Redwood Rangers Recognized at VUSD Board Meeting

By Megan Yang

VISALIA, CA- On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, seven Redwood High School students were acknowledged at a special board meeting and awarded for their excellence.

Seven awards were given in Business Education, Language Development and Growth, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, and recognition from the United Students Association of Visalia [USAV].

Teachers in select departments chose one student to recognize at the board meeting for the season.

The USAV award is given to two students each semester.

These students display achievements and excellence to better their school and community. It recognizes the events, activities, clubs, and sports that they have taken part in.

Sherry Mashael ’23 was awarded the Business Education award.

Mashael says, “It felt good being awarded because I put in a lot of work with FBLA and being in all of the business classes. It was really nice.”

John Landin ’23 was awarded the Language Development and Growth award.

Landin says, “It feels good because it shows all the hard work I did over the years. You work for what you get.”

Kai Bandiola ’24 was recognized for Mathematics and was nominated by math teacher Sergio Dussan.

It is Bandiola’s first year at Redwood. Bandiola says, “I felt nervous [at the recognition].”

Charlotte Marshall ’23 was recognized by the physical education department.

Marshall says, “I did not know about the [award], but it was nice to see all my hard work acknowledged.”

Natalie McDonnell ’23 was recognized by the science department.

McDonnell was not about to make it to the meeting “but felt honored” and says, “it was really cool.”

Audrey Orosco ’23 was given the USAV Fall award.

Orosco says, “I felt very honored to receive this award. I don’t usually refit myself for the tons of things I do on campus.”

Orosco tends to “think [she] is not doing enough and wants to do more.”

“To those who think you can’t do it or that you aren’t doing enough. You’re doing great. Keep going and just know that it doesn’t go unnoticed,” says Orosco.

Keira Griffiths ’23 was also given the USAV Fall award.

Griffiths says, “I feel like I put in a lot of work, so it was really exciting to see my really good friend Audrey and I to be awarded with something to that extent.”