LINO PADRON RIVERA HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CLASS OF 2003 - JEUNE VERSAVENIS DEDICATORY (ENGLISH VERSION) May 29, 2003 Vega Baja is a graceful city for the number of citizens who have been given honor to a La Villa del Naranjal. One of them is Josué Javier Prado Perez. He was born June 25, 1979, in the old hospital Nuestra Senora del Rosario. Josue's primary education was at Rosa M. Rodriguez Elementary School, and then at Jose De Diego Elementary School from where he graduated with a 3.80 G.P.A. Then he attended middle school years at Angel Sandín Martínes and finished his senior year in 1997 with a 3.55 G.P.A in our Lino Padrón Rivera High School. At an early age, he started to develop as a baseball player while playing in The Pampers League in the Barriada Sandín. Josue achieved awards in the category of BEST PITCHER. While studying his high school years, he continued to play baseball with the Double AA teams in Vega Baja, Vega Alta and Bayamon among others. The scout Daniel Acosta (Associate Scout for the Seattle Mariners 1997-1998) recognized Josue's great talent when Josue was 18; Daniel spoke with Josue's parents and offered him a baseball scholarship. Josué accepted the challenge and transferred to WestMar University in LeMars, IA. While here, the school had to close due to financial problems. Josue was recruited to play baseball at Huron University in Huron, South Dakota. At Huron, he was the captain of the team from 1999 through 2001, and was selected as one of the best pitchers of the league. His awards were many, to name a few: All-Conference 2nd Team in 1999; All-Conference 1st Team in 2000; All-Regional Team in 2000, and Honorable Mention to All-American in 2000! Furthermore, Josue became the first Hispanic to manage a team within the DAC-10 League for Huron University in the United States in 2003. One of the most beautiful attributes is Josué's great spirit of fight. Indeed, as a child himself, he worked to help raise his siblings in the family. Still today he manifests this great spirit by having completed his Masters Degree in Business. Josué never tires from helping his family, fellow-citizens, and natives. This Vegabajeño is committed in recruiting talented young athletes and helping them to fulfill their dreams as well as Daniel did it with him. It is by such reason that the Senior Class Jeune Versavenis 2003 dedicates these graduation honors to Josué Javier Prado Perez who today (May 29, 2003) returns to his native land (Puerto Rico) with pride to give us a magnificent example of what it is to defeat challenges and excel in life. !May God Bless You!