Huntington student wins top award

Mary A. Castillo

Eugenie Shieh thought she was simply going to her last luncheon with

the Huntington Beach Kiwanis Club. She had no idea she was the recipient

of Mervyn’s Local Hero Scholarship for $10,000.

“I was definitely shocked, happy and speechless,” the 17-year-old Surf City resident said of the surprise luncheon held last week. “Everyone

knew about it but me.”

Caryn Birch, the youth coordinator for the Huntington Beach Kiwanis

Club, was responsible for keeping the scholarship award a secret for five

very long days. She made sure Eugenie’s parents and brother were at the

event as well as 50 Kiwanis. Eugenie’s older sister Karen was responsible

for driving her to the event, Birch said.

“I was amazed to see this young lady who is so normally self-possessed

turn bright red from ear-to-ear,” Birch said.

The ceremony became emotional when a tearful Eugenie accepted a huge

check from Shellie Hoyt, the manager of the Mervyns store in Huntington

Beach.

Mervyns Local Heroes Scholarship gave $300,000 in scholarships this

year, said Rachel Schey, spokesperson for the company. Mervyn’s stores

granted 264 $1,000 awards, four $5,000 awards and only one $10,000 award.

“Local Heroes are not only leaders but are also students who give back

to the local community,” Schey said.

Eugenie was chosen for the top prize for her academic achievements and

leadership role in the Key Club at Fountain Valley High School, a part of

an international service organization sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.

During her senior year, she served as California-Nevada-Hawaii district

secretary, overseeing 34,000 Key Club members.

Among her many achievements, Eugenie was honored with a National Merit

Scholarship and last year became the first junior at her school to

receive the National Advanced Placement Scholarship.

Two months after she delivers her remarks as valedictorian at

graduation on June 12, Eugenie will major in biochemistry at Harvard

University.