- Contributed by Al Benson

Ignacio "Nacho" Cervantes made history earlier this month.  In a ceremony at the East Aurora School District service center, the AU sophomore criminal justice major became the youngest member of the East Aurora School Board.

The board unanimously appointed Cervantes, and Richard Leonard, a business entrepreneur, to fill vacancies on the body. The newest members' terms will expire in April 2013.
Cervantes, a 2010 East Aurora High School graduate from Aurora, and a former student member of the board, finished fourth in the April 5 election.
"I am really excited to be appointed," said Cervantes, now a 19-year-old Aurora University sophomore.. "Ever since I was a student board member, I knew that I wanted to serve in the official capacity as a board member.
"I recently graduated from high school. I've been in the district my whole life. I know the whole process of the district, and I know what the students need."
During the campaign, Aurora Alderman Juany Garza endorsed Cervantes, saying "he knows first-hand the needs of the district." She called Cervantes a hard-working, energetic young man who spends long hours volunteering in the community and will bring new ideas to the school board.
State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, who Cervantes called a friend and an occasional advisor, attended his installation.
Board President Annette Johnson said Cervantes "brings to the board a neat perspective. He just graduated last year and has a view on things that many adults do not."
Cervantes' election motto was, "New representation, new approaches." He is focusing on taxes, parental involvement and bilingual education.
The Aurora native, who attended Hermes Elementary and Simmons Middle schools, has received his first board assignment: co-chair of a new student-enrichment committee tasked to upgrade student clubs, cultural events and other student-centered improvements.
At AU, Cervantes serves on the executive board of the Latin American Student Organization and is launching a local chapter of Phi Iota Alpha, a Latino fraternity. With a 3.5 grade-point average, he has been invited to join AU's chapter of Phi Eta Sigma.