1. Virginia Chiu
Scholarships/Awards: California Masons Scholarship, Full scholarship to MIT, selected female Scholar-Athlete of the year of the Valle Vista League by the Foothill Citrus Athletic Director's Association.
Athletic directors within the Valle Vista League all meet with a male and a female nominee from their respective schools, they select the athlete whom they feel achieved the most academically and athletically. In each league in southern California went through this process. Each scholar-athlete received a plaque and $350.
School Attending: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Major: Electrical Engineering
Favorite Memory from High School: “I will definitely remember all of the hard work I had to do to get where I am today, and I will remember regretting all the times I procrastinated.”
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Rosilez – Badminton Coach
“I look forward to the learning experience at MIT and my transition from adolescence into adulthood.”
Scholarships/Awards: USC Trustee Scholarship
School Attending: USC
Major: Civil Engineering
Favorite Memory from High School: “Having teachers and friends to support and guide you.”
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Stallings – Biology Teacher
“In the future, I would like to help rebuild Japan, build bridges and maintain infrastructure.”
3. Luis Mercado
Scholarships/Awards: Milken’s Scholarship, Smithsonian Latino Young Ambassadors, National Hispanic Scholar
The Milken Scholars Program provides students with financial assistance, ongoing career-related counseling, and assistance in securing internships, opportunities for volunteering in community service, and a fund to assist scholars with the transition from college to graduate school and later into the world of work. Only 11 students were chosen this year from across the nation for the Milken Scholars Program.
School Attending: UC Davis
Major: Biological Systems Engineering
Favorite Memory from High School: The IB program and all the all nighters
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Cook -- Biology
“I want to develop affordable prosthetic devices for low income families and individuals.”
4. Diana Peralta
Scholarships/Awards: Gates Millennium Scholarship
The Gates Millennium Scholars is the nation’s largest minority scholarship program that awards good-through-graduation scholarships to pursue degrees in any undergraduate major at the college or university of the recipients’ choice. In addition to financial assistance, Gates Millennium Scholars receive academic support, mentoring and leadership training. The Gates Millennium Scholar Program reports that as a result, recipients have an average five-year graduation rate of almost 80 percent, 45 percent higher than the six-year rate for all college students.
School Attending: UC Berkley
Major: Environmental Policy
Favorite Memory from High School: “The IB Program, the Theory of Knowledge class; they were like a big family of nerds.”
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Chavez
1st generation student
“I want to graduate from graduate school in environmental law. I want to be an example for all my nieces and nephews and my children in the future.”
5. Raymond Santos
Scholarships/Awards: Basketball Scholarship, Academic Scholarship
School Attending: Concordia University in Portland, Oregon
Major: Exercise and Sports Science
Favorite Memory from High School: “Transferring here and starting from scratch and meeting new people.”
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Tayyan – food and nutrition
“After playing basketball in college, I see myself joining professional Basketball in the Philippines for a few years and coming back to get a job in the sports industry.”