2008 Academic All-Stars

A decade of achievement

In 1996, The Fresno Bee launched an annual feature to honor the best and brightest students in the Central Valley.

Judges -- teachers and newspaper staff members -- selected a dozen "Academic All-Stars," one for each of the 12 grade levels. Students were chosen based on academic achievement, community involvement and leadership.

This year, more than a decade later, we decided to catch up with our first class of winners. Where are they now?

Winner Named in CIGNA Falmouth Road Race Challenge

For the second consecutive year, the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race Challenge is honoring inspiring individuals for outstanding personal triumph over adversity. CIGNA’s national contest celebrates people who have overcome life-altering disabilities or illnesses and set an example for others to follow. The winner of the contest was Nicholas LaRaia of Oxford, N.C. who lost his leg below the knee in a bicycle accident and has become a mentor and example to people with prosthetics. Nick will join the CIGNA Running Team at the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race on August 9, 2009, along with the people who were awarded Honorable Mentions in the contest, all of whom reside in Upstate New York.

“All of the people who submitted essays are an inspiration to everyone -- they have overcome what most would consider insurmountable obstacles to live life to the fullest and to contribute to their communities,” said Dr. Dick Salmon, national medical for CIGNA, and a participant in the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race for most of the past 15 years

DAVID BROOKS: Sotomayor is cautious at heart

Sonia Sotomayor had bad timing. If she'd entered college in the late-1950s or early-1960s, she would have been surrounded by an ethos that encouraged smart young ethnic kids to assimilate. If she'd entered Princeton and Yale in the 1980s, her ethnicity and gender would have been mildly interesting traits among the many she might possess.

But she happened to attend Princeton and then Yale Law School in the 1970s. These were the days when what we now call multiculturalism was just coming into its own. These were the days when the whole race, class and gender academic-industrial complex seemed fresh, exciting and just.

There was no way she was going to get out of that unscarred.

Twelfth Grade: Ian Matthew Stephens

Sunnyside academic counselor Diana Rodriguez, who nominated Ian Stephens for Academic All-Stars, describes him as humble and wise beyond his years.

"He's very sensitive to others and their needs and will be quick to make himself available -- without making a big hoopla," she said.

Nothing illustrates that like Ian's recent decision to cut off his ponytail, which he sported throughout high school, and donate it to Locks of Love, an organization that provides hairpieces to children who lose their hair while undergoing medical procedures.

First lady to UC Merced: 'You inspired me'

MERCED -- During a commencement speech Saturday to the inaugural class of the University of California at Merced, first lady Michelle Obama urged graduates to "dream big and think broadly" about life.

Obama -- in her first commencement address as first lady and first visit to the region -- paid tribute to the pioneering spirit of the Class of 2009, and also asked them to make giving back a priority in their lives.

"Think of the millions of kids living all over this world who will never come close to having the chance to stand in your shoes," she said in a 20-minute address delivered in unforgiving heat to about 12,000 people.