Grads receive scholarships

A dozen Newport-Mesa Unified School District students were awarded a total $67,000 in scholarships at a special ceremony on Tuesday at the Balboa Bay Club’s “1221 Club,” continuing the club’s legacy of giving back to the community.

The students were honored inside the club’s private dining room, the Bay Club Grill. They were nominated by teachers, principals and counselors within the district.

All nominations had to be submitted and each of the students had to appear before a panel consisting of the club’s Board of Governors, according to Deirdre Michalski.

Among the top winners were:

David James Weiland, a senior at Corona del Mar High. He will receive $20,000 in scholarship money. He was selected because he has a 4.25 grade-point average, high scores on his SATs and being extremely involved in extracurricular activities, including baseball, cross country/track.

He also volunteered more than 500 hours to the community.

He will be attending UCLA in the fall.

Misha Brown, a senior at Estancia High School. She will receive $20,000 in scholarship money. She achieved a 4.3 GPA and completed many Advanced Placement classes.

She excels in math and sciences, especially biology.

She was also a member of the varsity tennis and varsity soccer teams.

She will attend Chapman University in the fall.

Kevin Thomas, a senior at Estancia High School. He will receive $5,000 in scholarship money. He had a 4.277 GPA and played varsity tennis and varsity basketball. He is also the a three-time winner of the DAR Good Citizenship Award.

Stephanie Preciado, a senior at Newport Harbor High School. She will receive $5,000. She had a 4.09 GPA and is fluent in Spanish.

She also was involved in volunteering, tutoring children in summer science programs and helping out at her church’s Sunday programs.

She was also very active in the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

She will attend UC Irvine in the fall.

Ryan Albert, a Newport Harbor High School senior, will receive $10,000.

He earned a 4.41 GPA and has been on the honor roll each year of his high school career. He also played basketball and football for Newport Harbor, tutored and coached Pony League baseball, and received a Friendship Circle Chabad Award for helping special-needs children in baseball.

The other winners, all of whom received $1,000, included: Calli Conti, of Corona del Mar High; Corbin Randall, of Costa Mesa High; Allyson Wallace, of Estancia High; Tayler Hobberlin, of Costa Mesa High; Brian Waldron, of Costa Mesa High; and Clay Friend, of Costa Mesa High.