Point Loma High School valedictorian Jessica Robertson and salutatorian Zoe Klein will lead the class of 2014 graduation on Thursday, June 12, but they also enjoy several shared qualities.
Of course, they are the top two scholars at Point Loma High this year, based on grade-point average — but there is more.
Both are girls, both are headed to UC Berkeley in the fall, both cited the same PLHS teacher as an inspiration and both were active in campus clubs and activities.
Robertson cited a GPA of 4.8 that was blemished by only one “B” in a sophomore honors calculus class.
Robertson’s lofty goals include a double major in dance and either sociology or peace and conflict.
“I think it would be really interesting to do some kind of therapy work, to integrate dance, utilizing sociology or the international relations side of peace and conflict to help adolescents with mental struggles,” she said.
Klein earned a GPA of 4.7.
“My hardest year was my junior year,” Klein said. “I’m pretty good at school and it comes naturally to me.
“I’m going to major in molecular cellular biology with an emphasis on genetics,” she said. “I have no idea what I want to do with that. Maybe go to some foreign country and help them. I don’t want to do anything with GMOs (genetically modified organisms). And then I want to minor in Spanish and creative writing.”
Both honorees had words of praise for their AP (advanced placement) biology teacher, Sylvia Maas.
“Being in higher AP and honors courses allowed me to have some of the best teachers at Point Loma,” Robertson said. “I’ve never had a teacher more dedicated to teaching from the widespread curriculum, and that class will really help my study habits in college.”
Klein remembers, “She lays a lot of work on you, and it was kind of a sink-or-swim-type of class, so if you don’t read, you’re not going to do well. I would go home, do my homework and go to sleep.”
While at PLHS, “I wanted to do all kinds of different things across the board,” said Robertson of her extracurricular involvement. “I was on the volleyball team as a freshman, was in the musical ‘Grease’ as a sophomore, a member all four years and president of the Cesar Chavez Club, helped create the club Water Uganda Do? (to raise funds for deepwater well boring in the eastern African nation) and a Link Crew member (welcoming freshmen and other newcomers to PLHS) for three years.”
For Klein, “My freshman and sophomore years I was a cheerleader. Junior year I was really focused on school. I played tennis and bonded with a lot of people, and this year I’m the treasurer for Water Uganda Do?, where we just had a great banquet and raised a lot of money for water wells. I also like to do a lot of outside activities like hiking.”
Both young ladies will be easily recognizable, adorned in white caps and gowns as they lead their maroon-clad class onto Bennie Edens Field for the 89th PLHS commencement exercises at 3 p.m. on June 12.
First-year PLHS principal Hans Becker will make his commencement debut as he greets and hands diplomas to each graduate.