The Santa Cruz Education Foundation would like to congratulate all of the valedictorians and salutatorians from our neighborhood schools. We asked each honoree to tell us about where they are going, what they’ve enjoyed studying and what they will take with them from their high school experience to their next stage in life. We wish them, and all their fellow graduates, great success with all their future endeavors.
Santa Cruz High School
Valedictorians
Donald Acker
Parents: Todd & Karen Acker
College: University of California, Santa Cruz
Favorite Subject: Calculus
What I will bring with me to college: Calculus Camp
Scott Deppmeier
Parents: Chris & Tim Deppmeier
College: University of California, Santa Barbara
Favorite Subject: PE Weightlifting and Conditioning
What I will bring with me to college: Strong student community
Brian DeWaele-Dillon
Parents: Mike & Berry Dillon
College: University of California, San Diego
Favorite Subject: Chemistry
What I will bring with me to college: The laid back open campus feel is very conducive to learning.
Fiona Grishaw-Jones
Parents: Katharine & David Grishaw-Jones
College: Wesleyan
Favorite Subject: Physiology
What I will bring with me to college: Calculus Camp
Becky Hardie
Parents: Ruth & Ian Hardie
College: Georgia Institute of Technology
Favorite Subject: Calculus
What I will bring with me to college: my experience at Calculus Camp
Aspen Hsu
Parents: Tiffany & Lin Hsu
College: University of California, Berkeley
Favorite Subject: Calculus
What I will bring with me to college: Being part of Santa Cruz High’s girls basketball team my senior year.
Maya Kobe-Rundio
Parents: Meg Kobe & Dave Rundio
College: University of Utah Honors College
Favorite Subject: Spanish & English
What I will bring with me to college: I’ve had some truly amazing teachers at Santa Cruz High School, people who make learning fun and engaging. They are the part of high school I’ll miss the most.
Sasha Langholz
Parents: Lynn Renshaw & Neal Langholz
College: University of California, Berkeley
Favorite Subject: AP Comp
What I will bring with me to college: Be resourceful and befriend like-minded friends.
Josephine Lovejoy
Parents: Brian & Christy Lovejoy
College: Vassar College
Favorite Subject: English & Math
What I will bring with me to college: my participation in Mock Trial because it helped me figure out that I wanted to be a lawyer.
Lottie Mitchell
Parents: Daisy Martin & David Mitchell
College: Stanford University
Favorite Subject: Spanish
What I will bring with me to college: my experience at Calculus Camp
Molly Nolan
Parents: Laura & John Nolan
College: Tulane University
Favorite Subject: Science
What I will bring with me to college: All the amazing teachers and classes.
Casey O’Hara
Parents: Patrick O’Hara & Lynne Stoops
College: University of California, San Diego
Favorite Subject: History
What I will bring with me to college: West Cliff, the Wharf and the ocean.
Angela Pogson
Parents: Kate Mesa & Grant Pogson
College: University of California, Berkeley
Favorite Subject: Biology
What I will bring with me to college: nice people
Dyson Waite-Himmelwright
Parents: Adrianne Waite & Craig Himmelwright
College: George Washington University
Favorite Subject: Mr. Bacon
What I will bring with me to college: the people
Soquel High School
Left to Right: (Back) Michael Threet, Cade Gotthardt, Joe Martin, Joseph Robello, Kyra Chamberlain, Alexandra Meek, Hannah Frankl, Isabella Meyer, and Hannah Thomas Pullen (Middle) Melissa Braun, Lauren Wood, Margarita Servin (Front) Samantha Gaboury, Jason Chew
Credit: Times Publishing Group Inc.
Valedictorians
Melissa Braun
Parents: Wendy Siegel & Eric Braun
College: Occidental College
Favorite Subject: Biology & English
What I will bring with me to college: My track coach, Joe Miyoshi, and my lifelong friends from high school.
Jason Chew
Parents: Phung Luong & Frank Mowrey, & Bill Chew
College: University of California, Santa Barbara
Favorite Subject: Calculus
What I will bring with me to college: Playing the saxophone for the Soquel High Jazz Band.
Hannah Frankl
Parents: Rachel & Tom Frankl
College: Wheaton College
Favorite Subject: English
What I will bring with me to college: The small town vibe.
Samantha Gaboury
Parents: Shelley & Eric Gaboury
College: California State University, Chico
Favorite Subject: Science
What I will bring with me to college: An optimistic attitude
Cade Gotthardt
Parents: Kelli & Richard Gotthardt
College: California State University, Long Beach
Favorite Subject: Music
What I will bring with me to college: The sense of community at Soquel High.
Joe Martin
Parents: Heather & Tim Martin
College: University of California, Berkeley
Favorite Subject: Government
What I will bring with me to college: The connections I’ve made with friends and teachers.
Alexandra Meek
Parents: Susan & Brian Meek
College: Loyola Marymount University (with Trustee Scholarship)
Favorite Subject: History
What I will bring with me to college: At Soquel High, I never felt pressured to put a label on myself, which helped me explore all of my interests and taught me that there are many different dimensions to every person and I shouldn’t judge them by just one.
Joseph Robello
Parents: Debby & Jonathan Robello
College: Cabrillo College
Favorite Subject: Math
What I will bring with me to college: The ability to succeed in very difficult subjects.
Mikey Threet
Parents: Patty & Mike Threet
College: University of California, Santa Barbarba
Favorite Subject: History
What I will bring with me to college: My experience playing football for the past four years, the advice and guidance of the excellent teachers I’ve had, the support of my parents, and the privilege of growing up in Santa Cruz.
Lauren Wood
Parents: Kelly & Doug Wood
College: University of California, Berkeley
Favorite Subject: Science
What I will bring with me to college: The positive mindset and strong sense of community.
Salutatorians
Kyra Chamberlain
Parents: Larissa Printzian & Scott Chamberlain
College: George Washington University
Favorite Subject: History
What I will bring with me to college: Mobilizing my army of feminists in the Soquel High Feminist Club.
Isabella Meyer
Parents: Annie & Kevin Meyer
College: University of California, Los Angeles
Favorite Subject: Science
What I will bring with me to college: The ability to multitask
Margarita Servin
Parents: Enedina & Sacramento Servin
College: Cabrillo College
Favorite Subject: Math & Science
What I will bring with me to college: Santa Cruz is quite accepting.
Hannah Thomas Pullen
Parents: Mary Thomas Pullen & Ed Pullen
College: University of California, Santa Barbara
Favorite Subject: History
What I will bring with me to college: The ability to write quickly.
Harbor High School
Left to Right: Evan Eurs, Alisa Jin, Cassidy Lewis, Catherine Durden, Aadam Mohammad
Valedictorians
Catherine Durden
Parents: Olivia Semsem & Shawn Durden
College: Santa Clara University
Alisa Jin
Parents: Donna & Sang Un Jin
College: Northeastern University
Favorite Subject: Math (AP Calculus)
What I will bring with me to college: The laid back attitude of Santa Cruz and the awesome vibes of Harbor where we all connect with each other.
Cassidy Lewis
Parents: Aleta & Andy Lewis
College: Azuza Pacific University
Favorite Subject: Art
What I will bring with me to college: How grateful I am for those teachers who invested their time in me in order to allow me to grow into the person I am today.
Aadam Mohammad
Parents: Debbie & Rahat Mohammad
College: University of California, Santa Cruz
Favorite Subject: English
What I will bring with me to college: College is a place full of different opportunities for people to grow. It’s important that we take advantage of these, so that one day we may provide those opportunities to others.
Salutatorian
Evan Eurs
Parents: Lee Ann & Michael Eurs
College: University of Puget Sound
Favorite Subject: Physics
What I will bring with me to college: Eighteen years of memories of times well spent with friends and family.
Ark Independent Studies
Valedictorian
Laurel Mentor
Parents: Kathy & Peter Mentor
College: Cabrillo College
Favorite Subject: Biology
What I will bring with me to college: I learned about managing my time which is an important skill to acquire in order to live a balanced and productive life.
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Salutatorian
Lindsey Balidoy
Parents: Lorie & Victor Balidoy
College: Cabrillo College
Favorite Subject: English
What I will bring with me to college: Motivation and independence.
