Sky-High Achievements of AHS Students

SARAH TAKHAR
Staff Writer

“In the city of Alhambra challenging the eye, stands a school above all others stands Alhambra High.” AHS’ Alma Mater states that its school is filled with students who strive to uphold the school’s name, and AHS students have risen up to the challenge.

One recognized student this year is senior Robyn Lopez, a semifinalist for the Spotlight Scholarship. The Spotlight Contest allows students to submit work to apply for a photography scholarship. Lopez received a letter stating that she is one of 15 semifinalists out of 650 entries. Lopez will be interviewed for a chance to present more photos that will determine whether she will place or not.

“Go for something even if you think you are not good at it. [Even though] photography has always interest[ed] me, I never thought that I had a chance to do anything in that category,” Lopez said.

Another student who has been awarded for their exceptional work is senior Jimmy Lin, who is the only
National Merit Scholarship finalist at AHS this year. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s (NMSC) mission is to recognize students who display a talent in academics. To compete for this title, a student must take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and score well.

“Being a National Merit Scholar means that you’ve put in a lot of work over time even when you don’t expect to earn anything from it,” Lin said.

There are also organizations that offer high school students a chance to participate in programs to benefit themselves and the school. One such program is Girls State, which provides a weeklong session for one junior girl from each of its participating high schools to experience being in the California State Legislature. At AHS, teachers nominate girls who they feel perform exceptionally well in academics and possess strong leadership skills. This year’s AHS Girls State representative is junior Tina Chen.

“I want to […] remember it 10 years down the line and create lifelong friendships,” Chen said.

AHS also has programs that help students excel in various areas, such as Speech and Debate. Juniors Anthony Zhu and Andrew Quach recently placed first at the student speaker contests for the Los Angeles Lion’s Club and the Alhambra Rotary Club, respectively, and will move on to the next level of competition. In these competitions, students prepare speeches on a given topic; each speech lasts up to ten minutes.

“Over time, the experience and practice added up and finally paid off,” Quach said. “I’m glad that I get to represent our school. When I do well in competitions, I’m very proud because I feel [that] I’m showcasing that Alhambra is a school filled with talent.”