Student of the Month
As part of our commitment to support local youth, our club has "adopted" nearby Granada High School. We provide mentorship for the GHS Interact Club, we sponsor students attending the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), we hold an annual speech contest, and, each month, we honor an outstanding senior.
From September through June, Granada Principal Clark Conover visits our club meetings and introduces us to an outstanding senior. In choosing these top students, Mr. Conover considers the values we hold dear as Rotarians. Each month, we are excited to meet students who are already on the path of leading and serving others.
Senior portraits are provided courtesy of Creative Imaging for website use only.
March 2024 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Abraham Mercer, our March Student of the Month!
Abraham excels as a student, challenging himself with rigorous courses and earning straight A+ grades in every class he has taken at Granada High School! His involvement in the Biotechnology Pathway and his advanced coursework in AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Calculus, along with IB History of the Americas and IB Language and Literature show his passion for learning.
Abraham’s achievements extend far beyond academics. He loves water sports, and is currently a member of the GHS Swim Team. As a member of the Granada High School Water Polo team, he has demonstrated exceptional talent and leadership. From serving as JV Captain to earning recognition as Varsity MVP in 2023, Abraham’s contributions to the team have been invaluable. He founded the Water Polo Club, assuming the role of President and leading his peers with enthusiasm and dedication.
Abraham’s commitment to service is exemplary. His active participation in clubs such as the Math Club, CSF, and NHS further demonstrates his commitment to making a positive impact within the school community. Outside of school, he has dedicated his time to various community initiatives, including the Livermore Day of Service, the 24 Hour Race, and organizing a church youth camp for over 60 boys.
Abraham is waiting to hear from his top college choices, UC San Diego and the University of North Carolina, where he plans to pursue studies in marine biology.
February 2024 Student of the Month
Congratulations to NaVaughn Long, our February Student of the Month!
From the moment NaVaughn stepped foot into Granada High, he demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence that have earned him a place on the Honor Roll every trimester since his freshman year, with a recent achievement of Principal's Honor Roll.
NaVaughn's achievements extend beyond the classroom. As a four-year varsity basketball player for Granada, he has showcased his exceptional talent and leadership on the court. Last year, NaVaughn played a pivotal role in leading his team to victory in the Northern Regional Division 1 Boys Basketball Championship which qualified the team for a spot in the California State Championship game.
His accolades, including being recognized as the Most Valuable Player in the Edison Classic Basketball Tournament and Tri-Valley's Athlete of the Week, highlight his exceptional talent. NaVaughn's passion for basketball is evident in every game he plays, and his joy and love for the sport inspire all who have the privilege of watching him on the court. Principal Conover attests, " I haven’t seen anyone having as much fun playing as NaVaughn."
Beyond his outstanding contributions as a student athlete, NaVaughn is always willing to lend a helping hand to his friends and classmates. His positive attitude and infectious enthusiasm brighten the lives of those around him.
NaVaughn plans to continue his basketball career at the collegiate level while studying Business Management with a minor in Ethnic Studies.
January 2024 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Carly Thinfen, our January Student of the Month!
Carly exemplifies dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to both academics and the arts.
Carly's outstanding academic achievements are highlighted by her 4.51 Grade Point Average, reflecting excellence in rigorous courses including Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus, AP European History, AP US History, and AP Computer Science .She has been recognized by the College Board as an AP Scholar with Distinction.
Extending her quest for knowledge beyond the classroom, Carly uses her summer breaks to pursue specialized learning opportunities. As a participant in the Columbia Summer Immersion program, she delved into Big Data, machine learning, and their real-world applications. Her project on "Applying AI to Real Estate Investment" showcased her innovative thinking and application of technology to real-world challenges. She participated in the Inspirit AI Summer Program, presenting a group project on an AI algorithm that recommends music. Carly has also enriched her summers and fueled her passion for dance by participating in programs including the Netherlands Dans Theatre Summer Program and the Juilliard Summer Dance Intensive.
A student leader in extracurricular activities, Carly is co-founder and board member of Rising Ocean Initiatives, in which she played a pivotal role in addressing the impact of rising ocean levels in Yap, Micronesia. As co-president of the Math Club, Carly prepares students for the AMC Math Competition and organizes engaging activities to inspire a love for mathematics. Additionally, as Dance Captain at Nor Cal Dance Arts, Carly manages rehearsals, coaches synchronized dance movements, and plans team-building activities, showcasing her leadership skills in the artistic realm.
Carly’s interests have earned her accolades including winning first place at BACCC Regionals (Cyberlympics) in 2020 to securing first place in the LVJUSD Science Odyssey competitions in 2022 and 2023, Carly was awarded the title of Senior Female Best Dancer at one of the largest convention circuits in the world.
Carly looks forward to attending college after graduating from Granada High School, and has already been accepted to Yale University.
December 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Claire Sahn, our December Student of the Month!
Claire enjoys getting involved at school. She has been GHS math club co-president, and has been a member of the GHS Chess Club, The Cybersecurity Club, and the National Honor Society.
Outside of school, Claire is a member of the National Charity League, volunteering for over 25 hours each year since 7th grade. She is also an accomplished gymnast. Her past honors include State Champion & Regional Champion (4 times) and 2-time National Champion! She has even competed at the international level.
Claire's summers are typically busy. She has participated in the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) program, where she spent 4 weeks at UC Davis immersed in math and science. Her capstone research project included a presentation on the role of mathematics in economics and game theory.
She enjoyed learning about civic government by working in Livermore City Hall in summer 2023, where she focused on ways to increase public art and tourism in Livermore.
Academically, Claire shines. Her 4.6 GPA reflects her outstanding work in rigorous Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and honors courses. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction, having earned the top score on four exams and scoring the second top score on two others, allowing her to qualify for college credit.
Claire has accepted an early decision to attend Northwestern University, where she will major in Mathematics/Applied Mathematics.
November 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Tanner Gray, our November Student of the Month!
Tanner has been a star student athlete for his four years at Granada High School as a member of the GHS Cross Country Team. This year, Tanner earned First Team All-League and took 6th place in the North Coast Section (NCS) championships. He helped his team capture the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) Championship, the NCS championship, and a 6th place finish at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Championship Meet.
Tanner is also strong academically. He currently has a 4.41 GPA that reflects his outstanding accomplishment in rigorous courses. Tanner has earned the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, for scoring at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
Principal Clark Conover adds that Tanner is a polite, likable and genuine human being. The GHS body agrees. They voted Tanner as the 2024 Homecoming King.
October 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Prisha Sheth, our October Student of the Month!
Prisha has led her class for all four years at Granada High, serving as the President of the Class of 2024 each year! In addition to her involvement in student government, Prisha is a swimmer, selected as GHS Swim Team Captain by her teammates.
Academically, Prisha has earned a 4.73 Grade Point Average (GPA) by excelling in rigorous courses including Honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate classes across the curriculum. Her perfect AP scores in US History, English Language & Composition, Computer Science, Chemistry, Calculus BC, Statistics, and Macroeconomics illustrate her diversity.
In the 2022 Science Odyssey, Prisha won 1st place, Best of Show, and the Behavioral Science Award for her project titled “Short-Term Memory of Males.” The project involved observing and comparing the memorization of students enrolled in Honors classes vs AP classes.
Prisha extends her learning by participating in the Summer Science Program at New Mexico State, where she studied astrophysics. She has also held a paid internship in software analytics through the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Prisha plans to attend a four year university to study Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science.
September 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Katherine Canaan, our September Student of the Month!
Katy is Granada High School's 2023-2024 ASB president. She is an outstanding student, with an overall GPA of 4.41. In addition, Katy scored 1460 on the SAT, placing her in the 98th percentile nationwide.
She is a member of the GHS leadership class, and has been a member of the Granada High School cheerleading team and the GHS soccer team. Katy has worked with students with disabilities to teach dances during lunch to perform with the GHS cheer team at school rallies. She is part of the GHS Special Operations Committee, which includes planning Granada's Homecoming festivities.
Katy helped organize and execute a school fundraiser for the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation. This organization aids the Maui schools affected by the Maui wildfires. Katy is also a member of the Humans of Granada - a student-selected team that interviews and writes articles for students and staff on campus that runs a social media page to share posts. The objective of this group is to tell people's stories within the Granada community to develop empathy and unity.
Katy plans on majoring in Biology in order to go into the field of medicine.
Class of 2023 Outstanding Students
June 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Natalie May, our June Student of the Month!
With a 4.72 Grade Point Average throughout her 4 years of high school, Natalie has the honor of being the Valedictorian for the Granada High School Class of 2023. In addition, Natalie has successfully completed the rigorous IB coursework, exams, and 4,000 word extended essay, and is earning the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
In addition to excelling academically, Natalie is a student athlete, competing in Cross Country, Track, and JV Wrestling. She is involved in school activities, volunteered for Livermore Pride, works part-time at the Tri-Valley Haven Thrift Store, and serves on the Livermore Area Youth Advisory Commission. She has a lifelong passion for creative writing.
Natalie will attend Northwestern University starting this fall, where she will be double majoring in Sociology and Radio, Television, and Film.
May 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Shunsuke Sakagami, our May Student of the Month!
Shunsuke is an outstanding senior who has both enjoyed and excelled in high school. With a 4.48 GPA, Shun has mastered Advanced Placement Curriculum and is well prepared for college.
Shun is active in the Biology Club, Math Club, Chess Club and the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. He is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, the National Honor Society, the California Scholastic Federation, and he has been active on the Granada Varsity Tennis Team as well as in the Jazz Band.
Off campus, Shun has participated in the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Biotech Program. He has volunteered at Fertile Groundworks. And, he is trilingual, speaking and writing English, Japanese, and Spanish!
Shun has been awarded many honors that attest to his academic excellence: the Brown University Book Award, National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, Top Scholar Honor Roll, and Congress of Future Medical Leaders Award of Excellence.
Shun will attend Brown University in the Fall, where he will study molecular biology. He hopes to enter the field of medical research to find cures for diseases that do not yet have a cure.
April 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Nyah Lopez our April Student of the Month!
Nyah is preparing for her future in public health by excelling in rigorous science courses at Granada and by gaining practical experience at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
Principal Clark Conover described Nyah as an outstanding student: her 4.11 Grade Point Average reflects her mastery of all of her courses, including Physiology, Biotechnology 1 and 2, Honors Physics, Health, and Advanced Placement Biology. Nyah has also participated in the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Medical Occupations course, which allowed her to work as an intern in a local medical office.
Nyah has enjoyed being part of the LLNL Biotech Summer Experience, which allowed her to perform research in a laboratory. After participating the first summer, Nyah returned to the program to serve as an instructor and mentor for younger students.
She plans to attend the University of Iowa this fall, where she has been accepted at their direct entry nursing program. Nyah plans to be an ER nurse in the future.
March 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Andrew McKeever, our March Student of the Month!
Andrew McKeever made us all stand a little taller when he entered our meeting on March 21. As the center of the Granada High School Boys Basketball Team, Andrew helped lead the team to attaining Granada’s best season ever! GHS Boys competed in the Division 1 State Basketball Finals on March 10. Individually, Andrew earned the honor of being First Team All League in the East Bay Athletic League.
Principal Clark Conover shared that Andrew is a leader on and off the court. He is respected by his teammates and by his fellow students at Granada. An excellent student, Andrew is on the Granada High Honor Roll.
Andrew will be attending St. Mary’s College after graduating from Granada. He will study business while playing basketball for the Gaels.
February 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Ria Mathew, our February Student of the Month!
Ria is an outstanding student who successfully balances academics, community involvement, and artistic endeavors. She excels in rigorous Honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, earning a spot on the Principal’s Honor Roll or as a Granada Top Scholar each trimester throughout high school.
Outside of the classroom, Ria serves as the publicist for the Interact Club. She founded and is president of the Creative Services Club. She serves as an officer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club. Ria also volunteers in our community, serving children at her church and participating in Kids Against Hunger packing events.
We were amazed at Ria’s artistic talents. She is a pianist who has attained Music Level 8 through the Royal Conservatory of Music; she plays guitar; and she has her own YouTube channel to showcase her vocal talents. Ria also enjoys painting and has shared her work by selling her art for others to enjoy.
Ria plans to attend UC Irvine where she will major in marketing and eventually pursue a career in data analysis.
January 2023 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Dheeraj Gurusamy, our January Student of the Month!
We were excited to meet Dheeraj, the Captain of the Granada High School Cross Country Team. His leadership helped motivate his team members to achieve excellence this season, earning the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) and the North Coast Section (NCS) Championship titles. The team ranked second in the California State Finals, and earned national honors as #16 in the Nike National Invitational competition. Dheeraj runs a 4 minute, 15 second mile!
In addition to his leadership on the Cross Country team, Dheeraj excels academically, earning Top Scholar honors while pursuing a rigorous courseload of Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses. Also a musician, Dheeraj has played piano for ten years and enjoys playing the bass. He also has fun on the badminton court.
Dheeraj looks forward to attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall, where he has signed a National Letter of Intent to participate in Cross Country and where he will study Computer Science.
December 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Lexi Neubauer, our December Student of the Month!
Lexi makes Granada High School a better place. Throughout her 4 years at GHS, she has been active in the Leadership Program and the GHS Stunt Team. She founded the GHS Pickleball Club. She has been on the Granada High Honor Roll each trimester of her high school career. And she is the 2022-23 Homecoming Queen.
Lexi has applied to universities on the West Coast and plans to study Business Hospitality. She hopes to open her own business one day.
November 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Jacob Roach, our November Student of the Month!
Jacob is an outstanding student who is on track to earn an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in June. While engaging in the rigorous IB program, Jacob has maintained a 4.3 grade point average. Outside of academics, Jacob participates in Granada’s Me to We Club and the GHS National Honor Society. He is currently organizing a fundraiser to help the math department purchase new classroom calculators. Jacob tutors younger students in math, and he has served as an assistant coach for a Livermore Little League team.
Jacob participated in the FBI Teen Academy, and then organized a presentation for Granada students. He is interested in studying criminology at UC Irvine, or possibly psychology if he is accepted at alternate universities in southern California. Jacob hopes to pursue a career with the FBI.
October 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Elle Bowman, our October Student of the Month!
Elle is Granada High School’s Senior Class President. She has served her class as secretary and has been active in the Leadership program throughout high school. Elle puts her leadership skills into action by serving as the GHS Cheer Captain and as President of the Shooting Stars. She is a member of the Women in Business Club and the Pickleball Club. Outside of school, Elle has logged over 130 hours of community service through her volunteering with the National Charity League.
Principal Conover praised Elle for her leadership. He credited her for organizing the 2022 Granada Homecoming, moving to an outdoor venue for class presentations and creating Granada’s biggest homecoming rally yet.
Elle enjoys her ROP Developmental Psychology of Children class and plans to major in psychology where she can develop personal connections and help others. She has applied to colleges throughout the country.
September 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Ian Quindipan, our September Student of the Month!
Ian is the Associated Student Body (ASB) President at Granada High School. An outstanding student, he has an overall grade point average (GPA) of 4.08. Ian is also very active in extracurricular activities.
In addition to his participation in student government and the Leadership class, Ian is secretary of the GHS Gender and Sexuality Alliance club and co-founder and president of the Students for Social Change club.
Outside of school, Ian is a black belt in Kajukenbo; an Etsy store owner who creates metal and wood decor through his blacksmith and woodworking skills; a tea barista; a hockey player; and shift lead at Hawaiian Poke.
Principal Conover praised Ian for his “can do” attitude. “If a challenge arises, Ian doesn’t quit or give up, but figures out a way to solve the problem,” said Conover.
Ian plans to attend a college in California next fall and wants to study in the medical engineering field.
Class of 2022 Outstanding Students
June 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Anusri Saraf, our June Student of the Month!
Anusri is the Granada High School Class of 2022 Valedictorian. Her cumulative high school GPA of 4.74, earned while completing numerous Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, exemplifies her academic excellence.
In addition to academics, Anusri has embraced opportunities to get involved at Granada. She plays violin in the GHS orchestra and has served as class officer. She’s in Granada’s chess club and music club, and she tutors other students in math, English, science, and social studies. She competes in pole vaulting with the GHS track and field team. Anusri is president of GHS UNICEF and has been president of the Cybersecurity club for 3 years. She has built websites that have sets of lessons to increase digital safety awareness, and to spread positivity during the pandemic. She worked on developing a global cybersecurity competition called RiceTeaCatPanda.
Anusri uses her knowledge to serve others. She teaches coding to underprivileged children around the world through the company Geeklama. She volunteers at the library and at blood drives. She belongs to Toastmasters International, and has earned their Advanced Communication Gold award. She’s a Bharatnatyam dancer, and she writes poetry and short stories.
This fall, Anusri will begin studying cybersecurity at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
May 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Ciara Terry, our May Student of the Month!
Principal Matthew Hart introduced Ciara to us as the friendliest, most inquisitive student at Granada. Her scholastic endeavors speak to her love of learning. Ciara is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Student, whose overall 4.64 Grade Point Average indicates her excellence as a scholar. She has earned A’s in all of her rigorous IB courses, including Biology, Language & Literature, Math Analysis & Approaches, Psychology, French, History of the Americas, and Theory of Knowledge.
Outside of the classroom, Ciara participates in the Granada Soccer and Track & Field teams. She excels in the 200 meter track and field event. She is also active in the Human Rights Club.
Ciara plans to attend UCLA where she will major in International Development Studies. She plans to pursue law or writing to investigate international inequities.
April 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Adam Sahn, our April Student of the Month!We enjoyed meeting Adam at our April 26th club meeting. Mr. Hart introduced Adam as “the epitome of the unassuming, humble Clark Kent to the Superman that he is academically.” We understood the comparison when we learned that Adam’s 4.6 Grade Point Average reflects his success in such advanced courses as Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus, AP Computer Science, AP US History, AP Language & Composition, AP Literature & Composition, AP Government, and AP Environmental Science. He has earned the honor of being a National Merit Commended Scholar.
In addition to his outstanding academic record, Adam is involved in extracurricular activities. He plays on the Granada Tennis Team and serves as co-captain. He is co-president of the Chess Club. And he has served as a Little League Baseball Umpire since 2016.
Adam plans to major in Computer Science at UC Santa Barbara.
March 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Pallavi Badri, our March Student of the Month!
We were happy to welcome Pallavi to our club in person and hear of her exceptional contributions as a student at Granada High School. She excels academically, having earned a 4.59 Grade Point Average, as a result of doing outstanding work in college preparatory, honors, and Advanced Placement courses. Principal Matthew Hart praised her abilities, noting that “she will probably be on the Supreme Court one day.”
Pallavi shows her leadership skills as president of the Granada Mock Trial club, co-president and co-founder of the GHS Gender Equality Society, and as secretary of the Model United Nations Club. Pallavi shared that getting involved in clubs helped her feel more connected to Granada and her fellow students.
Pallavi plans to major in cognitive science or psychology. She hopes to attend UCLA or UC San Diego in the fall.
February 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Will Taggart, our February Student of the Month!
Will is an outstanding student, with a 4.37 Grade Point Average, reflecting a rigorous list of courses including Honors and Advanced Placement. Will has been instrumental as a leader and activist, campaigning in support of anti-tobacco legislation. A member of the Peer Educators Group at Granada, Will has been presenting information on the health hazards and addictive nature of vaping to middle and high school students as well as to parent and community groups. Will spoke to the Livermore City Council and was instrumental in encouraging our City leaders to pass anti-tobacco legislation that helps protect youth health and safety, and he has worked with the Alameda County Office of Education to support anti-vaping.
Will is active in student clubs, serving as secretary of both the Interact Club and the Medical Professionals Club. He was a key member of the Livermore team that presented to and helped win the All America City Award in 2021.
Will hopes to attend college on the East Coast, where he will study public health or global health, with a minor in biology.
January 2022 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Madison Braswell, our January Student of the Month!
We were excited to meet Madison Braswell, a true scholar athlete! An excellent student with a GPA over 4.0, Madison is also a three-sport athlete. She plays volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse. Principal Matthew Hart introduced us to her this month because Madison is captain of the Granada girls basketball team, and the team boasts an outstanding record of 14-1 so far this season! Madison has played on the varsity team for all four years of high school and has served as captain for the past three years. She has earned All League and All North Coast Section (NCS) honors.
Madison plans to attend a 4-year college, majoring in sports medicine or environmental science. She shared that she will treasure the friendships she’s made in high school long after graduation.
December 2021 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Jacob Bauman, our December Student of the Month!
Jacob is a star athlete and outstanding student at Granada High School. Principal Matthew Hart introduced Jacob to us in December, immediately following the GHS Cross Country team's second place finish at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Finals. Jacob is captain of the GHS Cross Country team and is an incredibly fast runner. We also learned that Jacob enjoys competitive sailboat racing. On land or sea, he's fast!
Academically, Jacob is preparing for a career in STEM (nursing or engineering) by excelling in Advanced Placement courses including AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, AP Language, AP US History, and AP Government. Jacob has earned an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.33 while at Granada!
Jacob has applied to universities this fall and is hoping to be accepted to UCLA or UC San Diego to fulfill his academic and career goals.
November 2021 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Ben Wiggington, our November Student of the Month!
Ben is a top scholar at Granada High School, excelling in Advanced Placement courses such as Calculus and Physics, and earning a 4.24 GPA. He is a member of the Matador Baseball Team, and worked with the GHS Gardening Club to develop a garden at GHS. Principal Matthew Hart shared that Ben, as class officer, is a “quiet leader” who organizes, implements, and then can be found helping out by cleaning up after an event. Ben organized events that kept his classmates connected during distance learning. He helps to develop empathy and unity through his involvement in Humans of Granada (check out humansofgranada on Instagram).
Ben has applied to several universities and plans to study mechanical engineering after graduation.
October 2021 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Jordan Knight, our October Student of the Month!
Principal Matthew Hart was proud to introduce Jordan as the Senior Class President, an outstanding student at Granada High School, and the 2021 Homecoming Queen. Jordan has been involved in Leadership, clubs, and the Granada soccer team. She looks forward to attending college and majoring in marketing or sociology. She loves creating and planning events! (We think she will be a great Rotary leader one day!)
September 2021 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Rachel Guerra, our September Student of the Month!
Principal Matthew Hart introduced Rachel as the Associated Student Body President and an outstanding senior at Granada High School. She is captain of the Cheer Team, and leads the Shooting Stars. Rachel excels as a student, enrolling in both honors and Advanced Placement courses.