June 2, 2004

NewsBriefs

Presentation students win awards
Presentation High School held its Annual Awards Assembly on May 12. There were 88 categories. Award recipients from Willow Glen included Vanessa Randazzo and Jessica Brown, who received the General Excellence award in Math.

Vanessa took seven awards in all and Jessica took five. Other Willow Glen award recipients included Camila Ergueta, Melissa Scheitrum, Lauren Albin, Meghan Quinn, Lisa Strangis, Kelly Bertoldo, Christina Chiappe, Leslie Nemeth, Kelly Bertoldo, Cathlin Bosch, Catherine Blach, Eve Bostick, Nicole Cochran, Michelle Leahy, Alex Magana, Charlene Chubb, Brittany Scofield, Kate Brown, Ashley Callaway, Raquel Dorman, Gabby Taylor-Perryman and Stephanie Pezzanti.

The student body applauded as Raquel Dorman, another Willow Glen student, received the Alison Smith Memorial award, one of seven Administration Awards. Alison Smith was a Presentation student who faced personal challenges in her life and met those challenges with dignity and grace. Raquel has many of the same qualities Allison possessed determination, compassion, courage, sensitivity and the desire to be the best that she can be.

The Sr. Thecla Memorial Scholarship is awarded every year to a graduating senior who will pursue a college education with hopes of becoming a teacher. This scholarship is named after Sr. Thecla Cronin, who was a Presentation Sister for nearly 75 years and taught at the school. She touched many as teacher, counselor, mentor and friend to literally hundreds of Presentation students. Sr. Thecla is remembered for her deep love and genuine concern for others. Natalie Garcia was given this award for her compassion, enthusiasm and her desire to teach one day.

Realtor earns Staging® Professional credential
Realtor John Maydec recently earned accreditation as a Staging Professional (ASP™).  He works as a sales associate at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s San Jose-Willow Glen office.

An ASP has completed a training program that teaches specific techniques and concepts in home presentation and staging including classroom instruction and hands-on staging in a home currently on the market. Upon completion of the course, Maydeck was awarded the Accredited Staging Professional Credential, which will allow him to professionally stage his clients’ homes. 

“This credential is a symbol of John’s dedication to his clients,” said Joe Brown, Coldwell Banker San Jose Willow Glen manager.  “He has demonstrated the highest professional standards and a dedication to satisfying the needs of his clients by providing them with the highest level of support available.”

Maydeck has lived in San Jose for over 30 years. Prior to joining Coldwell Banker, he was an entrepreneur and held executive management positions in finance and human resources. His responsibilities included corporate marketing, financial operations and human resource management.

He is an active volunteer of United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots and the Harvest Food Bank. Maydeck can be reached at Coldwell Banker’s Willow Glen office at 1712 Meridian or by phone at 445-5548.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage serves the markets of Sacramento/Tahoe, San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley. It has 63 office locations and more than 4,300 sales associates throughout Northern California. It is a member of the NRT family of companies.  NRT Incorporated, the nation’s leading residential brokerage company, is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: Cendant), one of the world’s foremost providers of travel and residential real estate services.
 
For more information, visit www.CaliforniaMoves.com or call (925) 275-3085.

Two Willow Glen High students win Charlie Wedemeyer awards
Willow Glen High School seniors Ngoan Phan and Gilbert Rosales won Charlie Wedemeyer Family Outreach (CWFO) awards this year. The annual scholarships to students who have overcome adversity were awarded at the Decathlon Club on May 13 at the sixth annual Celebration of Hope dinner. The students are nominated by a coach, administrator or teacher.

Phan was born in Vietnam where his family suffered at the hands of the Communist government. His father endured hard labor and torture for five years in a Viet-Cong prison camp. His older brother was murdered. His family fled to safety where they all, including Ngoan who was 7-years-old, worked in the potato and watermelon fields. During this time, his mother was stricken with cancer.

When he was 13, the family came to the United States, finding it a challenge adjusting to a new language and environment. Ngoan couldn’t read or write, but he vowed to do his best. In two years, he was promoted to high school where he began to run cross country and track.

In his four years in high school, Ngoan has lettered in both sports every year, won five individual championships and led his team to three team titles. A top distance runner in CCS and Northern California, Ngoan is a quiet, calm leader, an example of dedication, hard work and commitment. He is well respected by everyone. The family has struggled financially and both parents have been ill. Ngoan wants to earn a college degree to repay his parents for their support. Interested in computer engineering, his goal is to become a computer science teacher. His role model is his coach, Coach Santamaria.

Gilbert Rosales moved from Nayarit, Mexico, his birthplace, with his single mother and sister. His mother has worked mainly in housekeeping and janitorial services. The family has had difficulty finding affordable housing; by Gilbert’s sophomore year, the family had moved six times. In the past two years, he has moved five times. He has never been able to afford athletic gear or even spending money. During his freshman year, signs of instability were apparent through his failing grades and behavioral problems.

Since his grades made him ineligible to compete on the varsity cross country team, he has worked hard to bring himself up to eligibility. He also hasn’t had any behavioral problems. This year he was named team captain and he spent time encouraging and helping everyone on the team, especially incoming freshmen.

Gilbert’s teachers call him a magnificent leader and role model for other students at the high school. “I am so very proud of his turnaround. His challenges have made him more resilient and have given him a valuable life perspective that will only serve to motivate him to great heights,” his coach says.

One of San Jose’s fastest distance runners, he’s been recruited by local junior colleges and small private schools. He plans to attend San Jose City College in the fall where he will compete for their cross country and track teams.

San Jose Sharks’ assistant captain Vinnie Damphousse and his wife Allana were honorary chairs for the May 13 dinner, which featured a cocktail reception, live entertainment and silent and live auctions as well as the awards ceremony. All proceeds went to the CWFP organization, which offers hope to ALS patients and families by raising funds for research and patient services, by raising awareness of ALS and by setting an inspiring example.

In the past six years, CWFP has contributed $90,000 to local high school seniors who have overcome adversity. “These student-athletes have been through so much, yet, like my dad, they are a true example of persevering in spite of their circumstances,” said Carri Wedemeyer Andry, president of CWFO.

Explorer Preschool opens Outdoor Classroom
Willow Glen’s Explorer Preschool celebrated completion of its Outdoor Classroom with a ribbon cutting ceremony April 29. The celebration marks the end of a year-long project to create an outdoor educational environment to stimulate students’ senses and provide endless opportunities to explore and learn.

Under the guidance of teachers Konne Ainsworth, Annie Deckert and Jackie Kite, landscape architect Alissa Noguez designed a space full of winding pathways, water and sand areas, two climbing structures and a full-scale playhouse. The design also included more than 30 different types of plants to add texture, color, smell and taste to the classroom.

West Bay Landscape Company turned the design into reality. But the best work of all is done every day by the students who continually find new ways to interpret the space to fit their individual needs. For example, one student learned a new way to work the tie swing or another one that sees the climbing structure as her very own pirate ship.
Much of the volunteer work and funds needed to build the Outdoor Classroom came from current and past families of the school. As part of the Child Care Playground Safety Initiative, the school also received a large grant from the Packard Foundation and Community Ventures Incorporated. Local businesses, such as South Bay Materials, Ogawa-Mune Nursery and KOMPAN Unique Playgrounds contributed supplies and materials at considerable savings, making this a true community effort.

The dedication of a mulberry tree in memory of former Explorer student David “D.J.” Adams was held as well that day with his family in attendance. D.J. and his friend Joseph Romero died in a car accident last December while traveling to visit a friend in Southern California. His family was very active while at Explorer and his mother, Cindy Adams, was a former president of the board of directors and fund-raising chairperson for the preschool.

Explorer Preschool is an NAEYC accredited parent participation school where children, at an individual pace, can learn and develop through play. Parents learn to be child educators at home, at school and in their community, through observation in the classroom, seminars and discussion with the credentialed teachers. The school has been working with the families of our community since 1960 and is located at 2700 Booksin Avenue. For more information, visit the school Web site at www.ExplorerPreschool.org.