Destinee Vigil Martinez was nominated for May’s Outstanding Youth Report. Vigil Martinez is a senior at Questa High School and will be graduating in May. She plans to attend college in Taos where she is planning to study to become a paramedic.

Destinee’s grandma says that the family moved to Questa from Colorado Springs 15 years ago as they didn’t want to raise Destinee and her brother around gangs and drugs in the big city. She says she is so proud of her grandkids because they have learned and achieved.

Vigil Martinez is a volunteer firefighter with Questa Fire and EMS and has been doing volunteering for a year-and-a-half. She attends bi-weekly trainings and works to learn the ropes of firefighting while staying safe and prepared.

She says she has gone on a few fire calls and it’s an adrenaline rush. When asked why she does it, she underscores the importance of helping the community when they need it. She says the shortage of volunteers was a big driving force in her interest in getting involved.

In addition to training and responding to calls, Vigil Martinez also works to help the department with regular fundraising.

Upon graduation, she says she plans to remain with the Questa Fire and EMS while she attends school in Taos.