Student Spotlight Archive

	At the end of the 2008-2009 school year, Marcella Kelley, a junior, was chosen as the SJHS representative for the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Program (HOBY) held during the summer at Whittier College. During the three-day program, approximately 100 high school students from all over Los Angeles gathered for workshops and training in leadership skills. “One thing I learned from this experience is that if I set my mind to it, I can do anything,” says Marcella. “It opened my eyes to the fact that I am capable of so much more than I thought. Even though I am 16, I can make a difference.” Marcella knows she wants to do more to help others. She says, “I think I will start in my community and focus on kids. I really want to work with younger children in education, especially in tutoring.”
	Selected student entries received bonds at a ceremony held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on June 11. First place winners read their entries to the assembly. Selected as winners in the contest were: Mikka Azurin, ’09 First Place, Essay Contest $500 bond Guadalupe Davila, ’09 Honorable Mention, Essay Contest $100 bond Tiffany Bagnol, ’12 Honorable Mention, Poetry Contest $100 bond Ariadna Rivera, ’12 Honorable Mention, Poetry Contest $100 bond
	Jennifer Kallini Jennifer was accepted at Stanford University, Cornell and Dartmouth Universities.
	Jessica Burch – Class of 2010 Jessica received five first semester certificates for Outstanding Achievement and Teacher Awards. Great Job Jessica!! Spanish III—Outstanding Student Honors Biology—Outstanding Student 20th Century Literature—Teacher Award US History—Outstanding Student Sacraments—Teacher Award
	Elizabeth Kent – Violet Richardson Award Soroptimist International of Bellflower presented sophomore Elizabeth Kent with this prestigious award which honors young women whose volunteer activities make the community and the world a better place. Beth’s volunteer work has been with “The Smile Train, Changing the World One Smile at a Time” (www.smiletrain.org), an organization that provides corrective surgery for young children with cleft lip and palate. Beth has raised funds by babysitting, house-cleaning and organizing a fundraising dinner party and pool party. She has raised over $13,000, which is enough to pay for 52 surgeries. Beth’s goal is to raise funds for 100 surgeries before she graduates. Beth is truly living the CSJ charism of service to the “dear neighbor without distinction”.
Lauren Alvarez	Lauren Alvarez, Class of 2010, was chosen as “Miss Greater Lakewood Teen.” Lauren will represent the city at various events throughout this year and, at the end of her reign, the City of Lakewood will sponsor her at the California State competition next November. Lauren, with a 3.96 cumulative GPA student, hopes to attend USC after graduation and major in communications or broadcast journalism. Lauren has also been named as Southern California spokesperson for “Teen Life of Style” through the Cerritos Mall. Chosen from nine finalists, she is the group’s official spokesperson and frequently has appeared on television station KTLA and in radio interviews.
Jade Harvey	During the summer, sophomore Jade Harvey experienced the opportunity of a lifetime when she and over 300 members of the South Bay Children’s Choir traveled to New York City and sang at Carnegie Hall. Jade, who has been singing with the group for two years, began as a “choraleer” and is now a member of the concert choir which meets at El Camino College. At Carnegie Hall, the choir sang a major work by English composer John Rutter. The group was very fortunate to have Mr. Rutter conduct the “Mass of the Children” with a full orchestra. The “Mass of the Children” was first performed in 2003 at Carnegie Hall and Mr. Rutter conducted at that time. The “Mass” is a non-liturgical piece of music divided into five movements, referred to as a missa brevis. It incorporates poetry by Thomas Ken and William Blake, and is sung in the traditional Latin and Greek Mass text. Jade is also a member of the SJHS Show Choir and is thinking of becoming a broadcast journalist, but would also love to study music.
Arabia Alvarez	Senior Arabia Alvarez enjoyed a life changing “Montana Yellowstone Expedition” (www.myecamp.org) this summer. The educational experience, designed for young people (ages 15-18) develops leaders through adventure, service, personal challenge, teamwork, and access to higher education. A 25 day program focuses on self discovery and sustainability; and fosters critical thinking and an ethic of service in participants. Arabia was able to attend the wilderness program on a full scholarship sponsored by the “Orfalea Family Foundation”. As an alumna, Arabia is also able to apply for a range of scholarships through the MYE Foundation.