Danville Students Win Numerous Awards, Challenges

DANVILLE, CA — It’s been a typically meritorious season for Danville students, who have been winning bees, awards, and even congressional medals. Here are just a few highlights:

• Cristian Cruz, a second grader at Rancho Romero Elementary School in Alamo, won the gold medal at the regional finals for the Elementary and Middle School National Geography Championship. He is one of the youngest students to ever qualify for the International Geography Championship. Because he is too young, he will be able to participate in the next championship in 2026. In June, he will travel to Arlington, Virginia for the National Geography Bee.
• Ethan Chen of Monte Vista High School was appointed to the Instructional Quality Commission by the State Board of Education. He will serve a one-year term during his senior year, in which he will advise the State Board of Education on curriculum, educational frameworks, student assessment, and more.
• Ethan Logue of Monte Vista High School won a Congressional Silver Medal from Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s office. The Congressional Award is the highest youth award that is only given to about 500 students a year. Ethan was honored for completing over 400 hours of volunteer work, primarily with the Contra Costa County Food Bank. He will travel to Washington, D.C. this summer to receive the award.
• Krisha Singhani, a sophomore at Monte Vista High School, won first place in DeSaulnier’s Congressional App challenge. Krisha created TrueDetect, a wearable device that helps users track their stress, anxiety and depression by monitroing their heart rate, oxygen levels, and body temperature.
• Ananth Venkatesh, a junior at San Ramon Valley High School, won third place for developing a COVID-19 app that provides data on Contra Costa County’s COVID transmission and mortality rates.