Dave Didier announced the students of the month for December, 2009.  In order of appearance, they are Benjamin Chinoy, Andrew McDaniels, and Debbie Jong.

The honoree for Athletics is Benjamin Chinoy (17).  Benjamin was born in Hong Kong and lived in Asia until at the beginning of his 9th grade level when he moved to Arcadia.  He is a member of the Arcadia High School’s Leo Club.  Benjamin is team captain of both Arcadia High and the Leo Club’s soccer teams.  For three years he has been a starter on the varsity team.  In Benjamin’s sophomore year he has been recognized as the most improved scholar athlete.  In July, 2008, Benjamin was given honorable mention in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Academic Team.  He has also made the Principal’s Recognition Roll.  Benjamin’s community activities include volunteer work in the Pasadena Humane Society, the Foothill Unity Center, and the Eaton Canyon Nature Center.  Sports include ice hockey and soccer.  He was team captain of the Los Angeles Football Club.  Hobbies include chess and reading mystery novels.  Benjamin hopes to attend Santa Clara University, majoring in business.  His ambition is to be an international businessman.

The honoree for Performing Arts is Andrew McDaniels (18).  Andrew is active in both the Drama Club and the Comedy Sports Team.  He has served as Secretary of the Arcadia High School Theater Department and as Co-Manager of the Arcadia Comedy Sports Team.  Andrew’s main school activity is drama.  He also coaches comedy sports and volunteers in other forms of theater.  In the school’s first musical in 20 years, “Little Shop of Horrors,” he played the role of “Seymour.”  With respect to community activities, Andrew has been a regular Arcadia Red Cross donor.  He has also been a volunteer counselor at a YMCA camp in Wrightwood.  In addition, he is a volunteer music minister in St. Phillip’s retreats.  In church activities, Andrew is a musician in the church choir as well as a small group leader in the church youth group. Hobbies and recreational activities include playing guitar, bass guitar and drums, as well as performing Shakespeare and improvising fun skits with friends.  Andrew hopes to attend Chapman University and/or UCLA, majoring in theater, film studies, and pre-law.  Possible future occupations include lawyer, actor, musician or teacher.

The honoree for Academics is Debbie Jong (17), with a 4.0 grade point average.  Debbie has participated in Arcadia High School’s Student Council Orientation Commission.  She has served as President of Students Promoting Literacy and Secretary of the Arts Club. Debbie is also Executive Copy Editor of the Apache Pow Wow school newspaper.  In addition, she participates in track as a member of the Girls Cross Country Team. Debbie’s honors include being named “Super Teen” in the 2009 Next Step Magazine, being a finalist in the QuestBridge National College Match Program, and being a member of the National Honor Society.  With regard to community activities, Debbie is involved in the Arcadia Youth Volunteer Program, as part of its Volunteer Leadership Team and as Volunteer Monthly Editor of the Program’s monthly newsletter.  Debbie’s hobbies include reading, traveling, writing, and playing piano.  After only five years of piano lessons, her piano teacher recommended her to become a piano student teacher, resulting in her teaching beginning piano lessons every Saturday.  Debbie hopes to attend Cornell University, majoring in Education, and looks forward to a career as a college professor.