Students of Distinction 6: Music mentor, festival queen, jazz trumpeter and athlete

Each year at graduation time, the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation and The Gateway present “Students of Distinction,” profiling 36 graduating seniors who have excelled in scholarship, athletics, the arts or public service. Here are the sixth four in a series that will continue weekly through July. This feature is made possible by a generous grant from the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation.

Peninsula senior excels in music and sports, enjoys creating

NaHee Kim has played music since she was four years old when her mother enrolled her in a violin camp. Although she loved playing the violin, opportunities for learning were few and far between because none of the public schools had orchestras, and youngsters were never introduced to string instruments.

So she auditioned for the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association in sixth grade and has played with them ever since, performing works by Brahms, Strauss, Sibelius and other classical composers.

Her musical talents did not go unnoticed. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with many outstanding young musicians, but few such as NaHee,” TYSA Director Paul-Elliott Cobbs said. “She has developed into a dedicated musician who has demonstrated excellent skills.”

Despite taking private lessons and playing with the Youth Symphony, Kim still felt isolated, so she opened her own violin studio to teach elementary school students the fundamentals of music theory and violin. “Whenever I taught them, I saw a mirror of my younger self in them,” Kim said. “The wrong notes and rhythms can build into a frustration that I was all too familiar with, but I knew that the frustration would pale in comparison to the joy they felt when they flawlessly performed their piece.”

She also volunteered as a counselor at the Evergreen Music Festival and at a YMCA camp, and set up an Etsy shop to sell her sewing projects — hair scrunchies, headbands and bucket hats crafted from recycled materials, especially denim. She uses denim because “it takes so much water just to create one pair of jeans.”

When she wasn’t playing music or sewing, Kim ran long distance track and cross country, was active in the PHS Interact Club and participated in the speech and debate team.

“NaHee is one of the most determined students I’ve ever taught,” said Tyler Nugent, PHS social studies teacher and cross country and track coach. “She understands that academic success comes from hard work and self-advocacy. Her tireless devotion to success has helped her to build an impressive resume as a student, artist and athlete.”

Other teachers were equally impressed. “NaHee has maintained an exceptionally rigorous course load with several challenging AP classes,” PHS counselor Melissa Lichau said. “She would often challenge herself with taking three or four AP courses at a time. She has handled this experience with grace and perseverance.”

School life got very complicated during the COVID lockdown. “It was really chaotic and I learned a lot less than I would have if we had in person classes,” Kim said. Trying to do music virtually was especially challenging. So to create a sense of stability, she signed up for Running Start, which already had an established on-line curriculum.

Her biggest contribution during her high school career was the way she “drowned herself” in her academic work. “I’m not the biggest presence in the classroom, but I really worked at getting good grades and doing well at whatever I was doing.”

Kim’s advice to younger students is to stay focused on what’s important. “Your grades will stick with you, but don’t try so hard that you can’t sleep at night. Just be responsible while you’re working hard.”

This fall Kim will attend the University of Washington, Seattle to study psychology. She plans to earn a master’s degree and become a therapist. “I really like trying to understand people. Why do we think like we do? Why do I think the way I do? There are lots of questions I want to find answers to,” she said.

Category: Music, Art and Drama

Education: Senior, Peninsula High School

GPA: 3.92

Parents: Sam and EunHee Kim

Activities/Achievements: Seven AP/Honors classes, including AP calculus and AP chemistry; leadership position in Interact Club; long distance track and cross country track

Favorite teacher: Mr. Joel Epstein, “…my pre-calculus teacher in sophomore year. The school district adopted a new curriculum for math that confuses many students. Mr. Epstein saw his students’ confusion and deviated from the textbook but continued to follow the curriculum to ensure that his students were learning the required materials. In Mr. Epstein’s class I felt like I thoroughly understood every lesson and that he truly cared about his students.”

Best thing about high school: “Our teachers. Because of the difficult classes I’ve taken, I’ve had to stay after school for help countless times and each time, regardless of the teacher or subject, I’ve been met with nothing but kindness and extra tutoring.”

Peninsula senior is graduating early with record of excellence

Rosellen Berberich is graduating from high school a year early. She started taking high school-level classes in middle school, then took Running Start at PHS. It meant lots of hard work, but along the way she also accumulated hundreds of community service hours, was crowned queen of Fathoms O’ Fun in Port Orchard and lettered in cross country and cheerleading.

She’s also been known for her willingness to help her fellow students who have academic challenges.

“The most wonderful thing about Rosellen is she is so giving to everyone she meets,” said PHS Life Sciences teacher Amanda Balera. “She has been involved in numerous activities and leadership roles to help out and give back to her community. She has also been willing to help her classmates and share her knowledge unselfishly.”

That, along with her other volunteer activities, earned Berberich a varsity letter in community service.

School and extracurricular activities kept her schedule full, and when pandemic restrictions put a halt to everything, Berberich’s first thought was “Yay. I’ll get a really long break.”

But it didn’t take long until she missed seeing her friends, in-person classes and her familiar, day-to-day routine. But she adjusted to things, and this year she was a National Student Leadership Conference nominee and a member of the National Honor Society. She also taught swimming at a local pool and was assistant coach of Peninsula Youth Football and Cheerleading.

In 2016, Berberich received the President’s Education Award from President Barack Obama. In her junior and senior years, she was accepted into the Monmouth College Stockdale Fellow Leadership Program because of her community service work.

Participating in pageants and being Fathoms O’ Fun festival queen are the things that have given her the most pleasure and pride, she said. “People think that pageants are just about bathing suits and formal dresses, but that’s not true. There’s a big commitment to community service. And it’s where my community service started.”

Helene Jensen, Fathoms O’ Fun Director, recalled some of Berberich’s many duties and responsibilities as Fathoms’ queen: Reading stories to our youth to help them imagine the impossible; assisting in collecting food for our food bank; helping many local service organizations such and representing the community at festivals throughout Washington state.

“At first I was nervous about talking to mayors and police chiefs and big business owners,” Berberich said. “But once I got used to it I really enjoyed it.”

When people ask her the secrets to her success, or what advice she’d give to younger students, Berberich’s response is simple: “Get involved in lots of things. And don’t just stick in one group of friends — do lots of different things with different people. Don’t stay concealed or scared — get involved, or you’ll really wish you’d done more things. And if you’re having struggles, ask for help and advice.”

The next chapter in Berberich’s education will take her to Monmouth College in Illinois on a four-year scholarship. She’ll continue her volunteer work as a Scottsdale Fellow at the school while she studies business management. She hopes to either attend the police academy, work for the FBI or CIA — or perhaps she’ll start her own business. “I just know that I don’t want to be stuck in a desk job,” she said with a smile.

Category: Community Service

Education: Senior, Peninsula High School and Tacoma Community College

GPA: 3.5

Parents: Christine and Michael Berberich

Activities/Achievements: CIEE Winterfest — cross country, cheerleading; car wash; Fathoms O’ Fun Queen (grades 9 and 10); Race for a Soldier; Head Start/ECEAP; Varsity letters: cross country, cheerleading, community service; National Honor Society; Pierce County Teen USA; Peninsula Youth Orchestra (violin and cello); Monmouth College Stockdale Fellow Leadership program; Soroptimist of Port Orchard and Gig Harbor.

Favorite teacher: Amanda Balera, “She is a very engaging teacher with her lesson plans and takes the time to get to know her students. She has a busy family of her own but will still set time aside to help students when they are confused with material to help them fully understand what they are learning.”

Best thing about high school: “The diversity in educational opportunities — from world languages to biomedical programs, and many advanced placement classes along with summer medical intern programs and technical job learning experiences.”

Academics, music and sports — GHHS senior shines

Skylar Stevens’ Students of Distinction award singles-out her academic achievements. But she is also a talented musician and athlete who still finds time to volunteer at local non-profit organizations. She’s also a leader who supports and motivates her fellow students.

“There is more to Skylar than just academics,” GHHS counselor Todd Davis said. “She is a talented and gifted musician who has been playing in our top band along with being a member of the Tacoma Youth Symphony.

“She has also been a member of our swim team and volunteered her time assisting other students as part of our Tides Tutoring program. She is also culturally aware through her travels to Costa Rica and Europe. Skylar is a well-rounded person.”

Stevens plays trumpet in the GHHS jazz band and wind symphony, and violin with the Tacoma Youth Symphony Orchestra. She also plays on the GHHS softball team, all while maintaining a 3.95 GPA.

She’s most proud of her membership in the National Honor Society. “How far I’ve come in National Honor Society and being president this year, I’m really proud of that. And also all the community service work we do.”

Of all her accomplishments, playing in the band has given her the most joy, she added. “Jazz is such an inclusive kind of music and it’s been a joy to go on this journey with my fellow band members.”

Stevens credits her success to the fact that she finds things to be passionate about. “And I enjoy learning about the things I’m interested in,” she said, suggesting that that’s how younger students can also be successful. “Do what you’re passionate about. You can’t get through life doing things you don’t like.”

Staying connected with her friends in the band community was one of the challenges COVID created. “The only way was by the computer screen. Each of us rehearsed and played our parts separately, then we edited them into an actual performance.”

Her younger brother also plays in the band, and the two of them were able to practice together and support each other, which brought them even closer together. Another benefit of the virtual classes was that she was able to learn a lot of music theory and history on Zoom, she said.

She adjusted to online classes and did all the required work diligently. That impressed her teachers. “Skylar consistently completed my writing assignments and test preparation activities, even though these assignments were technically optional,” said English teacher Ehren Gossler.

This fall Stevens will attend Montana State University to study architecture, a subject that piqued her interest when she traveled through Europe and Spain. “I loved seeing all the beautiful old buildings, the homes and the commercial buildings,” she said. She hopes to earn a master’s degree in architecture and open her own practice someday.

Category: Academic Achievement

Education: Senior, Gig Harbor High School

GPA: 3.95

Parents: Laynya and Eric Stevens

Activities/Achievements: National Honor Society president; varsity letter in swimming and band; Coach’s award — swimming; Outstanding Leadership award – jazz band; Wind symphony and jazz band member; Tacoma Youth Symphony; volunteer for Discovery Elementary School and FISH food bank; regular blood donor

Favorite teacher: Mr. Whitsell, “because he is extremely organized, makes every class interesting and fun, and cares about helping us learn and achieve.

Best thing about high school: “Staff members and students make everyone feel welcome and like they belong.”

Gig Harbor senior is outstanding athlete, honors student

Zach Toglia is heading to University of Utah to play baseball and major in engineering or business.

Throughout his time at GHHS, Toglia has earned three varsity letters in baseball and four in basketball. In baseball, he made the first team all-league and got the Silver Slugger award as a sophomore. That’s the thing he’s proudest of, he said. “We took third place in state, and I got to play with my brother, who was a senior that year. The team had great chemistry and we really loved each other. It was one of the most fun experiences in my life.”

According to Cory Garnaas, AAU coach for Gig Harbor Hoops Basketball, Toglia is “an obvious athlete.

“Unlike many athletes, Zach has not relied on his athleticism for success.” Garnaas said. “Of course, Zach has spent many hours in baseball cages, fields and on basketball courts. What I found most encouraging…is his dedication and self-discipline. I have observed over the years that Zach was able to take that discipline and apply it to many aspects of his life with great success.”

Toglia is in the National Honor Society and ranked 19th in his graduating class with a GPA of 3.974

He received honors in world culture, world history and Spanish, took AP classes in psychology and calculus and scored a four on the AP calculus AB exam.

All this in spite of the challenges wrought by the pandemic shutdown. Toglia acknowledged that adapting to COVID-induced changes “was really hard. I couldn’t live my own life because everything — practice, going to games, everything — just stopped.”

But, at the same time, he added, “it made me appreciate all that I have and how much I value sports. You just never know when something might be taken away from you.”

That’s the basis of his advice to younger students: don’t take anything for granted. And participate in as many things as you can, because “you’ll never again have the experiences you get in high school so make it a point to be part of things and make the most of it.”

Toglia’s dream is to play baseball one day in the major leagues (he played third base and outfield for GHHS). But as he’s playing for University of Utah, he plans to study business or engineering, just in case.

Category: Athletic achievement

Education: Senior, Gig Harbor High School

GPA: 3.974

Parents: Stacy and Angelo Toglia

Activities/Achievements: National Honor Society; Varsity baseball — Sophomore: .397 batting average; 28 RBI; 26 runs; 29 hits; first team all-league; Silver Slugger award; SSC league champion; top 10 players to watch at the state championship semi-finals; third place in State. Varsity basketball – Freshman: 4.2 points-per-game; 3.4 rebounds; honorable mention for all-league. Sophomore: 10.8 points-per-game; 5.3 rebounds; team captain and leading scorer; second team all-league; most improved award; athlete of the month. Junior: 11.2 points-per-game; first team all-league; team captain; SSC league champion; athlete of the month. Senior: included in the top 15 basketball players to watch in the upcoming season.

Favorite teacher: Dennis Johnson, “He was my chemistry teacher in my sophomore year and he was able to make learning very fun and enjoyable while teaching the material very well.”

Best thing about high school: “The school spirit. I’ve always loved how much we show our spirit through sporting events, dances, assemblies, Tide Fest and so many other things. By having so much spirit it really makes the school feel like home and a place I want to be at.”