Scholarship Awards Breakfast — Newport Harbor
Christine Bonadonna
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP Biology; AP World History; AP U.S. History; AP Calculus AB; AP Calculus BC; AP Physics; IB English; IB Chemistry; IB Psychology; IB Spanish; IB Theory of Knowledge
School Activities/Clubs: Other than being a part of the IB program, I haven’t significantly taken part in any activities or clubs, but I have attended several of the school plays and band recitals to support my friends.
Scholarships: Henry A. Jastro Scholarship for UC Davis; Robert C. Francy Scholarship for Science Majors
Community Service: volunteering at Lido Animal Hospital, 2010-present; Relay for Life team captain in 2009 and 2010, participant in 2011; Girl Scouts 2008-09
Honors: AP Scholar Award, 2010; AP Scholar with Distinction Award, 2011; Commended Student - National Merit Scholarship, 2011; California Scholarship Foundation member, 2009-12; nominee for Student of the Year for Math, 2011; Academic Excellence (4.0+), 2009-12; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: UC Davis to major in animal biology. From there, I plan to obtain my doctor of veterinary medicine, probably from an out-of-state school.
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Kaili Brande
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP European History; AP English Language & Composition; AP U.S. History; AP Calculus AB; AP English Literature & Composition; AP Government & Politics U.S.; AP Environmental Science; AP Calculus BC
School Activities/Clubs: Frosh-Soph junior varsity track and field for four years; Frosh-Soph junior varsity volleyball for three years; junior varsity cross-country for one year; member and now president of Simply Green Club; member of California Scholarship Federation; member of Women Helping Women Club for one year; member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes for two years; member of Club Shalom for two years; member of National Honor Society senior year
Scholarships: I haven’t received any scholarships through our school yet, but I have been offered a scholarship at UC Davis, one of my top college choices. It is the Henry A. Jastro Scholarship, a merit-based scholarship that offers me $4,200 for each of the four years.
Community Service: Along with other activities, my main community service opportunities have been through my involvement with Simply Green Club. Since the club’s creation during my sophomore year, the club has organized multiple student-run beach cleanups in the community. While being president this year, I have led beach cleanups on several local beaches, including the Balboa Pier beach and the River Jetty beach. Newport Harbor High School students and I spent hours removing trash from the beach to prevent such debris from polluting the ocean and killing sea life. Another activity through Simply Green Club has been our multiple bake sales. Over time, our club members have gradually raised money for environmentally focused organizations. My sophomore year we raised $1,000 for the Surfrider Foundation, and this year we plan to donate our funds to the Sierra Club.
Honors: I have earned an academic letter and two academic pins for a GPA of 3.7 or higher through our school so far. I have also earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award, awarded by CollegeBoard’s AP Program for receiving an average AP exam score of at least 3.25, and earning a 3 or higher on four or more exams. California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: Either UC Berkeley or UC Davis.
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Audrey Bruscia
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP Calculus AB; AP Physics; AP Calculus BC; AP European History; AP U.S. History; AP English Literature & Composition, IB Psychology; IB Chemistry; IB Mathematics; IB History of the Americas; IB English; IB Spanish
School Activities/Clubs: Newport Harbor Marching and Concert Band member; acted in the Da Vinci/Rembrandt freshman movie; participated in the Harbor Heritage Run; Newport Beach Open Field Tournament volunteer; orchestra member for school play
Scholarships: National Exchange Club, Newport Beach Chapter, $2,500
Community Service: Newport Beach Public Library summer reading program volunteer and Young Adult Advisory Council member; Math Team volunteer at Newport Elementary School; Newport Elementary play volunteer; church youth ministry peer mentor, Share Our Selves Adopt-a-Family volunteer; Locks of Love hair donor; Miracles for Kids volunteer
Honors: Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award: March 2010; AP Scholar with Distinction Award: 2011; California Scholarship Federation member 2009-12; Academic Honor Roll 2007-11; Student of the Year Nominee in English and Science in 2010; Student of the Year Nominee in Math in 2011; Student of the Semester Award in Physics: February 2010; Academic Letter for a 3.7+ GPA for three consecutive semesters: May 2010; participated in NHHS Career Mentor program, engineering cluster 2011; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: Have been admitted and I am still deciding between University of Notre Dame, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UCLA.
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Skylar Jacobs
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP Biology; IB Biology; AP European History; AP U.S. History; IB English; IB Theory of Knowledge; IB Spanish; IB Psychology; AP Physics, IB History; AP Calculus AB; AP English Literature & Composition
School Activities/Clubs: president of California Scholarship Federation; Assembly member for Junior Statesmen of America; Biomed Pink Ribbon Club; rowing for Newport Aquatics Center; track and field and cross-country
Scholarships: N/A
Community Service: Mariners Church Miracle Ranch,: helping with an orphanage in Tecate, Mexico; FAST, mentoring freshmen; Americans Elect, trying to develop a new process for nominating presidential candidates; College Park Elementary School volunteer, helping with technology problems and doing Excel projects for teachers and working with second-graders in math
Honors: Junior Statesmen of America Governors Award; Junior Statesmen of America Best Speaker at Fall and Spring State 2010/2011; AP National Scholar; California Scholarship Federation lifetime seal bearer; nominated for English Student of the Year 2010; Honor Roll 4.0, Academic Letter
College Plans: UC San Diego to major in bioinformatics
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Charlotte Martin
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP European History; AP U.S. History; AP Art History; AP Government & Politics: U.S.; AP English Language & Composition; AP English Literature & Composition; AP Biology; AP Calculus AB; AP Calculus BC
School Activities/Clubs: varsity water polo and swimming; National Honor Society member; California Scholastic Federation officer; president and founder of Smile Train Club; member of Capernaum Support Club
Scholarships: Presidential Scholarship at Chapman University; Honors Scholarship at Occidental College; Honors Scholarship at UCLA
Community Service: I worked as a junior naturalist at the Environmental Nature Center for the past three summers. I’ve also worked as a volunteer for the children’s reading program at the Newport Beach Public Library and have been a vacation bible school teacher at Newport Center United Methodist Church.
Honors: I’ve received a Letter of Academic Excellence, an English Student of the Semester award, an outstanding academic award from USA Water Polo and an AP Scholar with Distinction award; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: I plan on attending college at UCLA
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Andrew Mather
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP Calculus AB and BC; AP English Language & Composition; AP English Literature & Composition; AP Biology, AP Physics; AP U.S. History; AP European History; AP Computer Science; AP Art History; AP Comparative Government; IB English; IB Chemistry
School Activities/Clubs: four years on NHHS sailing team, three years varsity; four years involvement in the Junior Statesmen of America, rose to a state-level cabinet position: director of technology; three years on the Newport Harbor Mock Trial team, with two years as co-captain
Scholarships: National Merit finalist
Community Service: Some time spent teaching underprivileged children how to sail
Honors: National Merit finalist; National AP Scholar; Student of the Year Nominee in Math and Science; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: Still deciding, main choices are MIT, Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania.
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Jack Murrel
AP and IB Classes Taken: IB Psychology; AP European History; AP U.S History; AP English Literature & Composition; AP English Language & Composition; IB History; IB French; IB Biology; IB English; AP Calculus AB; AP Physics
School Activities/Clubs: four-year varsity lacrosse player; IB candidate; Tier 1 ice hockey player freshman to junior year; Support Ability Club freshman and sophomore year; tutor to AP Biology and math students
Scholarships: Regent Scholarship at UCSB
Community Service: Local Heroes Corp., a nonprofit for the U.S Marine Corps.; assisted in maintaining the Mission Garden at the Orange County Great Park
Honors: CIF Student Athlete of the Year 2012; 1st Team All Sunset League player, lacrosse junior year; AP Scholar with Distinction; California Scholarship Federation; Newport Harbor Scholar Athlete for seven semesters; Newport Harbor Academic Excellence freshman to senior year; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: Accepted to UC Berkeley, UCLA, Haverford College, but planning on attending Haverford College
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Sofia Muscatello
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP European History, AP Biology, AP U.S. History, IB English, IB Spanish, IB Psychology, AP Calculus AB, IB Biology, IB History, IB Theory of Knowledge
School Activities/Clubs: Smile Train Club, Capernaum Support Club, FAST
Scholarships: N/A
Community Service: Summer camp counselor at Girls Inc.; Relay for Life for four years; volunteering with and raising money for disabled teens through the Capernaum Support Club
Honors: Student of the Year in World Languages junior year; Student of the Semester for Dr. Naasz senior year; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: UC Berkeley
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Makena Owen
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP European History; AP U.S. History; AP English Language & Composition; AP Chemistry; IB French; AP English Literature & Composition; AP Government & Politics: U.S.; AP Physics; AP Art History
School Activities/Clubs: varsity cross-country, track and field, Club Invisible Children
Scholarships: n/a
Community Service: created and taught a chemistry class at Girls Inc. Also volunteered at Girls Inc. for their summer camp, and tutored for them.
Honors: CIF Female Student-Athlete of the Year; Honor Roll; AP Scholar Award; CSF all four years; coaches award in cross-country and track and field; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: UCLA and University of Michigan
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Carly Pickett
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP European History; AP English Language & Composition; AP U.S. History; AP English Literature & Composition; and AP Art History
School Activities/Clubs: Beginning with the freshman movie with Mr. Robinson, I’ve been involved in many areas of the arts throughout my time at NHHS. Besides that, I’ve participated in Fellowship of Christian Athletes as part of the leadership team.
Scholarships: After being accepted into Boston University’s double-major program for English and art, Boston University offered me an annual $6,000 scholarship based on my artistic performance.
Community Service: During the past four years, I’ve been on six house-building trips to Rojo Gomez, Mexico, with the same team from Rockharbor Church. Apart from building the houses for specific families, we return each time to provide what we can for the community as a whole and build on past relationships.
Honors: Over the past four years, I’ve been honored to receive a Ryman Arts scholarship, recognition for my artwork displayed at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach and the Orange County Department of Education in 2010, the AP Scholar with Distinction Award and Student of the Semester for IB English. I’m also a California Scholarship Federation seal bearer.
College Plans: With the intention of double majoring in English literature and studio art, I’m still deciding between Carnegie Mellon, University of Virginia, USC and Boston University.
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Hailey Shaw
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP English Literature & Composition; AP English Language & Composition; AP Calculus AB; AP Calculus BC; AP Physics; AP European History; AP U.S. History; AP Government & Politics: U.S.; IB History of the Americas
School Activities/Clubs: four years of Newport Harbor water polo; three years of Newport swim; four years of Teenage Republicans
Scholarships: n/a
Community Service: Newport Beach Public Library’s Children Department’s Reading Program volunteer
Honors: National Merit finalist; USA Water Polo Academic All-American; AP Scholar; Student of the Semester in AP European History in my sophomore year; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: UCLA. Go Bruins!
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Byron Sin
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP European History; AP U.S. History; AP Government & Politics: U.S.; AP Biology; AP Computer Science; AP Physics; AP Calculus AB; AP Calculus BC; AP Art History; AP Chemistry; IB Chemistry; IB English
School Activities/Clubs: Biomed Club; Model United Nations
Scholarships: $15,000 in grant money offered at UC Irvine, UCLA and UC San Diego
Community Service: Shadetree Partnership, more than 100 hours throughout all four years, including volunteering at a nonprofit organization on UCI’s campus that nurses and grows tree saplings into mature trees that will be transplanted throughout the community; Harbor Heritage Run
Honors: California Scholarship Federation member; AP Scholar with Distinction award; four or more semesters with Academic Excellence (4.0 or higher GPA); “600 Club” Perfect Score Award for STAR testing; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: UC San Diego or UCLA.
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Tori Schmitt
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP European History; AP Biology; AP English Literature & Composition; AP Calculus AB and BC; AP U.S. History; AP Art History; IB History of the Americas; IB Psychology; IB Spanish; IB Chemistry; IB Mathematics; IB English; Theory of Knowledge
School Activities/Clubs: California Scholarship Federation officer, Bridges Club
Scholarships: n/a
Community Service: Children’s Hospital of Orange County childlife volunteer, supervised the CHOC playrooms and interacted with patients and their families. It was an awesome experience to learn about human compassion, interaction and professionalism. I completed 115 hours of service.
Honors: Student of the Semester for AP European History 2010 and AP Art History 2012; IB Diploma candidate; Newport Harbor Girl’s State Representative; AP Scholar with Distinction; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: UCLA
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David Vorona
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP European History; AP U.S. History; AP Government & Politics: U.S.; IB English; AP Art History; AP Psychology; AP Physics; AP Biology; AP Calculus AB; AP Calculus BC
School Activities/Clubs: boy’s soccer freshman year; boys’ cross-country freshman through senior year, varsity co-captain senior year; boy’s track freshman through senior year; Junior Statesmen of America junior and senior year: co-director of media and Outreach for Southern California, senior year; the Beacon: junior and senior year, student life editor, senior year; Ultimate Frisbee Club, co-founder, senior year; Junior Mentor Program: shadowed orthopedic surgeon in office, surgery
Scholarships: n/a
Community Service: Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana; Peer Court, Santa Ana
Honors: 2010 DAR Citizenship Award; 2011 Rensselaer Medal Scholarship; 2011 NHHS Science Student of the Year nominee; 2011 American Legion Boys State Representative; National Merit Scholar Commended Student; AP Scholar with Distinction Award; Academic Letter (4.0 & higher) for Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010; Honor Diploma from Junior Statesmen of America for Georgetown University Session II, political speech and communications course, summer 2011; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: University of Virginia, Echols Scholar Program, UC Berkeley
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Melinda “Mindy” Wheeler
AP and IB Classes Taken: AP European History; AP Psychology; AP English Language & Composition; AP U.S. History; AP Physics; AP English Literature & Composition; AP Calculus; AP Government & Politics: U.S.; IB Spanish
School Activities/Clubs: tennis junior varsity freshman and sophomore years and varsity junior and senior year; varsity co-captain senior year; National Honor Society; California Scholarship Federation freshman through senior year, officer sophomore year, treasurer junior year and vice president senior year; Andy Roddick Foundation Club; John Wayne Cancer Foundation Club; Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Scholarships: UCSB Regents Scholarship; SMU Founders Scholarship, Distinguished BBA Scholar Scholarship; Pepperdine Seaver Scholarship, Regents Scholarship
Community Service: National Charity League member from seventh grade to senior year, president sophomore year, treasurer senior year; volunteer at Interfaith Shelter, Second Step, Orangewood Children’s Center, Heritage House, Operation Valentine and the nonprofit NCL Thrift Shop.
Honors: Student of the Semester in geometry freshman year; Student of the Semester in chemistry junior year; Scholar Athlete, tennis, junior and senior year; Academic Letter and Pins; Tennis Letter junior and senior year; Coaches Award for tennis freshman and senior year; Most Improved Award for tennis junior year; AP Scholar with Honor junior year; Sunset League Doubles Team finalist junior year and champion senior year; California Scholarship Federation seal bearer
College Plans: I am deciding between USC and UCLA.