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Mount Madonna School (MMS) is pleased to announce Lily Connor as the 2011 senior class Valedictorian and PK Hattis and Soma Sharan as the 2011 Co-Salutatorians. These three students earned the distinction through hard work and focused effort, edging out their peers at the small central coast school known for strong academics, environmental education, performing arts and a competitive volleyball program.
Connor, who lives in Aptos, will attend the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) this fall. She has not yet selected a major, and says she looks forward to being exposed to many different disciplines, and getting to know other students and faculty.
‘One of the many benefits of going to Mount Madonna School is that you develop relationships with all the teachers in which they truly care for you and play an active role in your success,’ comments Connor. ‘The Values in World Thought class taught by Ward Mailliard provided us with extraordinary opportunities and the chance to view humanity from a different perspective.’
Hattis, who lives in Corralitos, will head to Davis to attend the University of California. Hattis intends to major in a field along the lines of Kinesiology or Exercise Biology.‘The best advice I received in high school has been to find my authentic truth in every aspect of my life,’ comments Hattis. ‘Particularly in school, it is easy to become enraptured in other’s perspectives and adopt them as your own, because it is the closest to the truth that you have seen. But if you find your own truth in everything, life will make a little bit more sense and achieving your goals is that much easier.’
Sharan, a resident of Mount Madonna, has received a Gates Millennium Scholarship, and plans to attend UCLA. ‘The best advice I’ve received is to value education,’ says Sharan. ‘Mani Shankar Aiyar, a member of India’s Parliament whom we met on our recent school trip to India, said to us, ‘Education is the greatest wealth’.’
In addition to Connor, Hattis, and Sharan, Mount Madonna School’s Class of 2011 includes thirteen other students. They are listed below with their college choices:
Ben Mangus, Watsonville, Cabrillo College; BY Swamy, Watsonville, University of California, Santa Cruz; Chelsea Bess, Watsonville, Suffolk University; Danielle Quinn, Morgan Hill, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Emma Fladeboe, Gilroy, University of California, Davis; Emma Petersen, Morgan Hill, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles; James Clifton, Morgan Hill, California State University, Chico; Kevin Koda, Watsonville, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Lindsey Colton, Soquel, San Diego State University; Maya Guzman, Gilroy, The Cosmo Factory Cosmetology School; Michaela Schuessler, Salinas, University of the Pacific; Noah Limbach, Salinas, taking a ‘gap’ year and then Skidmore College; and Susie Bryan, Soquel, George Washington University.
Below is a list of all college acceptances for the Class of 2011:
American University
Boston College
Boston University
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
California State University, Channel Islands
California State University, Chico
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Stanislaus
Cabrillo College
Chapman University
Connecticut College
Drexel University
Eckerd College
Emerson College
Evergreen State College
Full Sail University
George Washington University
Goucher College
Hawaii Pacific University
Humboldt State University
Kalamazoo College
Lewis and Clark College
Loyola Marymount University
Manhattan College
Occidental College
Oklahoma State University
Pitzer College
Reed College
Richmond, The American International University, London, United Kingdom
Saint Mary’s College, California
Saint Mary’s College, Indiana
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
Santa Clara University
Schiller University, Heidelberg
Skidmore College
Soka University of America
Sonoma State University
Suffolk University
University of Arizona
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, San Diego
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Maine
University of Nevada, Reno
University of Oregon
University of the Pacific
University of Puget Sound
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of Tampa
University of Washington
Willamette University
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Contact: Leigh Ann Clifton, Media & Public Relations
Nestled among the redwoods on 355 mountaintop acres, Mount Madonna is a safe and nurturing college-preparatory school that supports students in becoming caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on Summit Road between Gilroy and Watsonville.
