High honors and scholarships were recently presented during South Pasadena High’s annual Senior Awards Night.
The event traditionally recognizes dozens seniors who have distinguished themselves in the classroom and in athletics with a myriad of awards.
“This year’s graduating class has really stepped up to the plate in so many ways!” said South Pasadena High Principal Janet Anderson. “They are graduating as a very cohesive unit even though their areas of interest and accomplishment have been wide and varied. These young adults will truly go on to make positive impacts on the local, national, and international stages. As they leave, I have only the fondest of memories of the Class of 2019.”
Perhaps, the most meaningful and prestigious honors presented each year are the Weldon Fair play Awards, created back in 1929.
With the criteria of scholarship, integrity, responsibility, good sportsmanship, and being fair to all people, it is no wonder that the Weldon Award is so highly regarded.
The Weldon Award is presented to three senior girls and three senior boys. The class of the 2018-19 Weldon Fair Play Award winners consists of Alelzamder Grijalvo-Moreno, Grace Ha Dahm Kim, Rachel Lu, Andrés Oyaga, Sage Pierone and Sarah Uriarte.
Weldon’s interest in fair play and leadership led him to create this award, now in its 90th year. The names of the winners will forever be engraved on the Weldon Loving Cup. In addition, each recipient receives a gold pin and a certificate.
Some the featured awards were:
The Weldon Fair Play Awards: Sage Pierone, Grace Ha Dahm Kim, Sarah Uriarte, Rachel Lu, Grijalvo-Moreno and Andrés Oyaga.
David N. Dickson Athletic Heritage Scholarships: Kai Dettman, Uma Hornish; Michael Colliau Scholarships: Lorraine Tilley and Addison Foord.
Aydin Salek Leadership Scholarships: Rachel Lu and Sina Massoumi Memorial Scholarships: Kai Dettman and Jean Lih.
Kathryn Larkin Crary Sportsmanship Award: Lauren Kafkaloff and Logan Svihovec-McCarthy.
Valedictorians and Salutatorians: Jia Min Xu, Michael Xiong, Yilin Wu, Caleb Waters, Natalie Deng, Lauren Kafkaloff, Lindsey Kuwahara and Kevin Xu.
Booster Club Flossie Clarich Scholarship, top right, Lindsey Calva; Booster Club Lew Clement Scholarship, top left, Nathaniel Pineda; Booster Club Rick Booth Memorial Scholarship, center, Alekzander Grijalva-Moreno; Booster Club Tiger Seal Award, bottom left, Mia Alva and Nico Salazar, bottom right.
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Art Maggie Veir Art Alumni Association Scholarship: Yiling (Elaine) Gong, David Perez, Esinosa, Jade Li, Alicia Alderete, Olivia Johnson, Ashlyn Kawakami, Ixchel Carrizales de Lara, Kate Rogers, Chloe Rufus and Jirong (Kalex) Shen.
From bottom to top, C. Merril Greene Female Scholar Athlete: Alyssa (AJ) Bonk; C. Merrill Greene Male Ahtlete of the Year: Addison Hsaio; C. Merrill Greene Female Ahtlete of the Year: Christina Taylor; Merrill Greene Male Scholar Athlete: Nathaniel Quirk; Ralph Punaro Spirit of Athletics: Gavin (Henry) Barbera.
National Charity League Scholarship: Eva Cabbell; South Pasadena Optometric Group Motivational Scholarship: Akash Rathi; The Molina Family Scholarship: Eleanor Imel.
