‘Involved in everything’

Costa Mesa’s Chamber of Commerce continued its 30-year tradition of honoring the city’s high school and college students at a breakfast Friday morning at the Hilton.

Each school had its own criteria for choosing the award recipients. Estancia High School’s were based strictly on grades, according to Mindy Savage, who picked the school’s recipients.

That clearly didn’t stop them from getting involved outside of school, though. Many of the Estancia honorees had lists of club memberships, varsity sports and other extracurricular activities that went on for minutes.

While reading one of the lists, Principal Phil D’Agostino jokingly inserted “finding a cure for cancer” as one of the student’s accomplishments.

“All these kids are involved in everything,” said Costa Mesa High School Principal Ed Wong.

Forty students came from OCC, Vanguard University, Middle College High School, Monte Vista High School, Costa Mesa High School and Estancia.

OCC had a different process for selecting its award recipients. The community college heavily weighted school spirit and contributions to campus life.

Kris Cutting, for instance, is a member of a dizzying number of campus committees and brings a fun attitude with his presence, but he didn’t take a traditional path to success, said Dean of Students Kate Mueller.

“He really encapsulates the Coast spirit,” Mueller said. “If we had a Mr. OCC, he’d be it.”

Cutting took a break between high school and college, serving in the military before being “dragged” back to school, according to the dean, which makes his success all that much more fulfilling to see.

Mackenzie Romano

Editor’s note: Estancia High School student Mackenzie Romano was inadvertently left off the list of top scholars honored by the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

GPA: 4.05

Activities: Youth in government club, film club, Make-a-Wish club, Key Club, tennis, basketball, varsity track and field, varsity softball.

Offices and Positions: CSF, National Honor Society, sports page editor for the school newspaper, varsity letters for softball/track and field, varsity softball captain, honor roll grades 9-12, Key Club treasurer, Outstanding Math Student Award 2008 (AP calculus), Key Club Award 2008, scholar athlete

Community/outside activities: Academic World Quest Competitor 2009, Mexico Missions house-building trip, VBS summer volunteer, First Lego League mentor, UCLA Art/Science 2008 Summer Program participant, musician: drums

Future Plans: She plans on attending UCLA in the fall to major in chemistry and minor in business or history.