Remarkable kids

Every year, when the Independent runs its list of 95 remarkable kids in

Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, there are always some amazing

youngsters we miss. We invited community members to send us information

about the children who we failed to recognize, and we received 12

nominees. Congratulations to each of them.

ERIN NICOLE BRITT, 16, a junior at Marina High School ... Scholar with

honor ... Dancer with the Huntington Academy of Dance since age 7 ...

Will dance with the American Ballet Theater and the Marin Dance Theater

this summer ... Also accepted into summer dance programs with the Kirov

and the Joffery companies, among others ... Danced role of Sugar Plum

Fairy in Ballet Etudes “Nutcracker” in 1999 ... Has also performed roles

in “Don Quixote,” “Paquita,” “Le Corsaire” and “Swan Lake” ... Plays

piano and teaches dance class

LIBBY DuFRESNE, 11, a fifth-grader at Hope View Elementary School ...

Hope View student council president 1999-2000 ... Student council vice

president 1998-1999 ... Altar server at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church

... Recipient of Ocean View Teachers Assn. Golden Apple award at Hope

View ... Is beginning her second year in the junior lifeguard program ...

Member of the spring 2000 NJB all-star team ... Starts seventh season of

AYSO Region 143 soccer in the fall ... Was a member of Pacific Sands Swim

Team for six years

ASHLEY HICKS, 13, an eighth-grader at Mesa View Middle School ... ASB

secretary for three years ... California Junior Scholarship Federation

diploma seal bearer ... Award of Merit in honors classes for three years

in a row ... Eighth-grade Female Student of the Year ... Pop Warner

National Scholar Award ... Enjoys dance, cheerleading and baby-sitting in

the neighborhood ... Will attend Huntington Beach High School in

September

NATALIE MEYERS, 13, a seventh-grader at Mesa View Middle School ... Has

held a 4.0 grade-point average for two consecutive years ... Most

valuable player on basketball and volleyball teams ... Soccer team she is

on won the regionals and went to state ... Plays piano ... Attends Sts.

Simon and Jude Catholic Church ... Is in the church youth group ...

California Junior Scholarship Federation

JESSICA MORRISON, 12, a sixth-grader at Marine View Middle School ...

Rescued a 4-year-old from drowning in a swimming pool ... Five years in

Scouting as a Girl Scout Cadet ... Honor roll ... President’s Fitness

Award ... Marinettes Drill Team Award for most improved ... Top seller in

Marine View Outdoor Education fund-raiser ... Plays hand bells, clarinet

and sings at Redeemer Lutheran Church

LAUREN MICHELLE PERRY, 13, a seventh-grader at Dwyer Middle School ...

Won the Disney Creativity Challenge 2000 in the category of solo vocalist

... Recently portrayed Mary Poppins in her drama class production ...

President of children’s community choir for two consecutive years ...

Plays in church’s children’s bell choir ... Will perform in Orange County

Children’s Theater production of “Annie” and the Opera Pacific production

of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” this summer ... Plays piano and clarinet

... Plays basketball in the NJB league ... Has corresponded with pen pal

in Zimbabwe since sixth grade ... Award of Merit and Distinguished Honors

in the Gifted and Talented Education program

KATELYN PUISHYS, 13, entering eighth grade at The Pegasus School for the

gifted ... Made Tri-Way League basketball all-stars for two years running

... Is an accomplished equestrian with several medals, including the

Foxfield Horsemasters Award and the Onodarka Medal ... Made Distinguished

Honor Roll for straight-A’s in both sixth and seventh grade ... Selected

to represent class on a trip to Spain ... Attends St. Bonaventure

Catholic Church ... Visited nursing homes at Christmas and went caroling

for seniors

JACK SCHNEIDER, 17, a senior at Edison High School ... Member of junior

varsity swim team ... On yearbook and newspaper committees ... Concert

Choir ... Teen performer with South Coast Repertory ... Scholarship from

Mesa Verde United Methodist Church in Costa Mesa ... Junior lifeguard ...

Member of Center for International Business and Communication Studies ...

Plans to major in journalism at Cal State Long Beach

ELIZABETH THOMSON, 17, a senior at Ocean View High School ... Outstanding

Senior in high school band, in which she is a drum major and a clarinet

section leader ... Golden Hawk Award winner for language arts, history,

American studies and fine arts-performing ... Principal’s Award for

outstanding leadership ... Daughters of the American Revolution Good

Citizen Award ... Bank of America Certificates in foreign language and

instrumental music ... Semper Fidelis Award for musical excellence ... AP

Scholar with honors ... California Scholarship Federation lifetime member

... Member of the High School All-Southern California Band and Orchestra

... First clarinet in Huntington Beach High School District Honor Band

... Eight-year certificate of merit in piano ... Outstanding Jazz Soloist

at Esperanza High School Jazz Festival ... Will attend UCLA to study

music education

CAPRICE THOMPSON, 11, a fifth-grader at Hope View Elementary School ...

Student of the month for the past five years ... Chosen as an outstanding

DARE student and was one of three chosen to read her essay at graduation

... Tutors kindergartners ... Member of SCATS advanced academy gymnastics

... First place in Jog-a-thon three years in a row ... Junior lifeguard

... Presidential Fitness Award for the past two years ... Received awards

for completing 100% of her homework the for the past two years ... Has

been to Europe, Mexico, Washington, D.C., Hawaii and 11 other states ...

Hobbies include ballet, snow skiing, reading, tetherball and jumping on a

trampoline

NOELLE THOMPSON, 13, a seventh-grader at Mesa View Middle School ...

Scholarship award for maintaining 4.0 grade-point average for two years

... Honor’s program ... California Junior Scholastic Federation ... Swims

for Golden West Swim Club ... Plays piano and tennis ... Enjoys

gymnastics, camping, music and nature ... This summer will be her fifth

as a junior lifeguard ... Hobbies include snow skiing, reading and biking

... Has been to Europe, Mexico, Washington, D.C., Hawaii and 11 other

states

STACEY YUDIN, 14, an eighth-grader at Marine View Middle School ...

Helped to develop the New Student Orientation program used at Marine View

... California Junior Scholarship Federation Honor Award ... Merit trophy

for achieving 4.0 grade-point average for all three semesters of the

1999-2000 school year ... Attended UCI, Precollege Gifted Student Academy

this year ... Two-year member of the conflict-management team at Marine

View ... Huntington Beach Girls’ Softball All-Stars, plays first and

third base ... Began swimming at the age of 6 months and has won awards

as a member of the Australian Swim School and Golden West Swim Team ...

Plays tennis ... National Charity League 100-hour award recipient