EXCELLENCEIN ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES

ARVIN’S ANNMARIE NARVAEZ EARNS OVATION FOR WEST POINT APPOINTMENT. Page 5

Celebrating2017’s best

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR MAYOR’S TROPHYBakersfield Mayor Karen Goh continues cherished tradition by honoring BHS standout Ryan Crowley

Stockdale’s Lexi Keene, Ba-kersfield’s Navonte Demison set themselves apart with stellar high school careers

Sportsmanship helped set South, Independence swimmers apart

PEAAK AWARDS2 PEAAK AWARDS 3

A packed house gives a standing ovation fo KBAK/KBFX sportscaster Greg Kerr, who had hosted all of the previous PEAAK awards, but who was unable to attend the 2017 event after his wife passed away earlier in the week.

Mayor’s Trophy

Goh’s first award winner goes to a Bakersfield High standout

AWARD WINNERS4 AWARD WINNERS 5Female Athlete of the Year

Male Athlete of the Year

Lexi Keene

Navonte DemisonBakersfield High School

KHSD Superintendent Amabassador AwardAnnmarie NarvaezArvin High School

Past Winners1977 Brian Busacca, Bakersfield1978 Scott Whitley, West1979 Vincent E. Sakowski, Garces 1980 Karen S. Weisman, Highland1981 Danne DeWalt, East Bakersfield1982 Mary K. Haller, Garces Memorial and Fred H. Laningham III, West1983 Pamela Ash, North1984 Randy Graham, Bakersfield1985 Linda Ross, North1986 Mark D. Fletcher, West1987 David L. Nahama, Foothill1988 Bryan Mitchell Taylor, West1989 Denise A. DeWalt, East Bakersfield1990 Kathleen Elizabeth Haller, Garces1991 Lisa M. Johns, North High1992 Jeff Buckey, Bakersfield High1993 David R. Beard, Foothill High1994 Nicolette D. Ornelaz, Bakersfield 1995 Amber Jung, Foothill 1996 Jacob J. Stuebbe, Centennial1997 Joshua Andrew Williams, North1998 Matthew J. Antongiovanni, Garces and Bolanle O. Alade, Foothill 1999 Jill Christine Hodges, Stockdale2000 Melissa Porter, East Bakersfield2001 David Mathew Robles, Garces2002 Blair J. Groefsema, Bakersfield2003 Jacob Anthony Ceccarelli, Highland2004 Katie Renee Pierucci, Centennial2005 Richard Samuel Helvie, Garces2006 Julia Aide Avila, South High2007 Stephen John Hale, Garces2008 Peter Alexander Mitchell, Bakers-field 2009 Darci Nicole Smith, Liberty2010 Matthew Darr, Frontier2011 Alexandra Collatz, Stockdale2012 Silas Nacita, Bakersfield2013 Kathryn Cornford, Frontier2014 Lauren O’Connell, Frontier2015 Ali Vaughn, Bakersfield2016 Noelle Pardo, Bakersfield

Stockdale High School• Four-time BVarsity All Area Player of the Year• Four-time SWYL MVP• Four-time Area Champion• Two-time CIF Central Section Individual Champion

• Started at Slot Receiver, Cornerback, 1st Team All Area, Valley Champion, and #1 Draft Pick in Army Arena Bowl All Star Game in Football

• 2 x Central Section Wrestling Champion• 4 x State Wrestling Medalist• 2 x State Champion (This year went undefeated)• 3.5 GPA• Will wrestle at Arizona State University• Was ranked #2 in the Nation at 145 pounds

• Enrolled in numerous Advanced Placement classes• Part of “We the People” and “Academic Decathlon” teams• 4 year member of the Arvin Varsity Girls Basketball Team• Part of JROTC where she earned the Superior Cadet Award and

was promoted to rank of Major• Earned the Dandelion Award for outstanding patriotism and

GPA• She received her Certificate of Appointment to West Point where

she will continue her education and serve her country.

Bakersfield High School’s Noelle Pardo was awarded the 2017 Mayor’s Trophy. While, outgoing Mayor Harvey Hall was unable to attend it still was a highlight of last year’s Peaak Awards.

It was Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh’s first opportunity to hand out the annual Mayor’s Trophy for the Kern High School District’s top scholar athlete, and she presented an award to one of the city’s most stellar examples of scholarship, academics and activities.

During the Kern High School District’s annual PEAAK Awards, which were held May 17 at Bakersfield High School’s Harvey Auditorium, Goh called the name

of BHS senior Ryan Crowley, who shined for the Drillers in sports and in the classroom.

Crowley becomes the third consecutive Driller to earn the prestigiuous award, but the first boy since 2012. How about these statistics:

• Has above a 4.0 GPA in his high school career

• Varsity Captain of both the Driller Football and Basketball Teams

• Will be attending

Stanford University in the Fall

• Wants to studied applied match and science and eventually become a doctor

• One of 25 seniors in the nation honored with the U.S. Army Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence and Marshall Faulk honored him with his award.

Greatest Community Supporter

Most Inspirational Award

Kern Medical

Darren Richardson SniderWest High School

Best Editing in Video or FilmSalvador Ramirez Jr. Ridgeview High School

AWARD WINNERS6 AWARD WINNERS 7Outstanding Leadership

Scholar Female Artist

Link Crew, ASB

Jaimie KimStockdale High School

Scholar Male ArtistMichael Saenz Jr.Liberty High School

Shafter High School

• Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in December 2015• Began a movement “Victory is Ours” • Movement reached out to children suffering at Valley Children’s

Hospital• Spots found on his lung in 2016, Darren continued to inspire

West• Performed with Band while sick and gave speech before home-

coming game to help inspire football team• Spoke at Leaders for Life in March 2017 with terminal cancer• Darren passed away March 14, 2017, but his legacy will always

live on West High School and the community of Bakersfield

• Have provided over 2,000 free physicals to KHSD Athletes• Just last Saturday, serviced about 500 free physicals to students

• Salvador’s music video had an excellent use of special effects to bring his video to life

• Salvador demonstrated an excellent ability to time the video sequence to match the music

• Had an excellent use of shooting locations to enhance the music video

• Visual effects made the video fun to watch

• Member of the National Art Honor Society and an Advanced Placement, Studio Art Scholar with a 4.28 GPA

• One of his pieces of artwork took 1st place in the Youth Art Month Student Art Show

• Has a 4.08 GPA• Art work is always impeccably crafted, among the best in the

class

• The Friday before school starts, the Shafter Link Crew and ASB Leadership host a safe Lock In for incoming 9th grades

• Link Crew and ASB spend all summer planning the event• Goal of event is to introduce 9th graders to key staff on campus

and to teach the culture and traditions of Shafter.• Highlight of event is a scavenger hunt that embraces the commu-

nity of Shafter

Best Vocal Music (Solo or Ensemble)

Outstanding Original Live Theatrical Production

Darl Esparza

Rebel Theater GroupSouth High School

Outstanding Achievement in Acting (female)Destiny ChavezEast Bakersfield High School

AWARD WINNERS8 AWARD WINNERS 9Outstanding Achievement in Acting (male)

Best in Art

Noah Evans

Kristin ParulanCentennial High School

Outstanding Theater TechnicianMorgan HagarFrontier High School

Mira Monte High School

Megan JarrettFrontier High School

Stockdale High School • Member of Mira Monte choirs for four years and is current choir

president, who is a genuine leader and encourager. • Participant in Kern County Grand Night of Music, Central

California Regional Honor Choir, California Choral Leadership Academy, and American Choral Directors Association National Honor Choir of which he was the only person from Kern County to be selected.

• The original production the Rebel Theater Group created was called “1942”

• The production was done in house with lighting, design, and construction all created and completed by South High students

• The story was based on a mixture of 1940s old timey radio shows and film noir

• The cast and crew included many first time performers and workers

• Destiny Chavez has participated in theater for four years and has appeared in 7 main stage shows. Award-winning director at the DTASC Festival. Always gives 100%

• Megan Jarrett is accomplished in theater. Excellent actor, singer, and student director. Stellar work ethic and always gives 100%

• Cast as Albert Peterson in BYE, BYE, BIRDIE as just a freshman.• Has started as Edward Bloom in Big Fish and his portrayal of

Tevye impressed the audience• He has left his mark as one of the best actors Stockdale has ever

had.

• Has participated in every local student show offered in the coun-ty this year and is always favorably recognized.

• Worked with her graphic arts teacher, Dan Binsfield in creating her district award winning logo

• 2nd Place Finish in the National Space Foundation Art Contest

• Sound technician for both choir and theater the past two years• High achieving in both academics and school activities• Extremely knowledgable with her craft

Best Example of Sportsmanship

Most Memorable Moment

Jacqueline Hiracheta

Girls BasketballIndepdence High School

Best in Film/VideoHistory Day TeamWest High School

AWARD WINNERS10 AWARD WINNERS 11Best in Photography

Athletic Play of the Year

Dylan Corral

Justin McCallRidgeview High School

Best Public Event or CompetitionHonor Flight #26Liberty High School

Foothill High School Ridgeview High School • During Frosh Soph race, a Ridgeview runner fainted on the

course.• Jacqueline, who is from Foothill, stayed with the runner as oth-

ers passed by. Jacqueline waited till a coach, trainer, and KHSD police officer responded to offer aid.

• Jacqueline could have medaled and helped her team finish in first, but instead she sought to help another runner in need.

• Won third straight Central Section Valley Championship• No other girls basketball team has won three valley champion-

ships in a row• Won two state playoff games - one at the buzzer

• This group produced the documentary “Lost Headlines: Mendez vs Westminster”

• Students were Edgar Aguirre, Darius Harris, Luis Medina, and Adrian Rodriguez

• Students finished 3rd out of 42 documentaries at State History Day in California

• Advised by: Dewey Compton and Paul Stine

• Ambitious student with talent and eye for creativity• Avid photographer who produces quality images and loves

searching for the right shot• Names as one of Ridgeview’s “Senior You Need to Know” based

on his success as a photographer

• Justin was known as the best dunker in Bakersfield because of his rim rattling dunks in games

• At the KHSD All Star Game, Justin scored perfect 50s on each of his three dunks and in one of his dunks - he actually jumped over a teammate and kid

• His final dunk sent the crowd in a frenzy with his windmill and 360 rolled into one

• Will be attending CSUB in the fall and playing basketball for the Roadrunners

• In Mid March, Liberty students hosted the send off and welcome home party for Honor Flight #26

• Made up of Vietnam Veterans who never really received the welcome home they deserved

• Students developed connections with these organizations and embraced the core value of “The Power of One”

Greatest Comeback

Best Example of Sportsmanship

Boys Basketball

SwimmingSouth High School and Independence High School

Tradition of ExcellenceDriller Football TeamBakersfield High School

AWARD WINNERS12 AWARD WINNERS 13Best in Vocal Music, Large Group

Outstanding Achievement in Theater

Chamber Singers

Grace CavilloEast Bakersfield High School

Best Produced Student NewscastHawk NewsCentennial High School

West High School Liberty High School • In the championship game of the Garces Tournament, Terry

Phillips sank a shot at the buzzer to give west the victory and the championship trophy.

• West was down by 21 points at one time to Centennial, before they rallied back, allowing Phillips to get a shot off.

• In a student’s first race ever, both Independence and South High school cheered him on as he finished the 50m freestyle race. The student was nervous, but never gave up and seemed to be ener-gized by the encouragement.

• The scene demonstrated that student involvement and true sportsmanship was more important than the outcome of the race.

• Won the 2016 CIF Central Section Division 1 Valley Champion-ship

• Has won 5 CIF Championships in 11 years and have played in 6.• 37 Valley Championships (#1 CA)• 22 Undefeated Seasons (#1 CA)• 8 State Championships (#1 CA)• 700 + Wins (#1 CA)

• Production is weekly put on by ASB and Centennial’s media rela-tions during 3rd period

• Daily happenings on campus are discussed to keep the student body informed

• 4.1 GPA• Recognized by Drama Teachers Association of Southern Cali-

fornia, Shakespeare Festival, CSUB Spotlight Festival, and at the Kern High School District Improv Festival

• East High ASB officer, cheerleader, and dance instructor at a private studio

• Performed the finale from “The Mikado” by Gilbert and Sullivan• Features soloists and a chorus of Kimono-Clad singers• Embodies the joy and humor of the classic show

Scholastic Team of the Year

Best Female Student Athlete

Girls Tennis

Jasmin DixonIndepdence High School

Best Male Student AthleteGrant FidlerCentennial High School

AWARD WINNERS14 AWARD WINNERS 15Best Male Student Athlete

Outstanding Musical

Tyler Bell

Fiddler on the RoodStockdale High School

Best Cheering SectionBleacher CreaturesEast Bakersfield High School

Stockdale High School Independence High School • Fifteen student athletes with a team GPA average of 4.42• Lowest was 4.14

• One of three captains for the Independence Girls Basketball Team

• 3 Central Section Valley Championships• 4 year varsity basketball player• School’s all time leader in scoring and assists and second all time

in school history in steals and 3 pointers.• 4.0 GPA and will be attending CSUB on a full basketball schol-

arship

• 3 Year Varsity Boys Soccer Players• 2017 All Area Player of the Year• SWYL League Champion• 4.5 GPA• Will attend UC Davis next year on a full soccer scholarship• Part of yearbook staff, interact, and ASB at Centennial

• Started a confetti initiative in order to celebrate the success of Blade athletes

• Wore #Blade FAMILY t shirts and the ASB distributed confet-ti poppers in the 4th quarter of football games and waited for something awesome to happen.

• After the Blades completed a comeback against their rivals Highland, 300 students fired confetti cannons and made for a memorable moment and showed that the Bleacher Creatures have the best cheering section.

• Cast, crew, and orchestra encompassed 82 Stockdale students• Second weekend had 1300 audience members• Fine arts department helped out in costume and set design• Show focused on tradition, faith, family, immigration, discrimi-

nation, and change

• 9 varsity letters in football, wrestling, and swim• SYL All League Middle Linebacker • Received CIF Central Section Scholar Athlete Scholarship• 4.42 GPA and ranked 8th out of 496 students

Scholar PhotographerAngela Ragus

AWARD WINNERS16 PEAAK AWARDS 17

Frontier High School• 4.25 GPA and enrolled in AP/Honors and Capstone Courses• Photo clients include: Southgate Redemption Center Church,

Frontier Drama Department, and private clients for Prom and Senior Portraits.

• Has developed her own portfolio for potential clients

Outstanding Live Theater Production (non musical)ClueMira Monte High School

• 4.25 GPA and enrolled in AP/Honors and Capstone Courses• Photo clients include: Southgate Redemption Center Church,

Frontier Drama Department, and private clients for Prom and Senior Portraits.

• Has developed her own portfolio for potential clients

Best Community Service ProjectFFAKern Valley High School

• In June 2016, the Kern River Valley experienced the devastating effects of the Erskine Fire

• Numerous buildings, home, and property was destroyed or damaged in the fire

• The Kern Valley FFA came to the aid of their community mem-bers in a number of ways:

• Organized a drop off and distribution center• Delivered pet food and supplies• Delivered livestock feed and water to those affected by the fire• Students and parents operated a feed distribution site at the

school farm for 2 weeks during and after the fire• Delivered emergency feed and water to those in fire zones who

were unable to reach supply center and much much more to help their community

PEAAK AWARDS18 PEAAK AWARDS 19

PEAAK AWARDS20 PEAAK AWARDS 21

PEAAK AWARDS22