New Vision grad Del Rosario peddling to success

Noah Del Rosario rides his bicycle everywhere, no matter the weather. He rides to his morning job at McDonalds, and to his classes at New Vision Alternative High School in Post Falls. He rides his bike to volunteer for a youth outreach program at Fellowship Bible Church.

His commitments have him biking about 5 miles a day.

“The school actually gave me the bike,” Del Rosario said. “I haven’t really talked in depth with them about it, but they got a few bikes.”

Del Rosario is humble about his accomplishments. He talks about work and school without much fanfare, though others are quick to sing his praises.

“He earns A’s and B’s in all of his classes and is one of the hardest working kids I have ever met,” said New Vision teacher Ann Rosenbaum.

Del Rosario’s mother, Tracey, is routinely impressed by her son’s work ethic in school, work and helping out with his younger siblings at home.

“You can see the effort, even though everything isn’t easy for him,” Tracey said. “He doesn’t take things for granted. He gives it his all, not just whatever it takes to get by.”

Noah moved to the area just two years ago from Southern California. New Vision’s smaller size and alternative approaches to education best matched his learning style.

“I don’t do well in large school settings – I tried it at different places,” he said. “This is more a work-at-your-own-pace program.”

He said the school’s computer-based work and testing procedures have helped him thrive, even allowing him to do much of the schoolwork at home while still being able to utilize the knowledge and expertise of the teachers at New Vision when he needed it. The program’s flexibility also allowed him to keep a consistent job and save money.

“I’m saving for a car,” Noah said. “Pretty much anything that runs.”

He enjoys his volunteer work at the church through a program called Awana, which is an international, evangelical Christian nonprofit organization that uses faith-based teachings to “reach children, equip leaders and change the world.” Del Rosario said he’s found value and purpose working with kids.

“It’s a lot of fun working with younger people – most of the time they are learning because they want to learn,” he said.

After graduation, Noah plans to work, save money and attend North Idaho College in the fall.

“I’ll just take the general stuff first and see if there’s anything that peaks my interest,” he said. “I really liked economics and government.”