GGUSD Board of Education Celebrates Class of 2024 Valedictorians

• Wednesday, May 8, 2024

The Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) Board of Education celebrated the district’s 13 Class of 2024 high school Valedictorians during its meeting on May 7 with a special recognition that highlighted each Valedictorian’s impressive accomplishments.

“The Board of Education is proud of our outstanding Valedictorians whose hard work and commitment to their education has prepared them for success in their chosen college and career fields,” said Board of Education President Teri Rocco. “The sky is the limit for these dedicated scholars.”

Bolsa Grande High School Valedictorian Phillip Nguyen will attend the University of Pennsylvania to double major in Political Science and History and minor in East Asian Area Studies. His accomplishments include receiving early admission and a full-ride scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania through the Questbridge National College Match, receiving two scholarships from the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth and receiving the AP Capstone Diploma for exemplary exam scores in AP Seminar, AP Research and four AP courses.

Garden Grove High School Valedictorian Alexander Tu will attend the University of California, Irvine to major in Computer Science. His accomplishments include receiving the AP Scholar Award with Distinction, scoring 1560 on the SAT and passing five AP tests in one year.

Hare High School Co-Valedictorian Phat Dinh will attend Golden West College to pursue a career as an Artist or Comic Book Series Publisher. His accomplishments include achieving Principal’s Honor Roll, being ASB President, Valedictorian, BRC Member and participating in the Orange County Youth Council.

Hare High School Co-Valedictorian Ashley Landeros will attend Golden West College to major in Nursing and hopes to pursue a career as a Clinical Nurse. Her accomplishments include receiving her CPR Certification, achieving Principal’s Honor Roll and becoming a member of Latinos Unidos.

La Quinta High School Co-Valedictorian Breanna Nguyen will attend either the University of California, Irvine or the University of California, San Diego to major in Computer Science and pursue a career as a Machine Learning Engineer. Her accomplishments include receiving her GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT) Certification, becoming a National Merit Finalist, Aztec of the Year Finalist and National Cyber Scholar.

La Quinta High School Co-Valedictorian Rachel Pham will attend the University of California, Berkeley or the University of California, Irvine to major in Computer Science. She hopes to pursue a career as an Ethical Hacker or Software Engineer. Her accomplishments include ranking first place in Cyber Patriots at the state level, receiving her first paycheck and passing her Professional Network and CompTIA Certification.

Los Amigos High School Co-Valedictorian Lina Tran will attend the University of California, Los Angeles to major in Neuroscience and pursue a career as a Neuroscience Research Scientist. Her accomplishments include receiving the Gates Scholarship, serving as Division 04 North’s Lieutenant Governor and being a Simon Scholar.

Los Amigos High School Co-Valedictorian Valerie Dao will attend the University of California, Irvine to major in Pharmaceutical Sciences and pursue a career as a Pharmacist. Her accomplishments include establishing the UNICEF Club at Los Amigos, achieving AP Scholar with Distinction and earning the State Seal of Civic Engagement.

Pacifica High School Co-Valedictorian Jaimie Ko will attend the University of California, Los Angeles to major in Applied Mathematics and pursue a career as a Mathematics Professor. Her accomplishments include being nominated and chosen as a delegate for the 80th session of the American Legion Auxiliary California Girls State Program, earning a first-place medal in Essay while competing in the Honors Division for the 2024 Academic Decathlon Competition and receiving the Mathematics Medallion Award from Pacifica’s math department in 2020.

Pacifica High School Co-Valedictorian Kenrich Nguyen will attend the University of California, Irvine to major in Aerospace Engineering and pursue a career as a Design Engineer. His accomplishments include earning the Regents Scholarship from UCI, passing eight AP tests and earning the President’s Education Awards Program Certificate for Outstanding Academic Excellence in 2020.

Rancho Alamitos High School Valedictorian Lydia Nguyen will attend the University of California, Los Angeles to major in Pre-Human Biology and Society and pursue a career as a Dermatologist. Her accomplishments include earning the AP Scholar Award with Distinction, receiving the Vietnamese Heritage Museum Scholarship and serving as a Student Ambassador for GENup in Garden Grove.

Santiago High School Co-Valedictorian Tyler Truong will attend the University of California, Los Angeles or the University of California, Berkeley to major in Biochemistry and pursue a career as a Doctor or Surgeon. His accomplishments include becoming a California Scholarship Federation Seymour Memorial Award finalist, founding the Santiago High School CHOC Club, receiving the AP Scholar with Distinction Award and creating and handing out Valentine’s Day gifts to children in hospital care.

Santiago High School Co-Valedictorian Tan Nguyen will attend the University of Vanderbilt to major in Analytical Chemistry and minor in Social Psychology and pursue a career as a Psychiatrist or Analytical Chemist. His accomplishments include receiving a full-ride Questbridge Scholarship, receiving an AVID Senior Standout award which included a $5,000 scholarship and receiving his State Seal of Biliteracy.

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