Katie is a Senior at Jesse Bethel High School. She previously attended Vallejo Middle School's G.A.T.E. program and Wardlaw Elementary School from Kindergarten to sixth grade. She is the founding editor of Verve, Jesse Bethel's literary magazine, and co-editor of the school yearbook. She is also active in the Renaissance Academic Achievement Club and the California Scholarship Federation.

Katie was selected in 10th and 11th grades for Who's Who Among American High School Students and was a California Arts Scholar last year. She writes, "After attending the California State Sumer School for the Arts in the summer of 2002 and majoring in Creative Writing there, I felt even more inspired to do all I could to inspire literacy and creativity at my school and to promote authenticity and personal initiative amoung my peers."

In her community, Katie volunteers as a mentor for Young Life and middle school groups at Northgate Christian Fellowship, and is on the Worship Team there, singing for three services each Sunday. Katie states, "Music has always been a huge part of my own self-expression and communication with others." She was part of VOENA professional choir from 8th grade through her Junior year of high school, traveling to perform in China, Mexico, Italy and Greece, plus Christmas time performances in 2000, 2001, and 2002 at the White House and Blair House for President and Senator Clinton and President and Mrs. Bush.

When asked about her plans after high school, Katie responded, "In the future I plan to persevere in my goals to emphasize the importance of literacy, creativity, and communication in others' lives, whether representing my country as an international service officer, or reaching my community through grass roots programs and publicatons." Katie plans to attend Lewis & Clark College.

Congratulations Katie!

Extracted from a "Vallejo Scholars" article in A Report to Our Community, City Unified School District's Fall 2003 publication.