Former Youth Recognition Day Nominees
Former Youth Recognition Day Honorees
"You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi
The Third Annual Youth Recognition Day
Tuesday, December 16, 2003 ~ 3:30pm
Antonio Alonzo Ayala
Britt Benton
Deborah Falch
Ricardo Iraheta
Jasmine Marshall
Daniel Panko
Vinia Ramos-Castro
Melanie Seto
Marquez Shaw
Robert Daniel Wong
Andy Shie Kee Wong
Antonio Alonzo Ayala
Selected by Supervisor Bevan Dufty
Antonio Ayala is an 8th grader at James Lick Middle School and is their current Vice President. Antonio has been very active in his school, serving 6-8th grade as an Officer on the Student Council. Additionally, Antonio was listed on the Latino Honor Roll, Manager of James Lick Softball and Basketball teams, member of the Chess Club, and maintains a 4.0 grade point average.
Antonio also works hard for his community, serving as an Ambassador of the James Lick Noe Valley Merchants/Community alliance, Jr. Counselor at Silver Tree Day Camp, and representative in the Cesar Chavez Parade.
Britt Benton
Selected by Supervisor Fiona Ma
Britt is a 19-year-old student at San Francisco City College and a graduate from Abraham Lincoln High School. She has been a dedicated volunteer at Sunset Youth Services (SYS) for over four years, helping out the SYS Food Pantry every Saturday. Britt has overcome many challenges in her life and constantly stays positive while helping to keep her community positive. Britt was also a Youth Intern at SYS for two years, volunteering with younger girls in their Girls Groups.
When Britt is not working with SYS she spends time volunteering at a literacy class at A.P. Giannini Middle School each week. Britt’s hard work has made the Sunset a brighter place for youth to grow up.
Deborah Falch
Selected by Supervisor Tony Hall
Deborah Falch is a Senior at Lowell High School. Prior to attending Lowell, Deborah attended and graduated from Saint Thomas More Elementary School. At Lowell, Deborah has excelled both inside and outside of the classroom. Inside the classroom, based on her high academic performance, she has earned membership in the California Scholarship Federation. Outside the classroom, but still within the Lowell community, Deborah has achieved success in the dance studio, where she has participated in dance classes for three years. In the community, Deborah has used her dance experience for the benefit of others by volunteering at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in their dance medicine department. Finally, Deborah is extremely active in her Church community - the Church of the Highlands - in San Bruno.
Ricardo Iraheta
Selected by Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval
Ricardo is a 17-year-old student at Balboa High School and an immigrant from El Salvador. Ricardo is an excellent student and a leader on the Varsity Soccer team. After moving to the United States with his mother, Ricardo’s mother moved out and left him on his own. Ricardo found that he had to grow up very quickly in order to have any hope of survival in the U.S. He got a job, yet was forced to couch surf. During this challenging time, Ricardo still managed to excel in his studies. Ricardo has kept his grades and his attitude up, attending school every single day. He is on his way to graduating on time and working towards a college degree.
Jasmine Marshall
Selected by Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
Jasmine is a 16-year-old Junior attending Youth Chant High School. Jasmine’s passion to continuously improve herself, her community, and her environment has led her to work at Literacy for Environmental Justice (LEJ), a non-profit youth empowerment and environmental justice organization in the Bayview/Hunter’s Point (BVHP) community. Jasmine’s commitment and dedication to making her community a better place to live are apparent through the work that she does with Yosemite Slough South-Basin Watershed Research Project, monitoring wetlands in Bayview’s Yosemite watershed, and Youth Envision, conducting community assessments and promoting food security for all residents of BVHP.
Jasmine has also presented to farmers at Mariquita Farms in Watsonville, California to express solidarity in sustainable agriculture. Along with her colleagues, she was a featured speaker in the "Hungry for Justice" Ministerial Convergence, mobilizing thousands of people in Sacramento to resist the corporate agenda of "free trade", biotech foods, the widening gap between the rich and the poor, and other social injustices.
When not speaking out, Jasmine also uses her writing skills to raise awareness about the issues her community faces in Bayview/Hunter’s Point. She has written for the San Francisco Bayview Newspaper and she was recently spotlighted in a September 2003 article of San Francisco Magazine.
Daniel Panko
Selected by Supervisor Gavin Newsom
Seventeen-year-old Daniel Panko is a Freshman at the California College of Arts and Crafts. His passion for art and serving his community has inevitably intertwined and Daniel often uses his talents as an artist to make the world a better place. He has participated in food and clothing drives at the San Francisco School of the Arts High School, painted murals on high school campuses, and has had his work shown at many San Francisco Festivals, including the North Beach Youth Arts Festivals. In addition to volunteering two days a week at Everett Middle School, Daniel is currently serving in a community internship with Fellowship Academy.
Daniel’s long-term goals include becoming an art therapist in order to use his gifts for the betterment of others, in addition to studying and practicing as a fine artist.
Vinia Ramos-Castro
Selected by Supervisor Tom Ammiano
Vinia Ramos-Castro is a student at San Francisco State University, majoring in Political Science with a minor in American Indian Studies. Although she is focusing her attention in school, she is never too far from lending a hand wherever it is needed. Vinia is a former Youth Commissioner who served two terms, a member of the Board of Directors for the Lavender Youth Recreation and Info Center (LYRIC), as well as a member of the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Youth Credit Union. She is a strong advocate for the reform of the current education system in San Francisco public schools. She graduated from Thurgood Marshall Academic High School and is an advocate of the removal of police from schools. She is currently working on strengthening the School of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University, the only university in the United States with such a program.
Vinia continues to be involved in American Indian activism and the struggles of American Indians in the Americas. She hopes to become a better person in the future and gain more experience in politics so that one day she can represent the Indian community, as well as work to alleviate the debt that many third world countries face. She hopes to one day see her motherland, El Salvador, in peace with equality and without extreme US influence that is true today. She hopes to one day have enough money to buy the Amazon Rainforest and save it from egoistic influences (hoping that by that time there is still an Amazon Rainforest to buy). Her favorite books are The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo. She lives by the words that Chief Seattle once said, "Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."
Melanie Lee Seto
Selected by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
BANG! Within Melanie’s community, she is known as a PISTOL! In all her endeavors, Mel puts in every ounce of her vivacious energy, but always with a smile. Whether it is an academic, extracurricular, or community service activity, Mel goes for it with zesty enthusiasm, hard work, and care.
Melanie is a graduate of Hamlin School, Choate Rosemary Hall, and is currently enrolled at Convent of the Sacred Heart. Mel has regularly been honored on the Dean’s List. Her scholastic excellence earned her nomination in the "Who’s Who Among American High School Students". Melanie was the recipient of the Faculty Leadership Award, which is a four-year scholarship based on academic and community leadership, at Convent of the Sacred Heart High School. Melanie is also a member of the National Honor Roll Society and a participant of the John Hopkins University Talent Search Program. As an incoming Junior, Melanie attended Stanford University’s Summer College this past summer as a resident student.
Some of her leadership roles include being the Head Junior Volunteer Coordinator for SF Symphony’s Chinese New Year Celebration, advisor on Choate Admission’s Gold Key Advisory Board, Elected Officer for the Asian Students Association at Choate, and Founder and President of Convent’s Math Club.
Although education is an important part of Melanie’s life, she is very active and devoted to community service. At a young age, Mel co-founded Caring Soles with her siblings. Caring Soles is a California charitable organization, which fundraises, provides hands-on help with service, and donates goods to the underprivileged. Its motto is "taking SMALL steps for BIG changes in this world." Mel hopes that Caring Soles will have 20 additional chapters by the end of 2004 and raise at least $20,000 in its fiscal year to donate for various charities.
Melanie’s passion is basketball. Always positioned as a starting point guard, Melanie played for teams up to two-year-older and has received numerous MVP and All Star Awards. She has volunteered many hours helping young girls gain confidence by helping coach in various organizations.
"Community service has been a vital element for me starting at a young age. My lifelong commitment to serving others has put me in volunteer work both in East and West Coast. Volunteerism gives me a sense of achievement, particularly when I know I have positively impacted someone’s life."
Marquez Shaw
Selected By Supervisor Matt Gonzalez, President of the Board of Supervisors
Marquez is an outstanding 22-year-old employee of the Western Addition Community Technology Center (WACTC), a non-profit organization that offers computer access/skills to the Western Addition Community and the greater community of San Francisco. Marquez Shaw is an All-City Technology League Commissioner. Marquez grew up in the Western Addition, participated in numerous programs, including the S.F. Seahawks and attended The College of Marin in Kentfield, California. "Quez" was a former Player of the Year as Quarterback of the San Francisco Champion Galileo Lions of 1998. Mr. Shaw has been called upon to lead youth, by example, in successfully transferring their success on athletic fields to success in the technology fields.
Robert Daniel Wong
Selected by Supervisor Jake McGoldrick
Robert Daniel Wong is a very articulate, well-grounded, self-directed senior at George Washington High School, a member of the Richmond Village Beacon After School Program at Washington High School, and a paid staff youth aide at the Roosevelt Middle School Beacon Center. Robert exemplifies strong qualities of courage, leadership, mutual respect and collaborative community service in his personal, academic, and extra-curricular life.
Robert lives in the Richmond District with his single mother Mariann Wong and a younger brother. He has challenged himself academically, completing almost all the Advanced Placement and Honors courses available at the risk of lowering his grade point average. He is well read and peers say he has probably completed all his required reading already.
He is a co-founder of the Beacon Young Men’s Group, the Beacon Teen Advisory Board (BTAB), and has participated in the Gay Straight Alliance. Last year he co-produced and hosted the "Beacon Family Feud" game show as part of the year-end culmination event. He has also testified before a visiting delegation of the American Youth Policy Forum from Washington, D.C. about the critical difference the Beacon after school program makes in his life.
A prime example of Robert’s initiative and people skills is the book project he co-led with his fellow Beacon Teen Advisory Board members last semester. BTAB applied for a Youth Initiated Projects (YIP) grant from the Youth Leadership Institute for a book reading project in which funds were used to purchase books to distribute to students who needed to fulfill their required summer reading but didn’t have access to those required books through borrowing or purchase themselves. The competitive YIP grant process includes an oral presentation and question-and-answer session before a panel of youth peers. Robert helped BTAB members undertake all the steps of conceptualizing, researching, analyzing, drafting, submitting, presenting and answering questions involved in the YIP grant process. This required facilitating discussions, meetings, and reaching consensus on decisions. BTAB got the grant and Robert’s success with this project exemplified the qualities of courage and leadership our society needs to develop as a whole.
Andy Shie Kee Wong
Selected by Supervisor Chris Daly
Andy has shown exceptional commitment to social justice. His advocacy and proactive work on behalf of disadvantaged communities exemplify the optimism, creativity, and dedication of inspired youth. A 23-year old graduate of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, he received a Double Major in Political Science and Women’s Studies and a Concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies. He has an extensive background that includes working for Hillary Clinton’s U.S. Senate Committee, Communities United Against Violence (SF), International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (SF), Amnesty International (NY), and the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania.
Andy has received a variety of awards for his accomplishments including the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship in Philanthropy, The Deans Award at Swarthmore College, and the Philips M. Hicks Prize for Literary Criticism.
“Today’s youth are our hopes and dreams; single one out and you’ve singled out tomorrow”- Sam Soun, 2002 Honoree
2002 Youth Recognition Day Honorees
Edward Elliott
Farah Khalil
Victor Lim
Laura Melgarejo
Yana Morgulis
Jennifer Nedeau
Dionne Spencer
Tracy Sarmiento
Sam Soun
Helen Qi Hao Xu*
Edward Elliott
Selected by Supervisor Gavin Newsom
Fourteen-year-old Edward Elliott is a student in the 8th grade at the Town School for Boys. He is also an avid film maker who recently had two of his films screened at a youth media festival held at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. This summer, Edward turned his lens on the homeless problem in San Francisco, and produced a short, compelling documentary titled “Private Property”. The film (set to the Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter) features images familiar to anyone who lives in or visits San Francisco. It asks the question “WHY?” and touches on several approaches to the problem of homelessness, including the “Care Not Cash” initiative.
Edward also had the lead in a short film screened at film festivals in San Francisco, New York and Tiburon Film Festivals last year. He also won first prize in a National Art Competition sponsored by the US Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., where his work is currently on display.
Farah Khalil
Selected by Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
Farah is an 8th grade student at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. Farah has been active as a student leader and School Ambassador. In addition to serving on many of his school’s clubs and committees, Farah is a member of the M.L. King Ambassador Corps, where he acts as a host to the community and business leaders by giving tours of the school and providing information about the school community.
For the past two years, Farah has also been a leader for the annual Every Penny Counts Campaign – a fundraiser for the Aids Emergency Fund.
Victor Lim
Selected by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
Victor Lim is a 17-year-old senior at Galileo High School. Victor's ardent interest in Chinese culture led him to take full advantage of Chinese literacy education through the Unified School District. His efforts have enabled him to speak three Chinese dialects. Victor helps promote Chinese culture and Chinatown through work as a project member at Teen Zine, an online website project sponsored by the Chinatown Library. Victor's interest in education and language arts have inspired him to join other community and extra-curricular activities, including being a Kid Power volunteer at the North Beach library, a teen volunteer at the Chinatown library, a member of the Chinatown library’s 2001 Teen Advisory Council, a volunteer teacher's assistant at Yick Wo, a co-editor-in-chief of his school paper, and President of Galileo's Chinese Culture Club.
Victor's other activities include work on behalf of our environment. He served as a volunteer with the California Academy of Sciences in a research study of San Francisco's fragile Mountain Lake, and on many Chinatown alley cleanups. Victor also spearheaded the formation of Galileo High School’s Recycling Club.
Laura Melgarejo
Selected by Supervisor Tom Ammiano
Born in Mexico, Laura Melgarejo immigrated to San Francisco’s Mission District four years ago. At first it was hard to adjust to a new culture and language, but Laura worked hard to learn English and to become a top student. She knows firsthand the hardships that immigrant youth face, and her sense of commitment and justice has led her to become a strong voice for her community.
While still getting A’s and B’s in her senior A.P. classes at International Studies Academy (where she is President of the Science club and founder of the La Raza Club), Laura finds the time to volunteer at St. Luke’s Hospital, and campaigns on issues that affect immigrant youth. Last year, along with various immigrant community based organizations, she lobbied in Sacramento and held workshops for parents and youth in the Mission on AB540 – a bill that would allow undocumented youth the same right to go to college as documented youth. Since the bill passed in January, Laura has spent her time educating her peers on their right to attend public universities. Currently, Laura is a member of PLUS (People United for the Legalization of Students), and recently attended a conference in Washington D.C. where she spoke with other young leaders about the Dream Act (a bill that would legalize many immigrant youth) and the No Child Left Behind law.
Yana Morgulis
Selected by Supervisor Jake McGoldrick
As a senior at Lowell High School, Yana has proven to be a true leader in her community. She is a volunteer with Greenpeace, where she works on the campaign against genetically modified foods. She spent last summer living in the Alaskan wilderness with seven other young people where they worked to restore and maintain trails and habitat in the Alaskan National Parks.
As a member of the youth organizing committee of the Keeping It Reel Youth Media Festival at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Yana quickly emerged as a responsible leader, taking the role as co-host of the event. Yana has impressed many with her deep dedication to improving both her community and the planet on which we all live.
Jennifer Nedeau
Selected by Supervisor Tony Hall
Jennifer is a very active senior at St. Ignatius College Preparatory. A caring and compassionate student, Jennifer is active in peer counseling, and has been a member of an organization that discusses issues of importance to the students, such as depression, stress, alcohol/drug use, and sexuality, for several years. She is also on staff of the school newspaper, Inside SI, where she acts as the photo and sports editor. Jennifer is a member of the Service Club, and has volunteered over 100 hours with the Haight Ashbury Food Program.
Jennifer is also very involved in student government. As a freshman she served as Freshman Class President and now represents the entire school as Student Body President. In addition, Jennifer is a member of the Junior Statesman of America, the largest student-run high school organization in America. Jennifer’s interest in government led to a six-week summer program at Georgetown University sponsored by JSA, where students studied foreign policy and held congressional workshops. Jennifer also serves as the editor of The Gate, the JSA regional newsletter.
Dionne Spencer
Selected by Supervisor Matt Gonzalez
Thirteen-year-old Dionne Spencer is a freshman at Mission High School and is a very active member of both her school and her neighborhood community. For the past two years, Dionne has led the Youth Evaluation Project at the Urban Institute of St. Johns Educational Thresholds Center. Additionally, she participates in numerous other organizations, including KidPOWER, ChangeMakers, Youth Council, Junior Achievement, After-School Learning Academy, Writer’s Corps, The Clean Team, and Culinary Arts from Around the World.
During the last year, Dionne has served as Editor of Everett Middle School’s newspaper, played the trumpet in the school band, and all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average.
Tracy Sarmiento
Selected by Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval
Tracy is an 11-year-old student at St. Charles School in San Francisco and a multi-talented performer, model, and poet who is much in demand at festivals and events in the Bay Area. She has performed for Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr., The San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese, the Philippine Consulate, and the joint Fil-Am Democratic/Republican Convention.
At age 10, Tracy recorded her first CD entitled “It’s me, it’s me TRACY”, and donated part of the proceeds to children whose parents perished on 9/11. Last month, Tracy was featured in “Children Sing for a Cause” – a concert to raise funds to benefit the children in the Domestic Violence Prevention and Shelter Program.
Sam Soun
Selected by Supervisor Chris Daly
“I was born in a Thailand border camp and I came to America when I was two; I am 21 now and I grew up in the Tenderloin. Life in the TL was hard because it was hard to watch my parents try to adapt to life here. The TL didn’t help me become a smart person academically, but it taught me a lot of things about life- it taught me how to be a stronger person, taught me how to be a self-starter, how to encourage myself and how to encourage others. I see how others can overcome their struggles and it helped me learn from my mistakes and how to be open-hearted.”
At 21, Sam is the energy behind the Indo-Chinese Housing Development Corporation and has been inspirational in keeping the Cambodian heritage alive in San Francisco. Sam is currently spearheading the coordination of the first Cambodian Street Fair set for Spring 2003. He is currently a Program Coordinator and supervises MYEEP workers for Indo-Chinese Housing.
Sam has taken leadership in numerous community projects. He assisted in the publication of “Stories of Survival: Three Generations of Southeast Asian Americans Share Their Lives”. He also serves on the Steering Committee for the Tenderloin Sports Organizing Project. Sam has taken it upon himself to help others who are coming here to seek the same opportunity that his family did by assisting in a citizenship project that helps people file papers and study to become U.S. citizens.
Sam is a great mentor to the youth of the Tenderloin as well as to his younger sister. With the death of his mother, Sam recently acquired guardianship of his sixteen-year-old sister, Laura.
Helen Qi Hao Xu
Selected by former Supervisor Leland Yee*
Helen Qi, a recent immigrant from Kai Pin, China, arrived in San Francisco in November of 2001. As an 11th grade student at Newcomer High School, she is an outstanding student who has repeatedly gone above and beyond what is necessary to complete her schoolwork. Helen has also demonstrated great caring and compassion towards her peers. She can regularly be found assisting other students in class and participating in numerous community services to benefit the larger San Francisco community.
Youth Recognition Day 2001 Honorees
Deborah Gallegos
Rolan Guevarra
Marquez Helton
Andrea Leung
Rogelio Kenny Marenco
Lance Mitchell
Sima Patell
Maria Pazmino
Lacey Prowell
Kristy Shimosaka
Beverly Yip
Deborah Gallegos
Selected by Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval
Deborah is a 20-year-old Excelsior native resident, Balboa High School graduate and student at City College of San Francisco. Deborah is extremely active in both her neighborhood and the City of San Francisco. Deborah initiated the re-painting of the mural "Waiting for the 52" on Mission and Excelsior streets. Deborah is involving the community in the mural's completion by including local residents in the painting, holding a paint-a-thon where teen volunteers from the Excelsior Youth Club will assist young children with stenciling the mural, and holding a dedication ceremony for the community.
Deborah's abundance of volunteer activities include: Keystone President and mentor at Columbia Park Boys and Girls Club, tutor at Cleveland Elementary School's Mentor Program, peer educator at Females Against Violence and Project Survive, and Co-Chair of the 1999 and 2000 TEENSupreme Keystone Pacific Regional Conference Steering Committee.
Rolan Guevarra
Selected by Supervisor Chris Daly
17-year-old Rolan Guevarra is a resident of San Francisco's SOMA District and a senior at Mission High School.
Active in his community since his childhood, Rolan began participating in youth activities of the SOMA Teen Center at age 11. By the time he was 13, he was the youngest intern at the center, where his responsibilities included organizing activities and workshops on community issues, basketball tournaments, day trips and various other after-school activities.
During this time he was also a leader of Sandigan, a San Francisco High School based Filipino youth coalition. He played a lead role in linking SOMA youth to the citywide campaign against the criminalization of youth (Proposition 21). Working with youth from his neighborhood, he helped write, develop, and secure funding for an educational campaign: "Building A Youth Movement" against Prop 21.
Rolan has many talents, including dancing, writing and performing poetry. A poem he wrote about the daily struggles of families and folks on Sixth Street will be published in SOMA Pilipino Stories in the spring of 2002. Most recently, he designed the logo for the first annual SOMA Youth Summit, which will be held in December of 2001.
Marquez Helton
Selected by Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
14-year-old Marquez's act of bravery and selflessness is a model for all of us.
On September 22, 2001, a two-alarm house fire swept through a home across the street from Marquez Helton's home. The blaze started around 9:30 p.m. and quickly consumed the house. The residents were unable to flee for several critical minutes, because an electronically controlled metal gate could not be opened. The fire had knocked out the power to the house.
Acting out of instinct, Marquez found an ax and rushed across the street and knocked open the gate allowing those who were in the house to escape.
Marquez's wit and quick thinking was instrumental in saving the lives of his neighbors.
Andrea Leung
Selected by Supervisor Gavin Newsom
A senior at Convent of the Sacred Heart High School, 17 year-old Andrea is involved in many activities at her school. In addition to being both the captain of the swim team and a member of the varsity Golf team, Andrea is also the Vice-President of the National Honor Society and is a member of the California Scholarship Federation, the Junior Statesman of America, Amnesty International, and the College Hostess Club. She is also the assistant editor of her school newspaper.
In her spare time, Andrea likes to keep herself active with community service. During the school year, Andrea volunteers with many organizations, such as the Christmas in April program, Homeless Prenatal, and Habitat for Humanity just to name a few. She worked as a volunteer tutor at the Chinatown Community Children's Center, the Buchanan Street YMCA, Hill Top pre-school and Yick Woo Alternative School. She also serves meals to the homeless at kitchens in San Francisco and New York.
Andrea is very passionate about community service and believes that community service is not about being committed to just one thing. " I know I cannot experience them all, but my goal is to try."
Rogelio Kenny Marenco
Selected by Supervisor Tom Ammiano
A resident of San Francisco's Mission District, Rogelio has worked endlessly to empower his neighbors to fight back for their community.
Through his work in the Mission, Rogelio has organized many events to fight against eviction, displacement, hate crimes, violence, and gang activity. These events include a hate-crime-free-zone event after hate crimes were committed in front of Cesar Chavez School, a victory block party in honor of the only un-eviction won in the city to call attention to rampant unnecessary evictions, and a protest against evictions led by Loco Bloco - a youth percussion group in San Francisco.
Rogelio is also working with Supervisor Tom Ammiano, President of the Board of Supervisors, to establish a sister City with Santa Telca in El Salvador, which will include a trip to El Salvador in early January 2002.
Lance Mitchell
Selected by Supervisor Tony Hall
20-year-old Lance is a San Francisco native who attends City College of San Francisco.
When Lance isn't studying to become a veterinarian, he is an All-Conference linebacker on the back to back National Champion CCSF Rams football team. As the team's co-captain, Lance acts as a role model for the other players. Because of his performance with the Rams, colleges from all over the U.S. have been trying to recruit Lance, including the University of Florida, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Southern California.
Additionally, Lance and his teammates spent last summer in El Salvador working with the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. The team spent 12 days building a home for an impoverished family. The team also made daily visits to an orphanage for girls, where they spent time with some of the children who lost their parents in the country's recent natural disasters.
Sima Patel
Selected by Supervisor Jake McGoldrick
A senior at George Washington High School, Sima has been very active in her school's student government for the last four years. She is also a member of Washington's Award winning Speech and debate teams, as well as a member of the Volleyball team. She also interns in Assemblyman Kevin Shelley's San Francisco Office.
In her spare time, Sima enjoys studying and teaching Indian Dance, studying astronomy, creating scrapbooks, listening to music, and surfing the Internet.
Maria Pazmino
Selected by Supervisor Leland Yee
A native of Ecuador, Maria moved to San Francisco in 1992. She attended Commodore Sloat Elementary School, Herbert Hoover Middle School, and is currently a senior at Lowell High School.
Maria is deeply involved in the J.R.O.T.C. program at Lowell, where she has held the positions of Command Sergeant Major, Company Executive Officer, Company Commander, and Battalion Executive Officer. As Brigade Adjutant and Newsletter Editor, Maria, along with six other cadets, coordinated events for the San Francisco J.R.O.T.C. Brigade - comprised of 6 San Francisco High Schools. Next semester she will be Battalion Commander, and will be in charge of running the J.R.O.T.C. Battalion at her school. Through this program, Maria has received a number of awards including, Cadet of the Year and the United States Army Superior Cadet Award. She is also a nationally ranked Rifle Team Captain and Drill Platoon Commander.
Maria has excelled in academics. She qualified for the Latino Honor Roll four times in the last five years. She is also a National Venture Scholar and a Latino National Scholar. She plans on attending college where she intends to major in the natural sciences. She hopes her career takes her to interesting and exciting places.
Lacey Prowell
Selected by Supervisor Mark Leno
Lacey has been a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area for the past two and a half years. Since her arrival, Lacey has been an active participant at LYRIC (Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center) - a community center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Youth ages 23 and under.
"I first started coming to LYRIC to hang out, listen to music, and kick it with other youth like myself. I came to a point where I wanted to get involved, so I became an intern through LYRIC's Queer Youth Training Collaborative."
After working tirelessly with many of LYRIC's Programs, Lacey is now giving back to the place that helped her by holding the position of Recreation Program Assistant.
Kristy Shimosaka
Selected by Supervisor Matt Gonzalez
Kristy Shimosaka, 22, has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and a passion for her community. She presently works at the Japanese Community Youth Council in the Japantown/Western Addition area, where she participated in summer camps as a child, subsequently became an assistant counselor, then a counselor, and now runs the entire program.
As JCYC's Tomodachi (Japanese for "friend") Summer Camp Coordinator, She has single handedly jumpstarted the program by incorporating activities focusing on arts & crafts, sports, computer skills and other educational topics, and hiring college age supervisors to provide a higher level of care for camp participants.
Kristy also serves as JCYC's Leadership Development Specialist overseeing the youth Leadership Council, a program that provides high school students with leadership workshops, community service and peer education opportunities. Through these activities, participants are exposed to community involvement and develop skills that prepare them as future leaders of the community.
In April 2001, Kristy also volunteered on the planning committee for the first Nikkei (of Japanese origin) Youth Conference entitled "Spectrum" held in Los Angeles. She is currently developing a Nikkei Association at U.C. Berkeley, and in her spare time coaches a girls basketball team in the Bay Area.
Beverly Yip
Selected by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
At 22-years-old, Beverly Yip has worked actively in her community for the last 14 years.
Beverly has worked with a host of community organizations, including making strides against Breast Cancer with the American Cancer Association, the Hamilton family Center/Homeless Shelter, the Donaldina Cameron House, and the Academy of Friends - which benefits contributors to San Francisco Bay Area HIV/AIDS service providers.
"I believe volunteering and giving back has a positive effect on our attitudes and morale. Whether I am leading a group of teenagers, escorting the disabled or listening to a child cry for help, volunteering offers an avenue for exercising my skills and talents gained through a lifetime of experience."
A student at San Francisco State University, Beverly was a student on the SFSU Dean's List in the Spring of 2001, and will be graduating in December 2001 with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Accounting.
Beverly also holds the honor of being the first Asian American to become the Miss San Jose Regional 2000, the preliminary pageant to Miss California and Miss America
* Selected by former Supervisor Leland Yee, who was sworn into the California State Assembly in December 2002.