INTEL "PRIZE PATROL" SURPRISE LYNBROOK HS
SENIORS DAVID LIU AND RAMAN NELAKANTI
JANUARY 2010 CONGRATULATIONS to Lynbrook High School Seniors David Lu and Raman Nelakanti for being named finalists in the annual Intel Science Talent Search, America’s oldest and most prestigious high school science contest. For the first time in the history of the Intel Science Talent Search there are two finalists from the same school in California! Approximately 1,700 contestants began the competition with 300 semifinalists named on January 13, 2010. Today the Intel “Prize Patrol” announced finalists David and Raman, two of the 40 chosen nationwide, at an outdoor assembly at the beginning of lunch. As finalists, David and Raman were each presented with a $7,500 check.
The Intel Science Talent Search is known as the junior “Nobel Prize” of high school science competition. The finalists will gather in Washington, D.C. for a week-long event from March 11-16 where they will undergo a rigorous judging process, meet with national leaders, interact with leading scientists and display their research at the National Academy of Sciences. Top winners will be announced at a black-tie gala award ceremony at the National Building Museum on March 16. The finalists will compete for more than $630,000 in awards with a top prize of $100,000.
Since 1942, first in partnership with Westinghouse and beginning in 1998 with Intel, Society for Science and the Public has provided a national stage for America’s best and brightest young scientists to present original research to nationally recognized professional scientists. David Lu’s research was on “Semantic Image Retrieval and Interactive Exploration of Large Image Collections,” and Raman Nelakanti’s research was on “Inducing Anaerobic Conditions Using Sulfur Deprivation for Hydrogen Production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.” Alumni of this program hold more than 100 of the world’s most coveted science and math honors, including seven Nobel Prizes, three National Medals of Science, 11 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, and two Fields Medals.
Eight students from Lynbrook High School entered the Intel Science Talent Search this year and six were named semifinalists.
SIX LYNBROOK SENIORS NAMED SEMIFINALISTS
IN INTEL SCIENCE COMPETITION
JANUARY 2010 CONGRATULATIONS Lynbrook High School Seniors Akshay Maheshwari, Raman Nelakant, Ritik Malhotra, Tejas Navaratna, Tony Ho, and David Liu were named semifinalists in the prestigious 2010 Intel Science Talent Search competition. On Wednesday, January 13, the Intel Corporation “prize patrol” surprised them in an assembly of their peers, presenting each with a check for $1,000. Lynbrook will also receive a $6,000 check for the school. The Intel Science Talent Search is known as the junior “Nobel Prize” of high school science competitions. This year there were over 1,700 contestants with only 300 named semifinalists. Forty finalists will be chosen to attend the Science Talent Institute in Washington, D.C. from March 11-16, 2010...more
STUDENT NEWSPAPERS Recognized
NOVEMBER 2009 CONGRATULATIONS Lynbrook and Monta Vista High School Journalism Students and Advisers Nicole Gordon, LHS, and Michelle Balmeo, MVHS. The National Scholastic Press Association announced the winners of its annual newspaper Pacemaker contest, and of the 24 total winners throughout the nation, Lynbrook’s Epic and Monta Vista’s El Estoque both received awards this year.
• The Epic was one of only 15 winners in the 16 or fewer pages division
• El Estoque was one of only 9 winners in the 17+ pages division
The National Scholastic Press and the Newspaper Association of America Foundation have co-sponsored the Pacemaker competition since 1971. Judges select Pacemakers based on coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, design, photography, art and graphics. The Pacemaker Award is the most competitive of its kind and is generally referred to as the Pulitzer Prize of scholastic journalism.
SOLAR Energizing Ceremony
NOVEMBER 2009 The Fremont Union High School District and Real Goods Solar (NASDAQ: RSOL) will “flip the switch” to activate the new solar electricity system at Lynbrook High School on November 12th at 10:35am in the student parking lot in front of the school.
The District has contracted with Real Goods Solar to install solar electricity generating systems at all five of its comprehensive high schools, Adult and Community Education complex and the District Office, funded by Measure B, a school bond that voters approved in June 2008. Once completed, the solar panels will provide 3.6 mega-Watts (MW) of generating capacity across the District and will reduce the District’s PGE bill by over $1,200,000 per year. At Lynbrook High School, the 777 kilo-Watts of solar panels will supply nearly half of the school’s electricity needs with clean energy from the sun while reducing the school’s PGE bill by over 65%. ...more
2010 NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS
OCTOBER 2009 One hundred and thirty two seniors from Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High Schools in the Fremont Union High School District have been named Semifinalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program. More than 1.5 million students in the United States entered the 2010 National Merit Scholarship competition by taking the PSAT as juniors, and of those, 16,000 have been named semifinalists. The PSAT, in its 55th year, assesses a student’s skills in critical reading, math problem-solving and writing. These students have earned the opportunity to compete for 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, that will be offered to Finalists next spring. To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. CONGRATULATIONS to the District’s 2010 Merit Scholarship Semifinalists!
API RESULTS Show High School Students Continue to Excel
SEPTEMBER 2009 REASON TO BE PROUD: The 2009 Academic Performance Index (API) scores for all five high schools in the Fremont Union High School increased with Cupertino High School up 39 points to 879, Fremont High School up 2 points to 741, Homestead High School up 7 points to 853, Lynbrook High School up 6 points to 926, and Monta Vista High School up 11 points to 935. The District API rose 12 points to 869. Cupertino High School has the largest growth of all comprehensive high schools in Santa Clara County.
Fremont Union High School District FBLA Lead California
to 11th National Championship
AUGUST 2009 The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students in the Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) led California to its 11th consecutive national championship at the FBLA National Leadership Conference held June 26 – July 29 in Anaheim, CA. Over 8000 students from the United States and its territories competed at the conference, a new record attendance figure. Collectively, FUHSD students earned 309 points, over 70% of California’s 441 points. Over 90 different FUHSD students Placed, which far exceeds any other district. Furthermore, all of the top three schools in America are from the Fremont Union High School District. Homestead took first with 147 points, Monta Vista took second with 84 points, and Lynbrook took third with 63 points....MORE
JAMES MAXWELL Named Principal of Fremont High School
APRIL 2009 After an extensive nationwide search, the Fremont Union High School District found the perfect person to be the new principal of Fremont High School. James Maxwell, a seasoned administrator for the past 21 years, most recently the principal of Gilroy High School, unanimously met the approval of the Board of Trustees at its meeting on April 23, 2009. Maxwell takes over the helm of Fremont High School on July 1, 2009 from Principal Peggy Raun-Linde, who will be the new principal of the District’s Adult Community Education.
An educator since 1974, James Maxwell’s leadership experience, hands-on style and passion for education made him a standout in a group of highly qualified candidates. His strong belief that all students can achieve academic success and his true appreciation and understanding of teens proved to be the “right fit” to lead Fremont High School to the next level of educational excellence for all students.
James Maxwell is no newcomer to the Bay Area. He grew up on the peninsula and attended high school in San Jose. He began his career in education as a chemistry teacher at Moreau High School in Hayward, California, where he also served as a counselor and assistant principal. Maxwell worked for 12 years as an administrator in the San Mateo Union School District before becoming the principal of Gilroy High School in 2005. During his tenure, he worked closely with staff and students to close the achievement gap, improve API scores, improve CAHSEE scores and improve matriculation rates to colleges. Gilroy High School was named a 2009 California Distinguished School, an award based on improvement in all of those areas.
“We are so fortunate to have found James for Fremont High School,” stated Superintendent Polly Bove. “He is a true leader with exceptional experience and expertise. He is clearly very excited about coming to Fremont High School. He is passionate about serving as the principal of an outstanding, large multi-ethnic comprehensive school. James places a high value on school pride and he has commented that he is looking forward to becoming a part of this long-standing tradition by becoming Fremont’s newest Firebird.”
“I am very impressed by the people that I have met and the professionalism of the interview process of the Fremont Union High School District and of Superintendent Polly Bove,” stated James Maxwell. “It has helped me to make this very important and exciting life decision.”
GAIL DAVIDSON Named Principal of Lynbrook High School
MARCH 2009 At the March 3, 2009 Board of Trustees meeting in the Fremont Union High School District, the Board unanimously approved the appointment of Gail Davidson as the new principal of Lynbrook High School. Davidson is an exceptional educator with local and international experience, having been a principal in California and in Australia. She is a ‘relationship first kind of person’ and plans to attend different meetings and events over the next few months to get to know the Lynbrook High School students, staff, and community. Davidson will be the first female principal of Lynbrook High School when she officially takes over the helm on July 1, 2009 from Interim Principal Rich Amlin.
Gail Davidson has a strong academic background, holding a degree in Mathematics as well as a masters degree in Educational Administration. She started her career as a math teacher, serving 18 years in that role before moving onto administration. As an administrator, she served as an assistant principal, principal, director of educational services, as well as interim superintendent in the Sacramento area. While in Placer County, she was named principal of the year by ACSA (Association of California School Administrators). In addition to her significant experience in California schools, Davidson possesses dual citizenship and was most recently working as a principal at Northcote High School in Victoria, Australia. Among her many achievements at Northcote, Davidson cultivated an acclaimed international student program that continues to thrive today. This international program welcomes students from all parts of the world, including China, Vietnam, India, Germany and Latin America.
“Complementing her extensive educational experience is her relationship-first personality,” stated Superintendent Polly Bove. “Vivacious and engaging, passionate and personal, her style is one that will inspire all of us to continue to strive for what is best for all Lynbrook High School students. We are very fortunate to have found Gail for Lynbrook High School.”
“Thank you for your confidence in me and for the opportunity to not only be a part of the great school Lynbrook, but also this entire district,” stated Gail Davidson.
