Vista Murrieta Student Named to All-County Academic Team

Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Kenneth M. Young named 10 outstanding students to the 2011-12 All-County Academic Team Wednesday during the seventh annual Riverside County Student Academic Awards dinner.

Fifty-one high schools in the county nominated 137 students for honors based on their academic performance, GPA, college entrance exam scores, and extracurricular activities. Each high school named from one to three students based on their enrollment. The All-County Academic Team was chosen from that list. 

The members of the All-County Academic Team were accompanied by their principals and superintendents. The team includes:

Kim Anderson, Palm Springs High School, Palm Springs Unified School District - Kim has a grade point average of 4.76 and an SAT score of 2100. She is a member of the varsity cross country and varsity track and field teams. Kim is a volunteer for the Palm Springs Stroke Recovery Center and in involved with the Women In Sports Conference - Citrus Belt Area Athletic Directors Association. She is an AP Scholar of Distinction, Junior State of America member, Rotary Interact Club member, Kiwanis Key Club Member, and member of the California Scholarship Federation. Kim received the Riverside County Bar Association good citizenship award, All Desert Valley League Academic Principal's Award, honorable merit "Cum Laude" in the National Latin Examination, and she participated in the Southern California Youth Citizenship Seminar at Pepperdine University.

Madison Callihan, La Quinta High School, Desert Sands Unified School District - Madison's grade point average is 4.7292 and her SAT score was 2150. She has lettered in academic and theater while attending La Quinta High School. Madison is the main editor for Soccer's Story, a Futbol Fable Intern in A Fluid Movement Acting Company, and a volunteer teacher assistant for second graders. She attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Camp, is secretary of the IB club, President of the Young Writers Club, a thespian participant in the JapAnime Club, a participant of the United States High School Diplomats program, and best director for California Educational Theatre Association. Madison's awards include being the winner of the National Novel Writing Month, the English Speaking Union's Shakespeare contest six place branch level winner, most outstanding junior award winner for theatre, AP Scholar of Distinction, best actress nominee by California Educational Theatre Association, World Quest Academic Competition third place county winner, most outstanding junior award for theatre, and most enthusiastic student award for theater. In addition, Madison is a member of the Mock Trial team and co-captain of the Public Forum Blackhawk Forensics team.

Jeffrey Guo, Polytechnic High School, Riverside Unified School District. Jeffrey has a grade point average of 4.71 and a perfect score of 2400 on the SAT. He is a musician at St. Andrew's Newman Center, a member of the Claremont Young Musician's Orchestra, a private violin teacher, SAT tutor, and AP Ambassador tutor. He participates in History Day and Mock Trial, and was named outstanding prosecutor for the Riverside County Mock Trial competition and won a summer internship with the District Attorney's office. Jeffrey is also an AP Scholar with Honor, a participant of the National French contest where he placed sixth in the nation at level 3, and tenth in the nation at level 4, a National AP Scholar, and National Merit Finalist. He has also received the honor of being named as a United States Presidential Academic Scholar.

Roger William Ibarra, , Murrieta Valley Unified School District. Roger has a grade point average of 4.4667, and an SAT score of 2310. He is a Tae Kwon Do instructor, a sports tutor and on the swim team. Roger is president of Think Tank, a member of the SAT club, California Scholarship Federation, National Honor Society, and secretary of the Literature Club. He is a College Prep scholarship recipient from Questbridge. Roger serves as photographer and tutor of the National Honor Society, volunteers at the Lake Elsinore Animal Shelter, attended the Education Program for Gifted Youth summer camp at Stanford, and also attended the LeadAmerica summer camp at Olin College of Engineering.

Kristiana Kim, Chaparral High School, Temecula Valley Unified School District - Kristiana has a grade point average of 4.5263 and an SAT score of 2300. She plays tennis, is a member of the Mock Trial team, yearbook editor-in-chief, founder and president of GLAD, a member of the National Honor Society, and volunteer church pianist. Kristiana is also president of the Chaparral High School California Scholarship Federation, and a member of Temecula Student Ambassadors and Student Leadership Council. She's received a high school degree of social music from American College of Musicians for piano, is a commended National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, Temecula Sunrise Rotary Speech contest winner, an honor guard member, talent show first and second place winner, and received an award for having the top GPA for the class of 2012.

Koki Saito, Great Oak High School, Temecula Valley Unified School District - Koki has a grade point average of 4.7857 and received an SAT score of 2230. He plays varsity tennis and rides bikes to figure out differential equations every day. Koki is president of Science Olympiad, founder and head delegate for Model UN, vice president of Active Earth, and a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, he has been selected as a student of the month by Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce. Koki is also a National AP Scholar, a member of the California Scholarship Federation, and an IB Diploma candidate.

Ian Shaw, Great Oak High School, Temecula Valley Unified School District - Ian has a grade point average of 4.7857 and an SAT score of 2250. He is the varsity basketball team manager. Ian served as the supervisor of entertainment at the regional California Scholarship Federation, is an Eagle Scout who serves as a patrol leader for Boy Scouts and a chaplain's aide, president of the Math Club, and Vice President of the National Honor Society Math Club. He is an IB diploma candidate, National AP scholar, member of the National Honor Society, a student of the month, and received first place in a math competition, placed first in AP statistics, a top chemistry students, and placed second in Science Olympiad.

Sina Torabi, Palm Desert High School, Desert Sands Unified School District - Sina has a grade point average of 4.7895 and received an SAT score of 2200. He is involved in varsity tennis, is a member and current president of the Key Club, was on the Academic Decathlon team, has earned the honor of being recognized as a National AP scholar and AP Scholar with distinction. In addition, Sina has been involved in genetic research at the Genetic Research Institute of the Desert, volunteered as a doctor shadow, served as a tutor for algebra, calculus, and physics, and is the developer of DailyTrackTrip.com.

Alan Zhang, John W. North High School, Riverside Unified School District - Alan's grade point average is 4.6512 and he received an SAT score of 2270. He is a member of the Academic Decathlon team, a volunteer for the Loma Linda University Medical Center and participates in the Raincross Exchange Club of Riverside. He has served as vice president, co-publicity, and president of the Asian Student Union, president of the Chinese Honor Society, co-publicity of the French Honor Society, and a physics tutor for the Science Honor Society. Alan's awards include Center for Future Global Leaders: Lexicon Challenge Division Recognition, piano certificate of merit level 8, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Finalist, and Valedictorian.

Kevin Zhang, John W. North High School, Riverside Unified School District. Kevin has a grade point average of 4.6276 and an SAT score of 2340. He plays soccer, is a member of the Academic Decathlon team, and volunteers at Loma Linda Medical Center. Kevin is a member of the Asian Student Union, Chinese Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. His awards include being named a National Merit finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, and valedictorian of North High School.

The complete list of students honored during the banquet, their districts, superintendents, and principals, includes:

Alvord Unified School District
Dr. Nicolas Ferguson, Superintendent

La Sierra High School
Mr. Craig Shiflett, Principal
Sammy Jamal
Ahsan Kazmi
Gene Shaffer

Norte Vista High School
Ms. Susan Boyd, Principal
Miguel De La Torre
Isaac Morales
Michael Patini

Banning Unified School District
Dr. Lynne B. Kennedy, Superintendent

Banning High School
Mr. John Curtis, Principal
Pekthra Chhor
Bryant Tran

Beaumont Unified School District
Dr. Barry L. Kayrell, Superintendent

Beaumont High School
Ms. Marilyn Saucedo, Principal
Maria Antonio
Caitlin Esparza
Briahna Hendey

Coachella Valley Unified School District
Dr. Darryl Adams, Superintendent

Coachella Valley High School
Ms. Mary Velasco, Principal
Virginia Cerda
Ruth Garcia
Irene Pinon

Desert Mirage High School
Dr. Marrio Walker, Principal
Julia Aceves
Patricia Leal-Gutierrez

West Shores High School
Mr. Rudy Wilson, Principal
Jessica Leon

Corona-Norco Unified School District
Dr. Kent Bechler, Superintendent

Centennial High School
Mr. Ben Roberts, Principal
Arun Alvappillai
David Boudreau
Jae Won Shin

Corona High School
Mr. Owen Crosby, Principal
Lindsey Hoffman
Julie Murakami
Cheyanna Young

Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Mr. Mark Lenoir, Principal
Richard Hsiao
Alex Wang
Princeton Wong

Norco High School
Dr. Lisa Simon, Principal
Tyler Hudson
Vincent Lechner
Zackary Philyaw

Santiago High School
Mr. Reginald Thompkins, Principal
Joshua Jones
Prabhdeep Lambsar
Taylor Mahaffey

Desert Sands Unified School District
Dr. Sharon P. McGehee, Superintendent

Indio High School
Mr. Rudy Ramirez, Principal
Efrain Coyt
Jason Lopez
Mikela Topey

La Quinta High School
Ms. Donna Salazar, Principal
Madison Callihan
Jazmin Furtado
Olivia Emily Wong

Palm Desert High School
Mr. Robert Hicks, Principal
Austin Graham
Lilly Green
Sina Torabi

Shadow Hills High School
Mr. Douglas Bluth, Principal
Gina Baeza
Miranda Contreras

Hemet Unified School District
Dr. Steven Lowder, Superintendent

Hamilton High School
Mr. James Allured, Principal
Mary-Katherine McGowan

Hemet High School
Dr. Emily Shaw, Principal
Hiren Kolli
Robert Priefer
Sean Rafferty

Tahquitz High School
Dr. Micahel Roe, Principal
Eric Little
Ana Martinez-Flores

West Valley High School
Mr. Alex Ballard, Principal
Rebecca Nevarez
Laura Sisk

Jurupa Unified School District
Mr. Elliott Duchon, Superintendent

Jurupa Valley High School
Ms. Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez, Prinicipal
Karina Carbajal
Nathalie Lopez

Patriot High School
Ms. Roberta Pace, Principal
Harleen Brar
Patrick Fullam
Leilani Rebolledo

Rubidoux High School
Mr. Trenton Hansen, Principal
Fernando Altamirano
Manuel de Jesus Alvarez

Lake Elsinore Unified School District
Dr. Frank W. Passarella, Superintendent

Elsinore High School
Mr. Jon Hurst, Principal
Kathleen Aquino
Jason Gomez
Uriel Sanchez

Lakeside High School
Mr. Peter Hopping, Principal
Sonia Acuna
Eric Waisanen

Temescal Canyon High School
Mr. Erroll Garnett, Principal
Kurt Clements
Bret Paddock

Moreno Valley Unified School District
Dr. Judy White, Superintendent

Canyon Springs High School
Dr. Tammy Guzzetta, Principal
Christie Fanous
Samuel Kim
Beth Matter

Moreno Valley High School
Ms. Maribel Mattox, Principal
Irma Marin
Mario Perales
Komal Preet

Valley View High School
Ms. Kristen Hunter, Principal
Mareena Blackwood
Dhanu Desai
Lannie Pham

Vista Del Lago High School
Ms. Patricia Bazanos, Principal
Derek Estrella
Jesus Medina Garcia
Jonathan Rodriguez

Murrieta Valley Unified School District
Dr. Stan Scheer, Superintendent

Ms. Mary Walters, Principal
Carter Rawlings
Miles Schuler
Shawn Stevenson

Ms. Renate Jefferson, Principal
Kathryn Clark
Amy Cohen
Ryan Ouillette

Vista Murrieta High School
Mr. Darren Daniel, Principal
Stella Chang
Colin Garcia
Roger William Ibarra

Palm Springs Unified School District
Dr. Christine Anderson, Superintendent

Cathedral City High School
Mr. Guillermo Chavez, Principal
Ernesto Rialon
Jill Thetford
Stephanie Vela

Desert Hot Springs High School
Dr. Anne Kalisek, Principal
Sarah De La Cruz
Christian Guzman

Palm Springs High School
Mr. Ricky Wright, Principal
Kim Anderson
Turner Anderson
George Lee

Palo Verde Unified School District
Mr. Bob Bilek, Acting Superintendent

Palo Verde Valley High School
Ms. Bonita Bradshaw, Principal
Tyne Brandon

Perris Union High School District
Dr. Jonathan L. Greenberg, Superintendent

Heritage High School
Ms. Julie Zierold, Principal
Austin Pineda
Victoria Rudisill
Alejandro Serrato-Guillen

Paloma Valley High School
Mr. Brian Morris, Principal
Jensine Carreon
Stephanie Nicole Landers
Jared Rodriguez

Perris High School
Ms. Lynne Sheffield, Principal
Christina Estrada
Everardo Ibarra Martinez
Valerie Seldura

Riverside Unified School District
Dr. Richard Miller, Superintendent

Arlington High School
Mr. Antonio Garcia, Principal
Madelin Andrade
Jordan Rossi
Alysha Scoggins

John W. North High School
Mr. Trevor Painton, Principal
Chung-Kuang (Tim) Lin
Alan Zhang
Kevin Zhang

Martin Luther King High School
Mr. Darel Hansen, Principal
Neera Shah
Nehaly Shah
Tulsi Shah

Polytechnic High School
Mr. Wade Coe, Principal
Anthony Anderson
Aaron Chronister
Jeffrey Guo

Ramona High School
Ms. Jamie Angulo, Principal
Hector Delgado
Lauren Estiandan
Mario Garcia

San Jacinto Unified School District
Dr. Shari L. Fox, Superintendent

San Jacinto High School
Mr. Garry Packham, Principal
Stephen Kenna
Anibal Lopez
Elizabeth Padilla

Temecula Valley Unified School District
Mr. Tim Ritter, Superintendent

Chaparral High School
Mr. Gil Compton, Principal
Mitchell Herndon
Kristiana Kim
Laurel Salinas

Great Oak High School
Mr. Joe Balleweg, Principal
Una Boyle
Koki Saito
Ian Shaw

Temecula Valley High School
Dr. Richard Lawerence, Principal
Christopher Brown
Suzanne Angeolyn Reyes Dayrit
Iliana Salazar-Dodge

Val Verde Unified School District
Dr. Alan Jensen, Superintendent

Citrus Hill High School
Mr. Juan Cabral, Principal
Harsimranjit Bohgunh
Jessica Figueroa
Aleyda Areli Marquez

Rancho Verde High School
Mr. Olivier Wong Ah Sun, Principal
Marina Cunningham
Gabriel Plata
Saul Ramirez

—Rick Peoples, RCOE