Students take home $50 scholarships for their academic accomplishments
Published in the February 3-16, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo courtesy Rotary Club
Students and those who nominated them for “Outstanding Students of the Year,” pose with members of the Morgan Hill Rotary Club, which handed out the awards that included $50 scholarships each.
The Rotary of Morgan Hill Club honored 10 Morgan Hill elementary and middle school children at its annual “Outstanding Students of the Year” awards luncheon held Jan. 20 at the Community and Cultural Center.
Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent Steve Betando emceed the event where each student was presented with a $50 scholarship as well as a certificate of their accomplishment.
“Every year, the Rotary recognizes outstanding students from the schools in our area — all Morgan Hill schools,” he said. “They also include Morgan Hill private schools if someone nominates a student. The principal comes and also the teacher who nominates the student and the parents of the student. The Community and Cultural Center was full.”
This year Betando wanted to do something unique so he found 100 motivational quotes to inspire success and gave them as cards to each of the students and told them pick a quote that they thought really represented who they are. When the student came up, he gave them their quote and asked them to share it with the audience.
The principal or nominating teacher from each school also told the audience about the various students and why they were selected as an outstanding student of the year for that school.
“The student talked about themselves and what they’re doing and how they feel about what they’ve done and maybe some of their aspirations,” Betando said. “It really came off great.”
The Morgan Hill Rotary Club has been presenting Outstanding Student Awards for more than 10 years, said the club’s president David Conragan.
“We recognize one student per school in the MHUSD region per year. The students are chosen by their school because of their leadership, character and academics,” he said. “The Rotarians get to meet and hear from the amazing students and teachers that are here in Morgan Hill. We Rotarians are the big winners!”
Award winners and those who nominated them:
• Barrett Elementary: Denisse Velasco Diaz, grade 6 (nominating teacher: Kelly Parker)
• Charter School of Morgan Hill: Kiana Ton, grade 8 (nominating teacher: Kim Sorenson)
• El Toro Elementary: Austin Vandercoevering, grade 6, (nominating teacher: Jewel Knofler)
• Jackson Academy for Math and Music: Mia Claire Kanter, grade 8 (nominating teacher: Denise Listol)
• Los Paseos Elementary: Sofia Aliamus, grade 6 (nominating teacher: Marissa Oh)
• Nordstrom Elementary: Macy Green, grade 6 (nominating teacher: Roya Gillani)
• Paradise Valley Elementary: Diya Kandhra, grade 6 (nominating teacher: Sabrina Grant)
• San Martin/Gwinn Elementary: Makenna Campbell, grade 6 (nominating teacher: Melissa Moralez)
• P.A. Walsh Elementary: Yenifer Morales, grade 6 (nominating teacher: Darren McDonald)
• Oakwood School, Valerie Doan, grade 8 (nominating teacher: Melissa Call)
