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.
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