Teachers nominated students who exhibit leadership skills
Gilroy – Max Fishler, Danielle Jimenez and Elise Ogle all have one key characteristic in common: the ability to lead.
The three middle school students were all nominated by their teachers to receive the 2006 Seagate Technology/Sharks Foundation Eighth Grade Leadership Award. On March 29, the teens picked up their award, which included a dinner and four tickets to the Sharks game, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
Fishler, Jimenez and Ogle were selected because the three teens all serve as role models in both the classroom and community.
“She’s a leader in my class,” Jami Reynolds said of Ogle who helps out in her physical education class at South Valley Middle School. “She helps me. She takes the initiative before being asked. She’s an asset wherever she goes.”
Ogle, 13, is also a prolific athlete who runs cross-country and track and plays field hockey and soccer. But the field and track isn’t the only place she excels. The eighth-grader has a straight A grade-point-average and hopes to attend Stanford University and become a lawyer.
Fishler has found his niche on the basketball court. The Brownell Middle School student wants to become a professional basketball players but he also runs cross-country, plays baseball, wrestles and serves on the associated student body.
This year Fishler is ASB sergeant in arms, meaning he oversees council meetings. Last year he served as ASB vice president. He was also nominated last year by teachers to attend the Junior National Leadership Conference and is a good student who consistently makes Honor Role.
The 13-year-old said receiving the Sharks Foundation award was an honor.
“I was excited to know there were high expectations going into it and all the teachers made it seem like I was a hands-down winner,” he said.
Fishler said he could see himself attending any University of California school but he’s also a big fan of the University of Texas, Austin.
For Danielle Jimenez being a leader just comes naturally. The 14-year-old Solorsano Middle School student currently serves as ASB secretary, last year she was president and in sixth grade secretary.
“I love leadership,” she said. “I’ve done it all three years. I just like to help people and get involved and school spirit is a big deal.”
Jimenez has also made some waves in a male-dominated sport. Three years ago she decided to join the Solorsano wrestling team. Initially she assumed her sex would be an issue, but she was quickly welcomed in as just another team member.
And as a diehard Sharks fan, who often attends the games with her family, she was elated to win an award that includes four hockey tickets.
