A SALUTE TO SENIORS ’97 / ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS

ALISO NIGUEL HIGH SCHOOL: Jaime A. Le

Jaime is well-traveled, having visited the Bahamas, Canada, Cayman Islands, Haiti, Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico and many U.S. states. Ranked No. 1 in her graduating class of 610, she has a 4.81 weighted grade-point average and earned honors from the California Scholarship Federation, the National Honor Society and the Principal’s Advisory Committee.

She volunteers for Head Start, public libraries and the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop and works part-time as a secretary for an accounting firm.

She earned a varsity letter on the swim team.

The Mission Viejo resident plans to attend Yale University Connecticut.

ANAHEIM HIGH SCHOOL: Jaswinder Kaur

Though she moved from India to the United States only four years ago, Jaswinder overcame language hurdles and rose to the top of her graduating class of 347. She has a 4.29 weighted grade-point average and was president of the Math and Science clubs and a member of the National Honor Society, the California Scholastic Federation and the Key Club.

She makes pottery and volunteers with the disabled and elderly at AM Medical Center in Anaheim.

The Anaheim resident plans to major in chemical engineering at UCLA.

BOLSA GRANDE HIGH SCHOOL: Juana P. Hernandez

Juana has exhibited a comprehensive understanding of art and has earned recognition for her painting and drawing. She has a 3.13 grade-point average, and is a member of the art club and the GATE program.

She works at a fast-food restaurant but finds time to pursue her artistic interests and a passion for computers.

The Garden Grove resident plans to attend Golden West College in Huntington Beach.

BREA OLINDA HIGH SCHOOL: Amy Chen

Amy, the school valedictorian, has been involved with a variety of campus activities while maintaining a 4.55 weighted grade-point average.

She has worked for the student newspaper as a writer, page advisor and editor-in-chief.

She has also been a member of the Key Club and Interact Club, and she acted as president of Club International and treasurer of Asian Cultures International.

Amy also spent time as a volunteer at Friendly Hills Medical Center.

The Brea resident will attend Stanford University.

BRETHREN CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL: Joshua Nelson

Joshua has exhibited leadership skills throughout high school, in areas from sports to student government. He is Associated Student Body vice president and served on class councils during his sophomore and junior years.

He is a Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader and a member of the math league and math team. He also appeared in a school musical.

Joshua played football for four years, volleyball for three and participated in wrestling and track for one year. He has a 4.05 weighted grade-point average.

Joshua enjoys snowboarding, bodyboarding, dirt biking and rock climbing. He owns a gardening service with 10 clients and runs his church’s sound system.

The Norwalk resident plans to major in civil engineering at Cal Poly Pomona.

BUENA PARK HIGH SCHOOL: Gabriele R. Fagins

Gabriele’s list of campus activities is long and varied.

She has participated in the Inter-Ethnic Council, the Friday Night Live anti-drug program, the Black Student Union and the Future Teachers of America.

Other activities include working with the Science Club, the Black Mentor Program, the Aviation Science Program and serving as vice president of the Associated Student Body.

Gabriele participated in volleyball, soccer and track.

She has been on the Young Adults Teen Committee of La Palma and the La Palma Inter-Community Hospital Foundation.

Gabriele, one of five children in her family who will be in college this fall, plans to attend University of Southern California.

CALVARY CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOL: Kevin Falconer

Kevin’s athletic abilities were seen on and off the court. He was captain of the basketball team and a volunteer coach at an area Boy’s Club. He is also dedicated to community service. He helps his parents care for foster children, some of whom are recovering from drug abuse.

Kevin carries a 4.0 grade-point average and scored well on college admissions tests. He was the student government’s communications director and a participant in school plays.

The Tustin resident plans to attend Westmont College in Santa Barbara.

CANYON HIGH SCHOOL: Jessica Scott

Jessica was one of three student team leaders who created, planned and developed the school’s home page for the Internet. She then was responsible for overseeing a group of student volunteers in maintaining and improving the page. She has a 4.88 weighted grade-point average and is a member of the International Baccalaureate Program, the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation.

She was a student ambassador to the British Isles through the People to People Program. Jessica works as an office assistant for a law firm and is a volunteer tutor.

The Anaheim Hills resident plans to attend Williams College in Massachusetts, where she was admitted on an early decision.

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: James Williams

James was senior class president and captain of the varsity basketball and volleyball teams. He was a member of the California Scholastic Federation and has a 4.3 weighted grade-point average.

He is community-minded and works as a translator and counselor at an orphanage and does missionary work, including building houses, in Mexico, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

James coaches junior high school volleyball. School faculty described him as a tremendously positive leader.

The San Juan Capistrano resident plans to study economics at UC San Diego.

Massachusetts, where she was admitted on an early decision.

CAPISTRANO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL: Ario Barzin

Ario has taken a rigorous academic course load with an emphasis in the sciences. He participated in the Science Olympiad and Future Scientists and Engineers of America and maintains a strong interest in computer technology. Academic honors include placement in the Gifted and Talented Education program and recognition by the California Scholarship Federation and the National Honor Society. He has a 4.54 weighted grade-point average.

Ario is an avid weight trainer and Ping-Pong player. He works at a sports car shop and volunteers distributing food to the homeless and tutoring children.

The Mission Viejo resident plans to study psychology at UC Irvine.

CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL: Erick Gutierrez

When Erick accepts his diploma, he will become the first member of his family to graduate from high school. He has excelled in academics, sports and the arts. He distinguished himself as Century’s best studio artist. Erick has exhibited his work throughout the county and has been a member of the Dance Production Team for two years. He is a member of the poetry games clubs and has helped organize the Century Art Exhibit for two years.

He played soccer with a club team for seven years and coached girls’ basketball and boys’ soccer for the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Department for two years.

The Santa Ana resident plans to attend Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana to study computer animation.

CLAREMONT HIGH SCHOOL: Hyun-Seok Ko

Hyun-Seok immigrated to the U.S. from Seoul, South Korea, in 1993. He was a top scholar with a 4.0 grade-point average, a member of the International Club and a varsity baseball player.

He is described by the school faculty as polite, scholarly and hard-working. The Huntington Beach resident plans to major in electrical engineering at UC Irvine.

CORNELIA CONNELLY HIGH SCHOOL: Rani Singh

Rani has volunteered a great deal of time to organizations helping people. She has worked for the Red Cross, beach cleanups, blood drives and disaster-relief programs and helped build homes, bridges and a sawmill in an Alaskan village.

With a 4.5 weighted grade-point average, Rani was Associated Student Body treasurer and served on the yearbook staff. She was president of the environmental club, poetry editor for the school’s literary journal and a member of the varsity tennis team for four years.

The Orange resident plans to attend Pomona College.

CORONA DEL MAR HIGH SCHOOL: Jackie Kim

Jackie was Associated Student Body senior class president, vice president of her junior class, president of her sophomore class and a member of class council.

With a 3.75 weighted grade-point average, she is a member of the California Scholastic Federation and an academic pin recipient. She attended the Youth Leadership Conference for Newport-Mesa Unified School District for two years.

She is active in Mariner’s South Coast Church, through which she attended mission outreach programs in Costa Rica and Mexico.

Jackie, a resident of Newport Beach, will attend the University of San Diego as a dean’s scholar.

COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL: Koo Kim

Koo, who was president of Associated Student Body, was active on student council for three years. She also belongs to the Key Club and California Scholastic Federation and is the recipient of an Irvine Spectrum leadership award. Basketball is another major interest. Koo has played at her school for four years and has helped coach the National Junior Basketball League and basketball teams at the Southeast Youth Organization and Christ Lutheran School, where she also helps in the extended school-care program.

She was introduced to politics working as an intern in Gov. Pete Wilson’s Irvine office.

She has a 3.91 grade-point average and hopes to become a college professor.

Koo, of Costa Mesa, will attend preparatory school in anticipation of entrance into the Air Force Academy.

CYPRESS HIGH SCHOOL: Michael Rochon-Duck

Extensive study and preparation paid off for Michael, who received a perfect 1,600 score on his Scholastic Aptitude Test and who earned the highest score possible on four advanced- placement courses in his junior year. He is enrolled in six advanced- placement courses.

His love of learning has netted him many academic honors, including a National Merit scholarship and a Bausch & Lomb science award. He has a 4.31 weighted grade-point average and has been busy with campus activities, including the Key Club, California Scholarship Federation, math team and Calculus and Physics clubs.

Michael played junior varsity tennis and participated in the Kiwanis Bowl. He has been a library volunteer and took part in the AIDS and March of Dimes walks. Free-time activities include playing tennis and basketball, reading and exploring computers. He is also interested in art, particularly 20th century painting, sculpture and architecture.

The Cypress resident plans to attend the University of Southern California.

DANA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL: Daniel Ostmann

Daniel is a gifted, well-rounded student. He was senior class secretary, is a member of the California Scholarship Federation and took part on the cross-country, track and baseball teams. Skateboarding on a competitive level with the California Amateur Skateboarding League earned Daniel the rank of 16th in Southern California for his age group during the 1996 season.

He has a 4.41 weighted grade-point average and has been recognized for his studies, including a letter of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program, high honors on the Golden State Chemistry Exam and a place on the honor roll every semester throughout high school.

Community service efforts range from helping with Meals on Wheels to tutoring. But it wasn’t until his senior year he rediscovered a former interest--journalism--and he became a reporter for the campus newspaper. He will pursue a career in journalism.

The San Juan Capistrano resident will attend UC Berkeley.

EDISON HIGH SCHOOL: Joseph Manko

Joseph has participated in student government and sports and has been successful in academic pursuits. He was Associated Student Body president and junior class president. He was a member of the Model United Nations, the Character Coalition and the School Site Council Strategic Planning Commission. He was the PTSA student liaison.

With a weighted grade-point average of 4.16, Joseph was a member of the National Society of Poetry, worked with the Orange County Children’s Theater and was a member of the California Assn. of Student Leaders.

The Huntington Beach resident will attend UCLA, where he plans to study education and become a high school teacher.

EL DORADO HIGH SCHOOL: Andrea Rollins

As her school’s most outstanding artist, Andrea was instrumental in constructing a commissioned 25-foot-by-17-foot puzzle for the Gas Co. and was involved in ROP animation classes for two years.

With a 4.09 weighted grade-point average, she was enrolled in several advanced-placement art classes.

She spends time caring for and riding her two horses and studying cartoons and animated feature films.

The Yorba Linda resident will attend Fullerton College, then transfer to the California Institute for the Arts.

EL MODENA HIGH SCHOOL: Suzanne Cowan

Art has been an important part of Suzanne’s life inside and outside of school.

A skilled photographer and artist, Suzanne was co-editor of the school newspaper for two years and a member of the Art Council, which performs art-based community service projects. Her interest in architecture led to being selected to attend the 1996 Fallingwater Institute for high school students, a 10-day program at a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Pennsylvania. She also attended the summer institute for architectural studies at UC Irvine.

Suzanne has been the recipient of a California Arts Education Assn. award and has completed her advanced- placement studio art portfolio.

She is a member of the Key Club and the National Honor Society, and she has a 4.64 weighted grade-point average.

The Orange resident plans to study architecture at UC Berkeley.