GILROY
– Twenty-nine superstar students were the center of attention
Tuesday night during the first districtwide student recognition
ceremony.
GILROY – Twenty-nine superstar students were the center of attention Tuesday night during the first districtwide student recognition ceremony.
Principals and teachers from each Gilroy Unified School District campus praised students from all grade levels for qualities such as outstanding academics, superior leadership, self-motivation and respectful behavior.
“Achievement and success in a school system isn’t just about test scores and academic achievement, but I think success happens in a variety of ways,” Superintendent Edwin Diaz said. “I think we can all agree that we have some outstanding students in our district.”
Diaz and school board members presented each student with a Student Success Award, some because they are strong leaders, others because their problem-solving skills set them apart, but all because they possess a number of exceptional qualities.
Aaron Valenta, a fifth-grader at Rucker Elementary School, was one of many students referred to as a role model for others.
“He’s an atypical child, he’s a wonderful child,” said Curt Hentschke, his teacher. “Not only at school but at home. … He’s very conscientious about what he does, works hard on every assignment – doesn’t mean he doesn’t go out there and play, he plays with the best of ’em.”
Ricardo Chavez Jr., a student at Eliot, has overcome many obstacles in his young life, said Principal Diane Elia, as she choked back tears.
“He is a student who can recognize right from wrong and makes a conscious effort to do the right thing, even when it means turning to an adult for help,” Elia said.
Chavez has blossomed from an untrusting first-grader into a fifth-grader who now reaches out to those around him, she said.
South Valley student Isaac Luna is working hard and excelling, despite being exposed to outside influences that might lead others to give up on their schoolwork or join the wrong crowd, Principal Paul De Ayora said. He is making strong and steady progress, and his science project scored first place this year.
“Isaac will be successful in life because he is driven to do well and succeed,” De Ayora said.
Daniel Leong, a freshman at Gilroy High, participates in sports, clubs and community service while excelling academically.
“In a class of 620 students, he’s ranked number one with a 4.0 GPA and taking all honors classes and Spanish II,” Principal Bob Bravo said.
Photographs of each of the 29 students will hang in the board room at the district office until the next Student Success Award ceremony in 2005.
GUSD Student Success Award recipients
Antonio Del Buono
Taylor Carr Ramos – becoming independent, has a loving personality
Preet Gill – innovative, creatively solves problems
Guadalupe Pacheco – highly motivated, asks excellent questions
Brownell Academy
Maegan Collett – conscientious, put in extra effort
Alexis Driggs – model student, works collaboratively
Carissa Heath – cares for her own education, responsible
Eliot
Ricardo Chavez, Jr. – eager to learn, deep love for family
Angelica Mitre – improved English tremendously, is a leader
El Roble
Randeep Singh – repectful, excellent problem-solving skills
Monica Marrazzo – role model, true classroom leader
Gilroy High
Ben Hemeon – holds himself to high standard, respectful
Daniel Leong – top in freshman class, helpful and courteous
Sonia Martinez – always tries her best, will be first graduate in her family
Ashley Schaffner – inspiration to other classmates, mature
Glen View
Nancy Perez – desires to be life-long learner, hardworking
Mike Ruiz Lopez – gives 100% to work, reflects on different points of view
Las Animas
Leticia Esparza – tackles tough problems, leader
Natalie Sanchez – conscientious worker, resolves conflicts
Luigi Aprea
Leah Ailes – well-rounded and enthusiastic student, exemplary behavior
Marlee Litzinger – sets high expectations, helps others succeed
Mt. Madonna High
Juan Ramirez, Jr. – leader, excels in all his classes
Rod Kelley
Melissa Gjerde – meticulous student, participates in discussions
Luis Orozco – always strives to do his best, takes education seriously
Rucker
Silvia Hernandez – helps her 3 younger brothers succeed, respectful
Aaron Valenta – discovers and shares new ways to do math, empathetic
Ascencion Solorsano
Nico Sandoval – overall achiever, intensely motivated to succeed
South Valley
Jonathan Afshar – made enormous strides in both academics and behavior
Brian Hentschke – works hard, secure and confident
Isaac Luna – making strong and steady progress, 1st place science project
