ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

They’ve made their high school and, in some cases, college careers

count. They’ve volunteered, they’ve studied, they’ve excelled. They’ve

spent hours on the track, in the music room and in the lab. They’re Costa

Mesa’s top high school seniors and college students.

As they prepare to finish their high school careers or continue their

college careers, the Daily Pilot acknowledges their contributions to

their campuses and their community:

The city’s top seniors, along with the recipients of the 22nd annual

Les Miller Outstanding Student Awards, will be honored this morning with

the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Awards. The celebratory

breakfast will take place at the Hilton.

The following showcases just some of what these students have

accomplished and what awaits them:

Recipients of the 22nd annual Les Miller Outstanding Student Awards

COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL

Ryan Lieu

GPA: 4.07

Activities: Key Club, Associated Student Body, Advocates for Students’

Rights, photography club, student Board of Education member,

cross-country team, track and field team, Bowers Museum intern and Mesa

Pride Cleanup volunteer, ReLeaf Costa Mesa volunteer, ASB second vice

president and publicity commissioner, Advocates for Students’ Rights

Union president and founder, and HAHA Club Crier.

Honors: UC Irvine Regents’ Scholarship, UCLA Alumni Assn. Scholarship,

academic letter and pin, principal’s honor roll (eight semesters),

National Merit recognition, Golden State Exam honors in algebra and

geometry, high honors in chemistry and literature, California Scholarship

Foundation, and finalist for Chemistry Student of the Year and Foreign

Language Student of the Year

Future plans: UCLA as an art major with concentrations in various

other disciplines

Dana Elizabeth Steenhard

GPA: 4.23

Activities: Girls’ swimming and water polo teams, Associated Student

Body, math engineering science achievement club, math club, biology club,

anatomy-physiology club, Key Club, AYSO-Kiwanis Club Breakfast volunteer,

Mesa Pride Cleanup volunteer and tutoring in locals schools

Honors: Academic letters for three years, lettering in water polo and

swimming, the Golden State Exams, honors in algebra, geometry, algebra II

and English, high honors in Spanish and biology, and the Costa Mesa High

School English Departmental Award

Future plans: UC Riverside as a bio-med major before transferring to

UCLA to get her medical doctor degree and then to become a pediatrician

Thu P. Pham

GPA: 4.27

Activities: Mock trial (two years), drama production of “Our Town,”

academic decathlon, yearbook, math engineering science achievement club,

Asian Club, tennis, secretary of the French Club, volunteering intern

program, tutoring at Sonora Elementary School, the service club, the

American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day and Key Club

Honors: Nominated for the Hazel Cubbon Greenleaf Educational

Scholarship, received the Departmental Award for Social Studies, Advanced

Placement scholar, and high honors in biology in the Golden State Exam

Future plans: UC Irvine, majoring in civil engineering

Misa Lee

GPA: 4.12

Activities: Mock trial, French Club, Key Club, S-Club, the volunteer

intern program, varsity track and field, varsity tennis, marching band,

vocal ensemble, math engineering science achievement club,

editor-in-chief of the Literary Art Journal, French Club vice president,

captain of varsity tennis team, Advisory Committee of Teens at Orange

County Public Libraries, Shalimar Learning Center volunteer, Bowers

Museum volunteer, and coached handicapped children in the District 62

Challenger Division Little League Baseball program.

Honors: Zonta Girl of the Year 2000-01, Harvard Prize Book winner,

four years Costa Mesa High School Honor Wall, CIF Academic Awards, USNMA,

Who’s Who Among America High School Students, high honors in algebra and

geometry, and honors in biology in the Golden State Exam

Future plans: UC Berkeley, majoring in international studies

ESTANCIA HIGH SCHOOL

Mark Leones

GPA: 3.89

Activities: Treasurer of California Scholastic Foundation; competing

in baseball, football and four years of varsity tennis; co-captain of

boys’ varsity tennis team; and Adopt-A-Family program volunteer

Honors: Coach’s Award in varsity tennis, honor roll and lifetime

California Scholastic Foundation membership

Future plans: UC Irvine, majoring in either premed or medicine

Elizabeth Guzman

GPA: 4.14

Activities: California Scholastic Foundation, production drama, WASC

accreditation committee, tutoring and South Coast Repertory (five years),

drama historian and Improv Club president

Honors: The Irvine Co.’s Leadership Scholarship, California Scholastic

Foundation lifetime membership, Who’s Who Among American High School

Students and the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement

Future plans: Either New York University or Tisch School of the Arts,

majoring in theater (acting)

Robert Aguilera

GPA: 3.8

Activities: Varsity football, weightlifting, track and field (shotput

and discus), the Key Club and California Scholastic Foundation, Lions

Club Fish Fry volunteer and soup kitchen volunteer

Honors: California Scholastic Foundation scholar, Red Raider, Newport

Exchange Club Youth of the Year and has been offered the Chancellor’s

Scholarship at Chapman or UC Irvine

Future plans: UCLA, majoring in business and economics

Melissa Mueller

GPA: 4.27

Activities: Key Club, youth and government, California Scholastic

Foundation, German Club, Spanish Club and the Volunteer Intern Program.

Was vice president of the German and Key clubs and volunteered atCancer

Society Store, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, YMCA Support Campaign, and

tutoring fourth- and fifth-graders at Wilson Elementary.

Honors: OCSHA 2000 year-end champion, Exchange Club Student of the

Year Scholarship Award, Zonta Girl of November, Presidential Excellence

Award, E.I. Moore Memorial Award of Outstanding Freshmen and Advanced

Placement scholar

Future plans: UCLA, majoring in political science

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ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CENTER

Melissa A. Gregory

GPA: 3.36

Activities: Girls’ League, track and cross-country, Peer Assistance

League, Volunteer Intern Program and modeling

Honors: One-On-One Counseling Award

Future plans: OCC for her general education before deciding on her

major and transferring to a four-year college or university

Madeline D. Levy

GPA: 2.55

Activities: Young Democrats, the Gay and Straight Alliance,

Constitutional Rights Foundation Mock Trial Program and Junior Statesmen

of America, John McCain 2000 presidential primary campaign and is in the

process of founding a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and

involving young people in the political process

Honors: High honors in Advanced Placement U.S. History

Future plans: OCC before transferring to either Georgetown, George

Washington or American University, all in Washington, D.C., while

spending summers interning in congressional or U.N. offices. She is

considering majoring in U.S. history, government studies, political

science or international relations as a major, intending to eventually

earn a law degree and practice as a civil rights lawyer.

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ORANGE COAST COLLEGE

Elvis Gutierrez

GPA: OCC does not release

Activities: EOPS recruiter for high schools, Associated Students of

OCC vice president, ASOCC business manager, Interclub Council vice

president and chairman of the Inaugural Men’s Luncheon, as well as

serving on the Finance Committee, Snack Bar Advisory Committee and two

college hiring committees

Honors: Student Leader Award, Robert B. Moore Award and twice with the

Joseph R. Kroll Student Leader of the Year Award

Future plans: Transfer to Cal State Northridge as a sociology major

May Chen

GPA: OCC does not release

Activities: Associated Students of OCC -- including serving as

business manager, and chair of the Budget Committee, the Finance

Committee and the Enterprise Committee; served on Dean of Students’

Committee, Flavors of the World Committee, Bookstore Manager Hiring

Committee, Dean of Students Hiring Committee, Emergency Loan Revision

Committee, Outside Speaker Revision Committee, and as a High School

Leadership Conference presenter

Honors: Student Leader Award, the Joseph R. Kroll Student Leader of

the Year Award, and is on the dean’s list for Academic Excellence

Future plans: UC Irvine as a pre-law major

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VANGUARD UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Andrew Richey

GPA: 3.97

Activities: Concert choir and orchestra, Vanguard Singers and Band,

barber shop quartet, Vanguard Cheer Squad, entertainment group Outta

Sync, and Frontline (Orientation) leader, served as Vanguard Singers

Chaplain, and treasurer of concert choir and orchestra, also volunteer

work included serving as a tutor at Teen Challenge Learning Center, youth

leader at Newport Mesa Christian Center, junior high youth pastor intern

and member of the Heartsong Chorale

Honors: Mathematics student of the year, most valuable player of Cheer

Squad, dean’s list (four years), Academic Presidential Scholarship (four

years), Scholar Athlete Award, Music Activity Scholarship, (2 years),

Alumni Scholarship (two years), Byars Foundation Scholarship, Vanguard

Church Grant (four years)

Future plans: Go to Portugal to sing and then to New York to perform

in Carnegie Hall, before returning to direct an outreach ministry camp

put on by Newport Mesa Christian Center. Will then either return to

employment at Advance Sterilization Products as software quality engineer

or tour with a new band being funded by Maranatha Music.

Elizabeth Nylander

GPA: 3.94

Activities: Concert choir, Hollywood Homeless Ministry, prayer team

ministry and the Mozambique Orphanage Ministry, also served as Frontline

leader for new student integration, Associated Student Body facility

representative, Writing Center tutor-consultant, resident assistant and

Mozambique Orphanage Ministry team leader, Adopt-A-Highway Clean Up

volunteer, elementary and junior high girls’ camp activities leader, and

church boys’ and girls’ club sponsor

Honors: Four years as National Merit scholar, Biblical Language

Award/Scholarship and is a 2001 Vanguard University summa cum laude

graduate

Future plans: Enroll in graduate school at a university, as well as

enter into a full-time Christian vocational ministry

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ACADEMIC ALL-STARS

COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL

Natalie Newton

GPA: 4.38

Activities: Co-founder and co-president of Humorous Artists-Happy

Authors Club, Karate Club president, math team, marching band, jazz band,

Drumline, Bowers Kidseum volunteer and College Park Elementary School

volunteer

Honors: Rensellaer Medallion/Scholarship, Toshiba Scholarship and UC

Riverside Regent’s Scholarship

Future plans: UC Riverside Biomedical Sciences Program before

transferring to USC, majoring in health promotion and disease prevention

studies, eventually to become a medical doctor in AIDS research

Jody Martinovich

GPA: 4.00

Activities: Varsity swimming, varsity water polo, volleyball, three

years academic letter, Golden State Exam honors in English, honor roll,

Mesa Club, Key Club, math club, anatomy and physiology club and club

swimming

Future Plans: UC San Diego, major not yet determined

Tam Dang

GPA: 4.20

Activities: Karate Club, Asian Club, French Club, MESA Program,

Academic Decathlon, Key Club, tennis, service club, Volunteer Internship

Program, Workforce Investment Act, Youth Employment Service, Plant a Tree

and American Cancer Assn.

Future plans: UC Irvine, majoring in computer science

Phuc Dang

GPA: 4.00

Activities: Key Club, French Club, service club, Karate Club, MESA

Program, Asian Club, Academic Decathlon, HAHA Club, Animation Club,

Volunteer Internship Program, Plant a Tree, American Cancer Assn.,

Workforce Investment Act and Youth Employment Service

Future plans: UC Irvine, majoring in computer science, premed.

Thu N. Pham

GPA: 4.00

Activities: MESA Club, Key Club, service club, Karate Club, Asian

Club, varsity tennis, Academic Decathlon, Volunteer Internship Program,

Workforce Investment Act and Youth Employment Service

Future plans: UC Irvine, majoring in biology and computer science

Michael Armstrong

GPA: 3.99

Activities: Varsity baseball, concert band, marching band, jazz band,

varsity soccer, Children’s Hospital of Orange County Walk, Fourth of July

Parade in Balboa and Rose Parade volunteer

Honors: Woody Herman Award for Jazz Band, first chair trumpet in band

Future Plans: Orange Coast College, transferring to four-year college,

major undecided

Syed Ahmed

GPA: 4.02

Activities: Spanish Club, HAHA Club, Chess Club, Speech Club,

Academic Decathlon, Student Advisory Committee for SASC, Key Club,

service club, Kidney Center and Darul Skoon (institution of blind and

deaf students, mentally and physically disabled)

Honors: Two bronze medals for Karate Club, gold medal for MESA Club,

honor roll, Best Student of Science, winner of Rotary speech competition

at club and area levels, Golden State Exam recognition in chemistry and

English, California Scholastic Foundation bearer at graduation and Who’s

Who Among American High School Students

Future plans: UCLA, majoring in biological sciences

Son Pham

GPA: 4.00

Activities: Karate Club, MESA Club, church volunteer

Future Plans: UC San Diego, majoring in computer science

Sara Embrey

GPA: 3.75

Activities: Marching band, most valuable player Drumline, Jazz Band,

Advanced Band, California Scholastic Foundation, newspaper arts and

entertainment editor, Girl Scouts, Petal Pushers (decorating Rose Parade

floats), Salvation Army clothing drives, Scouting for Food food drive,

Children’s Hospital of Orange County Walk

Honors: Band letter, assistant drum major, Outstanding Musician, honor

roll and first chair clarinet

Future plans: Chapman University, majoring in film studies

Binna Kang

GPA: 4.09

Activities: MESA Club, S-Club, Spanish Club publicist, Drumline,

director of 14th Class of Sophomores 1999, Limbs for Life, Race for the

Cure and Mexico missionary trip

Honors: Honor roll, Academic Achievement letter and Lamp of Knowledge

Pin.

Future Plans: Cal Poly Pomona, majoring in mechanical or aerospace

engineering

Francisco G. Andrade

GPA: 4.03

Activities: Varsity soccer, fund-raisers, teacher assistant and church

community service

Honors: Golden State Exam excellence in geometry, Honor Wall, foreign

language certificate of achievement and Bronco of the Month

Future plans: Cal State Long Beach or Cal Poly Pomona, majoring in

architecture, minor in civil engineering

Jelena Stankovic

GPA: 4.05

Activities: Basketball, Advanced Placement English, Advanced Placement

physics, Advanced Placement calculus,church volunteer activities,

teaching Sunday school, volunteer at Orange County Library, Boys & Girls

Club volunteer and eight years of dance

Honors: California Scholastic Foundation sealbearer, Honor Wall, honor

roll, Golden State Exam honors and high honors in algebra and geometry,

34th in Orange County’s most influential students

Future Plans: Loyola Marymount, majoring in premed with the goal of

being a pediatrician

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ESTANCIA HIGH SCHOOL

Anh Do

GPA: 4.00

Activities: California Scholastic Foundation, Key Club president,

Youth and Government campus representative, German Club president,

Spanish Club secretary, track, varsity golf captain/most valuable player,

Quang Ngai Friendship Assn., Hoag Hospital Junior Auxiliary, YMCA Support

Campaign and Someone Cares Soup Kitchen

Future plans: UCLA, majoring in mathematics or applied science

Wendy Laurie

GPA: 3.90

Activities: California Scholastic Foundation, junior varsity tennis,

drama, drama historian and reading tutor to elementary school students

Honors: Most Outstanding Sophomore, Trustee Scholarship to Principia

College

Future plans: Principia College in Illinois, majoring in English or

drama

Tory Matsufuji

GPA: 3.54

Activities: California Scholastic Foundation, varsity basketball, Key

Club, Associated Student Body secretary, Rowdy Rooter Club secretary and

Volunteer Internship Program

Future plans: Arizona State University, majoring in architecture

Lisa Hirata

GPA: 3.56

Activities: Captain varsity basketball, California Scholastic

Foundation, Key Club, Associated Student Body vice president, Rowdy

Rooster Club, Girl Scouts, Junior Yonsel Basketball Assn. and Yonsel

Basketball Assn.

Honors: Zonta Girl for December and Kiwanis Athlete for January

Future plans: UCLA, majoring in physical science

Annajansy Pineda

GPA: 3.77

Activities: California Scholastic Foundation, ILSA and volunteer work

at Costa Mesa Library

Honors: Honor roll and Baldwin Park High School Student of the Year as

a sophomore

Future plans: Community college before transferring to a university as

a math major, desiring to teach at high school or middle school level

Bao Duong

GPA: 3.70

Activities: Baseball, PEaC Program, president and founder of Debate

Club, vice president of Book Club, Neighbor for Neighbor Cleanup and

student government.

Honors: ITT Industries Scholarship Program semifinalist and student

government

Future plans: UC Irvine, majoring in computer science

William Jordan Fissel

GPA: 3.67

Activities: Varsity track, varsity cross-country, SOY boxing, weekend

manager of the Automotive Road of Dreams at the Orange County Market

Place

Honors: Scholar athlete

Future plans: Air Force, hoping to become aerospace mechanic and pilot

Ashley Ann Gardner

GPA: 3.60

Activities: Jazz Band, drama musical production, Mecha Club, Key Club,

California Scholastic Foundation, varsity marching band, Spanish Club,

Bible Club, Mesa/Estancia Science Fair, SCSBOA Solo Festivals, varsity

swimming, varsity volleyball, library volunteer in summer reading

programs and Exchange Club Talent Show

Honors: Scholar athlete, Kiwanis Leadership Award, honor roll, Best

Musician, Most Improved Jazz Musician, honored in chemistry and

recognized in reading-literature on Golden State Exams

Future plans: UC Irvine, majoring in chemical engineering with a minor

in music performance/education

Stefanie Cachola

GPA: 3.74

Activities: Associated Student Body president and secretary, captain

of varsity softball, varsity volleyball, varsity basketball, California

Scholastic Foundation, drama, Rowdy Rooster Club, volunteer for

California School jog-a-thon, volunteer for Boys & Girls Club of the

Harbor Area, Christmas Adopt-A-Family, various food drives, blood drives,

phone book recycling program and drug free activities

Honors: Honor roll, President’s Award, Zonta Girl Award for February

and homecoming princess

Future plans: Orange Coast College before transferring to either UCLA

or University of Arizona, majoring in psychology

Greg Rausch

GPA: 3.60

Activities: Varsity golf, California Scholastic Foundation, Leo Club

president, twice captain of golf team, Estancia representative at 2000

Boys’ State, tutored at Shalimar Learning Center and SOS Christmas food

drive

Honors: Outstanding Sophomore of the Year

Future plans: UC Irvine, majoring in medicine

Viet Tran

GPA: 3.69

Activities: Asian Club, yearbook, California Scholastic Foundation,

Project PAL and president of church youth group

Future Plans: Cal State Long Beach, majoring in computer science

Alexis Ary

GPA: 4.06

Activities: California Scholastic Foundation, Estancia Math Academy

tutor, president of student-run T-shirt company, Newport Aquatic Center

junior crew team member, Volunteer Internship Program, tutored homeless

children at Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter

Honors: Honor roll, Who’s Who Among American High School Students and

nominated for Hazel Cubbon Greenleaf Educational Fund

Future Plans: UC Santa Barbara, major not yet decided