sammamishreview062012

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June 20, 2012

community

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Annual Teen Fest jazzes up Sammamish Commons

By Brittany Cardoza

The sun came out just in time for the anticipated summer kick off event, Teen Fest.

Teens flocked to the Sammamish Commons for the fifth annual festival.

The June 15 event hosted a variety of entertainment including live music by local bands.

Teen Fest is sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club in partnership with the City and provides teens the opportunity to socialize with students from neighboring schools.

“We come to Teen Fest to watch the skateboard competition, hang out with friends and get free stuff,” said Jacob Mohrharadt a student at

Inglewood Junior High.

Kicking off the festivities at the Sammamish Skate Park, teens came from across the state to participate in a skateboard competition. Zack Tally of Mukilteo was one of the three skateboarders to compete in the 10 and under division.

“I love skateboarding and came to win this competition,” said Zack.

Following the skateboard competition, teens made their way to the Sammamish Commons to enjoy nighttime entertainment featuring local bands, vendors, inflatables and henna tattoos.

To enter the event, teens were required to show their ASB card or state identification to prove their Sammamish residence.

Photo by Brittany Cardoza

Nicole Busacca, a student at Skyline gets a henna tattoo applied by Kaylee Hansen, a volunteer from Eastlake.

Photo by Brittany Cardoza

Seattle-based band Theoretics played a set as the headliners at this year’s Sammamish Teen Fest.

“Teen Fest is great because it mixes teens from all of the schools on the plateau and gives them the chance to get to know each other,” said volunteer Elizabeth Arnold, a senior at Eastlake High School.

While some teens came to make new friends, others came to support their performing peers. Local bands featuring stu-

dents from Skyline, Eastlake and Eastside Catholic high schools rocked the stage. Bands including Smote, Scinite, Max Wang, Jacob McCaslin & Roll the Credits and Stereotype Nation participated this year.

The headline band, Theoretics, featured 2010 SAMMI Award winner, Adam Gross. Gross, a music teacher

at Samantha Smith Elementary School drew many of his former students to the performance.

This year’s Teen Fest had lower attendance than previous years.

Volunteers attributed the low turnout to final exams, which are taking place at Eastlake and See TEEN, Page 13

Eastlake student named a Presidential Scholar

By Briuttany Cardoza

Monisha Gulabani is not your average straight-A student.

The Eastlake High School senior was recently named one of Washington State’s two Presidential Scholars. The honor is given to 141 students across the nation each year. The scholars are chosen based on demonstration of outstanding academic achievements, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship and contributions to the school and community.

And she did it all with one leg.

In October 2006, Gulabani was diagnosed with synovial cell sarcoma, an aggressive form of pediatric cancer that resulted in the amputation of her leg. However, Gulabani did not allow this obstacle to limit her active lifestyle.

She began downhill skiing with Outdoors For All, a nonprofit organization that coaches

those with disabilities in outdoor activities. Continuously inspiring those around her through her positive community presence, she was awarded the 2009 Trevor Price Award, a SAMMI award that recognizes a Sammamish resident who shows outstanding initiative and caring.

“My experience with cancer pushed me to give back to the community,” said Gulabani.

During her junior year of high school, she encountered another speed bump on her road to success. She began experiencing memory loss as a result of cancer treatments, but instead of allowing it to hinder her academic progress, she sought a little help from her teachers and continued on.

“She came to me and said I really want to do this but I need your help,” said Rachelle Horner, her English and history teacher.

Horner let Gulabani come into

Monisha Gulabani school early each morning for a week in order to complete the test.

“I was given the great opportunity to go to Eastlake and was inspired by the teachers there,” Gulabani said.

Gulabani shares her passion

for knowledge through helping others. She combined her love for the humanities with her love for math and science and created a club to spread awareness and solve problems for women around the world.

“She has a heart and natural intelligence that is like no other student I have had before. She thinks of everything from all different angles and genuinely cares about what matters most in the world today,” said Horner.

While maintaining a 4.0 grade point average, Gulabani balances a multitude of leadership and service roles outside of the classroom. She served as committee chairwoman of the Eastlake Science Honor Society, co-president of the debate team and was an intern for the Sammamish Review. Gulabani’s connection with cancer led her to serve others by taking on a leadership role as co-president of the Eastlake

High School’s Junior Orthopedic Guild for Seattle Children’s. She also served as a committee chairwoman for Eastlake’s Relay for Life, an event that raises money for the American Cancer Society.

Gulabani will soon travel to Washington, D.C. to receive her award, the second person in her family to do so. In 2008, Gulabani’s sister Anisha, now a student at Harvard University, was named a Presidential Scholar.

Horner, who was chosen by Gulabani as her most inspirational teacher, will accompany Monisha and receive recognition and attend a training seminar.

“Ms. Horner has made me a more open-minded and tolerant student,” said Gulabani, “I am inspired by who she is as a teacher and how she teaches.”

Gulabani will attend the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania this fall.

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sports

June 20, 2012

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Vicente Varas made the most of his move to the United States

By Brittany Cardoza

For Eastlake High School senior, Vicente Varas, moving from Chile to the United States was the golden opportunity that led to his stunning high school tennis career.

The three-time KingCo 4A singles champion was born and raised in Chile until age 12, when his father took a job with Microsoft and the family moved to Sammamish. When he began school at Louisa May Alcott Elementary School he was concerned the language barrier would make it difficult to fit in.

However, Varas’ ability to learn quickly allowed him to adapt in a matter of months.

“At first, I really didn’t know what anyone was saying and the culture was much different but after two months or so I began to pick up English and understand better,” said Varas.

Varas found that tennis was a way to assimilate into American culture. At the age of four Varas was introduced to tennis by his father. His father taught all five

of his children two sports; tennis and waterskiing.

As the children grew older they chose one of the two sports to focus on. Varas chose tennis.

After settling into his new home, he took advantage of the opportunity for high quality tennis lessons and began competing in the

“This year was by far my best, it was a great way to end my high school tennis career.”

– Vicente Varas, Tennis player –

United States Tennis Association.

“The quality of coaching in the U.S. is much better than it would have been in Chile” Varas said.

“If I would have stayed in Chile, I would never have gotten to where I am today.”

Unlike many skilled tennis players who opt out of high school tennis to focus on playing at other levels, Varas chose to

play for Eastlake to gain a team experience.

“Tennis is a very individual sport, but being a part of a team really helped Vicente grow mentally and allowed his leadership skills to bloom,” said his mother, Rocio Collado.

Varas remained the number one varsity tennis player at Eastlake throughout his three years of high school play. Each year he competed in state, improving his rank each time.

This year he finished third after losing in the semi-finals to eventual state champion, Mitch Stewart.

“Over the last year or so I really started to improve. This year was by far my best, it was a great way to end my high school tennis career,” said Varas.

As co-captain of the Eastlake tennis team, Varas confidently and positively led the team through this year’s losing season. According to Eastlake tennis coach, Bud Peterson, it was Varas’ strong work ethic and See VARAS, Page 16

File photo

Eastlake’s Vicente Varas stayed motivated playing tennis and finished third in the state tournament last month.

Pedro Miola brought ‘Latin spirit’ to the soccer field

By Lillian Tucker

File photo

Pedro Miola (airborne, No. 2) was a key player for Skyline soccer over the past three years.

Dubbed one of the Kardiac Kids by the Seattle Times, Pedro Miola made his mark on school history last year when he scored the game-winning sudden death goal, advancing the Skyline Spartans to the state semifinals for the first time ever. This year Miola, and his 17-point season total, helped the team make history again by winning the KingCo 4A Championship.

“Pedro has a knack for being in the right place in the right time,” said Spartan soccer coach Don Braman.

Miola played for Braman’s varsity team all four years of high school, started for the last three and filled the role of team captain this year.

While forwards are traditionally the top scorers, the midfielder was second in total points his final season and graduated as the school’s third top scorer ever with 43 career points.

“That is rather impressive,” Braman said. “You want your best players in the middle of the field; he is going to work harder than anybody else. He is going to do the work defending and compete

for every ball. He is a model for very high priority.” every guy to look up to and we Miola’s mother said she was are going to miss him.” glad to see him using the sport as Miola said he was just happy a way of staying in touch with his as long as he was helping the roots. team out. He didn’t focus on scor“It was nice to see him enjoying, the goals came when they ing something that connects to came. our culture,” said Cristina Miola.

The first team all-leaguer has She explained that the family been helping on the soccer pitch goes back to Brazil almost every since he was around the age of year. five. He dabbled in other sports When in Sammamish the like golf, tenMiolas nis and football still speak “There is something in elemenPortuguese and about soccer that just tary school eat Brazilian and basketball, brings people together.” food, and Pedro lacrosse and Miola and his – Pedro Miola, swimming in father do their Soccer player – middle school. best to keep But it was socup the national cer that consisteam’s progtently captured ress. his energy.

“It’s funny, he kind of has this “There is something about spirit. The Latin spirit, more outsoccer that just brings people going, funny, friendly and weltogether. When I go to Brazil I coming,” said Cristina Miola. “He really see that,” said Miola. Born has a little Brazilian style.” in Brazil, Miola moved to the “He enjoys life,” said Braman. states with his family at the age “He is ready to have fun with the of three. team and be part of the mischief “When Brazil plays, there is no that is part of being a teenager.” one on the streets. Everyone is The list of mischief is too with their families. I was raised See MIOLA, Page 16 in that culture where soccer is a