14 Assisteens graduate

Adria Kloke

The end of the school year brings a new class of graduating

Assisteens from Laguna Beach. The 14 seniors spent many hours of

their high school careers dedicated to service and self-improvement

programs in Laguna Beach.

The Assisteens are an auxiliary of the Assistance League of Laguna

Beach, a philanthropic organization. The local chapter consists of

about 50 young women in ninth grade through 12th grade.

Over the school year, Assisteens attend monthly meetings at the

ALLB Chapter House in Laguna Beach and staff the ALLB Turnabout

thrift shop, as well as help run programs at the Laguna Beach Senior

Center.

The group held a fundraiser June 29 at Ruby’s Diner for landslide

victims. Fliers were distributed to different businesses all around

town and via e-mail. Participants in this fundraiser were required to

bring in a flier and attach it to their bill, and then 20% of their

bill was set aside for the Assisteens to give to the landslide

victims. The fundraiser generated $167.

The graduated seniors are:

Corinne AndersonSchoepe

A graduate of St. Margaret’s School in San Juan Capistrano,

Corinne will be attending USC in the fall to double major in

international relations and music (voice). At St. Margaret’s, she was

a member of the National Honor and Cum Laude societies and excelled

in choir and musical and drama productions. Her love for the

performing arts led her to study at the California Conservatory of

the Arts and perform all over the world. A member of Assisteens for

three years, Corinne has served as program chair and co-vice

chairwoman. She is the daughter of Robert and Teri AndersonSchoepe.

Mahri Barnes

A graduate of Laguna Beach High School, Mahri will be attending

the University of Arizona next fall to major in elementary education.

While at Laguna Beach High School, Mahri volunteered her time as a

peer counselor, Breakthrough Leader, MUN member, and honors student.

She was a member of the Assisteens for four years and served as the

provisional chair and recording secretary. She is the daughter of

Marcelle Lynch and Matt Barnes.

Andrea “Dru” Leigh Burris

A graduate of Dana Hills High School, Dru will be attending Cal

State San Marcos in the fall to study mathematics. Dru was a member

of the Assisteens for two years and enjoyed all her time serving with

the group. She is the daughter of Ed and Pam Burris.

Courtney Claghorn

A graduate of Dana Hills High School, Courtney will be attending

the University of Colorado at Boulder where she will participate in

the honors program and major in film. During high school, Courtney

was a member of varsity pep squad and served as captain of the

competition squad. She also held membership and leadership roles with

the National Honor Society and student government. Courtney

participated in South County Safe Rides, the California Scholarship

Federation, and Teenage Republicans. Courtney has been a member of

Assisteens for four years and is the daughter of Kevin and Colleen

Ryan.

Kristina Garruba

A graduate of Dana Hills High School, Kristina will be attending

Cal State San Marcos in the fall to major in liberal studies. During

high school, Kristina took many leadership roles in promoting the

Children’s Neurobiological Solutions Foundation. She also raised

$10,000 for the New York City Fire Department after Sept. 11, 2001,

by organizing a car wash. She served with the Assisteens for four

years and acted as fundraising chairwoman for two. She is the

daughter of Angelo and Lisa Garruba.

Kendall Hellman

A graduate of Laguna Beach High School, Kendall will be attending

Purdue University in Indiana next fall, studying political science

and international relations. During her time at Laguna Beach High,

Kendall participated in the associated student body and varsity

cheer. She was active outside of school as well, raising over $1,000

for the Binky Patrol, performing in the Pageant of the Masters, and

organizing a meeting for the League of Women Voters before the 2004

election. Kendall was a member of the Assisteens for four years and

served as treasurer. She is the daughter of Steve and Monica Hellman.

Alexandra “Ali” Joy Hawthorne

A graduate of Laguna Beach High School, Ali will be attending

Purdue University in Indiana in the fall to study communications.

While attending Laguna Beach High School, Ali was a member of the

national championship cheer squad, the tennis team and the associated

student body. Ali served as a peer counselor and a journalist for the

Brush and Palette, the high school newspaper, and the Laguna Beach

Independent. A member of Assisteens for four years, Ali served this

year as provisional chair. She is the daughter of Joyce and Troy

Shaw.

Adria Jeanine Kloke

A graduate of Laguna Beach High School, Adria will attend UC

Berkeley to study communication. While at Laguna Beach High, Adria

participated in peer counseling, associated student body,

Breakthrough Crew as a student leader, National Honors Society

president as a senior, California Scholarship Federation, and the

newspaper Brush and Palette, where she held the position of photo

editor for two years. Adria also played volleyball, danced, and

dedicated hours to the school’s Park Avenue Players and performed in

many productions. Adria was a member of the Assisteens for four years

and served as recording secretary, chair and public relations chair.

She is the daughter of Cort and Diane Kloke.

Carly Lojacono

A graduate of Laguna Beach High School, Carly will attend Loyola

Marymount University in the fall to study communications. While at

Laguna Beach High, Carly was an impressive athlete, running with the

school’s cross-country’s varsity team for three years, and even going

to Sacramento for the state championship. Carly also dedicated time

to the Laguna Club for Kids. Carly was a member of the Assisteens for

three years. She is the daughter of Peter and Jeanne Lojacono.

Christina Wallis Mestre

A graduate of Laguna Beach High School, Christina will attend the

University of San Diego in the fall to study history and soon study

abroad. At Laguna Beach High, Christina participated in several

sports, including basketball, tennis, and softball. Outside of

school, Christina is very involved in youth activities at the Laguna

Presbyterian Church. Christina has been a member of Assisteens for

two years and served as historian this year. She is the daughter of

Vince and Janette Mestre.

Vanessa Phyllis Stark

A graduate of Dana Hills High School, Vanessa will be attending

UCLA in the fall to study in the honors program. At Dana Hills High,

Vanessa participated in a number of activities, some of the most

notable being volleyball, California Scholarship Federation, and

National Honor Society. She also dedicates much of her free time to

the Jewish Community Center and her synagogue. She has been a member

of Assisteens for four years and served as historian and treasurer.

She is the daughter of David and Wendy Stark.

Brianna Neal

A graduate of Laguna Beach High School, Brianna will leave for UC

Santa Barbara in the fall to study business economics and

communications. At Laguna Beach High, Brianna was involved in

associated student body, Breakthrough Crew as a student leader, Model

United Nations, National Honors Society, and the California

Scholarship Federation. Brianna also founded the Investment Club and

served there as secretary. She has been a member of Assisteens for

four years and served as historian, treasurer, social chair and

chair. She is the daughter of Kathi and Hossein Tabrizi.

Megan Vick

A graduate of Laguna Beach High School, Megan will leave in the

fall for Cal Lutheran to play water polo and major in liberal

studies. At Laguna Beach High, Megan played in the band for four

years, becoming an accomplished flutist. For her accomplishments in

community service, Megan was named junior citizen of the year by the

Laguna Beach Rotary Club. Megan has been with the Assisteens for four

years and served as corresponding secretary for the past two. She is

the daughter of Dave and Kathy Vick.

Lucille Vanessa Wagner

A graduate of Laguna Beach High School, Lucille will attend the

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in the fall. While at

Laguna Beach High, Lucille was a member of the tennis and track teams

and prided herself on reaching out to new students. Lucille was a

member of the Assisteens for four years and served as program chair.

She is the daughter of Robert and Lucille Wagner.

For more information about joining the Assisteens, contact Torrey

Anderson Schoepe at (949) 499-1223.