Whiz Kid: Matthew Kim

Matthew Kim is one of those kids a journalist hates to write about. Not because of any reasons that lessen his very noteworthy accomplishments, but precisely because his resume stings everyone else's self-consciousness.

A senior at Great Oak High School, Kim has accumulated a weighted GPA of 4.86. In the process, he was officially commended as a National Merit Scholar and was awarded distinctions such as Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month, AP Scholar with Honor, UC Berkeley Regents Scholar and the California Scholarship Federation Seymour Award.

He's also the editor-in-chief of his school's paper, The Great Oak Gazette, he's a member of the National Honor Society and president of his school's chapter of the California Scholarship Federation.

To top it off, he has a good heart. "I believe that serving our community is one of the most valuable and honorable ways to spend our time," Kim said. "Any contribution, both small and large, can truly make a difference. The ability to unite, work together, and strive for a common goal is something that I have found rewarding during my experiences in serving the community."

Oh, yeah. The community. Kim's presence has been felt there as well.

He founded a program called Cards for Kids for the Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego. Once a week after school, he organizes and leads a group of students in making encouragement cards for terminal patients at this hospital.  He also routinely delivers the cards.

Additionally, he teaches third grade Sunday school and at his church's vacation bible school each summer, volunteers at the Temecula Public Library and is a freshman orientation peer counselor at Great Oak.

"I have been a LINK Crew Leader since sophomore year and enjoy working as a tutor," Kim said.

In what little free time he has left, Kim is an avid soccer player and fan.

"My favorite team is the LA Galaxy," he said.