Faith, old-fashioned grit and a vision of the future helped these students excel.
They are the 2011 News Tribune All-Star Graduates – a dozen graduating seniors chosen from nearly 100 nominated by their schools to represent the South Sound’s most promising youths.
The 91 nominees live and go to school as far north as Federal Way and as far south as Steilacoom, east to Bonney Lake and west to the Key Peninsula.
But the wider world has shaped their identities. The roots of the selected 12 All-Stars stretch from
Cambodia to India, from Nebraska to Nigeria.
Diversity is reflected not only in where they come from, but where they’re headed. Two are bound for Harvard, four for campuses of the University of Washington, and one doesn’t plan to go to college right away.
One student – the first homeschooled graduate included since The News Tribune started the All-Star program more than a decade ago – is already receiving his associate’s degree.
A panel of six community judges gathered to choose this year’s All-Stars. The students were selected based on a combination of academic excellence, school leadership, civic involvement and the ability to overcome obstacles.
Judges reviewed packets of information submitted by each school – no more than three nominees per school. Some judges returned to the newspaper to listen in on a group interview with the chosen 12.
“After watching and listening to the All-Star grads, I realized that in person they’re even more impressive than their paperwork,” said former Tacoma City Manager Jim Walton. “These marvelous young people have put their hearts, minds, intellect and souls into preparing themselves for the world tomorrow.”
LOOKING AHEAD
The All-Stars were asked about what motivates them. The conversation revealed a group of young people who know how to focus on what’s important, to see beyond themselves and to stay in the game even when school or life at home throws them curve balls.
“I’ve always been a person with a lot of vision – even though sometimes my vision might be idealistic,” said Chanel Washington of Lakes High School. “I have always been determined to reach whatever my goals are to have the type of life I would like to have.”
And as someone who has used a wheelchair since age 5, Chanel has had to reach farther than many peers. But the Harvard-bound student has always kept her vision clear when it comes to education: “I feel my mind is my most precious asset. I need to nourish that.”
Jessica Huff, of Spanaway Lake High School, shares that value. She lived in five states, changed schools often and had to learn self-reliance while growing up. She says it’s important for everyone to use the potential they’re born with: “Your mind is your most valuable asset. No one is going to be able to take that away from you.”
For Brett Evans of Federal Way High School, setting goals came naturally. Since eighth grade, he has wanted to attend the United States Naval Academy.
“I come from a family with a lot of military,” said Brett, who describes himself as a blend of Hawaiian, Filipino and Caucasian. “My motivation was to get into my No. 1 school. I had that at the end of the tunnel.”
Kainen Bell, a Stadium High School student named the 2011 Washington State Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club, said he strives to be a role model for younger kids who can fall prey to negative influences such as drugs. He looks forward to college because it “prepares you for more opportunities. It opens your mind to things you never thought of – the experience, the people you meet.”
PEOPLE OF FAITH
Several All-Stars said their belief systems nurtured them.
“My motivation comes from my faith,” said Reed Hawkins of Bonney Lake High School, who transformed himself from shy guy to student leader. “In this life, we are called to serve and sacrifice for each other.”
Micah Donor, a home-schooled student from Lakewood, has also relied on his religious faith. “It pushes me.”
Micah, who has taken classes at both Steilacoom High School and Pierce College while studying independently, said the pressure to achieve comes from within.
“It’s not from outside sources,” he said. “It’s something I put on myself.”
Jonathan Hanisch came to Peninsula High School from a small school in Nebraska at the beginning of his junior year. His teachers, coach and Scoutmaster praise his maturity and leadership.
He says he credits his success to both his faith and his parents: “It was through them that I was able to develop a work ethic that has taken me through school.”
Qing Qing Tang, born in China, had to learn English along with other subjects to achieve success at Mount Tahoma High School. She said her motivation to work hard comes from within: “I want to be someone. I want to be successful. I ask myself every day: ‘Am I smarter than I was yesterday?’ ”
Mina Saudagaran of Annie Wright School has been active with United Way of Pierce County and in 2009 was named Outstanding Young Philanthropist by the Washington Association of Fundraising. She says her parents instilled in her the value of caring about a world bigger than herself.
Mina felt a need to “integrate myself into the greater Tacoma community. You don’t just live here.”
THEY’RE CONNECTED
The students say they feel connected to their home communities and the wider world. Several of these high achievers are the children of immigrants or are immigrants themselves.
“Our world is getting smaller and smaller,” said Chelsea Sothia Kem of Wilson High School, the daughter of Cambodian immigrants. “It’s not just about us. It’s about the impact we make on everybody in the world.”
Preeti Prakash, a Curtis High School student whose family roots are in India, agrees: “Life shouldn’t just be about achieving your own goals. We are all dependent on each other. It’s important to help the world, and not just focus on yourself.”
Sheila Ojeaburu of Thomas Jefferson High School was born in Nigeria. Her academic achievements earned her acceptance at a long list of the world’s top universities, including Harvard, Columbia, Yale and Princeton.
While she is a poster child for global citizenship, she also said it’s important to make connections between what’s happening overseas and what happens at home: “We look across the world and see people starving in Africa, but we don’t see the people in need outside our front door.”
Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635
debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com
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