July 1, 2005

Evergreen School District’s valedictorians

Nine valedictorians and one salutatorian from Chaboya, LeyVa and Quimby Oak middle schools share their favorite memories, their greatest mentors and their future plans and dreams with the Evergreen Times.

(From left) Chaboya Valedictorians at their recent awards night: Alicia Xiong, Kendra Wong, Emily Shu, Anooshka Prasad, Mary Nguyen, Jamie Lee, and Teresa Le.

Chaboya Middle School

Teresa Le
Valedictorian Teresa Le will be attending Evergreen Valley High School in the fall and hopes to one day attend a prominent university, preferably Yale, Harvard, UC Berkley or UC Los Angeles, where she will have a greater opportunity to meet foreign people.

Because most of her family pursued medical vocations, she thinks she will too, but rather than studying the human anatomy, she hopes to study animals and become a veterinarian. Le looks forward to a new and exotic outlook on life that is broadened and extended from the local high school.

Greatest mentors: My teachers Leslye Lawler and Teresa Luo, because they were always there to support me. Also, Mrs. Lawler allowed us time to effectuate our trying projects and she supported us and made us feel comfortable from the very first day. Mrs. Luo never pushed us, but somehow we always excelled above our expectations because of her encouragement.

Favorite middle school memory: When my steadfast friends were always there to support me whenever I was depressed or disconsolate, and they never scoffed at my efforts at anything.

Jamie Lee
Valedictorian Jamie Lee will be attending Evergreen Valley High School in the fall and looks forward to the experiences and the acquaintance with new peers. For college, she would like to attend UC Berkeley or Stanford University and study business, concentrating in accounting and finance, and eventually earning a CPA license and an MBA.
Greatest mentor: My first grade teacher, Mrs. Ross. She taught me to always have confidence in myself throughout the arduous obstacles in my life. Moreover, she has taught me to overlook my timidity, allowing me to believe in myself even when times get rough.

Favorite middle school memory: During a community service project in seventh grade, I realized that a simple present, an act of kindness or giving my time to those less fortunate could brighten up their day with happiness. Through this experience, it has allowed me to be appreciative for all that I have, and by helping others, it has given me the opportunity to contribute back to our community.

Mary Nguyen
Valedictorian Mary Nguyen will be going to Evergreen Valley High School in the fall, where she is anticipating the sports, especially the running ones, the clubs and extra curricular activities. For college, she plans to attend Yale or Georgetown University and pursue a medical field to become either a doctor or a pharmacist. She would also like to earn a PhD.

Greatest mentor: My teachers Leslye Lawler and Teresa Luo, and of course, my parents. In eighth grade year, Ms. Lawler and Ms. Luo assisted me in a copious amount of ways. They not only helped me by teaching me English and math, but these beloved teachers also allowed me to expand my ideas and think “outside of the box.”
Favorite middle school memory: The cross country and the track and field seasons, because I love to run.

Anooshka Prasad
Valedictorian Anooshka Prasad will be attending Archbishop Mitty High School, where she is looking forward to making new friends, attending pep rallies and being socially involved.

“Upon leaving middle school, I would like to continue getting good grades and do even better academically than I am doing now,” said Prasad, who plans to study law as well as mathematics in college.
Greatest mentors: My teachers Leslye Lawler and Teresa Luo, because they taught me language arts and math, respectively, and other things I will use later on in life.
Favorite middle school memory: My graduation, because I was honored to say a part of our speech in front of our parents and classmates.

Emily Shu
Valedictorian Emily Shu will be attending Presentation High School in the fall, where she is looking forward to meeting new people and having countless new experiences. When she graduates from high school, she would like to be able to attend a prestigious college, pursue a successful career and hopefully, fulfill her dream of being a pediatrician.

Greatest mentors: My parents because they have encouraged me to do my best and always be open to new ideas and opportunities.

Favorite middle school memory: Spending time with my friends, because next year, I will not be able to see them as much because we are going to different high schools.

Kendra Wong
Valedictorian Kendra Wong will be attending Silver Creek High School next year, where she is looking forward to building new friendships with others, learning a foreign language she can use in real life and taking art in addition to her academic classes. She plans to attend a four-year college to further her education and to help meet her long-term career goals.

Greatest mentors: Both of my parents, because they constantly motivate me to do my best. In addition, they can share with me advice that they have gathered and learned from in the past.

Favorite middle school memory: Meeting new friends. Friends make the journey through school more enjoyable. True friends can supply you with the extra support one might need to succeed.

Alicia Xiong
Valedictorian Alicia Xiong plans to attend Evergreen Valley High School next year, and would like to be a valedictorian again at EVHS. Her dream is to attend an Ivy League university and major in business law after she graduates from high school.

“I look forward to the new opportunities and activities that I will be able to participate in, and my goal is to achieve my dreams with my utmost potential and ability,” said Xiong.

Greatest mentors: My parents. Their support and guidance have helped me throughout my life, and they never cease to be terrific examples for me to look up to.

Favorite middle school memory: All the laughter I shared with my friends. These experiences and remembrances that I had with them have helped me throughout my middle school journey.

Bernadette Bettencourt

LeyVa Middle School

Valedictorian Bernadette Bettencourt will be attending Oak Grove High School and studying in the Travel and Tourism magnet there. The highlights of her middle school years include receiving straight A’s, the most valuable player honor in three sports and the opportunity to write and deliver a valedictorian speech.

Greatest mentors: My social studies teacher Robert Rod-riguez, because he taught me so much about history and about life in general.

Favorite middle school memory: The first assembly we had during my seventh grade year. It showed what a truly great school LeyVa really was.

Quimby Middle School

Sahil Doshi
Valedictorian Sahil “Yoshi” Doshi will be attending Evergreen Valley High School in the fall. For college he hopes to attend UCLA, UCSD, UC Berkeley or UC Davis and study medicine so that he can become a doctor.
“I am looking forward to graduating with flying colors, having friends for life and finding people and teachers who I can learn the best from,” said Doshi. “I would like to become a successful man, and have a set life to live on, and have fun with my life.

Quimby Oak Salutatorian Hanh Dang and Valedictorian Sahil Doshi.

‘Life is a song…PLAY IT!’ ”

Greatest mentors: My teacher Sharon Jones, because she was their since day one, establishing a foundation that I could form on. All my teachers were the best because I had the best time in junior high.

Favorite middle school memory: Playing a basketball tournament held by one of the teachers, and going undefeated, with only one really close game, and winning the championship, of course.

Hanh Dang
Salutatorian Hanh Dang will be going to The Harker School for high school. In college, she plans to major in medicine and related fields and then participate in biology research to find cures for cancers and other known human diseases.

Greatest mentors: My parents, because of the lasting impressions they have made on my childhood, the examples they have set for me and the incomparable way they have raised me with love, support and care. They have been there for me during every step, every stage, every rise and every fall in my life. I love, appreciate, and admire them because they have made the largest and most positive impact on my life.

Favorite middle school memory: All the experiences I’ve been through here were terrific. I enjoyed all the unforgettable people I met and all the times working in the office. This was a wonderful year because I had a chance to find out who I am, what I may be capable of accomplishing, and a chance to just simply mature as a person.