May 27, 2004

Almaden Valley Women’s Club presents ten local students with scholarships

By Kimberly Joiner
Special to the Times

In a ceremony earlier this month, the Almaden Valley Women’s Club honored ten local students with Academic and Service Awards. The winners were selected based upon academic achievements, school participation, and community service. The program is open to any student who resides in the 95120 zip code.

AVWC Scholarship Co-Chairs Robin Beresford and Liz Marino presented each winner with $1,000 to use for their higher education. Part of the proceeds from the club’s annual Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival help fund the scholarship program. This year’s festival will be on September 26th at a new location – Almaden Lake Park.
The ten students chosen have incredible stories of not only academic excellence but also service to their communities:

Jessica Chiu, Leland High School
Jessica is a member of the nationally ranked Speech and Debate team and active on the school newspaper, serving as feature editor and staff reporter. Jessica’s athletic abilities have been seen on both the Track and Tennis teams. Her community service includes free peer tutoring at school, volunteering for Youth in Philanthropy, coordinating the Chinese Cultural festival, and for the past four years she has been the leader for the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley’s Youth Service team. Jessica plans to attend Harvard University to study business.
Marilie Coetsee, St. Francis High School

A member of the Speech and Debate team, Marilie has pursued an academically rigorous curriculum and received many awards and honors. She is a member of California Scholarship Federation, National Honor Society, Science and Engineering Club, and the International Club. Active on the Swim team, she has taught younger swimmers and volunteered at the Betty Wright Swim Center for the developmentally disabled. Marilie plays string bass on the St. Francis Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Combo, and at her church’s music programs. Her volunteer activities a varied and include Students Opposed to Drugs and Alcohol, El Camino Hospital, life guarding at the Crossgates Community Pool, and student youth group leader at the San Jose Christian Reformed Church. Marilie plans to attend Stanford University or the University of Chicago to study public policy.

Shadi Gholizadeh, Notre Dame High School
Shadi is the team captain of the Speech and Debate team, a member of Junior Varsity Track and Field, and has held a variety of leadership positions in the Environmental Club. Her on-campus academic memberships include the California Scholarship Federation and the National Honor Society. Shadi has spent many years learning and performing Persian and Arabic dancing. Inspired by her community, she has volunteered at the Payvand Cultural School, Good Samaritan Hospital, Amor Ministries, and the Support Network for Battered Women. The Children of Paradise Foundation recognized her dedication to making the world a better place through her organizational and presentational skills. Shadi will attend Stanford University, majoring in political science, with her eye on pre-law.

Ashley Howell, Presentation High School
Ashley has volunteered over 350 hours in the last two years to the State of California working as the Intern Director in the district office of Assemblymember Rebecca Cohn. Her duties ranged from training interns, to organizing press conferences, and even to writing a bill proposal. Ashley has used her strong leadership skills at Presentation as well, serving on student government, editor of the school newspaper, and a member of the California Scholarship Federation, Ambassador Club, and Campus Ministry. Her service project, “Fleece Frenzy,” resulted in over 1,000 scarves made for the homeless. She was a member of the Junior Varsity Swim team, Junior Varsity Basketball team, and Varsity Basketball team. Ashley has the unique knowledge of knowing where her passion lies and where she wants her life to lead her - studying public policy at the University of Southern California and pursuing a career in public service as a government official.

Elizabeth Hoyt, Pioneer High School
A four-year member of both the Water Polo and Swim teams, Elizabeth also enjoys the Robotics Club. A talented violinist, she shares her gift with others at school and in her community through teaching and performing, even forming a new performing group. Her academic memberships at school include the California Scholarship Federation and Vice President of the National Honor Society. Developing her understanding of the rewards of community service, Elizabeth has participated in a variety of programs, including an immersion program helping inner city homeless in Denver, Colorado, volunteering at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and sharing her violin talents at charitable and fundraising events. She will attend the University of California at Irvine next year, majoring in biological sciences with plans to become a physician.

Aisha Qamar, Presentation High School
Aisha is very active on campus as president of the California Scholarship Federation, Community Involvement Program officer, Science Club officer, Amnesty International officer, advisory board member for the International Culture’s Club, member of the Math Honors Society, Student Environmental Action Society member, and tutor in the Peer Tutoring Society. One of Aisha’s greatest pleasures has been volunteering at Good Samaritan Hospital for the past four years. Aisha plans to study medicine at UC Berkeley and hopes to integrate her passion for the medical field with political activism through organizations such as Doctors Without Borders.

Deena Shakir, Leland High School
Deena Shakir is a master of time management who has explored and excelled in many areas at school and in the community. Her voice has been heard through her involvement with Leland’s Speech and Debate team, as its Oratory President, as a columnist for Leland’s newspaper, the Charger Account, and in French Club. Using these skills, she has won numerous awards, including first place in the America Enterprise Speech Contest. A talented writer, Deena is founder and editor-in-chief of the Leland Leviathon, a student-run publication that focuses on local and national issues. She is a member of the New American High School Transformation Board, US Senate Youth Program, the California Scholarship Federation, and the National Honor Society. Her community work includes ESL student coaching and volunteering at the Sunday Friends Program, San Jose Family Shelter, Institute for Arabic Studies, and many others. Deena will attend Harvard University next Fall, with a combination major featuring history, government, and psychology. She is interested in the field of law.

Ben Sumner, Bellarmine College Preparatory
Ben has been a dedicated member of the school yearbook for all four years of high school. He has held the position of editor-in-chief his junior and senior years and was the layout editor his sophomore year. The years that Ben was in charge, the yearbook received Gold Medal awards and First Class Rankings from the National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. A long-standing member of the Bellarmine Service Club, Ben has been instrumental in organizing school social events. His leadership and hard work were recognized recently when he was awarded the Bellarmine’s General Excellence Award and the Bank of America Plaque, both of which only honor four students each year. Ben will be attending UC San Diego where he plans to study computer science.

Sean Teague, Lincoln High School
Sean was a member of the Speech and Debate team, at Leland High School, and president of the Junior State of America at Lincoln High School. He plays on the San Jose Sharks High School Hockey League and enjoyed working with the Sharks Community Development department as an intern. A talented bass player, Sean performs with the Jazz Band and other various jazz vocal groups. He is a member of Ti-M, a music honor society, as well as of the National Honor Society. Sean was cited by his teacher for contributing greatly to the success of Lincoln’s Mock Trial team. As a member of the Boy Scouts of America, he inspired and led his troop members as Senior Patrol Leader and attained the highest rank, Eagle Scout. For that project, he created a special exhibit at the Quicksilver Museum, in association with the New Almaden Historical Society. Sean will attend UC Berkeley to study materials science engineering/nanotechnology.

Iwen Wu, Leland High School
Iwen has been a four-year member of the Speech and Debate team. Two years ago, after the policy debate coach unexpectedly moved, Iwen stepped in to help keep things organized. Through her leadership and hard work the policy team was able to stay together, becoming stronger and more competitive. In her senior year as president of the Leland chapter of the Junior State of America, Iwen worked hard to breathe new life into the chapter by holding regular meetings and recruiting new members. Her volunteering efforts supported the public library and Steinbeck Middle School. In September she plans to attend UC San Diego to study bioengineering.