A SALUTE TO SENIORS ’97 / ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS

LOARA HIGH SCHOOL: Melva Wong

Melva immigrated to the United States from China when she was 6 and has earned a 4.69 weighted grade-point average. She has been president of Junior Achievement and a member of the Key Club and the GATE Club.

She has played four years on the badminton team and three years on the volleyball team.

Melva is a peer tutor and volunteers with the Salvation Army and American Red Cross.

The Anaheim resident will attend UCLA.

LOS ALAMITOS HIGH SCHOOL: Jacob Green

Jacob has already ventured well into his hoped-for career as a political scientist. He was human relations commissioner of the Associated Student Body, an executive of Griffins With a Mission and coordinator of human relations conventions for high schools.

He spoke at the Orange County town hall meeting on diversity and won the national caring award from the National Caring Institute in Washington, D.C. He also won the Orange County Human Relations Commission Annual Award. A speaker against teen violence, he has appeared on the USA cable channel’s “Erase the Hate.”

Jacob earned a 3.60 weighted grade-point average, belonged to the police Explorers and volunteered as a tutor and a recreation worker for the city.

He plans to major in political science at UC Berkeley.

LOS AMIGOS HIGH SCHOOL: Christine Thuy-Anh Vu

Christine is busy with academic, leadership, club and athletic pursuits.

She is president of the Associated Student Body, a Peer Court juror and a delegate for the Knowledge and Social Responsibility Residential Program at the University of California, Irvine.

She is a peer tutor and a member of the Key Club, the French Club, the Spanish Club and the Asian Student Union. She has a 3.71 weighted grade-point average

She was on the varsity track and cross-country teams.

The Santa Ana resident plans to attend the University of Southern California.

LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL: Jeff Ehmsen

Jeff has honed his musical talents as well as his academic abilities during his high school career.

An accomplished pianist, he plays with Unlimited Warranty, a Christian musical group, and volunteers to accompany the hymn sing at a convalescent home. He directs the children’s choir at his church. He took a first place prize at Youth Expo for his artistic work.

Jeff earned a 4.27 weighted grade-point average and participated in the Scholars Bowl and the Orange County Academic Decathlon.

The Villa Park resident plans to attend Rhodes College, Memphis, Tenn.

MAGNOLIA HIGH SCHOOL: Josh Lambeth

Josh’s talents extend into virtually every area of campus life. A gifted musician, he is a trumpet soloist with the pep band and a bass player with the jazz group. He is also a member of the symphonic band and has been president and treasurer of various student musical ensembles.

Having earned a 4.14 weighted grade-point average, Josh has been a member of the Key Club, the Student Coalition, the Academic Decathlon and the School Site Council.

He is an Eagle Scout and member of the school’s hockey and cross-country teams. He tutors disabled students in summer school classes.

The Anaheim resident plans to attend Cal State Fullerton.

MARINA HIGH SCHOOL: Sherry Jung

Sherry has been a member of the marching and concert bands for four years, the jazz band for three and was the school’s drum major.

The National Honor Society member earned a 3.83 weighted grade-point average and was a member of the speech team and the Polaris and Korean clubs.

Sherry volunteered for two years at Orange Coast Memorial Hospital and teaches first-graders at her church.

The Huntington Beach resident will attend UC Irvine with a major in biological sciences.

MISSION VIEJO HIGH SCHOOL: Crista Chihorek

Crista worked on her school’s Saferides Program, coordinating the efforts of 30 student volunteers to ensure that teens arrived home safely.

Through her involvement in the Model United Nations and Academic Decathlon, her high school teams took home several awards and recognitions.

Christa has a 4.93 weighted grade-point average and is a member of the National Honor Society, the California Scholarship Federation, the Orange County Academic Decathlon and the Interact Club. She is also active in taekwondo.

The Mission Viejo resident plans to attend Harvard University in Massachusetts.

NEWPORT HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL: Michael Hoevel

Michael rounded out his activism in student government by earning the role of valedictorian. He was president and treasurer of the student body, a member of numerous committees, and his school’s delegate to numerous academic events.

He played varsity tennis, joined the Newport Beach Youth Council, campaigned for a U.S. senatorial candidate and interned at a mergers and acquisitions firm.

He earned a 4.21 weighted grade-point average and was active in the California Scholarship Federation and the academic decathlon.

He performed in school plays and musicals. A member of the International Thespian Society, he belonged to the writing club, the French club and the information services club.

The Costa Mesa resident plans to major in both biological science and political science at Yale University.

OCEAN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL: Jennifer M. Harris

Jennifer has twirled the baton competitively for 13 years, taking state and national titles with the Fountain Valley Baton Team. She was solo majorette and baton twirler at her school.

She has a 4.30 weighted grade-point average and has served two terms as Associated Student Body president.

She was the senior-section editor of the yearbook, a member of the Key Club and a member of Model United Nations.

Jennifer has volunteered as an assistant instructor for dance and baton classes, a veterinary assistant and a senior citizens support helper and has coached Little League.

The 1997 Miss Anaheim was also crowned homecoming queen.

The Westminster resident plans to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu, where she will major in telecommunications with an emphasis in broadcast journalism.

ORANGEWOOD ADVENTIST ACADEMY: Rosemary Lopez

While serving as senior class president and captain of the volleyball team, Rosemary earned a 3.86 weighted grade-point average, worked for the school newspaper and volunteered with the Crystal Cathedral’s after-school program.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, a tutor, a church Discipleship leader and was president of her junior class.

Rosemary, who lives in Garden Grove, plans to attend UC Irvine.

ORANGE HIGH SCHOOL: Osiris Leyva

Fluent in Spanish, Osiris has served as a tutor and interpreter at her school. She worked for Rock the Vote and several homeless projects. She has a 3.78 weighted grade-point average, was Associated Student Body president, a member of the Christian Club and secretary for the National Honor Society last year.

Osiris is active in her church and a member of the League of Women Voters. She was invited to the National Forum of Law and Constitution.

The Orange resident will attend Chapman University in Orange.

PACIFICA HIGH SCHOOL: Peter Babilo

Peter put his love for science into action. He was director of the Recycling in Ecology club and was active in the Interact Club and the Biology Club.

While maintaining a 4.55 weighted grade-point average, he earned varsity letters in tennis and cross-country track. He was vice president of the California Scholarship Federation and a junior volunteer at Los Alamitos Medical Center. He worked as a technician for Industrial Electronic Repair.

The Cypress resident plans to major in chemical engineering at UC Irvine.

RANCHO ALAMITOS HIGH SCHOOL: Michelle Lewis

Michelle excelled academically while devoting herself to volunteer work, dramatics and student government. She was president of the Associated Student Body, membership director of the California Assn. of Student Councils, a member of the California Scholastic Federation and the National Honor Society. She won the Principal’s Leadership Award and the Scholar Athlete Award.

She belonged to the Octagon Club, the physiology club and the ecology club. A pianist, she was a member of the drama club and played the lead role in several school plays.

She played water polo, basketball and varsity softball. She spent many hours feeding the homeless, making quilts, running food drives and completing other services for her church and city.

The Garden Grove resident plans to take a pre-law course of study at Brigham Young University in Utah.

ROSARY HIGH SCHOOL: Rachel Vine

Rachel has excelled in the arts while maintaining a 3.77 grade-point average. A published poet, she was editor of the school’s literary magazine, Crossings, contributed to the school newspaper, wrote plays and is filming an original movie called “Perspective.”

The National Honor Society vice president has served as the Thespian Troupe president, a member of the California Scholarship Federation and a four-year member of the Model United Nations.

She has worked three years for Fullerton’s recreation programs for disabled children and is involved with the AIDS Awareness Project and AIDS Walk Orange County.

The Fullerton resident plans to attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a major in dramatic writing.

SADDLEBACK HIGH SCHOOL: Carlos F. Gonzalez

Carlos graduated with a 3.9 grade-point average and as the first in his family to attend college, has already taken courses at Chapman University in Orange.

Carlos was as member of the Spanish and Science clubs as well as the California Scholarship Federation.

He is adept at building models and working on cars and loves music; he played in the school band while pursuing vocational classes that earned him a scholarship from the Regional Occupational Program.

He won a Provost Award, a Servistar Coast-to-Coast Scholarship and several medals for band and science.

He volunteers at Coastal Communities Hospital and offers his time for community-oriented policing.

The Santa Ana resident plans to attend UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara or Northeastern University in Boston.

SAN CLEMENTE HIGH SCHOOL: Peter McMorrow

Peter was a valedictorian and founder and president of the school chapter of the Model United Nations. He was science club president, a senior officer of the Associated Student Body, a Key Club member and a member of the National Honor Society.

An athlete, he competed in varsity water polo and swimming and enjoys backpacking and skiing. He works as a swim instructor for the city of Dana of Point and volunteers as a math tutor and as a candy striper.

The San Juan Capistrano resident plans to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

SANTA ANA HIGH SCHOOL: Armida Palencia

A student with perfect attendance, Armida will serve as valedictorian. She was a member of the math, French, science and Kiwanis clubs and won awards for student of the month in math and English. She was a distinguished honor roll student, president of the Mesa Club and a recipient of the Harvard Book Prize Award.

Armida tutors students and volunteers with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and beach cleanup projects. She works at the Irvine Day Care Center.

The Tustin resident plans to attend Hawaii Pacific University.

SANTA ANA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL: Ngoc Hong Tran

Academic achievements, athletic interests and club involvements have helped Ngoc become the first member of her family to attend college. She was senior class president and homecoming assembly disc jockey. She participated in the Academic Decathlon and was a member of the Partner’s Club. She earned a 4.43 weighted grade-point average.

She plays water polo and enjoys swimming, is an avid backpacker, hiker and camper and has been involved in a variety of campus productions, including the Valley Vaudeville Show and the Educational Talent Search.

The Santa Ana resident plans to attend UCLA.

SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: Charles Gabbert

Charles, elected president of the Associated Student Body, kept up a sterling academic record while pursuing a variety of interests. He played baseball throughout his high school years, worked as a baseball camp counselor and volunteered at St. Joseph’s soup kitchen and a bookstore.

He is a member of St. Cecilia Youth Ministry and has displayed his talents in three productions of the Talon Theater.

Charles has a 4.61 weighted grade-point average and is a member in the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation.

The Coto de Caza resident plans to attend the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.