Milan entered her sophomore year, she was very intentional about pursuing campus involvement opportunities. She has been heavily involved in the Student Council and the Singley Collegiate Leadership Council – where she currently serves as secretary. When reflecting on her favorite high school memories, they all include planning school-wide events like Trunk or Treat, the gala and school expo. Experiences like these further fueled Milan’s desire to major in Business Management Information Systems (MIS).
“I loved planning those events because they were fun and provided me an opportunity to be with friends. It was also exciting knowing that we were planning something that people in the community would enjoy and benefit from,” she adds.
Even in her early years, Milan found ways to be involved on campus. At Townley, she served on the morning student broadcast team and was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and orchestra at de Zavala.
When reflecting on her student success, Milan says her growth wouldn’t have been possible without the encouragement of two teachers who made a lasting impact – Schmeltzle and Daniel Ordonez.
“Both Mr. Schmeltzle and Mr. Ordonez are heavily involved in the collegiate program. They were always so kind and willing to help in any way. They guided me through college applications, choosing a career and boosted my confidence,” she says. “I also owe a huge thank you to my counselor, Christina Guzman, for helping me make it this far. She has always been there to make sure all students are successful.”
In the fall, Milan will relocate to Austin to begin her new chapter as a student at the University of Texas. She says she’s most looking forward to living in a big city and the vast networking opportunities. Milan has aspirations of working in the project management field and looks forward to putting to use all of the leadership skills she’s gained from educators in Irving ISD.
