PHS 2011 Graduation Magazine

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Academic Awards At the end of each school year, Presentation High School salutes students who have excelled in academics. We are proud to present this year’s honorees, who were selected by each department for outstanding work in these subject areas.

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

Outstanding Computer Technology Student

Angela Elgar had a 4.0 GPA in computer classes and, on her own time, learned to create amazing graphics in Photoshop and to program in Javascript. She was also named one of the top female computer students in Silicon Valley by the National Center for Women & Information Technology.

Outstanding Film and Media Student Award Micaela Asercion was a dedicated member of the Film and Media Club and Broadcast Journalism team for two years, spending on average 10-15 hours a week scripting, recording and editing. She helped make the Panther Report broadcast informative, creative and entertaining.

MODERN LANGUAGE Outstanding French Students

Victoria Ray participated in a full exchange with Lycée LaMerci in Montpellier; she felt immediately at home with her host family and fell in love with the French way of life.

She was one of the few students who rejoiced when the trip went from two weeks to three due to a volcano eruption in Iceland.

Natasha Sosa placed fourth in the nation on the National French Exam. Her performances with projects and presentations were nearly flawless, and Monica Stampfl said if she didn’t know better, she would believe Natasha had studied French her entire life.

Outstanding Spanish Student

SOCIAL STUDIES Outstanding Social Studies Students For this award, students must have an overall grade point average of 3.5, with a minimum 4.0 grade point average in Social Studies courses, and have taken at least eight semesters of Social Studies coursework.

Clarissa Caruso impressed teachers with the depth of her passion to understand people. She is an avid follower of current events who put her knowledge to work completing an internship with U.S. Representative Mike Honda and serving as president of Students for Political Action.

Emily Purvis has been called “ridiculously smart” and a student who “can turn ideas around in ways you could never imagine.”

Teachers appreciate how she pushes the rest of the class to critically think. Tim Case praised Emily as “the most analytically gifted student I have ever worked with.”

Natasha Sosa is a true academic who effortlessly connects the social sciences to everyday human experiences. Katherine Cobarrubia notes that she “conveys her ideas and analysis eloquently and her writing reflects her superior analytical skills.”

RELIGION Outstanding Religious Studies Student Gladys De Leon impressed the religious studies teachers who taught her as being an exemplary woman of faith. She did well in her classes and was an excellent role model to both students and faculty.

Catherine Ledna’s grammar is comparable to a native Spanish speaker, and her writing reflects wit and deep analysis. She understands and respects the Hispanic culture using her own values and perspective.

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Academic Awards continued

ENGLISH

SCIENCE

Outstanding English Students

Outstanding Science Student Award The following students earned straight A’s in at least four years of science with three or more years of honors.

Collectively their average science GPA is 4.7.

Sarah Khasrovi delivered incisive comments, energetic presentations and polished papers that were the joy of her English teachers.

While her lively style was entertaining, she also had a serious side and was deeply committed to the study of literature. Class was never dull when she was around.

Natasha Sosa is a profound thinker and sophisticated writer. “She can always be counted on to drive straight to the heart of an issue,” said Sharon Grover, “Her passion for writing is evidenced in every piece of work she submits and reflects an astute understanding of the human condition.”

Shawna Adikara Natalie Audelo

Jocelyn Bailey

Nicole Cuenca

Mikala Evans

Jennifer Gonzalez

Sarah Khasrovi

Angie Korpusik

Catherine Ledna

Maitreyee Mittal Kathleen Nguyen

Namita Padgaonkar

Julie Perrone

Emily Purvis

Victoria Tsolis

Outstanding Writer Awards Catherine Ledna made the entire English Department stand in awe of her writing ability. Ann Ponikvar noted. “I have seen her write an in-class essay in 20 minutes that would be the envy of William Faulkner.”

Christina Vu has a flair for language, whether she’s pondering the philosophical implications of Crime and Punishment in an essay for Honors World Literature or bashing racial stereotyping in a column in The Voice.

Fearless Leader in Journalism Awards Ramey Parks and Emily Wallace regularly rallied a group of active, opinionated, verbose, usually hungry and occasionally cranky student journalists to perform at their best for The Voice. They’re often the last to leave during deadline and will not put the paper to bed until every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed.

Natasha Sosa

Christina Vu 2011 Graduation Edition

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Academic Awards continued MATH

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

Outstanding Math Students The following students earned all A+’s in their math courses every semester through AP Calculus BC.

Jocelyn Bailey

Sarah Cole

Outstanding Visual Arts Student

Ella Fitzgerald Award

Belinda Carrillo is the artist’s artist. She has an eye for detail, understands concepts and has an uncanny ability to pre-visualize. She spends hours in the art room and is extremely hard working and dedicated. Once she has an idea, she will go to all lengths to see it through.

Vanessa Miranda was an outstanding choral music student, a caring and conscientious young woman who is always ready to lend support to those in need of help. Her trained ear and piano skills have been invaluable. She also faithfully and ably served as second soprano section leader and choir president.

Editorial Leadership in Yearbook Award

Nicole Cuenca

Angie Korpusik

Nicole Cuenca served as editor- in-chief, responsible for the “game plan” of the yearbook.

Nicole’s vision was to cover life in – and beyond – the Presentation plaid. She has been recognized for outstanding designs and was part of the team recognized for an outstanding yearbook concept.

Maitreyee Mittal Natasha Sosa

Natalie Audelo | Comcast Leaders and Achievers and Professional Business Women of California Scholarship Jocelyn Bailey | Thomas J. Watson Memorial Scholarship Nicole Bejar | CEMA High School Senior Scholarship

Louis Armstrong Award Meghan Merwin was an outstanding instrumental music student who was always ready to lend guidance and wisdom. She went out of her way to identify needs and meet them even before being asked. She also ably served as band president and was one of the original members of the jazz band.

Angela Elgar | National Center for Women & Information Technology’s Award for Aspirations in Computing

Kathleen Nguyen | National Merit Scholarship and Corporation-Lockheed Martin Scholarship

Mikala Evans | Good Tidings Community Service Scholarship, Professional Business Women of California Scholarship and Silicon Valley Community Foundation Crain Scholarship

Alyssa Perez | DAR Good Citizens Scholarship and Professional Business Women of California Scholarship

Jennifer Gonzalez | Ronald McDonald House/HACER Scholarship

Jurizza Ragasa | Fireside Catholic Essay Scholarship

Erica Henderson | Coast Guard Exchange System Scholarship

Jennifer Randazzo | San Jose Sports Authority REACH Scholarship

Katja Kane-Foempe | Auxiliary of Good Samaritan Hospital Scholarship

Taylor Rottjakob | Almaden Valley Women’s Club Scholarship

Maryam Qamar | Almaden Valley Women’s Club Scholarship

Gianna Maietta | Junior League of San Nwakaego Uzoh | Silicon Valley Megan Bence | Italian Catholic Jose Crystal Bowl Award Engineering Council Scholarship Federation Scholarship 8 presentation high school Magazine

Valedictorian

Natasha Sosa The valedictorian this year is Natasha Sosa. She

served a paid internship at Stanford University

is well qualified for this honor. Academically, she

researching and comparing the brain functioning of

ranks in the top of her

aging individuals.She

class with a GPA of 4.66.

plans to pursue this

She was a member of the

level of excellence next

California Scholarship

year at the University

Federation, Mu Alpha

of Southern California.

Theta, Science Club,

An excerpt of

Presentation Ambassadors

Natasha’s valedictory

Club and Speech and

address:

Debate. As a junior she “Yesterday, I was cleaning out my closet in preparation for heading off to college. Between the old schoolbooks and my childhood doll collection, I found a tub filled with all the old magazines I used to read, including my favorite: Nickelodeon Magazine. My favorite part was always the big mosaic of pictures they would have. They would take pictures of hundreds of different people and put them together so that the small pictures would form a larger image.

“To me, our class is like one of those mosaics. If you look closely, each of us has our own unique talents and strengths, but together, we form the Presentation Class of 2011. And if you remove just one of those pictures, the whole mosaic falls apart, just as removing one of the stripes of the plaid we have worn these past four years causes a rift in the entire pattern. We are who we have become because of each other.

“One picture may be of an athlete, who has excelled in her sport since freshman year and will continue her success in college. Another could be that of a musician,

who started out as a flutist but learned the saxophone and has traveled from San Francisco to New Orleans.

There is the fashion designer, who has created everything from costumes to prom dresses. Another picture shows an engineer, who has worked on robots and cardboard boats.

“There is a Speech and Debate member, who has won a state championship in her event. You can see an actress, who has starred in plays such as Our Town and Comedy of Errors. There are two pictures of twin volleyball players, both of whom will be going off to play in college. There are the members of our dance team, who have blown away the competition time and time again. We have a photographer who can capture the beauty in any moment, and a computer whiz who designs gorgeous websites.

“Every single person here is important. It doesn’t matter what role you play—you are an integral member of our graduating class. And words cannot begin to express how proud and honored I am to stand here among all of you.”

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nano nagle award

Ramey Parks

T

he Nano Nagle Award represents the highest honor paid to a graduating senior. Named for the foundress of the Sisters of the Presentation, this prestigious award is given to the senior who exemplifies the very best in a Presentation graduate. She is intellectually competent, dedicated to serving others, committed to her own personal growth and a woman of faith. This year’s winner is Ramey Parks.

Ramey was a high academic achiever with a 4.0 in a very challenging curriculum. She is an intelligent young woman who is wise and mature beyond her years. She is an incredible leader who leads by example, and she lives out her uncompromising beliefs in the true spirit of “Not words, but deeds.”

Ramey was actively involved at Presentation. She was a varsity athlete on the golf team, an ASB officer, a Community Involvement participant, a peer minister, and the school’s public relations intern her senior year. She is also a musician and an accomplished public speaker.

With all her talents she is amazingly humble and gracious. She does not see herself as something special, an attribute that makes her special indeed.

It is no surprise that Ramey received the “Most Inspirational” award on five different teams – that is most fitting, for she inspired all of us for four years.

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College Decisions Berkeley Davis Irvine Los Angeles Santa Barbara Santa Cruz

California State University Cal Poly, Pomona Cal Poly, SLO Fresno Fullerton Long Beach Monterey Bay Northridge San Diego San Francisco San Jose Sonoma Stanislaus

Private colleges in California

Out-of-state private colleges Boston University Case Western Reserve University Concordia University Connecticut College

Out-of-state public colleges Colorado State University Michigan State University Pennsylvania State University Texas A&M University University of Arizona University of Colorado, Boulder University of Michigan University of Oregon University of Surrey University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison West Virginia University

Two-year colleges Butte College Cabrillo College Canada College De Anza College Evergreen Valley College Foothill College Orange Coast College West Valley College

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Azusa Pacific University Chapman University Concordia University Dominican University Loyola Marymount University Marymount College Pitzer College Point Loma Nazarene University St. Mary’s College Santa Clara University Scripps College Stanford University University of Pacific University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of Southern California Whittier College

Curry College Dartmouth College Drexel University Franklin College of Switzerland George Washington University Gonzaga University Loyola University, Chicago Marist College Northeastern University Northwestern University Norwich University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Seattle University Tufts University University of Portland University of Notre Dame Villanova University Willamette University Washington University in St. Louis

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University of California

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Parting thoughts Isela

faith

Chelsea

“Having recycling bins in each class and using our own bottles for drinking water, turning off the lights on Earth Day are examples of how Pres made us more conscious about protecting the environment.”

community

“Faith is not just going to Mass or knowing parts of the Bible. Faith is between you and God. Now I live my faith through volunteering and helping other people.”

Chanda

Angie

“I am proud to be a woman and part of an all-female community.

I have more confidence because of Pres.”

“I can’t rely on others to shape who I am. I’m the one person who I’m going to be with forever.”

Jennifer

opportunity

“Pres offered performing arts programs that let me direct shows, produce shows, create scenes – things I have wanted to do my whole life but never had the opportunity to do before.”

responsibility Elise

“Compared to other schools, we do so much more writing – essays, critical papers and timed writes. I can organize ideas on the spot and coherently express them verbally and in writing. I am ready for college.”

Academics

Clarissa

respect

Sarah

“I can do a lot more critical thinking. I’ve become more creative and artistic. I don’t just do the project – I do it differently to make it mine. I feel like I can connect different things across classes.”

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“I have matured in my spiritual life in a way that is not something just inside of me, but something I can actually show, share, and give to others in a way that is respectful to their beliefs if they are different from mine.”

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BLUE, GOLD

AND BOLD

Presentation athletes burst onto the college scene Plenty of top-notch athletes have graced the fields, courts and waters at Presentation High School. So it’s no surprise that quite a few members of the Class of 2011 are moving on to play at the collegiate level. The young women on the following pages aren’t just smart in their sport – their overall GPAs ranged from 3.6 to 4.4, placing them in the upper reaches of the senior class academically. Go Panthers!

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From left: Sarah Cole, Stephanie Sorg, Briana Fujii, Mariko Tumangan, Nici Gilday and Julia Peters.

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VOLLEYBALL VOLLEYBALL SARAH COLE Position: Outside Hitter

College: UC Davis

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SOFTBALL SOFTBALL BRIANA FUJII Position: Second base/third base/shortstop College: Villanova University

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BASKETBALL BASKETBALL NICI GILDAY Position: Guard

College: Santa Clara University

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WATER WATER POLOPOLO JULIA PETERS Position: Center

College: Santa Clara University

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SOCCER SOCCER STEPHANIE SORG Position: Center defender College: Santa Clara University

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GOLF GOLF MARIKO TUMANGAN College: Stanford University

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The

Nano Nagle Legacy Society How can i leave a legacy?

any of us hope to leave behind a legacy that makes us proud. A home filled with love and understanding.

Children raised with strong values. A community better off than it was when we found it.

Rick and Terry Giorgetti, whose daughters attended Presentation in the early 1990s, are proud members of this group. The couple shares their reasons for making this special commitment to Presentation.

You can work on that last part right now – become a member of the Nano Nagle Legacy Society by naming Presentation through a bequest, and you will surely leave this school stronger than it is today.

We’d like to thank the Giorgettis, and all members of the society. We are grateful to them for reminding us that life is short, but what you do with that life can make a difference forever.

RICK AND TERRY GIORGETTI “The leadership of the school has always been extremely competent and nurturing. This results in a terrific experience for all those who become part of the Pres family. We have chosen Presentation as one of our ‘charities of choice’ – to help keep this treasure alive.

“Ten years ago we learned of a way to help ensure we accomplish our gifting goals. Rick, 54 at the time, was the major wage earner of the family.

We took out whole-life insurance policies, and our selected organizations were made the beneficiaries.

“Then and now we contribute annually, and this backup is still there. Hopefully Rick lives to a ripe old age and is able to continue to write those checks, but when he does ‘go home,’ there will be something there for Pres and the others!

“In addition to peace of mind, tax benefits can result from the payment of insurance premiums – a point that should be reviewed with a tax professional.

We found this life insurance methodology to be a relatively easy thing to do in helping create our legacy and strongly recommend others consider it.”

The Nano Nagle Legacy Society was established to recognize those who have remembered Presentation High School in their will or estate plan. Your gift and your legacy will continue to live on through the mission of Presentation High School. Please consider remembering the students of Presentation in this unique way. For more information please contact Donna Delaney in the Presentation Development Office or by email at ddelaney@pres-net.com

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Save the date!

Presentation High School’s Fashion Show Friday, March 23, 2012 Benefitting Financial Aid | Featuring the Class of 2012

Santa Clara Convention Center Mission City Ballroom 5001 Great America Parkway Santa Clara, CA 95054

More information to follow in the fall!