Ani Amirkhanian
They are flying high, with a little help from their peers.
Six students were awarded the 2005 Falcon Award of Excellence at
Crescenta Valley High School.
The honorees, seniors Ryan Chang, Maral DerSarkissian, Jane Lee,
Stella Lee and Kerissa Reid each received $200. The winner, Jay Kim,
was given $1,000.
They were nominated out of a pool of 60 candidates and selected by
their peers for exhibiting qualities of scholarship, leadership,
community service, commitment and character. The Falcon Award is the
only one of its kind that is entirely student based. It is organized
and presented by students, for students.
"It's quite an honor to know that your fellow students are
nominating you," said award recipient Maral DerSarkissian, 17. "It's
very different from another award because your peers are deciding and
it means more."
Kerissa Reid felt overwhelmed with excitement after her named was
called. She hugged her parents as they joined her on stage to accept
the award.
"I'm immensely proud," said Brent Reid, Kerissa's father. "Kerissa
has accomplished a lot and has done it solely on her own."
Kerissa Reid is in the top 1% of her class and has a grade- point
average of 4.2. She plans to enroll in the nursing program at
Glendale Community College.
Falcon award advisor Patricia Rabe touted the qualities for which
the award was given and the value to the students who give it.
"To me, what's important is that it's good for us to honor
excellence," said Patricia Rabe, Falcon Award advisor. "The process
of looking and reading resumes and value that it has to the kids who
are on the selection committee is enormous."
With a 4.4 grade-point average and a resume filled with
achievements, clubs and community service projects, Maral
DerSarkissian plans to attend UC Berkeley with a major in public
health.
"I feel it's a great achievement for her," said Marina
DerSarkissian, Maral's mother. "It makes me proud that she was
awarded. She is moving into a new chapter in her life."
Each of the honorees and their families listened to speeches made
by their close friends. In addition, a slide presentation of
childhood pictures preceded, followed by the awards ceremony.
Ryan Chang worked part-time jobs before his senior year to support
his family. He began delivering newspapers and tutoring younger
students to make ends meet. He also played the clarinet, joined the
varsity tennis team, conducted research in engineering and managed to
maintain a grade-point average of 4.408.
"It's such a great honor that the student body deems me this
award," said Chang. "The [recipients] ... we are all very honored."
Jay Kim, who was selected for the $1,000 award, said he was
surprised.
"Everyone here has been amazing," said Kim, wearing a medal with a
blue ribbon around his neck. "I'm being awarded for the stuff I love
to do and its amazing that what I love to do means a lot to other
people."
