The chamber’s 31st Annual Scholarship Recognition Breakfast feted the students’ scholastic records, club and community service activities, as well as top athletes at Orange Coast College and Vanguard University.
Some of these students received the Les Miller Outstanding Student Award, which recognizes the highest achievers at local schools.
The award was named after the first principal at Costa Mesa High.
— Imran Vittachi
COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL LES MILLER AWARD WINNERS
BEN NGUYEN
GPA: 4.0
School Activities/Clubs: Renaissance Club, Pacific Islander Club, president of Magic the Gathering Club
Honors: Academic Decathlon, National Honors Society, MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement)
College Plans: Biology major at UC Irvine
AMANDA NILI
GPA: 4.3
School Activities/Clubs: Make-A-Wish Club, Key Club, Madrigals Choir
Community: Events for Muscular Dystrophy Assn.
Honors: AP scholar with Honors, NMUSD Youth of the Year Scholarship, president of National Honors Society
College Plans: Double majors in psychology and English at UC Berkeley
VERONICA FLORES
GPA: 4.3
School Activities/Clubs: Latino Club, Make-A-Wish Club, captain of Girls Soccer Team
Community: Volunteered for MIKA organization, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, CMHS Soccer Fields Clean-up
Honors: National Honors Society, Recognition by California Scholarship Federation
College Plans: Biology major at UC Irvine before going to medical school to become a pediatrician
KAITLIN YAMAMOTO
GPA: 4.2
School Activities/Clubs: captain of varsity track and field, captain of varsity cross-country, tennis, Asian Club, Drama Club, KPQ (Kids Practicing Quiet)
Community: Healthy Smiles of Orange County, Irvine Animal Care Center, Jr. High School track and field
Honors: Toshiba Scholarship Finalist, National Honors Society
College Plans: Molecular biology and pre-physical therapy majors at UC Irvine
THE FOLLOWING EIGHT COMPLETE COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL’S TOP 5%
BAO-NGUYEN TRUONG
GPA: 4.1
