January 25, 2008

Evergreen SchoolScene

A Stellar Student and Now a Coca-Cola Scholars Semifinalist

Anjali Thakkar, Evergreen resident and a senior at Presentation High School has been selected a semifinalist in the 20th anniversary class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a joint effort of Coca-Cola Bottlers across America and The Coca-Cola Company, is one of the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship programs of its kind in the United States. With the 2008 class, more than 4,000 young scholars nationwide will have benefited from just over $35 million that the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has provided. The program recognizes a diverse group of extraordinary high school seniors who have demonstrated academic and civic excellence in their schools and communities.

She ranks with approximately 2,000 high school seniors who are in the running for $3 million in college scholarships that the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will award in spring 2008. Students are selected to advance to this next phase based on the level of academic excellence, leadership and achievement demonstrated in school and community activities. The Class of 2008 Coca-Cola Scholars will mark the 20th anniversary that the Foundation has awarded these scholarships.

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation received more than 79,000 applications this year, and the Semifinalists are truly some of the brightest students in the country,” said Mark Davis, President of the Foundation. “We’re delighted to have such a bright and talented pool of students to consider for our 20th anniversary class.”

As semifinalists, students must submit additional information that will be reviewed in February 2008 by a committee comprised of 30 educators from high schools and universities throughout the United States. If advanced, Anjali will be among a total of 250 finalists who will travel to Atlanta on April 24-27, 2008 to attend the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend. During their visit they will attend a final interview process that will determine whether they are designated as either a National or Regional Scholar. The 50 National Scholars will each receive a $20,000 scholarship award, while the 200 Regional Scholars will receive a $10,000 scholarship.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation was created in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to establish a legacy for the education of tomorrow’s leaders through college scholarships.

D8CRT chooses logo contest winner

Jordan Belisle, a sophomore at Evergreen Valley High School, won the District 8 Community Round Table logo contest. More than 100 entries were submitted. D8CRT President Jim Zito presented a certificate at the January Round Table meeting and D8CRT member Michael Gabler (above, right)presented Jordan with a $100 American Express gift certificate donated by a community member.

Light Opera offers scholarship

West Valley Light Opera Association, one of the Premier South Bay Community Theater organizations, is offering its 2008 performing arts scholarship for a graduating high school senior.

WVLO believes the future of quality community theater lies in our youths, and The Board of Directors of the West Valley Light Opera Association is pleased to provide the 6th Annual Gene Pincus Memorial Theater Arts Scholarship for 2008 to a deserving young person as an aid to pursuing his/her dream.

The scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Gene Pincus, who worked tirelessly in support of WVLO for 25 years.
The scholarship will award, on a competitive basis, an amount of $500 to a graduating high school senior who intends to pursue a career in Theater Arts and who has demonstrated a high degree of involvement in the performing arts throughout his/her high school career.

The applicant must be a Santa Clara County resident, and a graduating high school senior going on to a 2-or 4-year college with an intended college major in the Theater Arts (Acting, Music (vocal), Dance, or Stage Production).
Application materials must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, March 11, 2008. For application details, see www.wvlo.org. Email questions to WVLO@WVLO.org.

East Side Union School district elects new board officers

On December 13, the East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) elected officers for the 2008 calendar year. The term of the offices will be for one year beginning on December 13, 2007. The following officers – all are ESUHSD graduates – were elected unanimously by the ESUHSD Board of Trustees:

President Lan Nguyen

President – Lan Nguyen
Nguyen was elected to the ESUHSD Board of Trustees in November 2004. He was the first Vietnamese-American elected to serve on the largest high school district in Northern California. In addition to serving on the ESUHSD board, Nguyen is a Quality Assurance Coordinator for the County of Santa Clara; he also spent seven years as a Management Analyst for the County. As the founder of the Vietnamese American Voter Education Committee and as a board member for several community-based organizations, he has been active in the community for over a decade.
Nguyen is a graduate of Andrew P. Hill High School in the ESUHSD. He earned an AA degree in Business Administration from Evergreen Valley College, a BA degree in Business Administration and Psychology from San Jose State University, and an MA degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. Nguyen is married to Polly Tran. They have two sons: Connor (3 years old) and Jack (1 year old).

Vice President – Eddie García
García was appointed to the ESUHSD Board of Trustees in December 2006 to fill a vacant seat. He is the Vice President of Government Affairs for Comcast Cable Communications in the Bay Area Region, and serves on the boards of several community-based organizations. He was recently named one of the 10 most influential Latino business leaders in Silicon Valley by MACSA and San Jose Magazine, and the San Francisco Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and San Francisco Business Times selected him as one of the 25 most influential Latinos in the San Francisco Bay Area.

VP Eddie Garcia

García is a native of San Jose's east side, and a graduate of Alum Rock Union School District schools, James Lick High School and San Jose State University. At SJSU, García earned a place on the Dean's list in the History Department. He is married to Sandra Peralta, a principal in the Alum Rock Union School District. They have two daughters: thirteen-year old Marisa and ten-year old Erica.

Clerk – George Shirakawa
Shirakawa was elected to the ESUHSD Board of Trustees in November 2002 and re-elected for a second term in November 2006. He earned the highest number of votes in each election. Prior to his service on the ESUHSD Board of Trustees, Shirakawa served two terms on the San Jose City Council and two terms as San Jose’s Vice Mayor from 1994-2002. As the immediate past President of the Board of Trustees, a former employee and coach in the ESUHSD, and a former San Jose City Councilmember, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board. His term as Board President was marked by bold initiatives and stability of the district’s leadership.

Bay area youth invited to enter Growing Up Asian in America contest

The Asian Pacific Fund is now accepting essays, poems and artwork by local students for the 2008 Growing Up Asian in America contest. $27,000 in cash prizes to youths of all ages and from all Bay Area neighborhoods will be awarded, and the 2008 contest theme is "Winning and Losing, Competition and Teamwork." Growing Up Asian in America encourages young people to creatively express their ideas on identity and culture. Students of all backgrounds are invited to submit entries, including Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, other Asians and Pacific Islanders, and students of mixed heritage.

As students brainstorm the theme, they should consider questions like: “What is it like to win or lose? Is it important to be the best at something?" and "Have you every helped a teammate? When has a teammate helped you?" They are encouraged to share stories from their own lives or about people in their communities. The Fund hopes to prompt students to think about whether or not growing up Asian in America makes their thoughts on winning and losing any different from other people’s ideas.

Students compete in three grade categories: kindergarten through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, and ninth through twelfth grade. The first place winners in each category receive $2,000, with second and third place receiving $1,500 and $1,000, respectively. Numerous honorable mention honors are also awarded gift merchandise.

Entries must be postmarked by Thursday, Mar, 6 or delivered in person by 5 p.m. that day to Growing Up Asian in America, Asian Pacific Fund, 225 Bush Street, Suite 590, San Francisco, CA 94104. No entries are accepted by fax or e-mail. Winners must live in one of the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma. Each entry must be sent with the following information: the student’s full name, grade, complete mailing address, the title of the work, and the name and city of the student’s school. Guidelines are available at your local public library and online at www.asianpacificfund.org. Please call (415) 433-6859 with questions, or e-mail contest@asianpacificfund.org.

Growing Up Asian in America is co-sponsored by NBC11. Other sponsors are Chevron, Safeway, Walgreens, the United Way of the Bay Area, The Mercury News, Asian Art Museum and KTSF-TV. Media sponsors include ABS-CBN International, Filipinas Magazine, The Hokubei Mainichi News, India Currents, KEST AM 1450 & KSJX AM 1500 and Ming Pao Daily.