Sequoia Valedictorian Founded Gang Prevention Group

First, a , now Valedictorian.

It seems Claire Tweedy does it all, from achieving a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA to volunteering in every spare minute to still enjoying hobbies like .

Enthralled by human interactions and connections, she will study anthropology at the University of Oregon. It's this appreciation of diversity that Tweedy said she loved about .

"I'm going to miss the diversity of this place and just how accepting everyone is," Tweedy said.

But she added that she was looking forward to college for the new environment that will afford her endless opportunities to meet intresting individuals.

Tweedy is one of four valedictorians who achieved perfect GPAs and will co-speak at the June 3 graduation. She and co-Valedictorian Jacob Buckley will read a poem about lessons they've learned in high school and can apply to the future. The other two Valedictorians, Palani Akana and Sophie Schouboe, will give a speech about their meaningful high school experiences and thank the people who have helped them get to where they currently are.

"Claire is the sweetest, nicest person that really pushed her self in a healthy way to success she had in high school," said college counselor Terri Ignaitis. "She is all about learning and pursuing her interests and not about what school has the best name and playing the college application game."

Though Tweedy will be sharing the stage with her three classmates, she has enough activities to fill a dozen graduation speeches.

During her sophomore year, she and another Sequoia High student , started the organization, Gang Prevention Group, after their friend, Matthew Johnson, was murdered. Both Tweedy and Hamley said Johnson himself was not part of a gang.

“We wanted to let people know that you don’t have to be in a gang to be affected,” she said.

For an much more extensive list of Tweedy's numerous activities, check out the article that was written after she won a Sequoia Award, a local scholarhip award worth $10,000.

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Editor's Note: Claire Tweedy voluntarily contributes photos to Redwood City Patch on a regular basis for the weekly "View Finder" series.