18 Fresno-area high school student-athletes honored at B’nai B’rith Awards
Eighteen Fresno-area high school student-athletes gathered at the Doubletree Hotel Monday night for the 73rd annual B’nai B’rith Awards.
Each received a $500 scholarship with one winning a $2,500 scholarship.
Claire Minton of Clovis High was the recipient of the $2,500 award. She also won the Irving Negin scholarship award given to the nominee with the highest GPA. Her GPA was 4.76.
Here are the student-athletes that were honored:
▪ Andrea Alvarenga, Sanger. Sport: soccer. GPA: 3.84. California Scholarship Federation Life Member, Scholastic Honors in English, Biology, and Spanish, Speech and Debate, Video Production, teacher’s assistant, snack bar volunteer, elementary school volunteer, church volunteer. Plans to attend New Mexico State.
▪ Connor Amundsen, Clovis North. Sport: basketball. GPA: 3.60. School and Community Activities: Honor Roll, four-time Scholar Athlete Award, Cactus and Succulent Club, Teens that Care, Youth basketball coach and trainer, club basketball. Plans to attend Dartmouth College.
▪ Alyana Cortez-Chavez, Roosevelt. Sports: cross country, soccer and track and field. GPA: 4.32. School and Community Activities School leadership, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, church assistant volunteer, club soccer and club track participant, elementary school track meet volunteer, road races volunteer, Children’s Hospital Patient Pal volunteer. Plans to attend Fresno Pacific.
▪ Destiny Edwards, Fresno. Sport: basketball. GPA: 3.92. School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation Life Member, Black Student Union, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Honor Roll, CTE Ambassador, Leadership, Student Council, Link Crew, Women in Construction, Core, Science Club, ASB, Beautify Fresno, self-help construction, youth basketball coach, youth church leader, FASL camp volunteer, Little Build Libraries. Plans to attend Cal Baptist.
▪ Reginald Kedo Felder III, Washington Union. Sports: Football, basketball and track and field. GPA: 4.26. School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation Life Member, Superintendent’s Honor Roll, Class Valedictorian, Black Student Union, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Fresno County African American Student leadership and student advisory cabinet member, Club basketball and football, youth football camp volunteer, Central California Food Bank volunteer, Plans to attend Campbell University.
▪ Aiyana Finley, Central. Sports: soccer and track and field. GPA: 4.44. School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation Life Member, Principal’s Honor Roll, Student of the Month, Black Student Union, Academic Medalist, Athletes as Readers and Leaders, Special Olympics volunteer, Clovis Crossfire Club Soccer, Vintage Days Kids Zone volunteer, youth soccer tournament volunteer, Beautify Fresno Park Cleanup volunteer, Fresno Flyers Track Club. Plans to attend Chico State.
▪ Grace Goudy, Buchanan. Sports: volleyball and beach volleyball. GPA: 4.22. School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation Life Member, Principal’s Honor Roll, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Class Valedictorian, Bear Award, CPR and Lifeguard certified, elementary and middle school volunteer referee, PASA group, Clovis Community Hospital Physical Therapy department volunteer, homeless shelter volunteer. Plans to attend Stetson University.
▪ Gabrielle Gutierrez, Garza. Sports: cross country and track and field. GPA: 4.07. School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation Life Member, Board Member and Historian for CSF, Class Valedictorian, Principal’s Honor Roll, Book Club President, National Honor Society, Interact Club, JGHS Club, Fresno County Battle of the Books Competition, Best Buddies Club Secretary, school nominee for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Student of the Year, Rally Commissioner, church volunteer, Latino Police Officers Association volunteer, volunteered with United Heath Centers Foundation, Rotary Club doing gift baskets and Christmas dinners, food drive volunteer, Shinzen Garden volunteer, twice Emcee for District Employee of the Year Celebration, school carnival volunteer, trash pickup, Boys and Girls Club volunteer, Summer Fun Run volunteer. Plans to attend the UC Davis.
▪ Cedric Hughes, McLane. Sports: football, basketball and track and field. GPA: 3.58. School and Community Activities: Drama Club, Athletic Leadership Club, ABA Aztec Basketball Academy, Club Basketball Tournament MVP, Thunder Slumber Drama Performance Member. Plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona.
▪ Owen Johnson, Clovis East. Sports: cross country and tennis. GPA: 4.70.School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation Life Member, AP Scholar with Distinction, California Seal of Biliteracy, church volunteer, youth cross country camp volunteer, Turkey Trot run volunteer. Plans to attend the UCLA.
▪ Graham Luckin, Sanger West. Sport: golf. GPA: 4.52. School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation Life Member, perfect attendance award, Principal’s Honor Roll, Block S Award, Engineering Pathway, Robotics, Student of the Month, Green Team, Football cleanup, volunteer babysitter. Plans on attending Fresno City College.
▪ Claire Minton, Clovis. Sports: water polo and swimming. GPA: 4.76. School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation Life Member, National Honor Society, Principal’s Honor Roll, Class Valedictorian, Block C, Interact Club, Women’s Empowerment, youth water polo camp volunteer, water polo and swim meet volunteer worker, Royal 559 Water Polo Club, Olympic Development Program, made Cadet National Team after Freshman and Sophomore years and participated in World Cadet Games in Greece. Made Youth National Water Polo team in junior year and participated in Pan American Games in Brazil, competed in Senior National Tournament, traveled with NorCal athletes to compete in Australia Youth Games and won tournament. Plans to attend Stanford.
▪ Aiden Ransom, Edison. Sports: football, cross country and track and field. GPA: 3.86. School and Community Activities: High Honor Roll, School Leadership Events, Athletic Training Assistance, 5 Days of Fun church volunteer. Plans to attend Fresno Pacific.
▪ Makayla Smith, Hoover. Sports: volleyball and track and field. GPA: 3.72. School and Community Activities: Honor Roll, Pate Pack mentorship program, flag football event volunteer, student Athletic Trainer volunteer, Senior Rally volunteer, CIF Central Section Women in Sport Conference, Homecoming/Spirit Day volunteer, Breaking Down the Walls, Special Olympics volunteer for Volleyball, Basketball and Track and Field, Club Volleyball, elementary school volunteer. Plans to attend Fresno Pacific.
▪ Nick Stubblefield, Bullard. Sports: football and baseball. GPA: 4.48. School and Community Activities: Ranks #1 of 556 students, will receive Summa Cum Laude Honors at graduation, California Scholarship Federation Life Member, Honor Roll, Principal’s 4.0 Award, Athletic Senate, AP Ambassador, baseball camps volunteer, Spoken Up Organization fundraising volunteer to purchase bicycles and equipment for underserved youth. Plans to attend the University of Texas.
▪ Athena Tomlinson, Clovis West. Sport: basketball. GPA: 4.27. School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation life member, Principal’s Honor Roll, Math Team, Torch Feature, Environmental Club, La Bella Vita, Seal of Biliteracy, youth basketball camp volunteer, club basketball, Habitat for Humanity. Plans to attend Boston College.
▪ Pajzoo Yang, Sunnyside. Sports: volleyball and badminton. GPA: 3.50. School and Community Activities: Honor Roll, KPOP Club, Video Production Academy, Beautify Fresno volunteer, volunteer to film and record school events. Plans to attend Fresno City College.
▪ Luke Young, San Joaquin Memorial. Sports: water polo and swimming. GPA: 4.00. School and Community Activities: California Scholarship Federation Life Member, Honor Roll, Distinguished Service Award, Investment Club, Future Farmers of America, SJM Standout in Math and Spanish, Holy Cross Scholar Award, Badminton Club, Celebrate Abilities Day volunteer, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, club water polo, holiday toy drive volunteer, holiday turkey drive volunteer, Boys and Girls Club volunteer, Breaking the Chains volunteer, Smile Train International. Plans to attend Fresno Pacific.
