Lancers in the NEWS Arya Pratap ’21 Named U.S. Presidential Scholar Arya Pratap began her freshman year this fall at University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign with an extra spring in her step. After being selected as a YoungArts finalist in November 2020, the dancer recently was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of the country’s highest honors. Created by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Presidential Scholars program recognizes seniors’ exceptional accomplishments in academics, the arts, career and technical fields. Honorees also possess a commitment to community service and leadership. Arya, who is one of 161 national scholars and one of nine Californians chosen in 2021, learned of the competition from her national YoungArts honor in Indian Classical Dance or Bharatanatyam, a 2,000-year-old divine art form she’s performed since age 4. “Being a Presidential Scholar has been my dream,” says Arya, who is studying information sciences at college.” Years of hard work and dedication led me to this honor, along with my friends, family and Saint Francis teachers who shaped my understanding of the world.” Saint Francis English teacher Meighan Wilson Friedsam ’97 was recognized as a Distinguished Teacher in the 2021 Presidential Scholars program. Arya has performed at Saint Francis, with Fremont’s Nritanjali Dance Academy, and in dance competitions around the country. She’s used her artistic talents and leadership skills to raise funds for flood relief efforts in India and as a Young Wing member for Voice of a Child, a human rights nonprofit serving children in India. As a Lancer, she was on Speech and Debate and tutored middleand elementary-aged students in debate. One of the leaders of the TEDxSaintFrancis program, Arya served on the Speaker Mentor Board and trained speakers. Her own TEDxSaintFrancis talk in 2018, titled (fittingly) “Dancing Through Life,” spoke of her passion for using dance as inspiration for social justice.
Football Player Joe Tongamoa ’21 Showcased on ABC’s ‘Lost Season’ Before the pandemic pushed Saint Francis online in spring 2020, Joe Tongamoa was generating buzz for pushing back on opposing teams. As a linebacker for the Saint Francis varsity football team, Joe was counting on his senior season to showcase his prowess and leadership on the gridiron to earn an athletic scholarship from bigtime football programs. But one of the many ripples of the COVID-19 pandemic is the effect it’s had on high school athletes. For 11 months, ABC-owned TV station ABC7 (KGO-TV) followed Joe and two other Bay Area athletes on their journey to navigate their “lost season” while dealing with the challenges of the pandemic. The docu-series focuses on Joe’s familycentered life off the field and how his coaches, teammates, teachers and family help keep his dream of playing college football alive. Spoiler alert: There’s a happy ending — Joe was recruited by Southern Utah University. To watch the streaming series, download the ABC7 Bay Area streaming TV app or go to the ABC7 Bay Area YouTube Channel.
3
PROGRESS Fall 2021
