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Eamon Abraham O'Connor
College: Stanford University
Career Choice: Undecided
This National Merit semifinalist received academic letters in English, social studies and foreign language. But for Eamon O'Connor, there is more to the story. O'Connor likes to play guitar, banjo and mandolin and plans to travel the world collecting stories from the people he meets along the way. He has published poetry in the national teen magazine, Teenlnk, and intends to study writing and philosophy in college. Writing, O'Connor says, has been the secret to his success. "My favorite writers are those who translate ineffable experiences into words, especially music critics."
Arran James Rogerson
College: Undecided
Career Choice: Physician
Rock star or runner? Arran Rogerson could be both. Boasting a 4.0 GPA, Rogerson shines academically and on the track, where he is the captain of his cross-country team. A former back-ofthe- pack runner, he has been named Most Outstanding Athlete for his improvement on the cross-country and track teams, and he views competing as a life-changing event.
"It has shown me the importance of work and discipline that I can apply to all areas of my life," says Rogerson, who salsa dances and acts in his spare time.
"It is the best thing that has ever happened to me."
In addition to striving for success on the university track, Rogerson, a guitarist, says he just may start a rock 'n' roll band.
Theodora Devaja Shafer
College: Undecided
Career Choice: Undecided
Theodora Shafer says some of the most meaningful experiences in her life have occurred during yearly trips to the Alps with her dad where she can experience freedom and adventure away from the hectic city.
Shafer, who moved to the United States from Amsterdam in the fifth grade, is graduating No. 12 in her class of 380 and plans to continue exploring the world through college coursework in international relations and environmental studies.
Shafer runs as a varsity member of the cross-country and track teams and captained the cross-country team in 2005. She was also sports editor of the newspaper, president of the Cultural Appreciation Club, vice president of the Meditation Club and a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and a local soup kitchen.
Sarah Catherine Yuen
College: University of Pennsylvania
Career Choice: Undecided
Handing out food for the holidays in Oakland inner-city neighborhoods made a strong impression on Sarah Yuen.
"I want to be able to do this for people around the world," Yuen says, "with all of my efforts in education going towards this greater purpose." Yuen is at the top of her class and the editor of the yearbook, plus she's president of the Reality and Math Clubs and helps tutor fellow students in math, homework and music. Despite the hectic schedule, this senior also plays tennis as a varsity team member and captain.
When it comes to her future, Yuen is leaving her options open. "The thing I most want to achieve [in education] is to discover what professions and studies truly interest me and find something I can enjoy a career in."
Garrett Matthew Chow
College: Stanford University
Career Choice: Medicine
Garrett Chow is a senior with many talents.
A Hazelwood Science scholar who placed sixth in a class of 125, Chow plays the alto saxophone in the pep band and spring musical orchestra, has a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo and still finds time to log hours of community service.
This athlete and honor roll student may not have won every martial arts tournament he's entered, but he views each competition as a learning experience. "From losing, I gained that true resolve to get back up and stay at it," says the senior, who also loves to fold Japanese origami. Chow spends time helping younger kids learn to appreciate and love art, volunteering at the nonprofit Maria Ann Hsiao Memorial Foundation, where he participates in the Art 4 Kids Program.
Diego Benjamin Flores
College: Georgetown University
Career Choice: State Senator
Diego Flores learned to speak Spanish before English, and this bilingual senior has put both languages to good use as a National Merit Semifinalist and a National Hispanic Scholar. Flores engages in a wide range of school activities, including the Forensics Team, where he is captain, and the pep band and musical orchestra, where he plays bass and trumpet. He also volunteers with the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department, UC Berkeley summer camps and Alameda Meals on Wheels.
This ambitious senior wants to one day be a state senator and spent summer 2005 at a three-week program at Brown University studying macroeconomics.
"I was able to research and prepare a presentation on the economic impact of immigration on the U.S. Economy," says Flores, whose family came from Jalisco, Mexico. "This topic is very meaningful to me because of my family's immigration roots."
Joanna Lynn Mooney
College: University of Wisconsin
Career Choice: Industrial Designer
Joanna Mooney's true love is art.
No. 2 in her class and winner of the Bank of America Achievement Award and the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Scholarship Competition, she puts her talent to good use, painting murals at St. Joseph Basilica and St. Barnabus Elementary School. One of her paintings even graced the Advent altar at St. Joseph.
When Mooney was 5, she took an art class for older kids who were impressed with her advanced skill level. "I took this to mean that I was good at art, and that perception really built up my confidence," she says, adding she knew then she'd become an artist. Mooney serves as the chief editor of Prisms, the school literary magazine, and designs sets for the school's spring musical. She is also a member of Pacific Islander's Culture Club and the Polynesian Dance Team and was president of the National Honor Society.
Paulani Carmelita Mui
College: University of San Francisco, University of California, Berkeley
Career Choice: Nurse Practitioner
Paulani Mui may be the top-rated student in her class, but she has found some of her biggest rewards as a volunteer at the Red Cross of Alameda.
"I still remember the first time I helped hand out holiday food boxes to the needy. It surprised me how many people in my community alone live in poverty," Mui says. "I strongly believe that I can make a difference."
An honor roll standout, Mui is the art director of Prisms and vice-president of the National Honor Society. Those roles and being a member of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica keep her on her feet, but her after school activity literally keeps her on track: Mui is the captain of the varsity Track and Field team. "Though I had never believed that there was any possibility of me making it to the state championships in cross-country this year," says Mui, "I proved myself wrong, as one of only two girls to make it to state in school history."
Chukwudi Kebhu Iniabasi Hodge
College: Berklee College of Music
Career Choice: Recording Artist/Producer
This young percussionist began his music career at the tender age of 3.
"I was sitting on my mother's lap, and she was singing the rhythm of an African song. I began playing this rhythm on her leg," Chukwudi Hodge says. "Before I could even carry my own drum, [my parents] had placed me in several musical programs, and I was training with world-class musicians."
It wasn't long before Hodge mastered many types of African drums and joined several ensembles, traveling the country playing festivals, events, football games and concerts. In many cases, Hodge was the youngest musician in the room. Currently, the senior is the youngest member of the Alameda College Jazz Band.
"Throughout all my experiences, I have found that the most effective way for me to learn and progress is by playing music with other musicians," Hodge says about how he learned to play music. "To me, music is a universal language that no computer, video or other electronic program can teach."
Chelsea Ann McKinley
College: Undecided
Career Choice: Undecided
Chelsea McKinley's life has been a roller coaster ride ... literally.
McKinley finished first in a statewide competition to build a model roller coaster and won an innovative design award for constructing a cardboard boat capable of carrying two people the length of a swimming pool. (Luckily, she also won a Scholar Athlete Award as a member of the swim team.)
But the peak experience for McKinley was climbing to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park with a school group. "I decided to put the fears of falling off the sheer granite wall to my death behind me and grabbed the wire cables leading up the side of Half Dome," McKinley says. "Finally, I reached the top. Flat ground met my eyes and I rejoiced, taking in the 360-degree view."
Casandra Margaret Pritchard
College: University of California, Santa Cruz
Career Choice: Environmental Consultant
A recent trip to a tiny strip of sand known as Glass Beach at Fort Bragg proved to be a reflective experience for Casandra Pritchard.
"I love the ocean and have wanted to visit this beach for years because it is covered in sea glass," Pritchard says. "This trip was meaningful to me because it was the first trip that I've taken with my mom since I was a kid."
Pritchard has also done well academically, earning a 4.0 GPA and making the National Honor Roll. In addition, she serves as the president of the Gay/Straight Alliance. Look for her this summer cruising around town on two wheels - she's getting her motorcycle driver's license.
Kyle Russell Wilkenson
College: Undecided
Career Choice: Architect
Kyle Wilkenson sees his world through the eyes of an artist and says the experience makes him a better person. "As a novice artist, I found myself experimenting in different styles of art," Wilkenson says. "The art that I've surrounded myself with is the most rewarding thing in my life." Wilkenson hopes to study architecture, and he seems to have a firm grasp of physics and engineering, having won the ACLC egg drop contest in 2004.
The senior takes a different spin on life in his extracurricular activities, serving as the captain of the state champion ACLC Ultimate Frisbee Team. (Left to right) Chukwudi Hodge, Casandra Pritchard, Kyle Wilkenson, Chelsea McKinley.
Marc Aaron Garrison
College: Swedish University
Career Choice: Music Engineering/Writing
After graduation Marc Garrison hopes to study abroad, but his most important goal is to leave a mark. "I want to accomplish something in my life," Garrison says. "I never want to waste the time I have left."
A summer trip to Sweden, Norway and England changed his perspective on life. "I have long had a soft spot for these countries because of their beauty and fantastic musical scene," says Garrison, a drummer, who hopes to learn piano and guitar. "I returned to [Alameda] feeling fresh and revitalized, with a very new sense of perspective on things." Garrison plans to major in world history and musical theory, and one day, if everything goes according to plan, the music you hear on the radio--especially heavy metal--will be produced by the young musician.
Sarah E. Lopes
College: Undecided
Career Choice: Undecided
Sarah Lopes left school briefly after her mother died, a loss she found difficult to bear. It wasn't until she was reminded of the importance her mother placed on education that she considered returning.
"I felt I was wasting my time at school," says Lopes. "I didn't really care what anyone told me, until my father reminded me how involved my mother was in my education before she passed away."
The senior returned and currently holds a 3.76 GPA. She is active on both the leadership and student boards at Island High School. "Initially I went back because I didn't want to disappoint [my mother]," Lopes said. "Now I stay because I don't want to disappoint myself."
Jorge Julian Orozco
Career Choice: Actor
Jorge Orozco has Oscar ambitions.
"I would love to use my passion for acting to follow my dreams," says Orozco, whose peers awarded him best actor honors for his portrayal of Romeo in the Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet. "The sky is the limit."
In summer 2005, Orozco auditioned and got a small part in Mullen's Alley, a new play premiering through the American Conservatory Theatre's Young Conservatory in San Francisco. It was a significant moment for him. "I got to know my cast mates very well, and after a while, we were no longer cast mates, but family," Orozco says. "This was one of the greatest moments in my life, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Laura Rodriguez
College: Merritt Community College
Career Choice: Pre-School Teacher
In less than a year, Laura Rodriguez went from a 0.0 GPA to a 4.0. Rodriguez's turnaround was reflected in a newfound dedication to academics and her community. That dedication resulted in Rodriguez volunteering 100 hours beyond her senior required commitment of 20 hours. But at first, the senior didn't know where to direct her efforts.
"My mom gave me the best idea," says Rodriguez, who was inspired to do work for the Central American Refugee Center, a program she has participated in since the age of 11. The program aids those who are new to Oakland from Central America.
"Helping people who need it is the best feeling I have ever had," says Rodriguez.
Estelle Elizabeth Austin
College: Ball State University
Career Choice: Research Scientist
An early experience with home education helped Estelle Austin overcome dyslexia and become a better student.
"My mom homeschooled me, and for the first time, I truly enjoyed reading," Austin says. "Since then, I have absolutely loved reading. I can't get enough of books."
In addition to maintaining a 3.5 GPA, Austin participates in many extra-curricular activities and serves as a member of the Charter Redesign Team, helping to re-write the BASE charter and present it to the school board.
This ambitious senior wants to earn a master's degree in botany and genetics with the goal of eventually owning her own nursery and developing natural remedies.
Nayla Balic
College: University of California, Los Angeles
Career Choice: Social Work
Nayla Balic had to leave her native Bosnia when she was 9 to escape the civil war that started four years earlier.
She vividly remembers the carnage and the stray bullets. "The thought that I might die, or that my family could die, scared me," says Balic. "Some of the things I saw were unforgettable. People got shot and blown up."
Balic says the experience really put life in perspective, particularly after her family moved to the United States. "As the war went on there was no money, no food ... I learned that the little food we had seemed to meet our needs and that not everyone can have everything they want," the senior says. "Living in the United States, I now have access to almost anything I could ever need or want.
"I went through so much that I have changed, some for good," Balic says about the experience. "I got stronger and learned to treasure the little things I have."
Ajani Yao Cook
College: San Diego State University
Career Choice: Radio/Television Broadcasting
Rated second in his class, Ajani Cook has made great strides academically but has also used his experience at BASE to enhance his communication skills and develop as an artist and musician.
For Cook, the unique approach to student-led education at BASE, where teachers serve as coaches, has helped him to emerge from his shell. "Before BASE, I was really shy and quiet ... my last school didn't challenge me enough," Cook says. "My generation is the future of this country ... It is nice to know that there is a school that teaches youth about leadership and responsibility."
This active senior spends much of his time in the school's recording studio and is working on his own compact disc. In addition, he has helped promote Project Youthview on television, interned with Berkeley Youth Radio and is working on a mural which will be painted locally.
Josh Pasqualini
College: University of California, Santa Cruz
Career Choice: Journalism
Josh Pasqualini says his experience at BASE has helped him build confidence.
"When I first started high school, I had many things to say but couldn't express my thoughts well," Pasqualini says, adding that BASE enabled him to challenge himself and be responsible for his actions.
During the past four years, Pasqualini worked toward a 3.8 GPA, taking preparatory classes in Spanish, geology, environmental science and English literature. The senior has also received the principal's leadership award for academic achievement and the Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of more than 250 hours of service to benefit the BASE community.
Quentin Willet Bernhard
College: Cornell University
Career Choice: Undecided
Success on the football field helped Quentin Bernhard succeed at the game of life.
"I was hanging out with the wrong people and barely getting by in class ... that all changed when I decided to try out for the football team sophomore year," Bernard says. "I quickly discovered that I had a good chance to play football in college if I were able to get my grades up ... My decision to play football has helped put my life back on track."
Bernhard balances sports and academics well, participating in athletics while maintaining a ranking of 27 in a class of 276. The senior has received all-league honors several years in a row and was named the football team's most valuable lineman the last two years.
Bernard's community volunteer efforts include working with the Meals on Wheels program. His goal is to graduate from Cornell University with a degree in economics.
Caitlin Polly Kenney
College: Undecided
Career Choice: Undecided
Caitlin Kenney enjoys working with kids.
"I learn a lot from those younger than I am," she says, adding, "especially that it's beautiful to smile and laugh as much as I can."
No. 16 in her class, Kenney participates in theater, cheerleading and student government. She was named best freshman and sophomore actress and best actress in the play Maria and Ophelia by her drama department peers. She is also active in the Girl Scouts and the Alameda Family Service League.
Kenney hopes to spend time in the Peace Corps or Americorps as well as become multilingual, travel the world and perform theater in New York. g
Zubida Omer Bakheit
College: Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Career Choice: International Merchant
Zubida Bakheit has learned a lot about life, she says, through participation in the annual Ramadan fast.
"This practice has brought me much closer to my mother and my strong African culture," Bakheit says. "I've learned the importance of patience, endurance and perseverance, and I apply them in my everyday life." The senior maintains a high grade point average and enjoys performing in the jazz and marching bands where she does baton work and plays the trombone. After school activities include a position at Washington Mutual Bank where she works as a senior intern and has "pretty much learned to do everything."
Lewis Romeo Hom
College: Stanford University
Career Choice: Engineer
An accomplished pianist, Lewis Hom relishes the experience of collaborating with other musicians in the school marching band. "I found that the thrill of marching band has a unique and irresistible appeal," says Hom, who plays the clarinet in the band.
Hom, second in his class, is a percussionist and has interned with the NASA Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program. Among Hom's academic achievements are a NASA SHARP program award for co-writing a research proposal on lunar oxygen mining and a mayor's award for outstanding academic achievement. Hom also won second place in the school talent show for solving a Rubik's cube in only a minute.
