Hats off to top Newport Harbor area students

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- They are football and volleyball players, dancers,

artists, musicians and volunteers. But above all, they are the academic

elite of the Newport Harbor area, each with grade point average topping

4.0.

Newport Beach’s top 32 seniors -- from Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor

high schools -- were honored Wednesday morning at the 39th annual

Scholarship Awards Breakfast.

“It’s really the only chance people have to see the academics compared to

athletics -- although there are many athletes here,” said Patrick Sharma,

a recipient of the honor who will graduate in June from Newport Harbor

High. “It’s encouraging to see people perform in the classroom, whether

they do athletics or not.”

The awards, sponsored by the Newport Harbor area Chamber of Commerce’s

Commodores Club, salute the students for their academic achievements

before they head off to college.

“It’s specifically academics, but these kids do so much,” said Karin

Graves, the chamber’s special event coordinator.

Beyond pure academics, each student boasts a long list of achievements:

from Corona del Mar senior Nicole Charney’s success as the author of

children’s literature to Newport Harbor senior Gregory Chinn’s

accomplishment as a United States junior team canoeist, placing fourth at

the Junior World Championships in Zingreh, Croatia.

In between arguing politics, teaching sailing and just being teenagers,

honorees also found time to serve their community as candy stripers,

tutors and Little League coaches.

“I thought it was outstanding to see the achievements of these kids,”

said Jaime Castellanos, assistant superintendent of secondary education.

“I think our future is in good hands.”Parents beamed proudly from the

audience, reveling in their kids’ success.

“This is so exciting and a great way to start the spring season,” said

Cher Charney, Nicole’s mother.