TEACHER IS PART OF AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM

Local Scene, from page 13

Lamoso has been a teacher with the district’s post-secondary program since 2013. A community-based, post-secondary program for young adults, ages 18-22, this program serves students who are determined to still need Individualized Education Program services after they finish four years in high school.

This program provides collegiate and professional experiences for special needs students, in addition to life skills such as travel training, self-improvement and social skills in an inclusive and age-appropriate environment.

Housed at West Valley Community College (WVCC), all students in the program are now participating in a college course offering from Adapted PE to English or History. In addition, the number of employment partners who provide internships to program students has doubled in the last nine years, as students are placed in paid internships and direct-hire jobs. With the leadership and guidance of Lamoso and his resource aides, these students go on to hold leadership positions at WVCC student government.

In addition, program students have provided trainings in national conferences and to employers, such as Google, training engineers on the needs of people who have Cerebral Palsy and Cortical Visual Impairment.

Awarded the Glenn Hoffmann Award in the category of Student Support Services, the post-secondary program, Stepping up for Successful Post-Secondary Transitions, tied with Palo Alto Unified School District to receive the Kristi Porter Outstanding Program Award, an additional honor awarded to one program receiving the highest marks out of all the submissions.

“We are so grateful to West Valley Community College and their partnership with us as we work to provide post-secondary transitions for these unique and very capable students,”

Superintendent Bill W. Sanderson said. “Carlos and the resource aides that work in his classroom make such a positive impact in the lives of our students and their families and I am so proud of the work they do for our community.”

High School Seniors Recognized

Eight seniors from Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools were honored May 7 at Santa Clara University for the Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators’ 34th Annual Recognition Program.

With the 2023 theme, “The Future is Now: Let’s Move Forward Together,” seniors, eighth-graders and fifth-graders from 22 school districts were recognized for their grade point average (GPA), improving their GPA, fine arts/talent accomplishments, student athlete, or leadership/civic involvement among others.

Local students honored were:

• Sydney Backhus, Saratoga High School, Academics GPA: Backhus is a member of the Saratoga High School Cheerleading Team, Leadership, and Rally Commission, charged with planning and executing all school rallies. As a member of Jack and Jill, an African-American teen/mother organization, she has been able to help the community by organizing events and raising money for group homes.

• Caitlin Bowser, Los Gatos High School, Improved GPA: Los Gatos High School staff shared that Bowser has shown a strong grade improvement in her senior year. During a typically busy year of college applications, she has also added more rigor to her course load.

• Nadine Cobourn, Saratoga High School, Fine Arts/Talent: Cobourn has a passion for the creative arts and dance, school staff shared. At Saratoga High School, she has been part of the Media Arts Program, allowing for leadership opportunities and peer-topeer collaboration.

• Riley J., Los Gatos High School, Improved GPA: Riley has increased her GPA one full point from last year to this year. Her first semester senior year GPA is the second highest semester GPA she has earned at Los Gatos High School.

• Cole Massie, Los Gatos High School, Improved GPA: Massie holds a leadership position on the Los Gatos High School Robot- ics team, and in his senior year, has brought his cumulative GPA above 3.50.

• David Pollesch, Los Gatos High School, Student Athlete: Pollesch’s GPA has continued to improve throughout his time at Los Gatos High School. He has played football for LGHS every year, and has a strong sense of camaraderie toward his peers both on and off the field.

• Taylor Wilson, Saratoga High School, Leadership/Civic Involvement: Wilson’s impact on Saratoga High School can be measured through his leadership, captaining the soccer team, or winning the Luke Salin Outstanding Service Award given to students who are passionate about film, leadership and social justice.

• Mia Yannoni, Los Gatos High School, Academics GPA: In addition to being a student athlete and managing a rigorous course load with a 4.28 GPA, Yannoni is also a musician in Los Gatos High School’s audition-only jazz band and wind ensemble.

In addition, she served in Los Gatos High School’s marching band leadership team and was this year's “Team Spirit Award” recipient.

Student Wins National Scholarship Award

The Washington Crossing Foundation announced the 2023 winners of its scholarships for high school seniors planning careers in government service.

Isabelle Qian, a senior at Westminster School in London, received the West Coast Scholarship in Memory of Laura Daniel Brown.

Qian is the daughter of William Qian and Caroline Cao of Los Gatos. She will attend the University of California, Berkeley.

This year the Washington Crossing Foundation awarded $79,000 in scholarships bringing the total amount to $2,021,000 since 1970.

The scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors dedicated to serving their school, their community and their country.