Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

4/24/07

NEWS RELEASE
Two Auburn Riverside High School Seniors Awarded
Washington Awards for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) Scholarships

Danielle LaClair and Matthew Longo, seniors at Auburn Riverside High School, have been selected as Washington Awards for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholars. In 2007, only three vocational students from each of the 49 legislative districts have been selected for outstanding achievement in vocational/technical education. More than 450 students applied for the award. High schools, skills centers, and community and technical colleges are eligible to nominate students based on the following criteria: occupational proficiency, leadership, community activities, work experience and other qualities.

Danielle LaClair, 18, is an active student in the schoolhouse. Currently she is president of DECA and an ASB senator. Danielle joined DECA her sophomore year after realizing she found great joy in helping others. “In DECA you do a lot of volunteering and serving; there is something different to do every day,” remarks Danielle.

Two of Danielle’s community service projects include creating a school-wide cultural fair celebrating the world cultures represented at Auburn Riverside including Mexico, Germany, Israel, Australia and China. Part of her project included compiling a 30-page manual detailing the event that she presented at the DECA western regional conference. Danielle also led the charge in organizing four fundraisers to benefit the Children’s Hospital in Seattle. Approximately $6,000 was raised through a charity dinner and auction, a restaurant sponsorship, a student versus staff basketball game, and donations from the student store. Danielle and other students visited the hospital multiple times and volunteered at the hospital’s phon-a-thon event that brought in 1.3 million dollars. Danielle and her two classmates presented their project at State and captured second place. They will be traveling to Orlando at the end of the month to compete in Nationals.

As an ASB senator, Danielle has helped organize the school’s very first school-wide student recognition program. She also teaches elementary school students basic finances through Junior Achievement. Danielle finds the time to work at Emerald City Smoothie. She has also worked in the customer service departments at Emerald Downs and Nordstrom.

Danielle plans to attend Washington State University in the fall and pursue a degree in marketing and a minor in public relations. “I want to be in sports marketing, ideally for the NFL,” she says. “Working for the Seahawks would be incredible.”

Matthew Longo, 17, is a skilled student in his construction and manufacturing courses according to his teacher, Jim Wickens. “Matt has developed excellent skills in the area of woodworking. His knowledge of machine use, wood joinery, project planning, safety and construction techniques are outstanding.” Matthew has created projects that are family treasures, especially a Flag Display Box he built to honor his grandfather’s military service and to display his grandfather’s flag.

Academically Matthew excels in his other courses, making the Honors Society for three consecutive years. His exceptional math skills serve him well not just on standardized tests but also in his various volunteer roles in the community. In November, Matthew volunteered to set up the Vietnam Traveling Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that travels the United States from April through November, spending about a week at each site. This year it made a stop in Auburn and Matthew reports that he had to reference many angles and measurements to set up the wall just right.

Matthew’s generous spirit and strong work ethic have impacted his athletic pursuits as well. He is captain of the football and powerlifting teams. His responsibilities as captain of the football team included more than a coin toss. He was required to meet with his football coaches every day before and after practice to review practice plans, game strategies, personnel issues, etc. “It was my job to pass down information from the coaches to the players. I think the experience has really prepared me for the real world, because when people are slacking I feel I can help them be more efficient and motivated,” says Matthew. “I find ways to deal with people who might have a bad day or don’t want to be there.”

Matthew provides child care part-time during the school year and has accepted a full-time position at Specialty Forest Products in Pacific over the summer. He will be attending Central Washington University in the fall to pursue a paramedic degree. “I want to become a firefighter. I like the idea of getting hands-on and being outdoors and physical, plus it is not the same thing every day. I also want to help others; it is my dream job because it’s everything I want in a job,” remarks Matthew.

The WAVE Scholarship provides six quarters or four semesters of tuition and services/activities fees at a Washington State institution of higher education, an accredited Washington State independent college or university, or a licensed private vocational school. The scholarship is for undergraduate study only and cannot exceed the annual full-time, resident, undergraduate tuition and services/activities fees in effect at the State-funded research universities. The student must maintain a GPA of 3.0 to continue using the award.

For more information contact Amy Spence, public information officer, at (253) 931-4713.