For Pebble Hills High School graduate and Class of 2026 valedictorian Isabelle Leon, the path to the U.S. Air Force Academy began when she was 8 years old on her first airplane ride. Her parents had to pull her away from the window as she gazed out into the sky.

Now, ten years later, Isabelle is ready to embark on an exciting new chapter. Thanks to Pebble Hill’s challenging academic environment, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses, supportive teachers and a strong sense of camaraderie, Isabelle will begin her studies at one of the nation’s most selective institutions on June 24.

“Honestly, without Pebble Hills, I wouldn’t have gotten into the Air Force Academy,” said Isabelle, who was awarded a $600,000 scholarship to attend the institution. “A lot of the application is based on education. The kind of classes you're taking and the grades you're getting. If it wasn't for the AP opportunities, I don't think I would have gotten in at all.”

In recognition of her outstanding accomplishments, Isabelle was selected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees regular meeting in June 2026.

When Isabelle and her family moved from Las Vegas to El Paso her freshman year, she quickly found her place as a Spartan on the school’s track and field team. Her coach, Bashar Ibrahim, welcomed her to the team and later became her mentor, standing beside her as her honored educator at graduation.

Over the years, Ibrahim has watched her grow. While she didn’t start as the team’s strongest runner, her patience and determination helped her become one of the top athletes. More importantly, she became a role model for her teammates, leading through her actions rather than her words, Ibrahim said.

“She was the first one to show and the last one to leave,” Ibrahim said. “One of the girls once asked me, ‘Hey, coach, she runs so much faster than us in practice, and she pushes so hard, and sometimes she’s not in the race?’ I said, ‘She just wanted more than you guys.’ And that's the athlete that I want. I'd rather have to tell her to slow down than say, ‘Why aren't you doing what you're supposed to be doing?’”

Running became a central part of her high school experience. As a varsity track and field athlete for all four years and captain of the cross-country team, Isabelle competed in long-distance events and helped lead her team to the UIL 6A Region I Championships in Lubbock in May. She developed discipline, endurance and a strong work ethic.

“Running is hard work,” Isabelle said. “But honestly, seeing my other teammates do it as well, it's that push of like, we're doing this together. I know I'm not alone. I know that if they can do it, I can do it too.”

That same attitude contributed to her academic success. Eager to take on challenges, she completed 14 AP honors courses and, as part of her STEM endorsement in engineering, learned Autodesk Fusion and SOLIDWORKS. These skills helped her excel as the team strategist on her school's robotics team during her junior and senior years and helped her develop teamwork and communication skills.

Beyond campus, she participated in U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar’s Youth Advisory Council, which deepened her understanding of public service. She credits those opportunities with getting accepted into the academy.

The application process was rigorous and lengthy, assessing her academics, character, and physical fitness, and taking over a year to complete. It required a congressional nomination, which she received from Escobar.

In the days leading up to college acceptance notifications, Isabelle checked the Air Force Academy portal every 30 minutes and was elated when she received her acceptance letter on April 27.

“Oh, my gosh, I cried,” Isabelle recalled. “I shouted it from the rooftops. I was so happy. I called all my friends. I called my family. I was like, I can't believe I did it!”

Behind every step of her journey has been the unwavering support of her family. Inspired in part by her father’s service in the Navy, Isabelle set her sights on a military career and ultimately found her path at the Air Force Academy. She is particularly interested in becoming a pilot or pursuing pararescue.

“The fact that the Air Force Academy produces such prestigious pilots is just exhilarating, honestly,” Isabelle said.

She credits her parents with constantly encouraging her to aim higher and believe in herself.

“We’re very proud of her for choosing this path,” John Leon, Isabelle’s dad, said. “She's very, very, very dedicated, very driven. And I think she has a lot of wonderful opportunities ahead of her, and she's going to do very well.”

As she looks ahead, Isabelle admits that she is both excited and nervous about the transition.

“It's that mixture of butterflies and also energy,” Isabelle said. “And I'm really excited. I just can't wait to go.”