PLEASANT HILL, Calif. — Students from Contra Costa and Alameda counties who have excelled in their Career Technical Education classes were honored by the Contra Costa County Office of Education at the annual Students of Excellence Awards ceremony.
A total of 38 students were nominated to be Students of Excellence and 34 won the award based on recommendations from their teachers. Honored students will each be awarded a certificate of merit and a $300 scholarship. Monetary donations were provided by Chevron, Phillips 66, Veranda and Travis Credit Union.
“Congratulations to this year’s Students of Excellence,” County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “Your hard work in the Career and Technical Education classes is a launching pad for your future. I also want to thank the businesses that support the CTE classes. That support adds value to the curriculum and gives students in those classes an advantage as they pursue their college and career goals.”
Students took classes in diverse fields such as sports medicine, play production, computer science, game design, and careers with children to name a few.
Since 1975, the CCCOE Regional Occupation Program (ROP) has provided career and technical education opportunities to high school students and adults. In the 2020-21 school year, the ROP program served more than 6,500 students in 254 classes in 22 high schools, including court and community schools throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
Students of Excellence Award Winners
- Xaylee Minchey, Heritage HS, Advanced Sports Medicine
- Mihir Arya, California HS, AP Computer Science A
- Yemisi Obalade, Dozier-Libbey Medical HS, Advanced Sports Medicine
- Lauren Tidyman, Clayton Valley Charter HS, Honors Civil Engineering and Architecture
- Richa Prabhakar, California HS, Play Production
- Noah Gibson, Deer Valley, HS Web Page Design
- Emilio Salcedo, Antioch HS, Social Web Media Programming and Design
- Maria Viralhadas, Heritage HS, Advanced Video Productions
- Gia Monticello, Freedom HS, Careers with Children
- McKinley Nestor, John Swett HS, Multimedia
- Sophia Gladkevich, Albany HS, Graphic Arts
- Zak Gilbert, Piedmont HS, Culinary Arts
- Simran Saini, California HS, Sports Medicine
- Alyse Garcia, Las Lomas HS, Human Body Systems
- Shuichi Alex Tendilla, Pittsburg HS, Graphic Design
- Karis Choi, Monte Vista HS, Architectural Design 2
- Kyle Jansse Peralta, Heritage HS, Mock Trials & Law Enforcement Careers
- Nicholas Harvey, California HS, Journalism
- Darius Membres, Pittsburg HS, Game Design
- Haley Le, Heritage HS, Robotics Engineering Tech
- Gemmaruby Maciel, Freedom HS, Beginning Graphic Design
- Benjamin Mariscal, Freedom HS, AP Environmental Science
- Colbie Atlas, Campolindo HS, Sports Medicine
- Danny Avalos, Freedom HS, Advanced Video Production
- Nolin Searls, Alhambra HS, Construction Technology
- Melanie Sandoval, Antioch HS, Careers in Teaching
- Sahn Cannon, Heritage HS, Digital Recording Studio
- Axel Ramirez, Pittsburg HS, Advanced Studio Production
- Mahika Arya, Dougherty Valley HS, Biological Laboratory Sciences and Research
- Alex Nguyen, Deer Valley HS, TV Production
- Sachi Sayal, Dougherty Valley HS, XR for Social Good
- Aadi Ghai, Dougherty Valley HS, VS.Net
- Matthew Royse, Dozier-Libbey Medical HS, Emergency Medical Responder
- Kristina Czelusnia, Freedom HS, Photography II
Nominees
- Eric Catalano, Clayton Valley Charter HS, Introduction to Engineering Design
- Marvin Resngit Jr., Pittsburg HS, Advanced Audio Production
- Ivan Shapli, Alhambra HS, Advanced Auto Engineering
- Zoe Perez, Pittsburg HS, Advanced Graphic Design
