Costa Mesa honors top students

Luladey B. Tadesse

COSTA MESA--Jason Cabico, a senior at Costa Mesa High School, is a member

of his school choir, math club, mock trial, an activities commissioner

and a varsity player on the water polo and swim teams. The 18-year-old

also is named in Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

On Friday, Cabico was among 30 local high school and college students

with impressive credentials who were honored by the Costa Mesa Chamber of

Commerce.

About 145 parents, students and community members, including Mayor Gary

Monahan, attended the chamber’s 21st annual Scholarship Recognition

Breakfast at the Doubletree Hotel.

Students from Estancia and Costa Mesa high schools, the Alternative

Education Center, Orange Coast College and Vanguard University were

nominated by their teachers. Fourteen of them won the prestigious Les

Miller Outstanding Student Awards

The ceremony, held early enough for students to get to their last exams,

was filled with exuberant parents.

“I am really proud to see my kid up there with the rest of the kids that

are recognized,” said Warren Inouye, whose son, Abraham, was among the

winners.

“This is a pretty neat kid. He is still a guy who doesn’t clean his room,

but he is up there with kids who are making something of their lives.”

Abraham Inouye, 18, who attends Estancia High School, also was excited

about his award. He plans on traveling around the world this summer with

his sister, Melissa, who received the same recognition three years ago.

The awards motivate some students to continue their commitment to school

and their community in the future.

“Our parents have established in us a desire to be the best people that

we can be,” said Cabico, who will attend Yale University in the fall. “I

want to do the same in college--get involved.”

The other recipients were:

* Alternative Education Center: Frank Douglas Fitus and Jamie Grace

* Costa Mesa High: Sarah Cotton, Farshid Kazi and Magdalena Sandoval

* Estancia High: Cynthia Cuevas, Abraham L. Inouye, Joel Tyler Johnansen

and Robin Letostak

* Orange Coast College: Jenny Miller and Ryan Simpkins

* Vanguard University: Luke Hagenbach and Leslie N. Shaefer.