3 Temecula Students Make Academic Team

Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Kenneth M. Young named 10 outstanding students, including three from Temecula, to the 20112 All-County Academic Team Wednesday during the Seventh Annual Riverside County Student Academic Awards dinner.

Fifty-one high schools in the county nominated 137 students for honors based on their academic performance, GPA, college entrance exam scores, and extracurricular activities. Each high school named from one to three students based on their enrollment. The All-County Academic Team was chosen from that list.

The members of the All-County Academic Team were accompanied by their principals and superintendents. The team includes:

Kristiana Kim, Chaparral High School, Temecula Valley Unified School District - Kristiana has a grade point average of 4.5263 and an SAT score of 2300. She plays tennis, is a member of the Mock Trial team, yearbook editor-in-chief, founder and president of GLAD, a member of the National Honor Society, and volunteer church pianist. Kristiana is also president of the Chaparral High School California Scholarship Federation, and a member of Temecula Student Ambassadors and Student Leadership Council. She's received a high school degree of social music from American College of Musicians for piano, is a commended National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, Temecula Sunrise Rotary Speech contest winner, an honor guard member, talent show first and second place winner, and received an award for having the top GPA for the class of 2012.

Koki Saito, Great Oak High School, Temecula Valley Unified School District - Koki has a grade point average of 4.7857 and received an SAT score of 2230. He plays varsity tennis and rides bikes to figure out differential equations every day. Koki is president of Science Olympiad, founder and head delegate for Model UN, vice president of Active Earth, and a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, he has been selected as a student of the month by Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce. Koki is also a National AP Scholar, a member of the California Scholarship Federation, and an IB Diploma candidate.

Ian Shaw, Great Oak High School, Temecula Valley Unified School District - Ian has a grade point average of 4.7857 and an SAT score of 2250. He is the varsity basketball team manager. Ian served as the supervisor of entertainment at the regional California Scholarship Federation, is an Eagle Scout who serves as a patrol leader for Boy Scouts and a chaplain's aide, president of the Math Club, and Vice President of the National Honor Society Math Club. He is an IB diploma candidate, National AP scholar, member of the National Honor Society, a student of the month, and received first place in a math competition, placed first in AP statistics, a top chemistry students, and placed second in Science Olympiad.

Kim Anderson, Palm Springs High School, Palm Springs Unified School District - Kim has a grade point average of 4.76 and an SAT score of 2100. She is a member of the varsity cross country and varsity track and field teams. Kim is a volunteer for the Palm Springs Stroke Recovery Center and in involved with the Women In Sports Conference - Citrus Belt Area Athletic Directors Association. She is an AP Scholar of Distinction, Junior State of America member, Rotary Interact Club member, Kiwanis Key Club Member, and member of the California Scholarship Federation. Kim received the Riverside County Bar Association good citizenship award, All Desert Valley League Academic Principal's Award, honorable merit "Cum Laude" in the National Latin Examination, and she participated in the Southern California Youth Citizenship Seminar at Pepperdine University.

Madison Callihan, La Quinta High School, Desert Sands Unified School District - Madison's grade point average is 4.7292 and her SAT score was 2150. She has lettered in academic and theater while attending La Quinta High School. Madison is the main editor for Soccer's Story, a Futbol Fable Intern in A Fluid Movement Acting Company, and a volunteer teacher assistant for second graders. She attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Camp, is secretary of the IB club, President of the Young Writers Club, a thespian participant in the JapAnime Club, a participant of the United States High School Diplomats program, and best director for California Educational Theatre Association. Madison's awards include being the winner of the National Novel Writing Month, the English Speaking Union's Shakespeare contest six place branch level winner, most outstanding junior award winner for theatre, AP Scholar of Distinction, best actress nominee by California Educational Theatre Association, World Quest Academic Competition third place county winner, most outstanding junior award for theatre, and most enthusiastic student award for theater. In addition, Madison is a member of the Mock Trial team and co-captain of the Public Forum Blackhawk Forensics team.

Jeffrey Guo, Polytechnic High School, Riverside Unified School District. Jeffrey has a grade point average of 4.71 and a perfect score of 2400 on the SAT. He is a musician at St. Andrew's Newman Center, a member of the Claremont Young Musician's Orchestra, a private violin teacher, SAT tutor, and AP Ambassador tutor. He participates in History Day and Mock Trial, and was named outstanding prosecutor for the Riverside County Mock Trial competition and won a summer internship with the District Attorney's office. Jeffrey is also an AP Scholar with Honor, a participant of the National French contest where he placed sixth in the nation at level 3, and tenth in the nation at level 4, a National AP Scholar, and National Merit Finalist. He has also received the honor of being named as a United States Presidential Academic Scholar.

Roger William Ibarra, Vista Murrieta High School, Murrieta Valley Unified School District. Roger has a grade point average of 4.4667, and an SAT score of 2310. He is a Tae Kwon Do instructor, a sports tutor and on the swim team. Roger is president of Think Tank, a member of the SAT club, California Scholarship Federation, National Honor Society, and secretary of the Literature Club. He is a College Prep scholarship recipient from Questbridge. Roger serves as photographer and tutor of the National Honor Society, volunteers at the Lake Elsinore Animal Shelter, attended the Education Program for Gifted Youth summer camp at Stanford, and also attended the LeadAmerica summer camp at Olin College of Engineering.

Sina Torabi, Palm Desert High School, Desert Sands Unified School District - Sina has a grade point average of 4.7895 and received an SAT score of 2200. He is involved in varsity tennis, is a member and current president of the Key Club, was on the Academic Decathlon team, has earned the honor of being recognized as a National AP scholar and AP Scholar with distinction. In addition, Sina has been involved in genetic research at the Genetic Research Institute of the Desert, volunteered as a doctor shadow, served as a tutor for algebra, calculus, and physics, and is the developer of DailyTrackTrip.com.

Alan Zhang, John W. North High School, Riverside Unified School District - Alan's grade point average is 4.6512 and he received an SAT score of 2270. He is a member of the Academic Decathlon team, a volunteer for the Loma Linda University Medical Center and participates in the Raincross Exchange Club of Riverside. He has served as vice president, co-publicity, and president of the Asian Student Union, president of the Chinese Honor Society, co-publicity of the French Honor Society, and a physics tutor for the Science Honor Society. Alan's awards include Center for Future Global Leaders: Lexicon Challenge Division Recognition, piano certificate of merit level 8, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Finalist, and Valedictorian.

Kevin Zhang, John W. North High School, Riverside Unified School District. Kevin has a grade point average of 4.6276 and an SAT score of 2340. He plays soccer, is a member of the Academic Decathlon team, and volunteers at Loma Linda Medical Center. Kevin is a member of the Asian Student Union, Chinese Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. His awards include being named a National Merit finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, and valedictorian of North High School.

- By Rick Peoples, spokesperson for the county superintendent