KIDS THESE DAYS:

The scene was a ballroom at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine last Wednesday evening. There, 61 high school seniors, 17 college freshmen and 18 college sophomores, along with their families and friends, were on hand to receive scholarships from the Schools First Credit Union.

As Schools First President and Chief Executive Rudy Hanley lamented, “This is not the kind of news that is going to appear in the Orange County Register.”

And that’s too bad. But it’s good for you because you are about to read a few of the remarkable stories of seven high-achieving students and six highly engaged teachers, all of whom either live, work or attend school in Newport-Mesa.

These students are the types who go about their business quietly, garnering attention only when they achieve yet another success, never tooting their own horns, despite multiple opportunities to do so. These are not the kids hanging out at the convenience store or wondering what to do with themselves on a Saturday.

These are the students who understand their situation in life has offered them an opportunity most kids never get. They have seized this opportunity to excel and in doing so, competed with hundreds of other students who applied for the same scholarships.

Rebecca Brown wants to be a doctor. During her years at Newport Harbor High School, she has tutored students in math, become an AP Scholar of the Year, received a National Merit Commendation and the YMCA Spirit of Youth Service Award. Brown was also named Student of the Year at Newport Harbor, and was a member of the lacrosse, cross country and swim teams.

Taylor Carpenter is graduating from Estancia High School, where she competed on the school’s surf team and received awards as a member of the soccer, volleyball and swim teams. Carpenter earned the Kiwanis Student Achievement Award, no doubt as a result of completing AP courses in U.S. history, English and biology.

Michael Morley is another Estancia student, who is also the school’s ASB president. Morley was captain of the varsity football team and named a Kiwanis Athlete of the Month. As if that weren’t enough to keep him busy, Morley has also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and has completed AP courses in English, history and calculus.

Benjamin Frazier is a Newport Harbor scholar-athlete who was named captain of the CIF champion football team and captain and most valuable player of Newport Harbor’s baseball team. Frazier is the treasurer of the Ambassador Club and was captain of an American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life team. Frazier has received many scholastic honors at Newport Harbor, including the Academic Award of Excellence and Academic Letter.

Other Newport-Mesa residents or students receiving awards include Murphy Hitchcock and Emily Richonne of Newport Harbor, and Kaitlyn Smith of the Orange County High School of the Arts.

Six Newport-Mesa teachers were honored, with teachers John Daffron, Christine McCune and Lisa Rigbee hailing from Newport Heights Elementary School.

Chrissy Del Real and Kerri Bordelon of California Elementary School also were honored, as was Allyson Rice of TeWinkle Middle School.

Of the teachers, Hanley said, “These are dedicated people who are making a difference in this world.”

This is an important message that we often forget. For without the dedication of teachers such as these, there would not be students to honor.

One could not help leaving the banquet without being in awe of these students and their achievements, and being excited for their future prospects.

No, this won’t make the six o’clock news, and that’s too bad, because if ever there were a time to remind everyone that life does not revolve around foreclosures, credit crunches and stock tickers, it would be right about now.

Congratulations to these fine Newport-Mesa students and teachers.

STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer. Send story ideas to dailypilot@latimes.com.