The Pride
Valedictorians and SalutatorianTuesday, May 23, 2006 By The Pride Staff
To honor KHS’s valedictorians, The Pride decided to ask the valedictorians and salutatorian a few questions. Here are their responses: Ty Volkoff – Valedictorian Summa Cum Laude 1. What are your immediate and long-term plans after graduation from KHS? I’ll be attending California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the fall. I’m planning to major in Mathematics. Eventually I’ll go to graduate school at either UC Berkeley or MIT to work towards my Ph.D. in Cell Biology. 2. What are your career goals? Career goals? What career goals? I’m not really sure. I’ll probably work for a biotech corporation and do research. I might head into academia – who knows? I’m only being semi-facetious when I say I’d like to live in the forest and write for the rest of my life… 3. What is your favorite KHS memory? The acceptances to Caltech, Harvard, and MIT are memorable…but memories of goofing around in classes with my friends, Reno Jazz trips, and being on the soccer team are my favorites. 4. What is your least favorite memory of KHS? Whoa, you guys are trying to get me in trouble, aren’t you? My least favorite memory is probably my entire junior year. Never force yourself to take 6 AP tests..it’s tough. 5. What is the most important thing you learned during your time at KHS? There really is no limit to learning. Also, be happy as often as you can – there’s no reason not to be. 6. Who or what has been your inspiration to succeed? Because I was never nominated for homecoming royalty, I’m going to make a list: my family, my Dyeda and Babunya, my awesome friends, KHS Math/Science Departments (especially Mrs. Carol Bitter), KHS soccer, y los maestros que me enseñaron apreciar el idioma de español y la literatura hispanoamericana – Sr. Isaac Chávez y Sr. Salvador Navarette. [Translation: and to the teachers who have taught me to appreciate the Spanish language and Latin-American literature – Mr. Isaac Chávez and Mr. Salvador Navarrette. 7. What is one line from your graduation speech? You’ll hear when you go to graduation. I sure hope Mrs. Marshall is there, though, because I have something positive to say. Alonso Espinoza 1. What are your immediate and long-term plans after graduation from KHS? Train and exercise to prepare for West Point Basic Training (Beast Barracks), spend as much time with loved ones as I can, and survive through basic. 2. What are your career goals? Become very successful in either law, business, or engineering fields, have a job I’ll love. 3. What is your favorite KHS memory? Tennis season – never had a dull moment with the guys, Mr. Clean, and Coach “Frank” 4. What is your least favorite memory of KHS? Outlines and AP tests,… I absolutely despised them. 5. What is the most important thing you learned during your time at KHS? Your success only goes as far as how strong your work ethic is. You can be totally dumb but work hard and succeed. Effort and time are what really matter. 6. Who or what has been your inspiration to succeed? 8th grade US History teacher Stephen Pointer, gave me the discipline and drive to achieve my goals 7. What is one line from your graduation speech? Never limit yourself within the realms of society, conventional wisdom, or even your imagination; always continue to test the very foundation of your existence. Shannon Aulakh 1. What are your immediate and long-term plans after graduation from KHS? Attending UCLA and going to med school and getting married, etc. 2. What are your career goals? Becoming a cardiologist and practicing at a hospital. 3. What is your favorite KHS memory? Winning during the Girls’ Tennis Valley Championship. It is unforgettable – one of those memories that feel like they happened just yesterday. 4. What is your least favorite memory of KHS? I have two – getting second instead of first at the Career Skills Challenge for Athletic Training and giving a book report on Malcom X that literally lasted two hours - next time I’ll practice beforehand. 5. What is the most important thing you learned during your time at KHS? We have very little time in high school, in education, and in life. Living for every moment is crucial. 6. Who or what has been your inspiration to succeed? My family because they expect so much from me and my sisters who have gone to college and one’s graduated, because they show me what is possible. 7. What is one line from your graduation speech? You’re going to have to wait on that one. Don’t want to spoil the good ones or disappoint with the bad ones. Elaine Madrigal 1. What are your immediate and long-term plans after graduation from KHS? Currently, I am planning on attending UC Berkeley, but I am waiting to see if I get chosen by Stanford University off of their waiting list. If I get chosen, I might switch to Stanford. I am planning on receiving a bachelor and master’s degree in Mass Communications to pursue a career in journalism. 2. What are your career goals? I plan to pursue a career in journalism and possibly work with the United Nations one day. 3. What is your favorite KHS memory? Homecoming on my senior year; I’ll never forget the Grease posters and flyers everywhere with the soundtrack playing in the background as students arrived to school that morning. Working and being on the float and having fun with friends are great memories, and winning homecoming on top of that just made it that much better. I also loved all the moments of laughter with my friends. 4. What is your least favorite memory of KHS? My moments of procrastination. 5. What is the most important thing you learned during your time at KHS? I’ve learned that people will change and bad things will happen; you just have to adapt to the changes in order to keep moving ahead in your life. You can’t get stuck whenever something bad happens; you mourn, you learn, and move on a little wiser. 6. Who or what has been your inspiration to succeed? My mother has taught me the value of working hard and getting an education. She’s always done everything in her power to help my sisters and me. I owe a lot of my success to what she has taught me. 7. What is one line from your graduation speech? I quote Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem “Success.” Johnnie Siliznoff 1. What are your immediate and long-term plans after graduation from KHS? Attend Fresno State to get a master’s degree in electric engineering 2. What are your career goals? Opening an engineering firm 3. What is your favorite KHS memory? Giving a bad book report in my sophomore English class 4. What is your least favorite memory of KHS? Losing Valley in golf junior year 5. What is the most important thing you learned during your time at KHS? How to do derivatives and integrals 6. Who or what has been your inspiration to succeed? The drive to go to college Vanessa Hernandez 1. What are your immediate and long-term plans after graduation from KHS? I plan to go to UC Merced on a Regents Scholarship for my undergraduate work and go to USC for my graduate studies. 2. What are your career goals? I’m going to be a journalist. Hopefully, I can work for a prestigious newspaper and I might write a book someday. 3. What is your favorite KHS memory? My favorite KHS memory would be…graduation! NO, it would have to be during cross country when I received the Most Outstanding Player award – best feeling in the world. 4. What is your least favorite memory of KHS? My least favorite memories are taking calculus tests. I just don’t get math. 5. What is the most important thing you learned during your time at KHS? High school is four short years, enjoy them. Remember that it’s only a stepping stone to the rest of your life. Don’t look back twenty years from now and think, “High school was the best time of my life.” 6. Who or what has been your inspiration to succeed? My father’s my inspiration. He’s hardworking, determined, honest – and he makes sure that I have all of these qualities. Griselda Garcia 1. What are your immediate and long-term plans after graduation from KHS? Attend Fresno State and then transfer to UC Berkeley and major in Food Science. 2. What are your career goals? I would like to become a Registered Dietitian and help teens with eating disorders. 3. What is your favorite KHS memory? I don’t’ have a favorite memory. Attending KHS gave me highs and lows which I’m going to treasure forever. 4. What is your least favorite memory of KHS? The terrifying feeling on my first day of school. 5. What is the most important thing you learned during your time at KHS? I learned to raise my self-esteem by meeting new people. I’ve only been at KHS for a year and a half and KHS has taught me to set goals and pursue them. 6. Who or what has been your inspiration to succeed? My parents have been my inspiration to succeed. By offering personal advice I’ve been able to strive for excellence. Courtney Weber 1. What are your immediate and long-term plans after graduation from KHS? I will be attending California Baptist University. I’m planning on double majoring in Secondary Education and Athletic Training. While at CBU I will also be playing softball. 2. What are your career goals? If everything could work out, I’d like to return to KHS to teach and be the head athletic trainer. 3. What is your favorite KHS memory? That’s a tough one. There are so many good ones, but I think the one that will always stay with me was my sophomore softball season. Valley Champs! 4. What is your least favorite memory of KHS? Softball team dinners (too much drama!) and getting a concussion at the beginning of this season. 5. What is the most important thing you learned during your time at KHS? Probably the most important thing I’ve learned is that there is a reason for everything that happens in my life. We may not understand the reasons, but the big guy upstairs knows what He’s doing. 7. What is one line from your graduation speech? There is a time for everything, a season for every purpose under the sun…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Amy Verwey – Salutatorian 1. What are your immediate and long-term plans after graduation from KHS? Well my immediate goals are to have a relaxing summer before I attend Fresno State in the fall. 2. What are your career goals? My career goals are to be either a child life specialist or to work in the agriculture field. 3. What is your favorite KHS memory? I don’t have one favorite KHS memory but I’ll always remember the dances, the games and all of the fun times with friends. 4. What is your least favorite memory of KHS? I would have to say when I fainted in Mr. Fleming’s class. It was horrible and to top it off they had to evacuate the class and the fire trucks and the paramedics came. 6. Who or what has been your inspiration to succeed? My parents have inspired me to always do my best and my faith in God has taught me the true meaning of life. 7. What is one line from your graduation speech? Live life to the fullest. |