Hughes takes first place in national gymnastics competition
Local resident Daniel Hughes, a sophomore at Leigh High School, took first place on the Rings and fifth place on the Highbar in the Senior C Division at the 2023 Western National Championships in Galveston, Texas April 28-30.
More than 100 students from the 25 western states competed for prizes in the annual competition.
High school seniors recognized
Eight seniors from Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools were honored May 7 at Santa Clara University for the Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators’ 34th Annual Recognition Program.
With the 2023 theme, “The Future is Now: Let’s Move Forward Together,” seniors, eighth-graders and fifth-graders from 22 school districts were recognized for their grade point average (GPA), improving their GPA, fine arts/talent accomplishments, student athlete, or leadership/civic involvement among others.
Local students honored were:
• Sydney Backhus, Saratoga High School, Academics GPA: Backhus is a member of the Saratoga High School Cheerleading Team, Leadership, and Rally Commission, charged with planning and executing all school rallies. As a member of Jack and Jill, an African-American teen/mother organization, she has been able to help the community by organizing events and raising money for group homes.
• Caitlin Bowser, Los Gatos High School, Improved GPA: Los Gatos High School staff shared that Bowser has shown a strong grade improvement in her senior year. During a typically busy year of college applications, she has also added more rigor to her course load.
• Nadine Cobourn, Saratoga High School, Fine Arts/Talent: Cobourn has a passion for the creative arts and dance, school staff shared. At Saratoga High School, she has been part of the Media Arts Program, allowing for leadership opportunities and peer-to-peer collaboration.
• Riley J., Los Gatos High School, Improved GPA: Riley has increased her GPA one full point from last year to this year. Her first semester senior year GPA is the second highest semester GPA she has earned at Los Gatos High School.
• Cole Massie, Los Gatos High School, Improved GPA: Massie holds a leadership position on the Los Gatos High School Robotics team, and in his senior year, has brought his cumulative GPA above 3.50.
• David Pollesch, Los Gatos High School, Student Athlete: Pollesch’s GPA has continued to improve throughout his time at Los Gatos High School. He has played football for LGHS every year, and has a strong sense of camaraderie toward his peers both on and off the field.
• Taylor Wilson, Saratoga High School, Leadership/Civic Involvement: Wilson’s impact on Saratoga High School can be measured through his leadership, captaining the soccer team, or winning the Luke Salin Outstanding Service Award given to students who are passionate about film, leadership and social justice.
• Mia Yannoni, Los Gatos High School, Academics GPA: In addition to being a student athlete and managing a rigorous course load with a 4.28 GPA, Yannoni is also a musician in Los Gatos High School’s audition-only jazz band and wind ensemble. In addition, she served in Los Gatos High School’s marching band leadership team and was this year’s “Team Spirit Award” recipient.
Student wins national scholarship award
The Washington Crossing Foundation announced the 2023 winners of its scholarships for high school seniors planning careers in government service.
Isabelle Qian, a senior at Westminster School in London, received the West Coast Scholarship in Memory of Laura Daniel Brown.
Qian is the daughter of William Qian and Caroline Cao of Los Gatos. She will attend the University of California, Berkeley.
This year the Washington Crossing Foundation awarded $79,000 in scholarships bringing the total amount to $2,021,000 since 1970.
The scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors dedicated to serving their school, their community and their country.
