star scholar 2013 - ventura county star - vcstar.com

Keynote SpeakerLouis Zamperini

“Through war, and in peace, Louis Zamperini found his faith.” — Sen. John McCain

Many people thought Louis Zamperini would not live long beyond his formative years, and on many occasions, they were almost right. As a child of immigrants, he was often in trouble with the authorities, until a police officer suggested he use his fleet feet for

sport instead of mischief.

By the end of high school, Mr. Zamperini had become a world-class runner, setting a world high school record in the mile. He qualified to run on the 1936 Olympic team by tieing the world record holder in the 5,000-meter run. At the Olympic Games in Berlin, he was America’s top finisher in the event, covering the final lap in an astounding 56 seconds.

Following the Games, Louis enrolled and competed for the University of Southern California (USC) as a part of many national record-breaking teams. Many claim he would have broken the 4-minute mile had he not elected to join the U.S. Air Corps as a bombardier in the South Pacific during WWII.

On a routine reconnaissance run, his aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean, and Louis and another crewmember survived in a life raft for 47 days, drifting 2,000 miles into Japanese controlled waters. “When you reach the end of your rope and there’s nowhere else to turn,” Louis said, “... you’re gonna turn and look up. So that’s all we did on the raft was pray morning, noon and night.”

His rescuers also were his torturers, as the Japanese put him into a series of prison camps. One particular guard wanted to make an example of the eternally optimistic Olympic runner, and for two years, the guard tried to break his spirit with verbal and physical cruelty.

Mr. Zamperini outlasted the guard, and when the war ended, he returned to Torrance to a hero’s welcome. He partied with celebrities and married a debutante, but his life was spinning out of control due to a lack of direction. He was plagued by nightmares.

It was a chance meeting with the young evangelist, Billy Graham, inside a revival tent that changed his life for good. “He talked about one person only, the person of Jesus Christ, for 30 minutes,” Louis said. He read the scriptures. “I started having a flashback to the life raft and prison camp, all those thousands and thousands of prayers — God spare my life

through the war, and I’ll seek You and serve You. I kept thinking I came back

from the war alive, and I never even thought

about those prayers. That

night I made my decision for Christ,

I haven’t had a nightmare since 1949 ’till now! That is some kind of a miracle.”

In 1998, the Olympic Winter Games were held in Nagano, Japan, just outside the town where Louis had been held captive. The people of Nagano asked him to carry the Olympic flame as part of the torch relay, and the host broadcaster created a 45-minute feature about his life that aired during the telecast of the Closing Ceremony.

This story reignited interest in Mr. Zamperini’s life, eventually leading Laura Hillenbrand (the Pulitzer Prize winning author of ‘Seabiscuit’) to document his life in her book, “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” (Simon & Schuster, 2010).

A feature film based on the book has been announced by Universal Pictures with Angelina Jolie as director.

Today, at 96 years of age, Louis Zamperini is still spry and full of life. He lectures audiences across the globe on how to deal with stress, the meaning of Olympism and the freedom he found through a personal relationship with God.

“I’m a great believer, and I believe it with all of my heart — that all things work together for good for those who love the

Lord and who are called according to His purpose.” — Louis Zamperini

Photo courtesy of TomSandersPhoto.com

Wednesday, April 17, 2013Wednesday, April 17, 20132Star Scholar Awards

The following pages feature the top 85 graduates in Ventura County. These Star Scholars can attribute their success to their families, friends, mentors, counselors, principals, teachers, administrators and hard work.

Jordana R. BaraadAgoura High SchoolGPA: 4.58School ActivitiesMath Honors Society (tutor); Grin & Share It Club; Recycling Club; Gay Straight Alliance; Varsity Cross Country; Varsity Track & FieldCommunity ActivitiesLos Robles Hospital (volunteer floater); Friendship Circle (programs for special needs teens and young adults); Westlake Community Pediatrics (summer intern)College/MajorUniversity of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USC, University of Miami, UCSD, UCSB, Emory, UC Irvine, Vanderbilt, UC Merced / Biology, Human BiologyParentsJanet Baraad and Tamir Baraad (deceased)

Lila A. MarshallAgoura High SchoolGPA: 4.5School ActivitiesPeer Counseling; English Honor SocietyCommunity ActivitiesOur House Grief Support Center; Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center; Lacombe Martial ArtsCollege/MajorColumbia University, UC Berkeley, Polytechnic Institute of New York University / Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomolecular ScienceParentsSmadar Marshall

Jung MoonAgoura High SchoolGPA: 4.41School ActivitiesEnvironmental Club; Mock Trial; Wind Ensemble Honors; Math Honors SocietyCommunity ActivitiesAfter-School Nursery (teacher); Agoura Hills Youth Council; Friendship Circle; Flute Instructor; CFY (Computers for Low Income Families)College/MajorUCLA, UCSD, UCSB / EconomicsParentsHankyu Moon and Jungeun Lee

Joanna MorenoApollo High SchoolGPA: 3.24School ActivitiesLeadership; School to Career Group; Yearbook; Prom CommitteeCommunity ActivitiesAnti-Drug Group Action; Pennies for Leukemia Patients; St. Rose of Lima’s Youth MinistryCollege/MajorMoorpark College / Registered NursingParentsGuadalupe and Emma Moreno

Nancy L. ChenAdolfo Camarillo High SchoolGPA: 4.68School ActivitiesCSF (co-president); National Honor Society (secretary, tutoring, canned food drives); American Cancer Society Club (co-founder); Varsity Swim Team (co-captain)Community ActivitiesRelay for Life; Club Swimming (Pleasant Valley Swim Team), taught English in China (summer 2012)College/MajorNortheastern University, USC, Claremont McKenna College, Stanford / Business, PsychologyParentsWenhua Yang and Jian Chen

Megan A. McKnellyAdolfo Camarillo High SchoolGPA: 4.74School ActivitiesCalifornia-Nevada-Hawaii Kiwanis Key Club (district secretary); Mock Trial (team captain); American Cancer Society Club; National Honor Society; CSF; ACHS Class of 2013 Cabinet (3 years); Cross Country & Track (3 years)Community ActivitiesCamarillo Creative Arts Workshop (teaching assistant); TutoringCollege/MajorMassachusetts Institute of Technology / Brain and Cognitive SciencesParentsTom and Gemma McKnelly

Jessica H. TranAdolfo Camarillo High SchoolGPA: 4.69School ActivitiesMock Trial (attorney); American Cancer Society (vice president); Relay for Life (team captain); KIWIN’S (Turquoise Division Lt. Gov.); National Honor Society; CSFCommunity ActivitiesRobert C. Cohenour, M.D. (secretarial assistant)College/MajorTulane University / Biological Sciences, Pre-MedParentsKim and David Tran

� Star Scholar

AwardsWednesday, April 17, 201�

Jeffrey BaucomBuena High SchoolGPA: 4.66School ActivitiesHabakkuk Bible Club (president); CSF; Track & Field; Soccer; Students for the American Way; Religion & Philosophy ClubCommunity ActivitiesMission trips to orphanages in Haiti, Door of Faith Orphanage, and El Refugio Nursing Home in Mexico; LA Marathon; Ventura Missionary Church (middle school volunteer); Operation Christmas Child; TutorCollege/MajorCal Poly SLO / ArchitectureParentsEric and Janet Baucom

Cole A. CitrenbaumBuena High SchoolGPA: 4.65School ActivitiesStudents for the American Way (president, 2012-13); California All-state Jazz Guitarist (2011); Environmental Club (vice president, 2010-13); Teaching immigrants English; CSFCommunity ActivitiesSemi-professional singer/songwriter/guitarist, recording artist with professionally recorded CD, many performances, YouTube views; Performer numerous benefit/charity concertsCollege/MajorAccepted to: Yale, Harvard / PhysicsParentsRichard and Kathleen

Diana MaganaChannel Islands High SchoolGPA: 4.6School ActivitiesCSF; Students Against Animal Cruelty; French Club (treasurer); Key Club; Link CrewCommunity ActivitiesMar Vista Elementary School (volunteer, teacher’s aide, 9 years); Ocean View Early Education School (volunteer, 2 years)College/MajorUC Irvine, UCLA, UCSB, CLU, CSUCI / English, Educational StudiesParentsSalvador and Maria Magana

Jaquelin MataChannel Islands High SchoolGPA: 4.67School ActivitiesKey Club (treasurer); CSF (vice president); Soccer (4 years); ASB, Link Crew; MESACommunity ActivitiesBig Brothers Big Sisters (volunteer); Casa Pacifica (volunteer Angels Wine & Food Festival); Volunteer Ventura County Day of Caring (2012)College/MajorCal Poly SLO / Civil EngineeringParentsAngel and Magnolia Mata

Brian P. GialketsisBuena High SchoolGPA: 4.6School ActivitiesEnvironmental Club (president); CSF (president); National Honor Society (president); Interact Club; Key Club; ASB (spirit director); Track; German-American Partnership Program (exchange student host); SDAIE/ESL (volunteer, tutor)Community ActivitiesGreen and Healthy Schools Committee (student representative); NPS Channel Islands (restoration); Love the Earth Benefit Concert; Amy Reinert Memorial Garden; private piano lessons and recitalsCollege/MajorUniversity of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Whitman, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSD, UCSB, UC Davis, Columbia, Harvard / Environmental Studies and Natural Resources, Biology, Environmental ScienceParentsMichael Gialketsis and Kari Gialketsis-Finley

Kaitlin L. BennettCentury AcademyGPA: 3.88School ActivitiesNoneCommunity ActivitiesDance (teacher’s assistant, 4 years)College/MajorJoffrey Ballet School / DanceParentsJim and Tina Bennett

Wednesday, April 17, 2013�Star Scholar Awards

Cassandra M. PerezCommunity High SchoolGPA: 3.0School ActivitiesStudent Government (SAS, president, organize school activities and fundraisers); School Board Meetings (attendance); Student Store (manager)Community ActivitiesCatholic Charities (teacher’s assistant); Flory Elementary Halloween Carnival (volunteer); SAS activitiesCollege/MajorMoorpark College / Mediation, TeachingParentsTracy and Joe Perez

Wynsum J. KearnsEl Camino High School at Ventura CollegeGPA: 4.0School ActivitiesSewing ClubCommunity ActivitiesCommunity Theater (dance captain/assistant choreographer)College/MajorVentura College / Theater Arts, EnglishParentsJacqueline Long

Dru BlossomEl Camino High School at Ventura CollegeGPA: 3.7School ActivitiesWind Ensemble; Jazz Band; Pep Band; Spring Musical (pit orchestra); Tri-M Music Honor SocietyCommunity ActivitiesVentura Hillside Conservancy (volunteer); BFC Community OrchestraCollege/MajorUniversity of Puget Sound / Biology, PhilosophyParentsRandy and Carolyn Blossom

Laura FeinsteinConejo Valley High SchoolGPA: 3.2School ActivitiesNewspaper; YearbookCommunity ActivitiesNoneCollege/MajorUndecided / UndecidedParentsLou and Michelle Feinstein

Cristian MoralesChannel Islands High SchoolGPA: 3.96School ActivitiesKey Club; ASB (treasurer)Community ActivitiesNoneCollege/Major UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley, UCSB, Cal Poly SLO / MathematicsParentsEfrain and Rosaura Morales

Sean DonlonCommunity High SchoolGPA: 2.2School ActivitiesNoneCommunity ActivitiesFirst Five (volunteer)College/MajorMoorpark College / BusinessParentsKathleen Donlon

� Star Scholar

AwardsWednesday, April 17, 2013

Chandler KeetonHigh School at Moorpark CollegeGPA: 4.1School ActivitiesGeography Challenge (First Team)Community ActivitiesAnimal Rescue Volunteers; Catholic CharitiesCollege/MajorMoorpark College / Computer ScienceParentsGreg and Linda Keeton

Jie (Rachel) LiuHillcrest Christian SchoolGPA: 3.83School ActivitiesNational Honor Society (vice president); Teaching Assistant; Golf Team; Academic Peer TutorCommunity ActivitiesConejo Chinese Culture Association (volunteer); Ventura County Rescue Mission (volunteer)College/MajorUniversity of San Diego, Penn State University, St. John’s University / Mathematics, Pre-Business AdministrationParentsLiqin Liu

Koichi P. AgapitoHueneme High SchoolGPA: 4.33School ActivitiesASB; AVID; Mock Trial; Drama; Academic Ambassador; Academic Decathlon; MESA; FBLA; Peer Resource; Financial Club; Link Crew; FLA; VolleyballCommunity ActivitiesChurch; Masonic Lodge; beach clean-up; Tutoring; Library; Rescue Mission; Santa by the Sea; ShorelineCollege/MajorUC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UC Irvine / Business, Psychology, UndecidedParentsJeelyn Garza

Rachel G. RomanelliGrace Brethren High SchoolGPA: 4.32School ActivitiesVarsity Soccer; National Art Honor Society; National Honor Society; CSFCommunity ActivitiesChurch (Sunday School teacher, VBS teacher); ACTION - Area Christians Taking Initiative On Needs (volunteer); mission trips to KoreaCollege/MajorCal Poly SLO / Recreation, Parks and Tourism AdministrationParentsJoshua and Sylvia Romanelli

Hayley E. Abourezk-PinkstoneFoothill Technology High SchoolGPA: 4.83School ActivitiesASB/Leadership (5 years); Senior Class Officer; Senior Focus Council; Intervention, Reinforcement, and Enrichment (crew leader); Honor CourtCommunity ActivitiesRelay for Life (captain, 2 years); Mentoring/Tutoring; Ventura Unified Leadership Council (2 years)College/MajorUniversity of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, Occidental College, Cornell University, Reed College, Lewis & Clark College, Claremont McKenna College / EconomicsParentsDidi Pinkstone and Tami Abourezk

Emily J. ParkFoothill Technology High SchoolGPA: 4.6School ActivitiesIntervention, Reinforcement, and Enrichment Program (mentor); Key Club; AVID (tutor); Bioscience AcademyCommunity ActivitiesCommunity Memorial Hospital (volunteer); Relay for Life; Festival of Talent; Church (preschool teacher’s assistant)College/MajorAccepted to: Wellesley College, UC Irvine; Pending: UCLA, UC Berkeley, Middlebury, Williams / Neuroscience, Cognitive ScienceParentsMiyeong and Jungwon Park

Jose A. ContrerasFillmore High SchoolGPA: 4.38School ActivitiesUC Ambassadors Club; MEChA; MESA; JV Baseball; California State Summer School for Mathematics and ScienceCommunity ActivitiesBig Brothers Big Sisters; Freshmen Orientation; UC Ambassadors Club (underclassmen sponsor); MLK clean up days; Vision 2020 of Fillmore; Freshmen math tutorCollege/MajorUCLA, UCSD / Biomedical Engineering, Pre-MedParentsSergio and Maria Contreras

Brandy A. NisbetFillmore High SchoolGPA: 4.41School ActivitiesBand Club (president); Concert Band (oboe, various saxes in Marching Band and Jazz Band); Poetry Club (president); Drama Club (president, 5 theatre productions); Ventura County Honor Band (2 years); Research Mentorship program at UCSBCommunity ActivitiesSchool and community cleanups; Team Overton Benefit Concert featuring Los Hermanos Herrera (main student organizer, raised $5,000 for a teacher’s cancer medical expenses); Relay for LifeCollege/MajorUniversity of New Mexico, Harvard, Brown, UCSB, UCSD, UC Berkeley / UndecidedParentsDelia A. Nisbet


Amanda F. SerritellaMoorpark High SchoolGPA: 4.39School ActivitiesNational Honor Society (secretary); Fellowship of Christian Athletes (officer); Future Business Leaders of America; Senior Class Cabinet; Prom Committee; National Spanish Honors SocietyCommunity ActivitiesCornerstone Community Church (junior high youth ministry leader); Childcare Volunteer; Camp Counselor; Volleyball Coach; Babysitter; Academic Mentoring (tutor)College/MajorUndecided / BiochemistryParentsRobert and Karen Serritella

Brett C. DickinsonNewbury Park Adventist AcademyGPA: 4.0School ActivitiesVarsity Football; Varsity Basketball; Varsity Baseball; Cross Country; Golf; Honor Society; ASB; Mission Trips; Spiritual Leadership Team; Band; Jazz Band; Choir; Select ChoirCommunity ActivitiesMission Trips; Church Food Pantry; Weekly Breakfast Ministry; Youth Group Outreach to CommunityCollege/MajorPacific Union College / Pre-MedParentsChip and Lisa Dickinson

Nicholas J. TuckerMoorpark High SchoolGPA: 4.5School ActivitiesVarsity Baseball (captain); “A” Jazz Band (guitarist); National Honor Society (vice president); Class of 2013 (president); Fellowship of Christian Athletes; CSFCommunity ActivitiesMoorpark and Thousand Oaks Little Leagues (umpire, coach); Moorpark High School Youth Baseball Camp (counselor); Holy Cross Catholic Church (youth ministry, choir guitar player)College/MajorCalifornia Institute of Technology, University of Notre Dame / Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pre-MedParentsChris and Maureen Tucker

Annie HadleyMoorpark High SchoolGPA: 4.48School ActivitiesThe Edge Newspaper (2011-present); School Site Council (2012-present); FBLA (2009-present); National Spanish Honor Society (2011-present); National Honor Society (2011-present)Community ActivitiesYMCA Youth and Government (2009-present); California Association of Student Councils (2012-present); FOOD Share (intern 2011-present); Conejo Valley YMCA Board (student member 2012-present)College/MajorPrinceton / Public and International AffairsParentsSara and Peter Hadley

Luis A. HernandezHueneme High SchoolGPA: 4.6School ActivitiesKnowledge Bowl; MESA; FBLA; CSF; Gate Club; Academic AmbassadorsCommunity ActivitiesHomework tutor at Ray D. Prueter Library; Masonic Lodge and beach cleanupCollege/MajorUCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UCSB, USC, Stanford / Biomedical EngineeringParentsAntonio and Leticia Hernandez

Huandari LopezHueneme High SchoolGPA: 4.48School ActivitiesNJROTC (commanding officer, administrative officer, Unarmed Drill Team commander, Academic Team commander, Platoon Guideon); CSF; FBLA (historian); MESA; Academic Ambassadors; French ClubCommunity ActivitiesCalifornia Strawberry Festival (4 years); Shoreline Senior Care Center; Crop Walk (3 years); Oxnard Ormond Beach Cleanup (3 years); Oxnard Masonic LodgeCollege/MajorUC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UC Irvine / Computer ScienceParentsMartha Marinez

Elizabeth B. GrodeLa Reina High SchoolGPA: 4.67School ActivitiesVarsity Swim; Varsity Soccer; La Reina Herald (page editor, photography editor); Literary Magazine (page editor, lead editor); Student Council (class president, vice president, representative); Regent AmbassadorCommunity ActivitiesWater Polo (Olympic Development Program Zone A team, All-American, first place Junior Olympics, US Club Champ); Titan’s Water Polo Club (volunteer assistant coach); Easter Seals (swim teacher for special needs children)College/MajorHarvard, Stanford, Columbia, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, UCSB, Duke, Cornell / Neuroscience, Brain Cognitive SciencesParentsMatthew and Cecilia

Samantha L. GoodfellowMonte Vista SchoolGPA: 3.97School ActivitiesStudent Board (representative)Community ActivitiesRancho Simi Recreation and Park District (volunteer); The Natural Cafe (employee)College/MajorMoorpark College / Psychology, Health Sciences, Nutrition and FitnessParentsTina Goodfellow

� Star Scholar

AwardsWednesday, April 1�, 2013

Rachel L. HsiongOak Park High SchoolGPA: 4.83School ActivitiesClub and Varsity Lacrosse (9th-present); Key Club (member 10th, president 2012-13); Engineering Innovations; Idea to Impact “The Hive” (2010-12); Environmental Club (2012-13)Community ActivitiesKey Club (volunteer at Manna, Habitat for Humanity, Hurricane Sandy school supply drive, etc.); Tutor (8th-present); City of Agoura and Rancho Simi (volunteer)College/MajorCarnegie Mellon, Cornell, Harvey Mudd, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD / Engineering, UndeclaredParentsWilliam and Mia Hsiong

Julia M. BerkovitzOak Grove SchoolGPA: 4.0School ActivitiesStudent Council (vice president, member 3 years); Invisible Children Club (president, co-founder)Community ActivitiesI studied abroad in Argentina with Rotary Youth Exchange for my sophomore year of high school. In Argentina, I was a member of the Rotaract Club of Mar del Plata. I tutor students in math and spanish.College/MajorPitzer College, Colorado College, Claremont McKenna College / Political Science, International RelationsParentsJoel Berkovitz and Jeanette Stampfli Berkovitz

Kai Y. ConveryOak Park High SchoolGPA: 4.6School ActivitiesYearbook; Annual Chinese Cultural Show (performer); Soccer; Volleyball; Academic All-League Team; Fellowship of Christian Athletes (treasurer); Breakdancing Club (president)Community ActivitiesAYSO (referee, assistant coach); Assisteens - Assistance LeagueCollege/MajorStanford, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, NYU / UndecidedParentsPatrick and Fei

Michelaina W. JohnsonNordhoff High SchoolGPA: 4.31School ActivitiesVarsity Cross Country and Track & Field (team captain); Newspaper (editor-in-chief); Associate English TeacherCommunity ActivitiesOjai Valley News, (intern 2+ years); Ojai Roadrunners (assistant coach)College/MajorPrinceton, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Pepperdine, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Cornell, Macalester College, University of North Carolina / Political Science, JournalismParentsKathryn Smith

Tony R. DongNewbury Park High SchoolGPA: 4.89School ActivitiesHigher Hopes (founder, president); FBLA (vice president of services); FBLA Gold Coast (sectional officer); Internourish Club (president, secretary, treasurer); CSFCommunity ActivitiesLos Robles Medical Center (volunteer); Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza (usher); Mathematics Tutor; Thousand Oaks Teen Advisory League (member); PianoCollege/MajorUSC, University of Pennsylvania, NYU, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD / Finance, Business Administration, Marketing, EconomicsParentsLifen Zhou and Junyi Dong

Cassandra N. ZhiNewbury Park High SchoolGPA: 4.0School ActivitiesPrivate Tutor; National Honor Society; CSF; FBLA; Key Club; Higher Hopes (secretary 2012); Panther Pals (secretary 2010-11); Full International Baccalaureate DiplomaCommunity ActivitiesAbercrombie and Fitch Kids (sales associate); Thousand Oaks Chinese School (teacher’s assistant); Summer Leadership Challenge (camp counselor); Los Robles Hospital (volunteer); Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago (intern)College/MajorUC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, USC, Drexel, Brown, University of Miami, UCSB, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, Case Western Reserve / Biological Sciences, BiologyParentsBenxin Zhi

Eric H. LuNewbury Park High SchoolGPA: 4.79School ActivitiesAcademic Decathlon; AMC/AIME Club; Computer Science Club; Peer Tutoring; Swim TeamCommunity ActivitiesMathCounts Coaching; Peer TutoringCollege/MajorCaltech, UC Berkeley, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, University of Chicago, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Harvey Mudd, UCLA / Computer Science (scientific computing, computational dynamics), Astrophysics (theoretical/computational), Applied Mathematics, NeuroscienceParentsYuefeng Lu (father) and Xiaohong Cai (mother)

Benjamin L. BattlesonNordhoff High SchoolGPA: 4.27School ActivitiesMarching Band (drum major); Jazz Band; Musical Orchestra; Associate Teacher (I reteach lessons from Precalculus for 1 hour per week)Community ActivitiesInteract Club (president); Ojai Band; Math Super Bowl (coach of 6th graders in district math competition)College/MajorMIT, Columbia, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Cal Poly SLO, UC Davis / EngineeringParentsWayne and Petra Battleson


Gavin BadilloOxnard High SchoolGPA: 4.0School ActivitiesEarthbound Club; National Honor Society; Newspaper; Mock Trial; National Society of High School Scholars; Homework Center (tutor)Community ActivitiesBlood Donor; Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser; Trinity Lutheran Praise Band; skilled nursing facility (volunteer)College/MajorMIT, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UC Santa Cruz, Brown, Caltech, Columbia, Stanford, USC, Yale / Bioengineering, Biomedical EngineeringParentsSteve and Rebecca Badillo

Nathan K. HarryOxnard High SchoolGPA: 4.48School ActivitiesAcademic Decathlon (president, 4 years, county champions twice, numerous medals); AFJROTC (4 years, Unit Commanding Officer, led field trip to Edwards AFB); MESA (6 years, medals in solo/team math)Community ActivitiesBSA Troop 228 (Eagle Scout, 2010 Scout of the Year, Assistant Scoutmaster, Bronze Eagle Palm Award); CA Boy’s State Delegate (2012); Channel Islands Social Services (employee)College/MajorCal Poly SLO, UCSB, UC Davis, UC Irvine / Mechanical EngineeringParentsPaul and Helen Harry

Aria V. EllettOjai Valley SchoolGPA: 3.8School ActivitiesDrama; Chorus; Journalism (editor-in-chief); Student Council; Prefect; Soccer; Track; Tutor/MentorCommunity ActivitiesRelay for Life; working at homeless shelter dinnersCollege/MajorNYU, Cornell, Elon University, Syracuse, USC, Emerson College / Communications, International Relations, JournalismParentsEmily Brown

Jackson A. SullivanOaks Christian High SchoolGPA: 4.66School ActivitiesNational Honor Society (3 years); Varsity Soccer (team captain grade 12); Varsity Golf (3 years); Peer Tutor; Ski and Snowboard ClubCommunity ActivitiesYouth Baseball (umpire); The First Tee of Ventura County (volunteer); St. Jude the Apostle Church (youth volunteer); State Senator Tony Strickland (campaign intern); Shoes That Fit; Make-A-WishCollege/MajorUniversity of Notre Dame / Applied Mathematics and StatisticsParentsDoug and Liesl Sullivan

Alexander B. KimOak Park High SchoolGPA: 4.0School ActivitiesVarsity Golf; Junior Varsity Cross Country; Hope for Our Heroes Club (co-president); National Honor Society; CSFCommunity ActivitiesUnited States Golf Little League (head coach); Brian Wolverton Memorial Drive; American Junior Golf Association’s Leadership Links programCollege/MajorAccepted to: UCSD, UCSB, UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC / UndecidedParentsPeter and Rachel Kim

Weston J. ShukenOak Park IndependentGPA: 2.8School ActivitiesGATE Program; Surf Team; Surf ClubCommunity ActivitiesI’m not part of any groups or clubs in the community. However, I do help out around the community a lot.College/MajorBelmont University / SongwritingParentsPam and Jon Shuken

Breanna KayOak View High SchoolGPA: 3.26School ActivitiesYearbook; Video Yearbook; ASB (president )Community ActivitiesVolunteered at ALS AssociationsCollege/MajorMoorpark College, Art Center College of Design, Pierce College / Graphic Design, Game Design, AnimationParentsJay and Charmeine Kay

Kelsey L. SchiedermayerOaks Christian High SchoolGPA: 4.64School ActivitiesVolleyball; Linguistics Club (president); National Honor Society; Lion’s Voice AmbassadorCommunity ActivitiesI work with special needs children and in the disability ministry at my church. I have also volunteered at the Westlake Village library and with ACTION Christmas Shoppe.College/MajorPrinceton, UC Berkeley, Georgetown / History, LinguisticsParentsSteve and Nancy Schiedermayer

� Star Scholar


Samuel D. BirnsRio Mesa High SchoolGPA: 4.6School ActivitiesEngineering & Robotics Club (co-founder, co-president); Spartans for a Cure (co-president); Tennis (team co-captain)Community ActivitiesSummer Science Camp; El Centrito Family Learning Centers (instructor)College/MajorUC Berkeley / MathematicsParentsOlive Birns

Jianing WangRio Mesa High SchoolGPA: 4.0School ActivitiesCSF (member, 4 years); Red Cross Club (member, 4 years); Spartans for a Cure Cancer Awareness Club (member, 4 years); Splat! Online Magazine (editor, 1 year)Community ActivitiesChinese American Association (volunteer, 4 years); Camarillo Library (volunteer, 2 years); St. John’s Hospital (volunteer, 2 years); Coastal Clean-ups (volunteer, 2 years); Animal Shelter (volunteer, 1 year)College/MajorUC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, UC Davis, USC, Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Cornell / Chemical EngineeringParentsNa Lin and Clyde Valentine

Sabrina E. DuongtranRio Mesa High SchoolGPA: 4.55School ActivitiesAdvocates for Art (spreading art classes and influences to elementary and middle schools); Drama Club (secretary, performer)Community ActivitiesPolice Activities League (volunteer program focused on helping the community, cleaning up parks and schools); Daycare ProviderCollege/MajorRensselaer Polytechnic Institute, UCSD / Biomedical Engineering, Architecture, Visual ArtsParentsFawn Nguyen

Jacqueline LoyolaPacifica High SchoolGPA: 4.56School ActivitiesTennis; MESA; Key Club; Geography Bowl; CSFCommunity ActivitiesTaekwondoCollege/MajorUS Naval Academy / EngineeringParentsSalvador and Lalaine Loyola

Sophia TrevorOxnard High SchoolGPA: 4.56School ActivitiesMarching Band; Winter Drum Line; Jazz BandCommunity ActivitiesOxnard Marching Band (playing at local restaurants, fundraisers, and the Strawberry Festival); CAHSEE (tutor)College/MajorUCLA, CSUN / Music Performance-PianoParentsGuy Trevor

Cheyenne C. TimmermanPacific High SchoolGPA: 3.2School ActivitiesRenaissance Winner; Perfect Attendance; Top Shark; Principal for the DayCommunity ActivitiesI did community service hours at Noah’s Ark Christian preschool and day care. I also earned 6 Child Development units at Ventura College and graduated high school a semester early.College/MajorVentura College / Forensic ScienceParentsPenny Meade

Nia E. FerrerPacifica High SchoolGPA: 4.63School ActivitiesAdvanced Dance; Talent Show (singer); Patron of the Arts; Volleyball; Chemistry Club (vice president); Chemistry Olympiad (coach); French Club (president); CSF; Key Club; Dance Club; College Club; PLUS TeamCommunity ActivitiesPangasinan Association; Fil-Am Council of Ventura County; Santa Clara Church (member); El Rio Food Pantry; Boys & Girls Club; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Oxnard Historic Farm Park; Dance WorkshopsCollege/MajorUC Irvine, UCLA, UCSD, Cal Poly SLO, CSU Long Beach / Pharmaceutical Sciences, BiochemistryParentsRogelio and Nilda Ferrer

Ky-Cuong L. HuynhPacifica High SchoolGPA: 4.51School ActivitiesMarching Band (4 years); Symphonic Band (4 years); Academic Decathlon (4 years); Tennis (3 years); MESA (4 years); French Club (4 years); Knowledge Bowl (4 years); CSF (4 years); Chemistry Club (3 years)Community ActivitiesGull Wings Children’s Museum (volunteer, 80+ hours); Key Club (4 years)College/MajorStanford, Cal Poly SLO, UCSB, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Riverside / Computer ScienceParentsSum and My-Hanh Huynh

Wednesday, April 17, 201310Star Scholar Awards

Emily R. HidalgoSanta Paula High SchoolGPA: 4.48School ActivitiesEnvironmental Service Club (president, 4 years); Fitness and Nutrition Club (secretary, 2 years); CSF (vice president, 3 years); Varsity Swim Team (captain, 4 years); Jazz Ensemble; Human Services AcademyCommunity ActivitiesBig Brothers Big Sisters (mentor, 4 years); Santa Paula Beautiful; Santa Clara River Clean-up; Santa Paula Hospital (volunteer); Westside Family Practice (student volunteer); CAUSE (volunteer)College/MajorCSUCI / Environmental ScienceParentsArt and Sara Hidalgo

Mahnoor SaleemSanta Susana High SchoolGPA: 4.58School ActivitiesInteract Club (vice president, secretary); Muslim Student Association (president); Battery Recycling Program (founder); International Club Fundraising Committee; Key ClubCommunity ActivitiesMuslim InterScholastic Tournament Second Place Overall Winner; Scholastic Silver Key Winner; Rotary Essay Winner; Zonta Scholarship Winner; Tutored Internationally (55 hours)College/MajorUCLA / Chemical EngineeringParentsSaleem Khokhar

Neil S. GandhiSanta Susana High SchoolGPA: 4.38School ActivitiesJohns Hopkins Engineering Innovation; NASA INSPIRE Collegiate Experience; COSMOS; Science Club (founder); NASA INSPIRE Online Learning CommunityCommunity ActivitiesVayuna (founder); American Red Cross Club (founder); Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District (volunteer); Boys and Girls Club (volunteer); Mad Science (volunteer)College/MajorStanford, UC Berkeley, Harvey Mudd / Electrical EngineeringParentsSamir and Tejal Gandhi

Magali BedollaSanta Paula High SchoolGPA: 4.0School ActivitiesBig Brothers Big Sisters; AVIDCommunity ActivitiesEvery month I give counsel to others on how to lead a good moral life. I am in ROP where I am trained to become a Dental Assistant and after I intern 150 hours where I put my skills to practice.College/MajorUC Irvine, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, CSU Bakersfield, SDSU, CSU Long Beach, CSU Los Angeles / UndecidedParentsRodrigo and Elia Bedolla

Niels P. PinedaRoyal High SchoolGPA: 4.59School ActivitiesVarsity Tennis (team captain); Key Club (vice president); Park and Recreation Club (founder); National Honor Society; CSF; Philosophy ClubCommunity ActivitiesLos Robles Hospital (volunteer); Tennis (tutoring); Key Club; Rancho Simi Recreation & Park District (volunteer)College/MajorStanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Dartmouth / Computer Science and EngineeringParentsNoel and Rosario Pineda

Kyle J. MatterRoyal High SchoolGPA: 4.47School ActivitiesPTSA (webmaster); Financial & Membership Committees; Computer Game Maker Club; National Honor Society; Peer Tutor; CSFCommunity ActivitiesAYSO (referee, webmaster, referee instructor)College/MajorAccepted to: UC Irvine, Cal Poly SLO; Pending: UCLA, Harvard, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon / Computer ScienceParentsMatthew and Cheryl Matter

John ScuolerRoyal High SchoolGPA: 4.66School ActivitiesVolleyball; Interact; Academic Decathlon; Math Club; National Honor Society; CSF; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; French ClubCommunity ActivitiesI’ve organized food drives, breast cancer fundraisers, school clean up days and have also spent the night in a box to raise money for the homeless. I also tutor fellow students three times a week.College/MajorStanford, Columbia, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, UC Davis, University of Arizona / Mechanical EngineeringParentsHelen and Terence

Megan R. RuckstuhlSanta Clara High SchoolGPA: 4.38School ActivitiesASB (president); National Honor Society; CSF; Academic Decathlon; Varsity Tennis; California Girls State (delegate)Community ActivitiesTy Warner Sea Center (exhibit interpreter); Church Ministry (10 years); Junior High Academic Decathlon (coach)College/MajorNotre Dame, UCSD, Colorado School of Mines / Biological EngineeringParentsRon and Brenda Ruckstuhl

11 Star Scholar


Jack R. WeilThe Thacher SchoolGPA: 4.29School ActivitiesEnvironmental Action Committee (head of composting); Varsity Basketball (co-captain); Dorm Prefect (Freshmen boys); Varsity Football; Track; United Cultures of Thacher (member)Community ActivitiesHumane Society (volunteer); Ojai Tennis Tournament (ballboy); Creator of day camp for children of teachers at Topa Topa ElementaryCollege/MajorWashington University in St. Louis, still waiting to hear from others / Undecided, Environmental StudiesParentsJane and Mark Weil

Jingyi LiThousand Oaks High SchoolGPA: 4.63School ActivitiesYearbook (editor-in-chief); Chamber Orchestra (president); Art Club (president); Link Crew Leader; School-to-Career Majors Program; CSF; National Honor SocietyCommunity ActivitiesConejo Valley Youth Orchestra (violist, program designer); Open Borders Music & Arts Festival; Students for Solar Schools (co-founder); Integrity Bio (intern)College/MajorAccepted to: UC Berkeley, UCLA; Pending: MIT, Yale, Brown, Harvard, Columbia, Wesleyan, Amherst, Cornell, Stanford / EngineeringParentsJisheng Li and Dongmei Xu

Jason P. GardinerThousand Oaks High SchoolGPA: 4.63School ActivitiesNewspaper (features editor, 11; editor-in-chief, 12); National Scholastic Press Association (All-American, Best of Show); Jazz Ensemble (piano); CSFCommunity ActivitiesChurch Youth Group (youth leader); Boy Scouts of America (Venturing Crew president, Eagle Scout); MTAC Contemporary Festival (solo piano, 6-time gold medalist); Certificate of Merit Honors (6-times, 4-time convention attendee); MTAC Bach FestivalCollege/MajorBYU, Boston University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton (undecided) / Communications or EnglishParentsAndrea and Jeff

Liliana A. MartinezSt. Bonaventure High SchoolGPA: 4.09School ActivitiesMock Trial; Campus Ministry; ASB; Interact Club; Spanish Club; Choir; Leo Club; Key Club; Habitat for Humanity; NHS; CSF; student tutoringCommunity ActivitiesMany of the School Activities branch into the community.College/MajorUC Irvine, University of San Diego, Pepperdine / BiologyParentsMartin and Sylvia Martinez

Ankita DevareddySimi Valley High SchoolGPA: 4.62School ActivitiesVarsity Tennis (captain); Key Club (president); CSFCommunity ActivitiesSimi Valley Hospital ER (volunteer); Pediatric Clinic (intern); Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District (volunteer)College/MajorUndecided / UndecidedParentsChandra and Savita Devareddy

Katherine J. KimSimi Valley High SchoolGPA: 4.68School ActivitiesMath Club (president, co-founder); Interact Club (secretary, 4-year member); CSF (4 years); National Honor Society (member)Community ActivitiesSimi Valley Hospital Junior Volunteer (3+ years and 300+ hours of service); BeTheStarYouAre! (volunteer researcher, 3+ years); motivational teen radio ExpressYourself! (show administrator)College/MajorColumbia University / Mathematics, StatisticsParentsVictoria and Casey Kim

Soo Y. KimSimi Valley High SchoolGPA: 4.55School ActivitiesKey Club (publicist, vice president); CSF (vice president); National Honor SocietyCommunity ActivitiesOpen Academy Youth Orchestra (1st flute); ANC activities group (10th grade)College/MajorWaiting on decisions / Business, Biomedical EngineeringParentsMonica Youk

Emily N. DevericksSt. Bonaventure High SchoolGPA: 4.2School ActivitiesVolleyball; Basketball; Swim Team; ASB; Spanish Club; Peer Tutoring Club; Interact Club; National Honor Society; CSF; Key ClubCommunity ActivitiesVentura Wildcats Girls Basketball; Community Service through Christian service projectsCollege/MajorUSC, Georgetown, Seattle University, University of Portland / BiochemistryParentsMike and Alicia Devericks


Lily ChenWestlake High SchoolGPA: 4.79School ActivitiesAcademic Decathlon; Bazooka Music Club; Computer Science Club; Literary Chronicles; Chinese ClubCommunity ActivitiesCharity concerts for the community; YouTube singer and chorus organizerCollege/MajorAccepted to: University of Pennsylvania, Wellesley, Vassar, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, USC / Cognitive ScienceParentsYang Chen (dad) and Min Wang (mom)

Kailen MalloyVentura High SchoolGPA: 4.5School ActivitiesVarsity Track & Field; National Honor Society; CSF; Heal the BeachCommunity ActivitiesVentura County Humane Society (volunteer); Ventura Eco-Renewal (co-president)College/MajorDuke University / UndecidedParentsPatricia and Timothy Malloy

Joseph E. SantiaVentura High SchoolGPA: 4.65School ActivitiesDrama; Knowledge Bowl; Academic Decathlon; National Honor Society; Ventura Political Action CommitteeCommunity ActivitiesVolunteer Ventura; GWAT-Global Warming Action TeamCollege/MajorWhitman College, Brown, USC, Vanderbilt, Grinnell College / UndecidedParentsGino and Julie Santia

Colin G. WikholmVillanova Preparatory High SchoolGPA: 4.39School ActivitiesCSF (vice president); National Honor Society; Spanish National Honor Society; Ski Club (founder, president); Student Ambassador; Varsity Soccer; JV Swimming; Student Augustinian Values Institute (representative, retreat leader)Community ActivitiesAYSO (player, referee); Padre Serra Parish (usher); Pleasant Valley Parks and Recreation (lifeguard); Sunday School (co-teacher)College/MajorAccepted to: Boston College, Loyola Marymount University, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UCD / BiologyParentsNancy Wikholm and Gary Wikholm

Katherine R. ReavesThousand Oaks High SchoolGPA: 4.04School ActivitiesVarsity Basketball (captain); Track & Field (Throwers team); Choir; CSFCommunity ActivitiesI love to perform and sing, so I have a yearly Christmas show that I put on at University Village for the elderly. I also have shows to raise money for the American Heart AssociationCollege/MajorCLU, Lipscomb University, Pepperdine, UCSB, Occidental / Music, Theatre, ArtParentsJames and Michaela

Courtney R. NgaiTrinity Pacific Christian SchoolGPA: 4.2School ActivitiesIndoor Rock Climbing Club (president/founder); Mock Trial (pretrial attorney); Honor Society Scholar; Service Club; Valedictorian; Honors Student; Science FairCommunity ActivitiesRancho Simi Recreation and Park District (volunteer); Athletic Physical Therapy (volunteer/intern); Living Oaks Community Church (volunteer); Rock Climbing, PianoCollege/MajorAccepted to: Patrick Henry College, The Master’s College, CLU, Liberty University, Pepperdine / UndecidedParentsJohn and Lydwina Ngai

Brandon M. WaldschmidtVentura County Christian SchoolGPA: 3.9School ActivitiesASB (president); Drama Club; Chess Club; NFL Prognosticators (co-founder); Varsity Basketball (captain); Merit Honor Roll; Yearbook; Teachers Assistant for ElementaryCommunity ActivitiesVolunteering at Convalescent Home, Feeding the HomelessCollege/MajorUniversity of New Mexico / Nuclear EngineeringParentsJames and Claudia Waldschmidt

Hannah A. KirkegaardVentura High SchoolGPA: 4.52School ActivitiesVarsity Cross Country (captain, 4 years); Track & Field (captain, 4 years)Community ActivitiesI am a member of the Heal the Beach Club which works to keep our beaches pristine and to eradicate the invasive Arundo reed from the Ventura River.College/MajorUC Berkeley, UC Davis, Harvey Mudd, Stanford / Biomedical EngineeringParentsEric and Melissa Kirkegaard

13 Star Scholar


I never met Julius Gius, who died in 1996 when I was 9 years old, but make no mistake: he has touched my life greatly. Even after his retirement as publisher and editor of the Ventura Star-

Free Press he remained a dear mentor of my dad, a columnist for the paper. And so, by extension, Mr. Gius has helped mentor me as a writer — and person.

More directly, I am a beneficiary of Mr. Gius through the esteemed honor of receiving the 2005 Julius Guis Scholarship named in his memory. The $5,000 award helped me pursue my educational dreams at the University of Southern California while also continuing volunteer work through my organization “Write On! For Literacy” (www.writeonbooks.org).

Mr. Gius was a true philanthropic leader: he created The Star’s annual Christmas Bellringer campaign that has raised more than $1 million for the Salvation Army and led the drive to build Casa Pacifica, a haven for children from abusive homes. I hope he would be proud that I have tried to follow his large footsteps in regards to community service by teaching youth writing camps and spearheading a Holiday Book Drive that has to date donated nearly 13,000 new books to disadvantaged kids.

With the assistance of the Julius Gius Scholarship, I graduated from the University of Southern California in 2009. This year I received my master’s degree in creative writing from Purdue University, where I completed a collection of short stories, a novel and three one-act plays, while also teaching undergraduate writing classes for three years. I will soon be headed to San Jose State as the 2013-14 John Steinbeck Fellowship winner, where I will work on

a new novel and give guest lectures. I aim to continue teaching at the

university level while combining this with a career as a playwright and novelist. I think Mr. Gius would approve, because he advised my dad, and countless others, to “Read, read, read — histories, novels, biographies, periodicals of all kinds and above all newspapers.”

In the Introduction to a collection of his “Editor’s Notebook” columns that Mr. Gius self-published in 1988, he wrote: “I have had a rich and rewarding life. Everything has come up roses for me. … I count my blessings every day and wish them for everyone.”

What made Mr. Gius truly special was that he not only wished similar blessings upon others, he made an effort to see that they received them. For doing so I owe him personally, I admire him immensely, and I humbly try to emulate his lofty example.

— Dallas Woodburn2005 Julius Guis

Scholarship Winner

Vasant S. IyerWestlake High SchoolGPA: 4.79School ActivitiesScience Olympiad Team (president); Linguistics Club (co-founder); Math Honors Society (president); Advanced Anatomy (treasurer, 4 years); Orchestra (3 years, honors); Cross Country (4 years); Tennis (3 years)Community ActivitiesCarnatic Vocal and Violin Music (community performances singer); Ekal Vidyalaya LA (volunteer, community activities to eradicate illiteracy in India); Camp Keepsake Cancer Retreat (youth counselor)College/MajorCaltech, UC Berkeley / BiochemistryParentsSuresh and Kanaka Iyer

Grace I. NgWestlake High SchoolGPA: 4.79School ActivitiesHonors Advanced Anatomy; Girls State; National Honor Society; Campus Light; National Spanish Honors SocietyCommunity ActivitiesVCTC Teen Council; Operation Christmas Child; Thousand Oaks Teen Advisory LeagueCollege/MajorCornell, Johns Hopkins, Pomona, Rice, UC Berkeley, UCLA / Nutritional Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Kinesiology, Public Health, PyschobiologyParentsPaul Ng and Noreen Lin

Julius GiusReflections

on a lasting legacy

Dallas Woodburn was awarded the Julius Guis Scholarship in 2005.


star scholar 2013 - ventura county star - vcstar.com

Documents