By Lilly Fabian
Staff Writer
Mira Costa held its annual All-Awards Assembly on May 30 during second period in the auditorium to honor juniors and seniors with various awards, including Student of the Year Lauren Hagedorn.
Each year, the assembly awards seniors who qualify as valedictorians and salutatorians for their outstanding grade point averages. This year, Costa had 28 valedictorians and 12 salutatorians.
“It’s great to see that Mira Costa has so many hard-working, talented, and successful students,” Hagedorn said.
The four other nominees who competed for the prestigious Student of the Year award consisted of seniors Adam Gerard, Braden Currey, Isaac Siegemond-Broka, and Meghan Burns. After a slide show of Hagedorn’s life, the audience gave her a standing ovation.
“I want to thank all of my teachers because they’re the ones who do the nominating,” Hagedorn said. “I don’t even know how to thank them for everything they have done, supporting me academically and as a person.”
According to Principal Dr. Ben Dale, the Student of the Year embodies the qualities of the ideal Costa student. They are high achieving inside and outside of the classroom by excelling in each of their classes and contributing a substantial amount of their time to the community.
“The student of the year should model what we want to see in all of our students,” Dale said. “The student of the year should have a proven track record of service to others and be someone who is more focused on everyone’s success, not just their own.”
Throughout her four years at Costa, Hagedorn has been co-captain of the girls cross country team, a member of the Mustang Morning News and has volunteered at the Roundhouse Aquarium on the Manhattan Beach Pier. Hagedorn plans on attending Duke University in North Carolina in the fall.
“Delve in,” Hagedorn said. “Find something you’re passionate about because it makes time fly by.”
The Sandacre Teachers of the Year, English teachers William Brown, Nicole Wachell, and Diane Seeker, were also honored at the assembly. These teachers were voted to win the award by the senior class
“I was very shocked when I received this award,” Brown said. “I was so honored because the award came from the students.”
Students were also awarded departmentally by receiving awards in specific academic subjects including the visual and performing arts. Each department chose students whom they think excel in their subject area to receive an award.
“When I was recognized for the Visual Art Award, I was so happy,” junior Morgan Francis said. “It was nice to be recognized for something I’ve been working on for such a long time.”
The All Awards Assembly recognizes overall student achievements along with specific student academic and athletic strengthens. Juniors who currently hold a weighted 4.0 GPA received the Charlaine Deathrage Award.
“I feel like the Charlaine Deathrage award is one of the awards given that is completely objective, which is a very good thing,” junior Drew Dates said. “I think the Charlaine Deathrage award and valedictorian should be based on weighted GPAs.”
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