The 10th annual Salute to Excellence ceremony honored more than 75 high school seniors who are considered to be in the top 1 percent out off all seniors in San Diego at SeaWorld on Wednesday, May 25. Of those honored at last week’s event, local students named were Kyra Forsyth (Mission Bay High), Dan Tran (Mission Bay High), Clay Halbert (La Jolla High), and Dalton Omens (Point Loma High). For these four students, obtaining excellence was not an easy task. With demanding schedules, and some of the highest grade point averages in their classes, these students worked hard to get where they are today.
“Receiving this honor is amazing and I’m so happy that all the work I’ve put in has paid off,” Forsyth said. “It’s really cool to not only be recognized for my work, but to also see other people who have put in just as much, and in some cases more, work than I have.” In addition to their academia, all four of participated in an extracurricular activity, such as sports or mock trials, college courses or Boy Scouts. All the students said the key to balancing a busy schedule is planning. “Determination and willingness to continue even though one has already been working for hours is essential to getting to participate in several things,” said Halbert.
For these students, this award is more than just a recognition of their work. “This honor reminds me to work even harder in college to be successful in life,” Tran said. “It also reminds me how I can make use of my talents to efficiently gain control in my life.” The four all have high aspirations. Forsyth wants to be a geneticist, Omens wants to be an animator for Disney, Halbert wants to be a physics professor or an attorney, and Tran wants to become a computer programer or a math teacher. All four of these kids are UC bound (UCSD, UC Berkeley, and UCLA) and ready to take on the world one well-planned day at a time.
“The hard work, stamina and dedication of these students is truly amazing,” said Hans Becker, principal at Point Loma High School. “I am honored to support these students and look forward to their exciting futures. They are wonderful examples of what we call, ‘The Pointer Way.’”