Academic all-stars
This program recognizes outstanding achievement in the classroom.
David Douglas girls’ golf and band each posted 3.78 GPAs, ranking golf at #5 and band at #10 in 6A competition. Other Scots groups making the top ten were orchestra (3.66, #7) and solo musicians (3.72, #9). David Douglas baseball (3.12), boys’ tennis (3.39), boys’ track and field (3.01), choir (3.30), girls’ tennis (3.62), girls’ track and field (3.53) and softball (3.12) all had combined GPAs over 3.0.
Also in 6A competition, Reynolds boys’ tennis (3.16), girls’ tennis (3.52), girls’ track and field (3.35) and softball (3.15) made the mark.
Parkrose choir (3.57) was second in state, and boys’ tennis (3.59) was third among 5A schools. Band placed 10th with a 3.38 GPA. Other Bronco groups with a 3.0 GPA or better were baseball (3.21), boys’ track and field (3.03), girls’ tennis (3.61), girls’ track and field (3.31), softball (3.29) and solo musicians (3.50).
Area 3A academic all-stars come from three schools. Portland Adventist Academy softball was fourth in state with a 3.59 GPA. Portland Christian track and field was sixth in state with a 3.30 GPA. Combined Portland Christian and Columbia Christian teams in softball (3.49) and baseball (3.23) ranked sixth and 10th, respectively.
Other teams with 3.0 or better GPAs were Portland Adventist boys’ golf (3.31), Portland Christian girls’ track and field (3.39) and Portland Christian/Columbia Christian softball (3.49).
Oregonian 2015 top academic achievers
These students were designated valedictorians or top academic achievers by their respective high schools.
Columbia Christian
Caden Duke attends Oklahoma Christian University in the fall to study vocal music education and mechanical engineering. He was in the Oregon All-State Honor Choir, involved in student government and ran varsity cross-country.
David Douglas High School
Tommy Ngo is set to study computer science at Portland State University. He enjoys cross-country, track and field and traveling.
Minh Nguyen attends Yale University in the fall where she will study physics, unless something more interesting comes along. Important activities during high school include the Summer Science Program, an Oregon Health and Science University Internship, and Outdoor School.
Kevin Nguyen was active in student government, a National Honor society member and played football and baseball, among many other activities. He heads to Oregon State University to major in biology and hopes to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Kathy Thach was a member of the Scots rocket team that qualified for nationals. She will enroll at Brown University in the fall and decide on her major after some exploration. Kathy loves her varsity tennis teammates, is a member of the Asian Youth Society and volunteers at Our Lady of La Vang Parish. She will enroll in the University of Oregon in the fall.
Eric Zhu likes to sing and loves competitive gaming. He is on the way to Oregon State University to study computer engineering.
Madison High School
Allyson Angeldekao played tenor saxophone in the concert band. She was also active in Providence’s Rebels for a Cause and Madison Red Cross Club. She will go to Portland State University.
Amber Shackelford is a Multnomah Athletic Club Scholar Athlete, was cross-country and track team captain and co-editor in chief of school yearbook. Next stop for her is University of Oregon to study urban planning.
Parkrose High School
Zackary Dupee will use his NROTC Marine Corps scholarship at Oregon State University, where he will study naval science. He took AP and honors courses throughout high school and played on the Bronco basketball team.
Hawi Jaldo’s favorite activities include National Honor Society, Youth Advisory Council, We the People U.S. Constitution team, Peer Tutoring, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) and ping pong. She will be a biology major at the University of Oregon.
Manaz Rezayee was selected as a Ford Scholar. A National Honor society member, on the Mock Trial and We the People U.S. Constitution Team, Manaz also volunteered at Adventist Medical Center. She will attend Portland State University as a pre-med major.
Portland Adventist Academy
Jack Blashchishen is a National Honor Society member and Spanish Honor Society and runs with the Tabor Tuesday running club. He will attend the University of Oregon to pursue a degree in international studies and romance languages, with a goal to work at the United Nations. He also plans to be a farmer.
Portland Christian High School
Jaehyun Lee was National Honor Society treasurer, played soccer and ran track at PCH. She returns to her home country, Korea, for college.
Vivien Tsang is National Honor society member, advanced band and concert choir. She has enrolled in the biology and pre-med programs at Portland State University.
Alexavier Xue plans to major in business at Pepperdine University. She is National Honor society member, served on student council and enjoys volunteer work.
Reynolds High School
Alexxis Childers will attend Mt. Hood Community College to study social work. She is National Honor society member and RHS Leadership. She would like to work at an orphanage in Africa upon completion of her associate degree.
Adrienne Herzog was a four-year varsity swim team member, yearbook editor, and is passionate about photography. She was admitted to the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon. She is yet undecided about a major.
Olga Ivanishchuk enters Portland State University’s School of Business Administration. She is a National Honor Society member, All-State Choir member and served as choir council president.
Alexander Nguyen is a Gates Millennium Scholar and National Honor Society president. An active volunteer at area hospitals and the American Red Cross, Nguyen is set to study biochemistry at New York University.
Jessica Sheets plans to attend George Fox University to enroll in pre-veterinary medicine, majoring in biology, with a minor in chemistry. She is a National Honor Society member, won an Osteology Wiz award from Oregon State University and volunteers at the Multnomah County Animal Shelter in Troutdale.
Portland Lutheran School
Daniel Barnes was involved in student government and Key Club, ran cross-country, track, and was on the basketball team. He will go to the University of Washington to enroll in pre-engineering and computing.