DOWNEY - Nearly 200 middle school students were honored by Dr. Mary Stauffer last week for their academic achievements.The two-day awards ceremony took place at the Barbara J. Riley Community and Senior Center Nov. 16-17. Stauffer presented high-achieving students with checks totaling $24,000 to help them start or add to their college savings plan. Eligible students earned straight A's on their report cards for both semesters as fifth or sixth graders during the 2010-11 school year. A total of 253 students qualified, and 209 applied for the award. Of the 209 applicants, 192 attended the awards ceremonies; 180 students each received checks for $100 and 12 students identified as Stauffer Scholars of the Year received checks for $500. Stauffer Scholars of the Year will also have their names engraved on their school's perpetual plaque, which hang at their campus. This year's Stauffer Scholars of the Year include Jonathan Jin (East Middle School); Devin Cornari (Griffiths); Danise Herrington (Sussman); Trevor Hill (West); Julia Sanchez (Carpenter); Nicholas Portillo (Gallatin); Caesar Angulo (Gauldin); Adren Blanco (Old River); Sebastian Perez (Price); Jalen Nicolas (Rio Hondo); Amanda Kim (Rio San Gabriel); and Dave Kang (Unsworth).

********** Published: November 24, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 32