June 30, 2006

Evergreen SchoolScene

Evergreen Teachers Association awards $3,500 in scholarships

Seven high school seniors receive prestigious honor

By Michelle Hecht
Staff Writer

In keeping with a tradition of more than 20 years, the Evergreen Teachers Association presented scholarships to high school seniors on June 20.

Evergreen Teachers Association recipients hold their $500 scholarships. (From left) Omar Najam, Courtney Taku, Arianna Alvarado, Karla Guerrero, Y-Nhy Duong and Vincent Cruz. Not pictured: Shelly Pund.

The college bound students – Omar Najam, Vincent Cruz, Arianna Alvarado, Courtney Taku, Y-Nhy Duong, Karla Guerrero and Shelly Pund – received $500 each.

“They were just all refreshing,” said Jean Schorr, scholarship committee chairperson. “The students have just done so much for their community and it amazes me that they can balance school, extracurricular activities and volunteer work. And some of them hold down jobs.”

The ETA required applicants to be former Evergreen School District students with plans to attend college.

After submitting an application, each student was interviewed by the scholarship committee, consisting of current ESD teachers Diane Clemmensen, Debbie Markus, Andy Schorr, Jean Schorr and Brian Wheatley, along with retired teacher Lisa Johnson.

The teachers have been on the committee for several years, some since the scholarship program began.

“Once they’re on that committee, they’re very dedicated and committed to continuing that outreach to the students,” said Diana Messamer, ETA president.

The committee evaluated applicants based on their academic plans, career goals, financial need and community service.

“We do ask for grade point average, however it is not crucial that they have a high GPA,” said Schorr.

Schorr added they also consider family hardships or if the students are the first to attend college in their family.

Depending on budget, the scholarship amounts vary each year. This year's funds were acquired through the Administrator's Golf Tournaments, over $1,000 in personal donations from teachers, and the ETA's own contribution.
Of the seven scholarships presented, one is given each year in honor of former Evergreen music educator, Alan Haydis.

“Upon retiring, we decided we wanted to honor him by having a scholarship for students who plan to go into some visual or performing arts,” said Messamer.

This year, the Alan Haydis scholarship went to Omar Najam.

For more information about the Evergreen Teachers Association and to download an application, visit www.evergreenteachers.org.

Omar Najam
Najam is on his way to becoming the next big name in filmmaking.

A graduate from San Jose Academy, the former student of Evergreen Elementary and Chaboya Middle schools plans to study film at UC Santa Barbara.

He already makes one movie per weekend. For many of his films, he has used Evergreen as the backdrop and hopes to do so in the future.

“It’s just too nice of an area,” said Najam.

He also became involved with theater at San Jose Academy. According to Najam, he averaged two productions a year, usually acting. He also wrote three plays and directed two.

Upon learning he won, Najam said he was surprised.

“Evergreen has so many active people in arts, so it’s really hard to get that,” he said.

Vincent Cruz
Cruz credits K.R. Smith Elementary and Chaboya Middle schools for helping him become the person he is today – a dedicated student devoted to a career in sports.

“The teachers, they really helped me out with everything,” said Cruz, explaining how they developed his skills in school and as a person.

The Overfelt graduate, who helped his father on the Little League field, plans to be the first one in his family to use sports as a career. Majoring in kinesiology, he will attend De Anza College.

“Hopefully it (scholarship) pays for books and tuition,” said Cruz. “(It) just makes it easier for me and my family.”

Arianna Alvarado
Alvarado thrives on helping people.

“I’d volunteer for the rest of my life,” said the Notre Dame graduate, who credits her grandmother as an inspiration.

One of the original members and student director of Notre Dame’s day worker program, Alvarado volunteered her time to bag and deliver lunches for the past several years.

After attending a Catholic elementary school, she attended Quimby Oak.

“My three years there (Quimby) were really, really just a phenomenal experience,” she said.

Alvarado, who plans to major in sociology at the University of Redlands, said the scholarship will ease the financial strain. However, she was surprised she won.

“I’m one of those people that will apply for something and then usually say I won’t get it,” she said. “I’m a realist about the situation.”

Courtney Taku
Taku feels the teachers at Millbrook Elementary, Quimby Middle and Evergreen Valley High schools had a major influence on her.

“I have become a better person because of them,” she said.

Besides playing varsity volleyball and basketball all four years at Evergreen Valley, helping her dad coach her sister’s basketball team for five years and volunteering at Loaves and Fishes, Taku has been a Girl Scout her entire life.

The UC Davis-bound Taku enjoyed the scholarship interview.

“I felt comfortable and I talked about my life,” she said.

As a psychologist, she plans to listen as others talk about their lives.

“I just like helping people, counseling people, listening to people and giving them advice,” said Taku.

Y-Nhy Duong
Duong’s grandmother is a major influence for her.

“She taught me to pursue my dreams,” said Duong. “Just by being able to pursue my dreams, I can represent so many people: my ancestors, my family, my grandmother, myself, but also the female in this world ... the Vietnamese minority, the immigrant.”

The Mount Pleasant valedictorian plans to become a physician scientist in neuroscience.

“My ultimate dream is to work at Johns Hopkins University Hospital and not only treat patients, but be able to conduct research and teach,” said Duong, who will attend UC Berkeley.

For the past four years, she held an internship doing clinical research on hypoglycemia. She also volunteered at Stanford Pacific Free Clinic as a Vietnamese medical interpreter.

Duong, who attended Holly Oak Elementary and Quimby Middle schools, said she maintained her academics by “perpetually studying.”

Karla Guerrero
Guerrero expects to work in forensic science, but hopes for something different.

“I’m hoping all of a sudden I wake up and want to be a doctor, like a heart surgeon,” said Guerrero.

Guerrero, a former student at Norwood Elementary and Quimby Middle schools, plans to attend the University of San Francisco.

“They (her parents) had to work a lot harder for money to raise us than they would have if they would have had a full education,” said Guerrero. “So, that’s what they want us to get now.” Active in varsity soccer all four years at Mount Pleasant, she also led several student organizations and became the school’s ASB president.

“I think I’ve set a good example for my younger cousins,” she said

Shelly Pund
Doing her part to help people is important to Pund. This past spring, she traveled to Mississippi to assist in the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. In the past, she made trips to Mexico to build homes for the less fortunate.
She also leads a junior high girls group once a week.

“My goal is to be a good example for them and someone they can come to with questions,” said the Valley Christian graduate, who also attended Cedar Grove Elementary and Quimby Middle schools.

She plans to go to Westmont College in Santa Barbara.

“I find it an honor to be recognized as worthy of the Evergreen School Districts funds,” said Pund.

Evergreen Teachers Association honors local middle school students

Each year the Evergreen Teachers Association recognizes and honors middle school students for their outstanding service to the community. Teachers at the schools they attend select two students each year. They nominate and vote for the students who have served their community. Students receive a plaque from ETA in recognition of their contribution and effort.

The two students who received this award from Quimby Oak Middle School are Rebecca Marquez and Rahul Nayak.

Quimby Oak honoree Rebecca Marquez.

Rebecca Marquez
Rebecca is well known and loved at Quimby Oak for her helpfulness to others. Every day, Becky goes to Norwood Creek to work with and help the Special County Class that is located on that campus. She works with Down Syndrome and Autistic children and has been doing this after school for 3 years (6th, 7th, and 8th grades at Quimby). She worked with this program since 3rd grade while in elementary school at Norwood. The teachers and staff love Becky for her kindness, dedication, and help.

Rahul Nayak
Rahul helps the staff at Quimby after school. He also volunteers at the YMCA as a tech/computer teacher for youth and older adults. He teaches them how to use basic operations and how to print documents. At Christmas he helps sort, wrap, and deliver toys to needy children through his father’s work. Rahul tutors kids at Little Scholars School several days every week. He also helps the school’s secretaries/office with filing, computer work, copies etc. He has gone several times to feed people at a homeless shelter. Other things Rahul does to help out include acting as referee for his younger brother’s soccer games, and being an assistant instructor at the Tae Kwan Do studio where he studies.

Both of these students were recognized by the ETA at Honors Night, held June 5 in the Quimby Oak gym.

Additionally, each year the Evergreen Teachers Association recognizes two eighth graders from each middle school. The criterion for selection includes participation in community activities, behavior, responsibility and academic achievement. This year the teachers at Chaboya have selected two outstanding young ladies to receive this award.

The first student, Diana Tran, is a quiet but effective leader who leads by example. She is active in her church leadership group, which contributes to numerous community projects. She has proved herself an outstanding leader as this year's ASB Treasurer, Student Store Manager, and organizer for dances and spirit activities.

The second student awarded, Jacqueline Tran, is someone who is described as kind, thoughtful, and considerate. She attended Vietnamese School and since her graduation, has volunteered there teaching younger children. She has participated in the Association of Women in Mathematics Essay contest for the past three years, and received Honorable Mention in her age group last year. She has also participated in the Presentation High School Science and Math Academy and Science Fair.

Lastly, each year the Evergreen Teachers Association recognizes two eighth graders from LeyVa Middle School. This year, LeyVa only selected one student - Ben Nguyen.

Ben, who is dubbed "The human calculator" by his math teacher, Mr. Guerrero, has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his years at LeyVa. One of the winners in LeyVa's career poster contest, Nguyen used his artistic gifts to beautify the school through assignments and projects. He set high goals for himself, and reached them through sustained positive efforts. Ben's cheerful generosity and his unflagging willingness to help fellow students and teachers made him stand out as the student who best personifies LeyVa's motto, "Aspire and achieve."