Valedictorians, salutatorians lead the way Valedictorians, salutatorians lead the way (June 14, 2002)

Amador Valley High School

Karl Schulze, valedictorian

Karl is off to Cornell University, after which he hopes to start his own company in engineering or genetics. With a 4.3 GPA, he was a Galileo Scholar, First Science for 2002, and was second in the submarine competition at MIT. His fondest memory is winning the second place honor at the International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competitions. Quote: "Stand small, aim high."
Holly Swift, valedictorian

Holly will be attending UCLA, majoring in marine biology, and has been accepted into the Honors College with a scholarship from the UCLA Alumni Association. Her career goals are to be either a field researcher, mostly for sea turtles or other marine organisms, or an environmental lobbyist. She had a 4.3 grade point average and received the Sandia National Laboratory Award for Outstanding Achievement in Science and Math, and plays the piccolo in the Diablo Wind Symphony. Her fondest high school memory is the marching band winning the championships twice, and the trips to and from the show, "where everyone was so excited and adrenaline was pumping through the entire band."
Chris Crutchfield, salutatorian

Chris plans to attend UC Berkeley. He was an advanced placement scholar with distinction for receiving highest marks on his five AP tests last year, and has a 4.25 cumulative weighted GPA. His fondest memory was the Senior Ball. Quote: "The past four years have been wonderful, and I look forward to many more wonderful years."
Erin Keller, salutatorian

Erin will attend Northwestern University in the fall and wants to become a lawyer specializing in bio-ethics. She says politics is a possibility - but she would also love "just to be a ski instructor." Among her accomplishments are donating more than 100 hours to the ValleyCare Junior Auxiliary and playing varsity tennis for three years. She has a 4.2 GPA, and could not single out a memory because "for the most part everything was fun."
Huzefa Zohair Mogri

Huzefa plans to attend UC Berkeley as an electrical engineering and computer science major, focusing on the study of artificial intelligence. He hopes to establish his own company to advance artificial intelligence technology and plans to donate money and time to nonprofit organizations to help the community. He has earned a 4.2 GPA and among his honors, he earned his Eagle Scout ranking and was a National Poetry Guild Semifinalist. His fondest memory of high school is the friendship that grew with his teachers while helping them with computer problems and creating Web pages for them. Quotes: "Make your dreams your reality." "Opportunities don't come knocking on your door."
Foothill High School

Sharon Lee, valedictorian

Sharon will attend UC Berkeley as a business major and plans to also attend Haas Business School and start her own business someday. As part of the High School Honors Program, she attended UC Berkeley concurrently while still a senior at Foothill. Her fondest memory is driving around with friends, while listening to music. Quote: "Think before you speak."
Jonathon Michaels, valedictorian

Jonathan is going to UC Berkeley as an electrical engineering and computer science major. He plans to have a career in computer science and also plans to live in space someday. He earned a 4.27 GPA and among his many honors are the Best Tech Award in drama for lighting and Most Professional for acting; first place nationwide in Math Facts advanced math competition; and Alameda County 4-H All Star. His fondest high school memory is playing the leading role in his first high school play, "Noises Off." Quote: "I am where I am today because I dream. I dream of a future that I want, be it a month or 10 years away, and then figure out what it'll take to get there."
Aaloke Mody, valedictorian

Aaloke plans to attend UC Berkeley, probably majoring in cognitive science. He also hopes to start a band next year. His career goals are to do something with researching the roots of racism and discrimination. He earned a 4.34 GPA and was a National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar and on the team that took fourth place in the "We the People" state finals. His fondest memory is when he was voted Homecoming Prince, which was a surprise and has been a source of much fun and joking with his friends. Quote: "There is no point wasting your life hating others for being who they are and not what you want them to be."
Daniel Honegger, salutatorian

Daniel will attend UC Berkeley and major in mechanical engineering. He hopes to someday design something that furthers research and discovery, such as a tool used in the exploration of Mars. He earned a 4.29 GPA, and among his honors were second place in the Math Facts for Foothill High School, more than 300 hours of volunteering at ValleyCare Medical Center, and an AP Scholar award. His fondest high school memories are hanging out with his friends, but specifically the 2002 band trip to Hawaii, where he enjoyed surfing. Quote: "Thank you to all who helped and will help me along the way. I hope to make your investment in me worthwhile and your trust in me warranted."
Michael Shen, salutatorian

Michael will attend UC Berkeley and study electrical engineering and computer science. He hopes to start a business in some aspect of electronics and technology. Another lifelong goal is to climb Mount McKinley or some Himalayan peak. His GPA was 4.31 and among his honors are National Merit Scholar Finalist, being co-captain of the cross-country team, and being on the "We the People" team that went to the state finals. He says he'll always remember hanging out with friends on the weekends as the most enjoyable part of high school. Quote: "Accomplishing a goal is not as important as the person you become accomplishing it."
Sonia Taneja, salutatorian

Sonia will attend UC Berkley and plans to apply to Haas School of Business by the end of her sophomore year. She plans to work in a corporate environment, aiming for a career in investment banking or management. She earned a 4.28 GPA and among her honors are the Sandia National Women's Committee Outstanding Achievement in Science and Mathematics, May Student of the Month, and a National Merit Commendation. Her fondest high school memory was when she and some friends were shopping for a get well card for a teacher and an elderly woman approached to tell them they would remember that moment for the rest of their lives; it was then, Sonia said, that she realized those friendships would last forever. Quote: "Everything thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." - Tolstoy