Graduation day is coming for the Mission Bay High School class of 2007 on June 19. All will be in traditional cap and gown.
But many of the students will be wearing special colored sashes and medals over their gowns. What do they represent and where did they get them?
On Senior Awards Night Wednesday, June 6, the Buccaneers celebrated the “best and the brightest,” according to principal Cheryl Seelos.
Magna cum laude students numbered 14 that maintained better than a 4.0 GPA for four years. Scholastic Federation, Honor Society, academic distinction, department awards as well as the valedictorian and salutatorian were recognized and decorated with distinguishing awards.
Among the academic achievers on the Buccaneer senior crew were a uniquely disciplined group of scholar athletes honored for their talents on and off the field.
With the great emphasis on core academics, it is harder than ever for students to excel at both classroom work and athletics, according to athletic director Dennis Pugh.
“We had a real good group this year. A lot of sports were represented by some really special kids,” Pugh said.
Topping the list of scholar athletes in the class of 2007 was Outstanding Sportswoman and Scholar Michaela Moore. While appearing on every list of academic achievement, Moore was one of the forwards on the Lady Buccaneers soccer team and was captain of the cheerleader squad ” an outstanding combination of talents in any high school in any era.
The top male scholar/athlete, Ralph Till collected the Chuck Morgan Outstanding Sportsman and Scholar award. Till participated in cross-country, soccer and ran the middle distance events on the Bucs track team in the spring. And he kept his name eligible for the magna cum laude team too.
CIF champ basketball player Daniel Hom made the National Honor Society and collected scholarships from the Pacific Beach Kiwanis Club and received the Washington State University Freshman Scholarship. Hom was recognized as a U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete. He also received the science department award.
Softball pitcher Desiree Timothy also collected U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete recognition. Timothy is headed to San Diego State University (SDSU) in the fall.
Carley Miller received the U.S. Marine Corp Distinguished Athlete award. Miller played tennis and golf for Mission Bay.
“Carley was an excellent student,” said her statistics teacher Kris Auer. “She will be going on to SDSU in the fall, where she should do very well.”
Hard-hitting linebacker Johnny Nguyen maintained better than a 3.5 GPA during his tour with the Buccaneers. Nguyen also received a U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete award and was recognized by The High School Sports Association of San Diego, as was Michaela Moore.
Football and track and field standout Ricky Archangel received the Outstanding Male Athlete award. Archangel helped anchor the line of the Bucs CIF-finalist gridiron crew.
One of the outstanding soccer players in the county, Jameisha Washington, was named the Outstanding Sportswoman. Washington also earned a place on the Academic Distinction and Varsity Academic League roster. She received the Westmont Diversity Scholarship.
For information about awards and scholarships at Mission Bay, contact the counseling office (858) 273-1313 ext. 150 or athletic director Dennis Pugh at ext. 277.