Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, April 22, 2017

7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 22, 2017 


ARCADIA HIGH STUDENTS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

ARCADIA--Arcadia High School made another exceptional showing in 
this year’s National Merit Scholarship Program, with 25 Apaches named as 
National Merit Scholarship Finalists. This is the 24th consecutive year that 
Arcadia High School has had over 85 percent of its students advance from 
semifinalists to finalists in this renowned program. 

 Students honored each year by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation 
(NMSC) represent less than one percent of high school seniors in the United 
States. The 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program had approximately 1.6 
million juniors from more than 22,000 high schools to consider at the onset of 
this year’s program. From these entrants, the NMSC recognized about 50,000 
academically talented high school students, with 75 AHS students making the 
first round of recognition. 

 In the next round of applicant evaluation, nearly 16,000 student scholars 
were selected as semifinalists. This figure was further refined to a finalist 
pool comprised of 15,000 students. Among these finalists are 25 Apaches 
who are currently in the running to receive one of about 7,500 National Merit 
Scholarships whose combined total reaches nearly $33 million.

 “AHS students have received recognition from the National Merit 
Scholarship Program each year for well over 20 years now,” reflected Arcadia 
Unified School 

 District Superintendent Dr. David Vannasdall. “Most of our Arcadia High 
students are products of Arcadia Unified’s K-8 schools. Our consistently strong 
showing in this program is a true testament to the unwavering dedication 
shown by all of our students, teachers, and staff to creating a foundation of 
success that will serve our students beyond high school graduation.”

 Merit Scholarship winners will be selected by a committee comprised of 
seasoned college admission officers and high school counselors. Students 
selected as Merit Scholarship recipients are judged to have the most 
distinguished credentials and highest potential for academic success, without 
consideration of financial need, college choice or major and career plans. 
Scholarship winners will begin receiving offers this month. 

ALVERNO HEIGHTS ACADEMY

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Julia V. Fanara

E-mail address: jfanara@alvernoheights.org

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forsee

bforsee@ausd.net

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca, 

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil Clarke

E-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org

Barnhart School

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 446-5588 Head of School: Ethan Williamson

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.org

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3527 

Preschool-TK-8th Grade

Principal: Dr. William Walner

website: www. bcslions.org

Clairbourn School

8400 Huntington Drive

San Gabriel, CA 91775

Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172

FAX: 626-286-1528

E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809 

Co-Principals Nancy Lopez and Diane Kieffaber

info@foothilloaksacademy.org 

preschool@foothilloaksacademy.org

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 791-1255

Head of School: Jenny Janetzke

Email: jenny@frostig.org

The Gooden School

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-2410 

Interim Head of School, Merrily Dunlap 

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road Pasadena, Ca. 91107 

Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

La Salle High School

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org

Principal Mrs. Courtney Kassakhian

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin Jackson

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us

Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neill

website: www.odysseycharterschool.org

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 396-5880 Principal: Roberto Hernandez

website: http://phs.pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

Principal Joan Harabedian (626) 355-9028 

website: www.st-rita.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Esther Salinas

E-mail address: salinas.esther@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett Newsom

E-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us

Walden School

74 S San Gabriel Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166 

www.waldenschool.net

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 797-0204

Lisa Feldman: Head of School

Wilson Middle School

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth Esseln

E-mail address: resseln@pusd.us

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us

rcadia Unified School District

234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net

Monrovia Unified School District

325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016

(626) 471-2000 Website: www.monroviaschools.net

Duarte Unified School District

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010

(626)599-5000 Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us

Arcadia High School National Merit Scholarship Finalists: 

(Alphabetical order by last name)

Janine S. Chan, Simone Claire Chu, Samuel X. Cui, Daniel A. Harnanto, 
Cathleen Huang, Cecilia Lee, Wendy W. Lee, Yue Liang, Yi Hsuan Lin, 
Kimberly Lo, Donna A. Sayphraraj, Nora Sebeca Sharp, Brianna M. Sun, 
Yanxi Tang, Justin K. Tay, Tiffany M. Tsui, Nicholas K. Ung, William X. 
Wang, Charles Xu, Cathleen Yang, Isabell Yang, Pearl Yang, Keerthana 
Yogananthan, Stanley Yu, and Lucy Y. Zhang

ALVERNO HEIGHTS ACADEMY’S PERFORMING ART DEPARTMENT 
PRESENTS HAIRSPRAY

The show will run April 20, 21, and 22 at the Lanterman Auditorium in La Cañada 

Sierra Madre, CA (April 18, 2017) – Alverno Heights Academy is proud to present 
Hairspray on Thursday, April 20, Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. 
at the Lanterman Auditorium in La Cañada. 

 Hairspray is an American musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scot 
Wittman and Shaiman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based 
on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The show, set in 1960s Baltimore, tells the 
story of dance-loving teen Tracy Turnblad who auditions for a spot on “The Corny 
Collins Show” and wins. She becomes a celebrity overnight, a trendsetter in dance, 
fun and fashion who sets out to topple Corny’s reigning dance queen, win the guy, 
and bring racial integration to the show.

 The main cast of Hairspray includes senior Payton Emerson as Tracy Turnblad, 
junior Riley Luna (St. Francis High School) as Edna Turnblad, senior Jillian Kislow 
as Corny Collins, senior Cassidy Castillo as Penny Pingleton, senior Arianna Muñoz 
as Velma Von Tussle, junior Emily Verdin as Amber Von Tussle, senior Sam Holtz 
(St. Francis High School) as Link Larkin, sophomore Sion Robertson (Pasadena 
High School) as Seaweed Stubbs, senior Moondera Rabb as Little Inez, Gabrielle 
Thompson (Alumna, Abilene Christian University) as Motormouth Mabelle, 
sophomore Julia Vallen as Wilbur Turnblad, senior Cathy Johnson as Prudy 
Pingleton, senior Etienne Barzallo as Mrs. Pinky, and sophomore Maritza DiRito as 
Matron. 

 Members of the ensemble cast include second grader Kennedy Baro (Holy 
Name of Mary); fourth grader Mia Luna (Holy Angels); eighth graders Chris 
Johnson (St. Rita School) and Andrew Byer (Oak Avenue Intermediate); 
freshmen Isabella Lara, McKenna Lindheimer, Isabel Mejia, Lily Murphy, 
Maddie Petersen, Madison Ramirez, and Denisse Recinos; sophomores Elisia 
Bendy, Kathleen Cramer, Caroline Dragos, Malik Gay-Banuelos (St. Francis 
High School), Jason Hernandez (Pasadena High School), Amanda Hill, Claire 
Lewis, Precious Perlas, Beatriz Rivas, Valerie Sanchez, Reed Scardino (St. Francis 
High School), and Elise Tervalon; juniors Sierra Curren, Maxine Deng, Leila 
Moreno, Vanessa Prata, Matilda Prole, Anica Quizon, Skylar Robinson, and 
Nini Washington; and seniors Alexis Baro, Lisa Costantino, Dominic Daniels-
Campos (Cathedral High School), Allison Johnson, Allison Joseph, Manuel 
Madrigal (Cathedral High School), Nalani Moreno, Chandnee Raina, Haylee 
Robinson, Anna Sandoval, Rain Villanueva, and Cristina Webster. 

 Finally, members of the crew for Hairspray include freshmen Cassandra Lianto 
and Caroline Wong; sophomores Briana DeAnda, Rita Kearns, Cami Lee, Lillian 
Pentecost, and Sydnee Sao; juniors Sabina Arida, Sierra Curren, Ali Nolan, Nikki 
Oberhammer, Kaiya Reel, Natalie Scigliano, and Emily Verdin; and seniors Alexis 
Baro, Selma Galdamez, Cathy Johnson, Allison Joseph, Jillian Kislow, Asia Leong, 
Nicole Lianto, Alicia Lindheimer, McKinley Luna, Magdalena Mikuljan, Feier Mo, 
and Arianna Muñoz. 

 Alverno’s production of Hairspray is being directed by Mrs. Cynthia Cales P’12 
with musical direction by Ms. Mary Ekler. 

 Presale tickets to Hairspray may be purchased from the Alverno office for $15 and 
at the door at the Lanterman Auditorium. 

 Alverno Heights Academy is located at 200 North Michillinda Avenue in Sierra 
Madre and the Lanterman Auditorium is located at 4491 Cornishon Avenue in La 
Cañada. 

About Alverno Heights Academy 

Alverno Heights Academy is an all-girls, independent, progressive Catholic, college 
preparatory school dedicated to its mission of empowering each young woman to 
be exactly the person she wants to be. Located on the property of the former Barlow 
Estate in Sierra Madre, California, Alverno Heights Academy was founded in 
1960 by the Sisters of St. Francis who sought to create an environment in the San 
Gabriel Valley where young women could become informed and knowledgeable 
persons. Later renamed Alverno High School and sponsored by the Immaculate 
Heart Community, Alverno’s program—academic, spiritual, aesthetic, social, and 
physical—has been shaped by the staff, trustees, and students. As Alverno Heights 
Academy once again, the school remains committed to its mission by encouraging 
each of their young women to be who they imagine. For more information about 
Alverno Heights Academy, please visit www.alvernoheightsacademy.org. 

ARCADIA HS’S AWESOME GOVERNMENT CLASS

AGAIN TRAVELS TO “WE THE PEOPLE” FINALS


By Joan Schmidt

 For thirty years, there’s been a very 
special tradition at Arcadia High 
School. This year, it’s Megan Leahy’s AP 
US Government Class participating 
in the “We the People: The Citizen 
and the Constitution” program. 
This instructional program on the 
principles of the US Constitution and 
Bill of Rights includes all school age 
students with the goal of promoting 
understanding of the principles 
and values on which our political 
institutions are based.

 At the high school level, the 
culmination of the Program is in 
late April, a three-day National 
Competition with 1300 high school 
students and teachers from the fifty 
states, the District of Columbia and 
the Commonwealth of Northern 
Mariana Islands participating. The first 
part of the competition is held on the 
campus of George Mason University 
and narrows the group down to ten. 
These ten advance to the finals at the 
US House of Representatives.

 It’s not an easy journey to reach the 
Nationals. The students have been 
working tirelessly since last summer. 
Their coaches include their teacher, 
Megan Leahy, Kevin Fox (also a 
teacher and past “We the People” 
course instructor)), and their volunteer 
coaches-a special group of attorneys 
- Miriam Lopez , Carl Nielsen, Bob 
Garret, and Gary Kovacic (also 
Former Mayor).Every Monday night, 
the students were at City Chambers 
from 7-10 pm. They did research, gave 
presentations, answered questions and 
heeded constructive criticism. The 
thirty students are divided into six 
“units” covering specific topics.

 Unit 1: History and Philosophy 
behind the Constitution. Members 
include William Wang, Eric Choi, 
Donna Sayphraraj, Shame Sun, Joshua 
Wu.

 Unit 2: Framing of the Constitution: 
Paul Wang, Ian Yu, Silvia Zheng, Emily 
Wu, Joshua Hu.

 Unit 3: Studies the ways in which 
Constitutionalism Ideals are applied 
today: Julia Wang, Hannah Chiu, 
Vivian Chan, Chelsea Lee, Cathleen 
Huang,

 Unit 4: Studies modern government 
institutions and practices: Jenny Wu, 
Hugh Cheon, Katherine Hsu, Vivian 
Long, Clara Lee.

 Unit 5: Studies Bill of Rights and its 
applications to modern legal system: 
Katie Nigolian, Melissa Morris, Neal 
Narvekat, Brandon Lu, Samantha 
Vuong.

 Unti 6: studies challenges that face 
the American Constitutionalism in the 
21st Century: Jake Walsh, Lucy Zhang, 
Emily Pham, Brianna Sun, Stanley Yu.

 To reach the Nationals, the Arcadia 
team placed 2nd in Bakersfield in 
the state finals and were awarded 
a wildcard bid. This is the third 
straight year they are going to the 
National Finals and last year, won 
the Bronze. In 1993 and 2010, they 
came in FIRST! This weekend I will 
be thinking of Ms. Leahy’s awesome 
class. All these months of hard work, 
total commitment and dedication are 
to be commended. No matter where 
they place in the finals, they are true 
champions to me.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com