Honored for the Fremont Union High Schools Foundation Outstanding Student Award were, from left, Robert Campbell, Alisha Harada, Jennifer Kim, Meghan Toland, Aisling Scrosoppi, Ashley Stauffacher and Ariel Garcia.

Students to get honors for work

High schoolers are recognized for strong commitment, learning

By Gearge Moore

The Fremont Union High Schools Foundation will recognize seven outstanding students from seven high schools at its Sixth Annual Recognition Dinner on Oct. 11 at the Decathlon Club in Santa Clara.

The foundation's "An Evening in the Tropics" dinner will also honor KTVU news reporter Robert Handa as its Distinguished Alumnus of Sunnyvale High School.

The outstanding student award is given to students from each of the district's high schools who have shown a strong commitment to education in spite of personal challenges, according to Sandie Zander, executive director of the foundation. Zander said the criteria the recipients were judged on included overcoming barriers, being inspirational leaders, displaying personal growth during high school, community and school activity involvement, and a grade point average of 3.25 or above.

The foundation's mission is to develop resources and community relationships for the advancement of quality education.

Robert Campbell, a Cupertino resident who attends Monta Vista High School said he didn't believe it at first and was not sure if they had chosen the right person.

"When it sank in I was walking around with a big smile on my face," Campbell said. "I was really happy."

Campbell, who says he's been a natural leader since his days in elementary school, suffered the effects of alopecia areata, an unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease that can result in the loss of some or all of a person's hair. The disease affects more than 4 million people in the United States. Campbell lost all the hair on his body just as he was entering his freshmen year.

"Obviously, that was a traumatic experience," Campbell said.

Alisha Harada, a Sunnyvale resident who attends Cupertino High School, said she has always set goals for herself and worked hard to meet them. Harada said her positive attitude has helped her overcome a childhood reading, writing, memorization and spelling disability.

Meghan Toland, also of Sunnyvale, said she had a C average while attending Cupertino High School but has maintained a consistent 4.0 grade point average since she transferred to Middle College at De Anza. Toland's attitude toward academics has completely changed. She said she now gives 100 percent to her studies and has encouraged a lot of people who are struggling to join the program.

Ashley Stauffacher, a San Jose resident who attends Lynbrook High School, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes but still remains very involved with school activities, including drama and choir.

"I haven't let it slow me down," Stauffacher said.

Sunnyvale resident and Homestead High School senior Jennifer Kim also displayed resilience after experiencing medical problems eight months ago. Kim is a third-year cheerleader who is very involved with the community. She is a member of Octagon, a community service club that volunteers at local events and organizes environmental projects such as beach cleanups.

Phoenix High School senior and Cupertino resident Aisling Scrosoppi said she was really excited about being chosen because she was jealous of the person picked last year. Scrosoppi said she didn't take her schooling seriously until the second semester of her junior year, and now uses herself as an example to encourage people who may have gotten off-track to try to turn things around.

Ariel Garcia, a Sunnyvale resident who attends Fremont High School said he easily could have gotten involved with gangs and drugs but did not fall victim to peer pressure. He is captain of the soccer team at Fremont and in his fourth year with the team.

Zander said the foundation feels strongly about its commitment to focusing on its students and will continue to recognize their excellence and expand on the program.