Pair of junior aces

There will be no rest following this Saturday’s Winter Formal for two Laguna Beach High School students.

The morning of Feb. 3, seniors Rebekah Farrar and Paul Hester will be honored at a brunch for being selected as the 2008 Junior Citizens of the Year.

The duo then will ride in the 42nd annual Patriots Day Parade March 1; this year’s theme is “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

The school has no hard-and-fast rules on grade-point average or community services hours to follow in choosing two students.

“We had a million possibilities,” Principal Don Austin said. “The list was deep.”

Possibilities ranged from the introverted to the extroverted; sports stars to church volunteers. But a decision had to be made, or the school would go on deliberating forever.

“It could drive you nuts,” Austin said.

They finally made their selections; both are volleyball players.

Hester is on the school’s Associated Student Body leadership. He recalls dredging up all the things he might have done wrong when he was first called into the principal’s office.

He was “stoked” yet stunned when he heard the news.

“I was really honored,” he said. “It’s a privilege to be selected.”

“He’s insightful and caring,” Austin said. “He also cares really deeply about his school’s tradition and history. I just never see him without a smile. Ever.”

After attending private school through eighth grade, Hester began his freshman year at Laguna Beach High School.

“I’m really involved with the school, and I have a one-on-one relationship with my teachers,” Hester said. “They’ve really helped me to grow.”

Hester said he enjoys the freedom of public school, and is proud to follow in his parents’ footsteps; both attended the school.

“I definitely wanted to preserve the family name,” Hester said. He cited his older brother for helping him when he started high school, and has stepped out from his shadow into his own spotlight.

“He’s not afraid to put himself out there,” Austin said. “Every school needs a Paul.”

Farrar, born and raised in Laguna, has a 4.3 GPA and has been on varsity volleyball for four years, Austin said.

“I didn’t even think about the competition,” Farrar said; she was extremely surprised to hear she had been selected.

“She was one of the very, very first students I ever met,” Austin said. “She came and introduced herself to me right away.”

“I really respect them,” Farrar said of the school’s leadership. “I guess it went both ways.”

“She is quietly empathetic to all her peers,” Austin said, describing her ready smile. “Everyone loves her, and she’s kind to everybody. I think she underestimates her own special qualities. She doesn’t know how great she’s going to be. That’s one of the things I love about her.”

Both students said their parents called everybody in their families, passing the phone to have them share the good news.

Farrar has appeared several times in the parade while growing up, but this will be Hester’s first time.

The students also are looking forward to helping decide the float winners.

Farrar hopes to study business at Southern Methodist University; Hester aspires to go to film school at Chapman University, so he can become a director of major motion pictures.

Austin has his own special hopes for the duo.

“I always joke with them that they should be dating,” he said. “One of the conditions of their being selected as Junior Citizens was that they had to go to prom together.”