Tom Serrano, a senior at Amador Valley High School, was voted "Mr Amador" Monday night in the school's annual student-run competition in the Amador Theater.
Now in its 11th year, the program featured 10 contestants who showcased their talents in two jam-packed performances that concluded with both live and silent auctions, raising funds for the George Mark Children's House, a palliative care facility located in San Leandro.
The student-run program involved hundreds of volunteer hours. Co-directors Bailey Little and Aubrey Krieger started planning in the summer, with the Mr Amador committee and selected 10 boys who joined them in December.
During twice-weekly practices, the boys learned several choreographed dances, planned and practiced their individual talents to perform at the show and participated in several key fundraisers during the season.
Comments
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 27, 2016 at 11:11 am
on Apr 27, 2016 at 11:11 am
Congratulations to Tom Serrano for being selected "Mr Amador"
Joe Coughlin
Birdland
on Apr 27, 2016 at 12:25 pm
on Apr 27, 2016 at 12:25 pm
I'm confused as to why there are multiple articles celebrating what is essentially a popularity contest.
Amador Valley High School
on Apr 27, 2016 at 6:03 pm
on Apr 27, 2016 at 6:03 pm
Mr. Amador is in no way a popularity contest @Julie. The winner was chosen solely on who raised the most money for the George Marks Children's House. While Tom is a generally well-liked guy with a great sense of humor, I wouldn't say he's one of the most popular guys at Amador. He won because he worked hard to put on a great show and fundraise. I think it's awesome that there multiple articles celebrating Mr. Amador because it's helping to raise awareness of a truly spectacular event which a lot of work goes into to raise money for a great cause.
Birdland
on Apr 27, 2016 at 8:22 pm
on Apr 27, 2016 at 8:22 pm
Bill,
While I appreciate your opinion, the opinion of my son and his friends, who attend amador and are very involved in school activities , is that it is solely a popularity contest and kids give money to, and vie for a date with, whoever the most popular is. Philanthropy is important but there must be other, better, ways to promote philanthropy than this.
Del Prado
on Apr 27, 2016 at 9:48 pm
on Apr 27, 2016 at 9:48 pm
Julie,
You are wrong, and so is your son and his friends. I'm surprised that they have that impression of the show; I've never heard anything like that from my children or anyone else, for that matter. You really should attend the fundraiser next year so that you may see just how much hard work these kids put into the event. You'll have a great time, and see firsthand that it is not a popularity contest by any means. Every penny goes to the George Mark Children's House in San Leandro. Visit their website to learn just how worthy a cause it is. Last year, $30,000 was donated to George Mark by this "popularity contest". I truly hope you, your son, and his friends have a chance to learn more about the Mr. Amador fundraiser and the children who benefit from the hard work of these awesome boys and committee members.
Pleasanton Meadows
on Apr 28, 2016 at 7:59 am
on Apr 28, 2016 at 7:59 am
Julie, please take a few minutes and learn a little about the George Mark Children's House, and what they do. There are very few facilities like this in the U.S., and what they do for families of terminally ill kids is just amazing. What our kids do to help them is also amazing. Mr. Amador is an event that should make every Amador parent, and every resident of Pleasanton for that matter, very proud. These 10 boys spend a month prepping to get up on stage and embarrass themselves, all to raise money for this great cause. That's not a popularity contest, Julie...that's courage.
Registered user
Downtown
on Apr 28, 2016 at 9:14 am
Registered user
on Apr 28, 2016 at 9:14 am
Congratulations to Mr. Serrano!
Good, clean fun should be celebrated!
And if anybody is unhappy with the popularity contest element of this thing, perhaps they could find another worthy charity and come up with something better in addition to Mr. Amador. Then we'll truly be living up to our self proclaimed nickname of "community of character!"
Laguna Oaks
on Apr 28, 2016 at 11:08 am
on Apr 28, 2016 at 11:08 am
To answer your question, the prolific coverage is due to the Editor's long-standing bias for AVHS.
Just read the closing 2 paragraphs of the recent We the People article that stated FHS was only selected to attend the 2016 competition after other schools turned down the offer. And the closing dig: AVHS has "routinely been the Pleasanton school to represent the city in nations and has advanced to that competition 14 times in the school's history." Perhaps while factual, it was not needed took the wind out of the sails of Foothill's achievement. And there was no mention at all about massive fundraising that normally accompanies WTP articles when AVHS wins. Hummm...
And I agree, at their core, Mr. Amador and Mr. Foothill are popularity contests.
Birdland
on Apr 28, 2016 at 12:38 pm
on Apr 28, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Sometimes what is good and kind is also popular.
Birdland
on Apr 28, 2016 at 12:53 pm
on Apr 28, 2016 at 12:53 pm
@Pam - I'm not interested in getting into a p*ssing contest regarding a high school activity, but I was very clear in stating that my son's and his friends' OPINIONS are that it is a popularity contest. OPINIONS are not wrong. I will assume much of your defensiveness comes from the fact that you are the parent of one of the contestants. That's ok; I get it.
To all. I'm not saying these boys don't do hard work. I also said philanthropy is important. What I am saying is that these boys were originally chosen based in large part on how popular they are; I know several of these boys and in a school as large as Amador, it is surprising that there are no individuals who would be considered outside the mainstream in the contest. Boys with disabilities? Boys who are openly gay or transgender?
How about one boy who isn't involved in sports. In the whole school.
Philanthropy is important. Courage is important. What is also important is helping impressionable teenagers to see that there are better ways to foster these two important attributes. The hours put into the contest by these kids is impressive; I just would think the adults at the school would steer them to put their energies into more inclusive efforts.
Registered user
Downtown
on Apr 28, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Registered user
on Apr 28, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Congratulations and good job! The philanthropy is great!
We attended Mr. Amador when our kids were at AVHS, it was a lot of fun.
It is unfortunate with such large schools too many kids feel excluded. It is something PUSD needs to work harder on as Pleasanton schools will continue to grow.
Registered user
Downtown
on Apr 28, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Registered user
on Apr 28, 2016 at 1:27 pm
"the Editor's long-standing bias for AVHS. "
LOL...Jeb Bings wife works/worked at Foothill.
Vintage Hills Elementary School
on Apr 28, 2016 at 3:22 pm
on Apr 28, 2016 at 3:22 pm
We are a Foothill family and want to commend AVHS on their efforts to support such a great organization! I am not in the loop as to who is "popular" since I am an adult but....I do know that Tom Serrano stopped by our girl scout cookie booth a few months ago and although didn't have cash in hand for cookies, he stopped and talked to the girls and donated his $4.95 to our troop :) I also know that he volunteered his time to come to Vintage Hills for the "Superbowl of Reading" and talk to the 5th graders about teamwork and the importance of schoolwork and being a good student. If helping raise funds to help others and volunteering your time to encourage kids is what makes a young man "popular" than I guess he fits the bill!