Tracy Sunrise Rotary Club has chosen Steve Perez, a senior at West High School, as the club’s representative in the Rotary District 5220 speech contest.
Perez was selected from five West High students who spoke at the club’s regular meeting on Feb. 1 at Windmill Ridge Winery.
The students from Lynne Desautels’ speech class at West High each gave a five-minute talk on Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee’s 2011-12 theme, “Reach inside to embrace humanity.” Speakers talked about what that theme meant to them and how greater ideas of making the world a better place were encompassed in the president’s words.
Perez won first place for his speech about world unity. He received a $125 award and will represent Tracy Sunrise Rotary at the area speech contest at 10 a.m. March 10 at Tracy City Hall’s Council Chambers.
Senior Amy Lucatero placed second and received a $100 award, and freshman Alexia Vlasak was third, receiving a $75 award. Honorable mentions went to seniors Cesar Alcala and Francisco Molano.
Teenager earns acclaim at Marine academy
Brandon Van Patten, a 10th-grader from Mountain House, completed a four-week introductory training course Feb. 4 at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas, where his drill instructor named him the best of the new cadets, called plebes, in his company.
Van Patten previously attended Kimball High School and was a member of Boy Scouts Troop 515. He is the son of Liz Nonato-DeJesus.
Marine Military Academy is a private, college-preparatory boarding school based on the traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps for eighth- through 12th-graders.
• Accolades runs in Our Town whenever we hear about someone who has done something commendable and deserves kudos for it. If you have news for Accolades, send it to tpourtown@tracypress.com, or drop off a note at the Tracy Press office.
Post a Comment