Grand County High School’s students of the month for December 2018 are Miranda Corbin and Edgar Parra.
Corbin is the daughter of Michelle Severns and James Corbin. Her parents are both Grand County High School (GCHS) alumni.
Corbin has been involved in softball throughout high school as an active member of the team. She has also been involved with the Grand County High School Speech and Debate Team since her freshman year and this year, as a junior, she is captain of the team.
GCHS Debate and Career Coach Carrie Strecker said of Corbin, “Miranda goes above and beyond expectations as a student and as a team captain. On our team, she is dedicated to helping with fundraisers, writing her cases and speeches, and making sure novice teammates are learning and feel welcome. She does all this with a positive and humble attitude.”
Corbin has also initiated a middle school debate program helping others find their passion.
Her favorite classes are English, journalism and creative writing because “when I write, I get to explore a whole other world,” she said. Corbin said her most challenging class is science because “it’s hard to grasp the scientific nature of things.”
Outside of school, Corbin volunteers in the food kitchen and helps with the “Little Children’s Church” in Moab. She has also worked at the Aarchway Inn and currently works at Moab Grill.
After graduating, Corbin plans to pursue a career as a lawyer, with a special focus in becoming a Guardian ad Litem, a lawyer who specializes in the care of foster children.
Edgar Parra is the son of Viridiana Castaneda and Edgar Parra Sr.
Parra is a senior at GCHS.
He was the only student from Grand County who attended Skills USA for his automotive talents, and was handpicked to chaperon the junior class’s recent aquarium trip to Salt Lake City due to his positive influence on his peers and maturity.
Parra’s favorite class is auto shop because he enjoys the relaxed atmosphere and working with his friends in the class.
His friends and teachers said they have noticed is personal growth, as auto shop class hasn’t always been at the top of his list. At first, he said it was challenging for him, but his sophomore year was a turning point in his will to meet the challenge.
“Since freshman year, Edgar has grown into a positive leader among his peers,” said Parra’s English teacher, Mr. Joshua Cameron. “Edgar’s intellectual curiosity combined with his desire to learn makes him a force to be reckoned with.”
Outside of school, Parra has volunteered as an Amigo at the Amiguitos Club and also attends Young Life activities. He has worked as a diesel mechanic at Harrison’s and as busser and server at Fiesta Mexicana and El Charro Loco.
After high school, Parra plans to attend the Auto Program at Dixie Technology College and plans to one day open his own shop.
