Scholarship Awards Breakfast: Newport Harbor
Rachel Anne Barney
GPA: 4.4384
School Activities/Clubs: IB drama production of “Dear Brutus,” Field Studies Club, IB History HL, IB English HL, IB Theatre HL, IB French SL, IB Environmental Science SL, IB Theory of Knowledge, IB diploma candidate, AP US History, AP Literature
Community: AFS exchange student in China, AFS exchange returnee mentor, AFS exchange host sister, Newport Beach Sister City exchange host, volunteer at Alenah’s Home orphanage in Beijing, China
Awards/Honors: passed HSK3 Chinese fluency exam, California Scholarship Federation, Honor Roll, California Girls State alternate
Hobbies/Interests: competitive trampolinist, learning languages, traveling
College Plans: Les Roches Institutes in Bluche, Switzerland, studying International Hotel Management
Scholarships: None
NHHS Experience: My most memorable high school experience was definitely my year spent abroad in Lanzhou, China, during my sophomore year. The memory that has the most meaning for me was the two speeches I had to give in front of the entire school and all of the school dignitaries. Both had to be given in Mandarin, one at the beginning of the school year and one at the end of the school year. I had to read my first speech off note cards and still could barely do it, but by the end of my year, I gave an entire five-minute speech without any notes.
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Michael Cantwell
GPA: 4.4932
School Activities/Clubs: president of International Ambassador’s Club, treasurer of Newport Against Trafficking, boy’s varsity lacrosse team, AP European History, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science, AP Physics: Mechanics, AP U.S. History, AP Art History, AP Calculus BC, AP Language and Composition, AP American Government and Politics, AP Biology
Community: Altar Server for the Diocese of Orange, Newport Elementary School Math Team coach, Boys & Girls Club basketball coach
Awards/Honors: Senior Altar Server Award, Altar Server of the Year Award, Student of the Year finalist in World Languages, National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction Award, National Merit Commended Student
Hobbies/Interests: running, biking, bodysurfing, weightlifting, listening to music
College Plans: civil engineering at UCLA or economics at UC Berkeley
Scholarships: District Youth of the Year Award, UCLA Achievement Scholarship, UC Santa Barbara Regents Scholarship
NHHS Experience: The final realization that my high school career is coming to an end and that even more exciting experiences await me in the next four years.
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Kelsey Bay Christensen
GPA: 4.3611
School Activities/Clubs: tennis: three-year varsity letter winner, co-captain, CIF Divisions 2 Finalists, Sunset League Champions, fourth-place Sunset League Individuals — Doubles, All Sunset League, Coaches Award; John Wayne Cancer Foundation Club, founder and president; Autism Awareness Club; National Honor Society; AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus AB, AP Language, AP Literature, AP Government and Politics, AP U.S. History, AP European History; studied biology of human diseases at UCI
Community: peer tutor; tutor weekly at Harbor Day School; Team Duke — fundraised $2,000 for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation so far; volunteered at events with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation; Friday Night Club; junior sailing instructor
Awards/Honors: National Merit Scholarship finalist, AP Scholar with Honor, Student of the Year Health sophomore year, Student of the Semester Spanish 4 senior year, Student of the Semester AP Chemistry junior year, Student of the Year Nominee English junior year, Student of the Year Nominee Science junior year, Top NHHS scorer on the Chemistry Olympiad Exam, CIF Scholar Athlete sophomore to senior year, California Scholarship Federation all four years, Principal’s Honor Roll all four years
Hobbies/Interests: tennis, triathlon, training for a half Ironman, physician shadowing
College Plans: Northwestern University Honors Program in Medical Education
Scholarships: N/A
NHHS Experience: When we beat San Marino in the CIF Semifinals in 2011 after losing to them in the finals the prior year. It was a great affirmation of the countless hours of sweat we had put in on the courts and of the great cohesive unit we had become!
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Cameron Geehr
GPA: 4.4156
School Activities/Clubs: Teenage Republicans all four years, president senior year, secretary junior year; Autism Awareness Club co-founder and co-president; FIMRC founder; Da Vinci movie; AP European History, AP U.S. History, AP Government and Politics, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Computer Science, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Literature, AP Language
Community: FIMRC medical volunteer in Alajuelita, Costa Rica; worked as a volunteer in a free medical clinic serving Nicaraguan refugees; Novice Crew Camp volunteer sophomore and junior year; Hoag Hospital volunteer sophomore and junior year; Mariners Church volunteer sophomore and junior year; Friday Night Club volunteer sophomore to senior year
Awards/Honors: valedictorian, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Commended Scholar, ACS Award, Math Student of the Year nominee junior year, Academic Excellence Award sophomore and junior years, Principal’s High Honor Roll all four years
Hobbies/Interests: surfing, guitar, basketball, teaching myself Japanese, snowboarding, running, throwing cards
College Plans: I’m trying to decide among USC, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Scholarships: Presidential Scholarship from USC, Regents Scholarship from UC Santa Barbara
NHHS Experience: Definitely it was participating in the Mr. Newport competition. I had so much fun getting up on the stage and making a fool of myself along with all of the other guys who participated. And it gave me a semi-legitimate excuse for wearing my top hat and monocle.
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Preston Lee
GPA: 4.3944
School Activities/Clubs: boys’ water polo team for four years, boys’ swim team for four years, AP World History, AP Calculus AB, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP English Literature and Composition, AP U.S. History, AP Government and Politics, AP Calculus BC, AP Biology, IB English HL 2
Community: water polo, Surfrider Foundation, MIKA Surf Camps, American Red Cross
Awards/Honors: valedictorian, AP Scholar with Distinction, California Scholastic Federation Gold Seal Bearer, eight-time Academic Excellence Award, four-time USA Water Polo Outstanding Academic All-American
Hobbies/Interests: surfing and bodysurfing, CrossFit, playing guitar, reading
College Plans: Choosing among Northwestern University, UC Berkeley, UCLA and USC
Scholarships: None
NHHS Experience: Winning the Battle of the Bay water polo game my senior year!
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Allison Molstad
GPA: 4.3684
School Activities/Clubs: volleyball, track, cross-country, Simply Green Club, Junior Statesmen of America secretary, AP European History, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP U.S. History, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, AP Government and Politics, AP Literature, AP Language
Community: planned and organized a Red Cross Blood Drive freshman year, Royal Family Kids Camp all four years, Newport Mesa Church volunteer at Vacation Bible School and other events
Awards/Honors: Student of the Semester European History sophomore year, Student of the Semester Calculus AB junior year, nominee for Student of the Year in Science junior year, AP Scholar with Distinction junior year
Hobbies/Interests: reading fantasy novels, listening to music, singing for my church youth group, politics, watching movies
College Plans: George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., to study biology
Scholarships: Presidential and Biology scholarships, George Fox University
NHHS Experience: My most memorable high school experience was winning the 4x100 relay with my best friends at league finals last year.
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Brian Morales
GPA: 4.4578
School Activities/Clubs: California Scholarship Federation, Compassion in Action Club, Student Athletic Council, National Honor Society, cross-country, track and field, peer mediator for the BRIDGES Club, AP English Literature, AP U.S. History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, IB French SL, IB English HL, IB History of the Americas HL, IB Biology HL, Theory of Knowledge and IB Chemistry HL
Community: Environmental Nature Center junior naturalist and a junior biologist, altar server at St. Joachim, organized dog adoption, Orange Public Library
Awards/Honors: AVID Student of the Year sophomore year, Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award junior year, Student of the Semester World History
Hobbies/Interests: running, cooking, baking, reading, spending time with friends
College Plans: Brown University studying biochemistry. I hope to attend medical school and become a doctor.
Scholarships: Toshiba Scholarship finalist and Bill Gates Millennium finalist
NHHS Experience: There are so many that I won’t have enough space to write it all down. One of my most memorable high school experiences is probably spending evenings with my friends at our school’s food truck event.
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Hannah Mumm
GPA: 4.3889
School Activities/Clubs: Junior Statesmen of America, Simply Green Club treasurer, cross-country, dance, track, AP European History, AP U.S. History, AP Biology, AP Literature, AP Language, AP Government and Politics, AP Environmental Science, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry
Community: Relay for Life, Bike MS, pet care business I started when I was 8
Awards/Honors: Academic Letter, Academic Pins, Academic Excellence Awards, Scholarship & Citizenship Standards Award, AP Scholar with Honor, valedictorian
Hobbies/Interests: spending time with my friends, traveling, reading, drawing, horseback riding
College Plans: majoring in biology/biochemistry
Scholarships: Trustee Scholarship, Opportunity Grant from Occidental College, Provost Scholarship at St. John’s University, Leadership Award Scholarship at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, honors programs at UC Santa Cruz and St. John’s University
NHHS Experience: While there are many to choose from, I think my most memorable high school experience was the Europe trip during sophomore year. Although it was not my first time visiting Europe, getting the chance to see many of the famous landmarks with some of my classmates and closest friends was truly extraordinary. I feel privileged to have experienced Europe in such a unique way.
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Kevin Rakestraw
GPA: 4.3733
School Activities/Clubs: basketball, volleyball, Ambassadors Club, AP European History, AP Computer Science, AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP English Language, AP Calculus BC, AP Art History, AP Government and Politics
Community: coaching basketball and roller hockey at the Boys & Girls’ Club
Awards / Honors: Newport Heights Science Fair Honorable Mention, California Scholastic Federation, Principal’s Honor Roll, Academic Excellence Award – 4.0 or higher, Student of the Year nominee in Math, Student of the Year nominee in Science, Academic Letter, Academic Pin, “600” Club Perfect Score Award
Hobbies/Interests: listening to music, talking to girls, going to the beach
College Plans: Stanford
Scholarships: athletic scholarship
NHHS Experience: The 2012-13 basketball season
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Richard Patrick Ridley
GPA: 4.5067
School Activities/Clubs: cross-country freshman year; boy’s swimming freshman through sophomore year; Ambassador’s Club treasurer junior and senior year, Share our Selves Club vice president senior year; Ultimate Frisbee Club; AP European History, AP U.S. History, AP Government and Politics, AP English Literature and Composition, AP English Language and Composition, AP Computer Science, AP Biology, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Art History, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC
Community: sales and marketing intern and museum docent at the Environmental Nature Center, summer volunteer at the Share Our Selves in Costa Mesa
Awards/Honors: Math Student of the Year nominee, Science Student of the Year nominee, AP Scholar with Distinction, California Scholarship Federation Seal Bearer, National Merit Scholar Commended Student
Hobbies/Interests: restoring an old Alfa Romeo, making Java programs, creating/painting plastic models, enjoying McDonald’s ice cream cones
College Plans: I will most likely be attending Stanford University in the fall
Scholarships: Regents Scholarship at UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego and UCLA.
NHHS Experience: My most memorable high school experience was when all of my friends and I dressed up like the notorious “Bert” for Halloween.
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Jamison Searles
GPA: 4.5882
School Activities/Clubs: National Honor Society, Junior Statesmen of America, Beacon staff writer, AP Biology, AP European History, English IB, Spanish IB, AP Calculus AB, AP Physics C: Mechanics, Environmental Systems IB, AP U.S. History, Theory of Knowledge, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Calculus BC, Chemistry IB, Psychology IB, HistAmer IB
Community: candy striper at Hoag Hospital, junior naturalist at Environmental Nature Center, National Charity League
Awards/Honors: National Merit Scholar, National AP Scholar, HOBY Leadership Award, President’s Volunteer Service Award
Hobbies/Interests: knitting
College Plans: Stanford
Scholarships: Disneyland Scholarship finalist
NHHS Experience: Olympic Park Institute Field Studies trip to Washington
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Dana Siegel
GPA: 4.3896
School Activities/Clubs: Junior Statesmen of America Newport Harbor Chapter president, Cabinet member, The Pro Voice editor-in-chief, Share Our Selves president, Beacon editorials/opinion editor, Advertising and Fundraising Committee, cartoonist, Newport Beach Mayor’s Youth Council, People to People World Leadership Forum state representative in Washington, D.C., partner in private hedge fund The Valedictory Groupe, crew coxswain at the Newport Aquatic Center, AP European History, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP U.S. History, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP English Language and Composition, AP Biology, AP Government and Politics, AP Computer Science A
Community: tutor, environmental conservation activist, Orange County Rescue Mission volunteer
Awards/Honors: valedictorian, Academic Letter, Honor Roll , Student of the Semester English, Student of the Semester Science, Student of the Year nominee twice, Superstar Essay Award, Award for Academic Excellence, Principal’s Honor Roll, Pins and Letter for Top Academic Excellence, JSA Best Speaker, AP Scholar with Distinction Award, California Scholarship Federation, eligible in the Local Context by the University of California system, GATE, National Society Daughters of American Revolution - Good Citizenship Medal and Character Award
Hobbies/Interests: art, debate, politics, math, finance, writing
College Plans: UCLA, UC San Diego, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Wellesley College, Columbia University or the University of Chicago
Scholarships: Herff Jones “Believe In U” Scholarship (still pending), Tikkun Olam Scholarship (still pending), Balboa Bay Club Scholarship (still pending), Toshiba Scholarship (still pending), STRIDE Honors Scholar Scholarship from Smith College, Leadership and Honors Scholar Scholarship from Mount Holyoke College
NHHS Experience: My most memorable high school experience was the six to eight hours I spent with SOS volunteers distributing free backpacks filled with school supplies to nearly 1,000 young students. Often, when adults came in for food or goods their gratitude was tempered with a sometimes embarrassed, self-conscious attitude, but on this distribution day, there was no mistaking the pleasure and excitement on the faces of the children and their parents, thrilled with shiny new backpacks, pens, pencils, rulers, etc. Little girls ran around, smiling and laughing, wearing backpacks three-times their size. Of course they were excited with their brand-new, “grown-up” gear and perhaps more importantly I think we were able to plant the seeds of a positive attitude toward education.
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Clay Smyth
GPA: 4.4938
School Activities/Clubs: lacrosse, Foreign Exchange Student Club, AP Biology, AP Physics Electricity and Magnetism, AP European History, AP Computer Science, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Literature, AP Government and Politics, AP Chemistry, IB Spanish SL, IB English HL
Community: National League of Young Men, hosted three foreign exchange students, worked for a sea turtle conservation program in Costa Rica
Awards/Honors: Voted “Most Intelligent,” Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award, AP Scholar with Distinction, Scholar Athlete
Hobbies/Interests: spending time with friends, going to the beach, piano, traveling, scuba diving, hiking
College Plans: biomedical engineering at Columbia, UCLA or Berkeley
Scholarships: N/A
NHHS Experience: My most memorable high school experience was the AP Euro trip to England, France and Italy with a lot of my friends.
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Samantha Stalder
GPA: 4.3684
Activities/Clubs: tennis, Junior Statesmen of America, AP European History, AP Biology, AP U.S. History, AP Literature, AP Psychology, IB French, AP Language, AP Government and Politics, AP Calculus
Community: tutoring at Shalimar Learning Center
Awards/Honors: California Scholarship Federation, Student of the Semester for Biology, Physics and Geometry
Interests/Hobbies: skiing, camping, rock climbing, reading
College Plans: Bowdoin College to major in government and legal studies
Scholarships: None
NHHS Experience: Definitely being on our high school tennis team freshman year and playing No. 1. I have so many great memories from the matches and bonding with my teammates.
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Evan Williams
GPA: 4.4935
School Activities / Clubs: Ambassador’s Club co-president, Share our Selves Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club, junior varsity lacrosse, AP Computer Science A, AP European History, AP Psychology, AP English Literature and Composition, AP U.S. History, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Calculus AB, AP Art History, AP Calculus BC, AP Government and Politics, AP Biology, AP English Language
Community: Share our Selves, Miracles for Kids, painting theater sets for Newport Heights Elementary School
Awards/Honors: Student of the Semester for AP Computer Science and AP Biology, Student of the Year nominee for Math, AP Scholar with Distinction Award
Scholarships: Invitation to the UC Santa Barbara Regents Scholar program with the Regents Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship from the University of Nevada, Reno
College plans: University of Nevada, Reno, with a major in computer science/engineering
Hobbies/Interests: listening to music, writing computer programs, camping and dirt-biking in the desert, going to the beach with friends
NHHS Experience: Meeting students who would become some of my closest friends during my sophomore year.