Our 2021 Scholars

Derek Carmona Space beckons Derek Carmona, a soon-to-be summa cum laude graduate of La Quinta High School. He has already been a co-enrollee at College of the Desert, studying mathematcs to help prepare for a career in electrical or aerospace engineering. He’s interested in atending Cal Poly Pomona or CSU Long Beach but may start at COD. Hobbies include compettve mult-player games such as League of Legends and staying ft. You may also run into him at a certain local big box store, where he works part tme.

Sergio Casarrubias Is there tme for anything else when you march in Indio High School’s The Pride of the Desert Marching Band? For Sergio Casarrubias the answer is yes! A magna cum laude scholar with California Scholarship Federaton membership, fve senior year AP classes, a published artcle in The Desert Sun, actng with The Circle Theatre Actng company with a fondness for improv and musical theater, water boy for Indian Wells Ironman Triathlon, Wind Symphony member, and studying French in an efort to become trilingual. Sergio’s accomplishments are truly outstanding.

Antonio Catanzarite A former English teacher describes ’s Antonio Catanzarite as “fully capable of writng and debatng at the college level,” one who excels at rhetoric and persuasion. This can only stand him in good stead as the scientst he wants to become, as he creates the technological and scientfc collaboratons to meet pressing environmental problems. Eagle Scout, swim team compettor, blood donor, lymphoma fundraiser, lightng technician, musical theater actor, winning Botball team robotcs coder and builder, and of course summa cum laude scholar.

Luke Ceja Shadow Hills High School’s Luke Ceja makes the world a beter place by rolling up his sleeves and pitching in – compassion through acton — whether doing park and graft cleanup in Indio, packing boxes and serving food to the needy, helping Rotary at the county fair, providing Valentnes for senior home residents, and leading DeMolay actvites. Luke has commited to atending California Baptst University in the fall, where he wants to major in fnance. To start saving a nest egg, he has worked outdoors as a laborer at a Headstart nursery in Mecca. An excellent scholar-athlete as well, he golfs and co-founded the Bowling Club at Shadow Hills HS.

Dakota Frazer Will there be lawyers on Mars? There might be, if Dakota Frazer has a say; he is very Interested in law, physics-related engineering, and Mars exploraton. He has walked glaciers in Alaska and the rainforest in Belize. He has cultvated friendships around the world and has a global perspectve. When not maintaining a summa cum laude level of scholarship or studying for AP Statstcs or Physics at Shadow Hills High School, he relaxes as a Dungeons and Dragons gamemaster. If he doesn’t end up back east at an Ivy League school, California will be happy to have him atend in state.

Tatum Mahoney Some people you should simply never argue with. Interested in law, Tatum Mahoney has been an avid debater since sixth grade, as coach, judge, compettor and workshop presenter. Her mastery of critcal thinking, research, argumentaton and public speaking will help at COD. With no program at Horizon High School, she created her own team with an out-of-state peer. They won frst place in NextGen Debate’s inaugural high school tournament. Maintaining summa cum laude grades, she also fnds tme to hostess at a restaurant. She is a girls’ STEM advocate and AVID tutor, as well as being actve in Girl Scouts. Danica Larson A former teacher at Palm Desert High School writes of Danica Larson: “She radiates …beauty and kindness to others through selfess service.” She is Desert Sands’ school board student rep; she serves on the DSUSD Diversity and Equity Commitee and PD High’s school site council. An Honor Roll student and cheerleading captain, she also volunteers with the Natonal Charity League, Rescue Mission, Alzheimer’s Associaton, and Meals on Wheels. She plans to contnue to serve as a third-generaton teacher and eventually a lawyer. But frst, politcal science studies at a university in the Northwest, Hawaii, Arizona, or Southern California.

Frances Pelicano Either Southern Utah University or San Diego State University awaits Frances Pelicano, soon to be a graduate of Palo Verde High School in Blythe. She plans to major in secondary educaton with a concentraton in STEM, and become a third-generaton teacher. Born in the Philippines, she embodies the American dream. A consistent Honor Roll student, she also serves as an ofcer in ASB, as of a member of the school site council, and as a volunteer with the Rotary Interact Club. Musically talented and a mult-instrumentalist, she sings weekly in the St. Joan of Arc choir. Last but not least, she has logged many miles for four years, running up and down the pitch for the PVHS Yellow Jackets girls’ soccer team.