Mesa View cleans up in competitions It...

Mesa View cleans up in competitions

It is the season for decathlons, spelling bees and competitions,

and Mesa View Middle School students have come out as winners in four

separate events.

“These kids have given up their lunch hour, parents have given the

time to coach them,” Principal Ron Hyland said. “I am really pleased

with these kids.”

March 22 was Orange County History Day, sponsored by the Orange

County Department of Education. From Mesa View, 27 students competed

by writing history essays, producing exhibits, creating Web pages,

performances or documentaries. Three groups made it to the finals.

Crystal Briones was commended for her individual performance

dealing with the rights and responsibilities of cryonics. Through a

stage performance, she dealt with the controversy over the right of

choice to be frozen and the appropriate medical response.

Chris Murphy and Isaiah Cho were honored for group documentary on

Japanese internment, which discussed the rights of the imprisoned.

Under the category of group exhibit, Owen Tran, Michael Mitsumori

and Shant Aharonian also dealt with the theme of Japanese internment.

The title of their exhibit was “I am an American.” They will

represent Orange County in the state competition on May 9.

Also held on March 22, was the Mathcounts state competition.

Eighth-grader Matthew Wissmann placed 12th and went on to the state

competition, where he was eliminated. In the Orange County Spelling

Bee held on Feb. 29, eighth-grader Edward Chau placed 16th overall.

He competed against more than 100 students in the written round and

was one of 27 students chosen to continue.

At the Academic Pentathlon, held on March 15, seventh and

eighth-grade teams competed with other Orange County schools in the

categories of math, literature, science, essay and social studies.

Eighth-grade winners in math were first-place Edward Chau,

second-place Matthew Wissman and fifth-place Jackie Wheeler. In

literature, Jessica Herman placed first and Chris White placed

fourth. In essay, Becky O’Brien came in third, Liz Kosearas was

fourth and Jonathan Gibo placed sixth. Nicole Humphrey placed fourth

in social studies.

Winners of the seventh grade team were fourth-place Kyle Myers and

fifth-place Cameron Lombardo in social studies. Don Ta placed first

in math and Jennifer Klasing and David Priver came in fifth. Garrett

Shin won sixth place in essay.

National Charity League honors 17

The Pacific Coast Chapter of the National Charity League will

honor 17 seniors from Huntington Beach on Saturday. The qualifying

young women have volunteered a minimum of 50 hours a year over the

past six years. The event, Senior Presents, will be an evening of

dinner and dancing at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort &

Spa.

Honorees have offered charitable service to senior centers, the

Red Cross and philanthropic organizations throughout Orange County.

Through hands-on work and fund-raising, many have devoted more than

100 hours a year. “It is quite a big accomplishment for the girls to

get to this point,” said committee member Michelle Coutsoyannopoulos.

“These are hard-working girls.”

Students have volunteered their time in addition to fulfilling

their academic, work and sports obligations, she said.

More than 500 relatives and friends are expected to join in the

festivities honoring “Senior Ticktockers” Ashley Elizabeth Beko,

Daisy Marie Buchanan, Megan Elizabeth Feldmar, Martha Amelia

Gardikas, Amber Rene Gregory, Nicole Marie Grossman, Stefanie Mireya

Hunter, Lindsay Ann Lloyd, Melissa Olana Pazornik, Jennifer Kaye

Plummer, Leslie Ann Reed, Sara Lindsay Rodden, Christine Anne

Stellrecht, Rachel Lianne Towers, Nicole Marie Urhausen, Melissa Erin

Vrabel and Jessica Marie Ward.