Finding keys to success

Kenneth Wong found himself in a tight spot when the Irvine Co. named him as a candidate for its Student Leadership Award. On the day of orientation in February, when Wong was scheduled to meet the other 29 contenders, he dressed up nicely for the occasion ? only to find that he had lost his car keys.

As it turned out, the keys had gotten stuck in the back seat of Wong’s car while he was changing, but he didn’t discover that until late in the evening. For the moment, he had to find another way to travel. When he saw an empty Oasis Senior Center bus approaching on the road, he raced over and flagged it down.

“I was quickly thinking on my feet, and luckily, this bus somehow came along,” the 17-year-old Corona del Mar High School student said.

The driver agreed to give Kenneth a ride, and two months later, he emerged as one of the eight semifinalists for the Student Leadership Award. As part of the interview process, Kenneth had to help design and present a planned community to a group of judges. One of the centerpieces of his community was a bus line.

“He didn’t give up,” said Robin Leftwich, vice president of community affairs for the Irvine Co. “That’s the kind of spirit of a kid who’s nominated to participate and ultimately wins. Everybody loved that story.”

In the end, Kenneth was one of two Newport-Mesa Unified School District students named as semifinalists this year. Later this week, he and Newport Harbor High School senior Philip Houten will find out if they got the highest honor: the finalist prize of $10,000.

For the last 20 years, the Irvine Co. has given scholarship money to high school seniors with strong leadership qualities. The awards cover 15 schools in the Irvine Ranch area, which encompasses Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Tustin and Orange.

Administrators at each school in the area submit one boy and one girl for consideration, with each contestant automatically winning a $2,000 scholarship. Afterward, the judges narrow the field to eight semifinalists by putting the students through an interview process and a group exercise.

“They need to have really great speaking skills and also be able to form a consensus with many divergent opinions,” Leftwich said. “Both of these young men were able to do that and impress the judges.”

Kenneth and Philip brought long lists of credentials with them. Kenneth is an Eagle Scout, an award-winning pianist and winner of Pacific Coast League honors for cross-country and track and field. Philip, 18, also a pianist, is president of his school’s Model United Nations and National Honors Society.

His musical background, he said, had helped to mold his work ethic.

“It helps me persevere through difficult times,” Philip said. “You have to keep doing it over and over again, and things will get better.”

As a reward for being chosen, the semifinalists received an additional $1,000. In May, the judges plan to select four finalists, whose overall earnings will come to $10,000 each. Last year, Newport Harbor High School senior Alyson O’Desky was named among the four finalists.

Philip said he hadn’t consulted his former classmate about the Student Leadership Award ? not yet, at least.

“If I get finalist, I’ll be sure to let her know,” he said.