By TR Robertson
The 12th annual Vista Chamber of Commerce Rising Star of the Year Scholarship Ceremony was held Friday in the City of Vista’s Morris B. Vance Community Room at the Vista Civic Center. Thirty-four deserving high school seniors from various Vista schools. The award luncheon’s venue was sponsored by the City of Vista, the lunch sponsored by Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and scholarship sponsors: City of Vista, Watkins Wellness, Boys & Girls Club of Vista, California State University San Marcos, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Dr. Matt Doyle, EDCO, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, Joe Green and Green Team Realty, Kiwanis Club of Sunrise Vista, Nick Ljubic Memorial Scholarship Fund, North Chounty Ford, North County Women in Networking, OYC Americas, Santa Fe Dental Group, Sizzler, Tideline Partners, Tory R Walker Engineering, Vista Community Clinic, Vista PEO Chapter and 278 more Vista Chamber Members. Each of the seniors awarded a scholarship were former monthly award winners and who filled out an application for a Rising Star Scholarship. The students were awarded a scholarship based on their ability to show they have made a difference in their home, school and community with sincerity and passion, sometimes overcoming challenging life circumstances, without compromising their education.
The ceremony began with Vista City Council Member Jeff Fox delivering a welcome to the audience, leading those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance and introducing a video message from Vista Mayor John Franklin. Rachel Beld, Vista Chamber of Commerce CEO then introduced Vista Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Matt Doyle who congratulated the students and their parents for their success and encouraging them to return to Vista after their graduation and wherever the next few years takes them. Rachel told the audience the Mission Statement of the Rising Star program pointing out that throughout the school year they have recognized 48 students from schools in Vista. Thirty-four of these students took the time to fill out the application for a scholarship, this year reaching a total of $61,000 awarded. Rachel acknowledged the students and the sponsors who assisted. She said the City of Vista gave $35,000 in a grant to assist with the scholarship awards. Before the presentation the dignitaries from the City of Vista, the Vista Unified School District and various governmental agencies were introduced. The following is a list of the award winners, the school they are attending and the category and dollar amount awarded. For the Distinguished Female Student, Nikolas Ljubic Scholarship and Risings Stars of the Year winners, Principals and other school officials introduced the student and spoke about the student, also pictured with the student in the article. Some of the administrators in attendance included Mission Vista High School Principal Jeremy Walden, North County Trade Tech Principal Chloe Medina, Guajome Park Superintendent Kevin Humphrey and Vista High School Principal Megan Ratliff.
Award of Merit – $1,000 each
Guajome Park Academy
Ellie Dobson
Madeline Farnam
Samantha Morden
Shane Gartland
Stephanie Morden
Major General Murray
Gael Garcia
Rosa Garcia
Mission Vista High School
Dylan Torres
Lucas Goldstein
Malik Daoud
Minami Jones
North County Trade Tech
Owen “Rain” Brisby
Rancho Buena Vista High School
Alexis Lew
Kaitlyn Ma
Maite Cruz
Sara Basso
Vista High School
Dailie Stevens
Diego Martinez
Grace Grainer
Leslie Chacon
Taylor Romney
Thomas Haure
Sadie O’Neil
Distinguished Female Student – $2,000
Allegra Martin – Mission Vista High School – will attend San Diego State University/journalism major
The Nikolas Ljubic Scholarship – $2,000
Vincent Downing – North County Trade Tech – will attend Mira Costa College/business major
Savannah Lopez – Rancho Buena Vista High School
Rising Stars of the Year (Received highest scores from the panel of judges) – $4,000
Christopher Elana – Alta Vista High School – will attend Mira Costa College/business major
Nahshon Strickland – Guajome Park Academy – will attend UC Riverside/molecular biology major
Moises Sanchez – Major General Murray – will attend Mira Costa College/welding & business major
Joshua Amador – Mission Vista High School – will attend Cal State San Marcos/mathematics major
Daniel Gonzalez – Rancho Buena Vista High School – will attend Stanford University/biomedical engineering
Angela Flores Guzman – North County Trade Tech – will attend Mira Costa College/early childhood education
Nayleen Griffith – Vista High School – will attend Mira Costa College/global relations & international nonprofits
Gabriela Garcia Benitz – Vista Visions Academy – will attend Palomar College/languages
