(Photo Courtesy: Kelli Gile)
Evergreen parent volunteer, Lynette Marantz, was awarded the Partner in Education Award (shown with family members, Principal Carolyn Wills, and Board President Larry Redinger).

By Kelli Gile

Walnut – Walnut Valley’s Board of Trustees honored stellar students and dedicated community members during the April 15 meeting.

Evergreen Elementary 5^th Grader, Amber Wang, was honored with the Super Star Student Award.

Wang won the Scary Story Contest sponsored by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. She plays the flute and performed with an erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument, during the talent show. Wang is also a team player in the robotics program. For Famous American Day, Wang dressed up as Steve Jobs and convinced everyone to go out and buy Apple products.

Two committed community members received the school’s Partner in Education Award.

Lynette Marantz has been a dedicated Evergreen volunteer for the past 15 years. She’s filled nearly every position in Community Club, helped organize the Talent Show, Walk-a-Thon, and served as president of the Community Club the past two years.

Hailey Shi is a talented former Evergreen student who donated her time and talents to paint a “giving tree” mural to recognize generous Community Club donations. She credits her elementary teachers for recognizing and encouraging her artistic talents.  Shi is now a freshman at Diamond Bar High.

South Pointe Middle School 6^th Grader, David Perez, received the Super Star Student Award.  Although life is sometimes filled with challenges, this positive young man chooses to address adversity with a smile.

“He spreads joy wherever he goes!” Principal Susan Arzola said.

South Pointe’s Community Club Treasurer, Dr. Vivian Lu, was honored with the Partner in Education Award. Dr. Lu is also a dentist, who helped someone at the school suffering from an acutely abscessed tooth. Dr. Lu treated the infection and made school visits to ensure that her directions were followed. She provided thousands of dollars in additional dental care to ensure the person no longer suffered.

“Dr. Lu not only takes care of our students and makes sure our finances are in order, but she is generous with her time, skills and compassion,” Arzola stated.

Parent volunteer, Kelly Eazor, received the Partner in Education Award. Eazor recently lent her creativity to decorate the reception and organize a photo display for South Pointe’s 25^th anniversary party. She created the backdrops for the Little Mermaid production, saving the school thousands of dollars. Eazor even sells nachos after school to support the performing arts program.

Diamond Bar High School’s South Asian Parents Association (SAPA) co-presidents, Lubna Akbany and Archana Verma, received the Partner in Education Award.

“Lubna and Archana have been able to unite people of all races and creeds in support of our most valuable resources – our children,” Principal Catherine Real said. “The characteristics of compassion, intelligence, and vision are all wrapped up in these wonderful examples of humanity and volunteerism,” she added.

Diamond Bar High senior, Ruben Reyes, received the Super Star Senior Award.  He has been accepted at both Stanford and Harvard.

Reyes’ accolades include ten AP classes, class officer all four years, Best Buddies Club president, and a member of national organization, yearbook staff, and varsity cross country and track athlete. He is described by teachers as a humble-servant leader who always puts the needs of others first.

The DBHS Varsity Girls Golf Team and coach, Tony McCabe, were recognized for their extraordinary achievement of winning the CIF State Championship.

The DBHS Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Club was voted as the “Most Professional Chapter” in 2015, out of 280 chapters at the annual conference. More than 200 student delegates elected member Crystal Chang as a state officer for the 2015-2016 school year.

The DBHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Club and advisor, Ty Watkins, were honored with certificates of recognition. The chapter has grown in the last nine years from only four members to nearly 300 chapter members. The club successfully vied in numerous competitive events at the 2015 Inland Section Conference.

24 young artists were recognized as winners of the 2015 Music K-8 Magazine Cover Contest.  Music Specialist, Judy Brunelle, introduced the talented elementary students who received certificates of recognition and color prints of their artwork.

This year’s top WVUSD winner is Westhoff Elementary 5^th Grader, Madison Hsieh, 7^th Place Runner-Up.

Congratulations to all of WVUSD’s Super Stars!