Behind every good student is a good story. These five seniors
exemplify that theory and were chosen not only for what they have
accomplished in high school, but also for the success their mentors
from Ann Sobrato, Central and Live Oak high schools believe they
most surely will have.
Behind every good student is a good story.
These five seniors exemplify that theory and were chosen not only for what they have accomplished in high school, but also for the success their mentors from Ann Sobrato, Central and Live Oak high schools believe they most surely will have.
They’re humble and bright; charismatic and talented. Their teachers cried at the mention of their favorite students leaving and smiled with an intuitive suspicion that these seniors will grow to become model citizens. We take our hat off to these impressive seniors, their families and mentors, and wish all of Morgan Hill’s graduates the best the world has to offer.
The world is your oyster, class of 2010.
Manuel Aviña, Live Oak
If Manuel Aviña isn’t swimming in a pool or hanging out in a tree, he’s probably studying the latest news on global warming and updating his retention on green causes.
“I wanted to do something to benefit humankind,” said Aviña, who has been described by his teachers as a kind-hearted young man with a brilliant mind.
When he walks across the stage today at Live Oak, Aviña will be the first in his family to graduate high school and go to college – at the University of California, San Diego no less. He will major in environmental engineering.
“If I can graduate, then my sisters see that they can too,” Aviña said. “I was never a very good student before high school. But my mom put pressure on me to help my family. I’m the oldest – the only boy – ‘If you do well, they will too,’ she said.”
For that, Aviña is his mom’s biggest fan and proud that he can be an example to his three sisters, whom he has helped educate at home in the form of beating them in debates, but also enlightening them that they too can be as smart as he – their words, not humble Aviña’s.
Aviña said he will take away with him the inspired words from his Advanced Placement Spanish teacher Auri Yabrudy: “Never give up on yourself, even though it’s really hard to get through life. If you do that, you’ll achieve greatness.”
“He has a wonderful personality. I’m sure he’s going to be brilliant,” Yabrudy said.
Melissa Hershey, Central
Attention is not something Central senior Melissa Hershey has ever sought.
A self-described nerd, she has found fellowship with books, writing poetry and volunteering.
“I used to be very self-conscience, but Central helped raise my self-confidence,” Hershey said.
Two-and-a-half years ago, Hershey crossed the threshold at Central a little rebellious and bit unfocused, but in that time she has blossomed into a intelligent, well-spoken 17-year-old.
“She had it in her the whole time. She’s caring, smart … Now, she walks a little different, she looks a little different. She became a leader,” said Central Principal Irene Macias-Morriss, whom Hershey has referred to as her second mother.
Hershey’s talent is found in story-telling. In February, her speech about “service above self” won second place in the annual Rotary Club’s contest, beating Ann Sobrato and Live Oak students. She’s an active volunteer and member of the Interact Club where she has dedicated her time to helping children read. She will attend Gavilan College in the fall to complete her general education then pursue a degree in elementary education to become a kindergarten or first-grade teacher and continue to expand her vocabulary – one of her favorite things to do.
She grew up on a farm in a packed house. Her mom adopted three foster children and has kept many more in her home through the years. Someday, she wants to adopt children of her own. “I’m like my mom, if they look like they need help. I want to help,” she said.
Thursday night, Hershey gave another speech at Central’s graduation and – to her surprise – was awarded Central’s highest honor “Student of the Year.”
Even when the spotlight is on her, Hershey points it back to her mentors.
“I loved Central. If it wasn’t for them, I would probably be somewhere in a dump and gone in the totally wrong direction,” she said.
Bianca Dominguez, Ann Sobrato High
At Ann Sobrato High’s fashion show a few weeks ago, senior Bianca Dominguez moved many in the auditorium to tears.
Her mother succumbed to breast cancer in October and in effort to raise awareness, the fashion class – of which Dominguez is a dedicated student – chose to use the fashion show to educate.
“It was very emotional and very effective. She put herself out there, yet again, to help others,” said her fashion design teacher Beth Pool.
Dominguez had to take on two jobs, watch after her 10-year-old brother and somehow push through the end of her senior year. Just as she had been supportive of her friends – “if someone needs something, she takes care of them” her cousin Courtney Sedlak said – it was the support at Sobrato that helped her forge ahead.
In just one month, Dominguez will start class at the Art Institute in Sunnyvale to study fashion marketing and merchandising. She plans to finish in less than four years, continue working her after-school job and caring for her little brother.
“I feel like I’m a big example. I feel like he lost his … our … mother so young, that this is the right path to take. He can make the right choices and do the right thing,” Dominguez said.
Dominguez’ magnetic smile and positive spirit has even made an impact on the Art Institute’s Associate Director Hector Verdugo, whom she’s known only a few months. “She’s been through a lot in her life, a lot of difficult things growing up, but she’s persistent and excited to go to school,” he said.
She’s made it to graduation, but the ceremony is the next challenge ahead.
“Because my mom won’t be there, it’s going to be a very emotional event, because I’m not going to have the person there who knew I could do it. She believed in me,” Dominguez said.
Jennifer Protsman, Live Oak
How does human intelligence work?
In four years, Jennifer Protsman – one of Live Oak’s smartest seniors – plans to know how.
“I don’t like to do things the way everyone else does,” Protsman said.
She said she didn’t want to be in the rat race on her path to becoming perhaps an OB/GYN or oncologist – Protsman is ready to dive right into it.
“I was born for college,” she said. She will move to the University of California, San Diego in the fall to enjoy the eucalyptus trees – “they’re my favorite” – and study cognitive science, a blend of biology, psychology and anthropology.
Her Advanced Placement Spanish literature class will be missed and so will the trip to Spain with classmates and her favorite teacher Auri Yabrudy, but she won’t soon let her love of Spanish slip away – salsa dancing, studying abroad and a minor in the language are all in Protsman’s future.
“Jennifer is an inspiration to the students,” Yabrudy said, adding that she was one of very few non-Hispanic students who take on both AP Spanish literature and AP Spanish language.
As ASB president her sophomore and junior years, the student representative for the school district board and her time on the field hockey, tennis and soccer teams, Protsman’s gregarious nature has made her successful especially in the classroom. English and history come easily to her, but it’s math that effectively kept her GPA from being completely spotless. It’s doubtful that a 4.43 tally is going to get her grounded.
“That’s why I like science so much, it’s a challenge,” Protsman said, who earned just three Bs in high school – all in math classes. “I liked that I got Bs. It taught me that you don’t need to be perfect and you can still get where you want to go.”
Chris Bradley
When Chris Bradley receives his diploma, admittedly he is going to be upset.
“I wish I had one more year to play high school sports,” Bradley said. At Ann Sobrato High, Bradley excelled as an all-around athlete on the football, basketball and baseball teams.
At the surface it might seem like sports are his only interests.
Almost.
Bradley wants to wear a suit and a badge, much like crime scene investigators on his favorite TV shows “48 hours” and “Cold Case Files.”
“If I can’t make it in baseball … that sounded like the coolest thing to do,” Bradley said.
Economics piqued his interest the most at Sobrato – and while not a 4.0 student – he said his teachers helped him increase his GPA and gave him the skills to succeed at West Valley College where he and his twin brother Bryan will play baseball together.
His best decision was to transfer from Archbishop Mitty in San Jose and go to high school in his hometown. Bradley said Sobrato was a better fit and a much shorter drive – plus he’s nearer to his twin and three step-brothers.
After quick reflection, he said graduating high school is “just something that has to be done” to forge onward to bigger and better things. Still, his prep sports career will reserve a special place in his mind.
“When we beat Live Oak in football, that was the most memorable. That was the most fun after the game,” Bradley said.
With his father’s guidance in 10 years of coaching he and his brothers in Pony baseball and his mother “who’s always supported me and shown up,” Bradley will take his finesse on the field and life experience onto college.
