Exchange Club honors top scholar athletes
There was a twist to this year’s 37th annual Irvine Senior Scholar Athletes Awards Banquet Thursday at the Irvine Marriott.
For the first time, the event was moved to the morning as a cost-saving measure.
But the banquet, traditionally held in the evening, accomplished what it has in past years honoring the top scholar athletes from the four high schools in the Irvine Unified School District.
Event co-chair Michael Spitzer told about 300 people that by saving costs, the Exchange Club hopes to give back some funds to the four high school programs.
The breakfast began at 7:15 a.m. and ended at 9 a.m. allowing the scholar athletes to begin their school day.
The top four female and male scholar athletes were honored. Irvine’s female athletes were Zoya Farzaneh, Kristan Liddle, Nicole Robison and Analicia Silva. Liddle, a star on Irvine’s girls basketball team, was named Irvine’s female scholar athlete of the year. Irvine’s male athletes were Chris Del Carlo, Brandon Phillips, Kirill Sergeyev and Thien Tran. Phillips, a standout track and field athlete, was Irvine’s male scholar athlete of the year.
Northwood’s female athletes were Erica Chean, Melissa Kan, Christa Kondru and Aviv Lazar. Kan, who excelled in tennis and track and field, was named Northwood’s female scholar athlete of the year. Northwood’s male scholar athletes were James Hartshorne, Brian Pione, Kyle Purzycki and Zack Weiss. Weiss, a star pitcher with the Timberwolves who was drafted this week by Pittsburgh, was named Northwood’s male scholar athlete of the year.
University’s female scholar athletes were Sara Arastoo, Alexandra Carlton, Lauren Parrett and Carolyn Wu. Wu, a standout in cross country, was University’s female scholar athlete of the year. University’s male scholar athletes were Cameron Bennett, Alexander Kiperman, Ben Kwan and Anthony Nguyen. Kiperman, who starred in cross country and track, was University’s male scholar athlete of the year.
Woodbridge’s female scholar athletes were Erin Beadle, Aya Fujimura, Sara McCutchan and Ashley Ward. Ward, who led Woodbridge to the CIF basketball title her junior year, was named Woodbridge’s female scholar athlete of the year. Woodbridge’s male scholar athletes were Thomas Cobbs, Derrick Fleming, Tad Fowler and Michael Zablan. Zablan, a four-year varsity tennis player, was named Woodbridge’s male scholar athlete of the year.
More coverage of the banquet will be in next Thursday’s Irvine World News.
