David, David, Taft and Tate honored as exceptional

Teddi Tate of Ivy High School and Elizabeth David, Mary David and Rob Taft of Fallbrook High School were honored April 7 as exceptional high school students in the Fallbrook Union High School District at the Fallbrook Community Student of the Month breakfast held at Fallbrook Golf Club.

“These young people represent what’s good, wholesome and promising in our society,” said Dr. Peter Fellios, standing in for District Superintendent Tom Anthony.

Teddi Tate was nominated for the distinction of Student of the Month by Ivy High teacher Dana Smith. Science instructor Ms. Ryan underscored why Tate deserved the honor.

“Teddi is a great kid,” Tate said. “She works very hard and will graduate early. She has accomplished a lot at Ivy.”

A student who went to Ivy at a time when she was behind in her studies, Tate has shown her dedication to her educational goals. She will be an early high school graduate (after the fall semester). It was reported that she volunteers her time to assist other students and enjoys participating in classroom discussions. In her free time, Tate enjoys art and spending time with her friends.

“Ivy High has made it possible for me to catch up really fast. I want to thank Ms. Ryan, the rest of my teachers and my mom for helping me through everything. It is my hope to attend the Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology in the future.”

Twin sisters Elizabeth and Mary David were honored together at the special recognition breakfast. Fallbrook High School College and Career Counselor Karen Ricci nominated them for the Student of the Month honor.

“These girls are both sweet, kind, very talented and tenacious,” Ricci said. “They are the kind of girls who will go on to do great things.”

“Mary wants to be a doctor and has already won a scholarship award from Bank of America,” Ricci said.

Mary David was voted Homecoming Queen for 2004 and will be valedictorian at the 2005 graduation. She participates in pole vaulting for Fallbrook High, is a member of CSF and enjoys playing the flute.

“I really love this community,” Mary David said. “Today is an example of the way this community has supported us. My future plans include attending the University of Pennsylvania, one of the University of California schools or USC. I want to go into pre-med. I just want to say I would not be the person I am without my sister.”

Elizabeth David is avidly interested in flying and started taking flying lessons when she was in eighth grade. She is the team captain of the FHS gymnastics team and teaches gymnastics at Fallbrook Gymnastics Club. She is a worship leader at Community Baptist Church and a member of the youth group. She enjoys playing the saxophone and is a member of CSF.

“People always ask if there is competition in my and Mary’s relationship as twins and I tell them ‘No!’” said Elizabeth David. “I am so very proud of my sister. She has been the one in the spotlight more and I just love it. In the future my goal is to be a pilot and fly for the airlines — internationally. I also hope to be fully trilingual in English, Spanish and Japanese.”

Rob Taft was named Student of the Month based on a nomination from Fallbrook High teacher Pam Munro.

“Rob is a gifted scholar,” said Munro. “He does not have a grade less than an ‘A’ anywhere in his transcripts. He is an individual who shows grace under pressure. In my class, he is phenomenal and consistently the top writer.”

Taft carries an impressive 4.46 grade point average, is the placekicker for the FHS varsity football team, a member of the junior varsity academic team, a member of the varsity soccer team and plays FURY soccer. He runs the sound board for Zion Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School and volunteers his time to coach indoor soccer.

“I want to say thank you for being honored by such great people in this community,” said Taft. “I also want to thank my family for always being there to support me. In the future, I hope to attend my dream school — Stanford University. I really enjoy physics and may decide to focus on engineering.”

All four students honored received a personally engraved medal depicting the Lamp of Knowledge from American Legion Post 776, represented by K.D. Van Antwerp and Frank Larkin. In addition they received numerous gifts and certificates of recognition for their accomplishments.

Representatives of elected officials and members of the business and service community join together to honor four high school students each month who have praiseworthy academic achievements in addition to community service accomplishments and outstanding leadership qualities.

These students bring the total number of students honored by the Fallbrook Community Student of the Month program to 277 since the program’s inception in February of 1997.

This nonprofit program is organized by a committee of the same name and is funded by several generous local businesses and service organizations.

Members of the community are welcome to submit a nomination for Student of the Month. Please stop by the Village News, 224 N. Main Street, Suite A, Fallbrook, to pick up a nomination form.