RJ’s Academic Excellence Awards recognize 12 Clark County students

Twelve students from across the Las Vegas Valley were honored for their achievements in and out of the classroom Wednesday at the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s inaugural Academic Excellence Awards dinner.

More than 400 students in first through 12th grades were nominated for the awards and evaluated on academic performance, responsibility, leadership, extracurricular activities and community service.

Most of the winners had a 4.0 GPA, boasted awards in math and science and had extracurricular talents.

Northwest Career and Technical Academy sophomore Kotomi Schroeder was nominated 14 times for the awards. The aspiring chemical engineer is a member of the National Honor Society and Healthcare Occupations of America. She maintains her 4.0 grade point average while participating in her school’s speech and debate club and swing club.

Bob Miller Middle School sixth-grader Eliana Lynn Li-Ming Au has a black belt in Shaolin kung fu, and her personal record for solving a Rubik’s cube is 28.57 seconds. Li-Ming Au said the secret to her success is “constant work mode and no sleep.” She said she still couldn’t believe that she had won.

Cassandra Valenti, an eighth-grader at Bob Miller Middle School, trains with the Civil Air Patrol search-and-rescue team and plays bassoon with the school band. She also won the Inspiration Award from the National Center for Women.

Ma’Raya Gilbert managed to get all her schoolwork done and get straight A’s even while undergoing several major eye surgeries. The soft-spoken Silver Sands Montessori third grader began donating to charities like Safe Nest and the Blind Center after she saw homeless children during a Girl Scout event.

Emma Rae Scheidler’s parents believe she developed her drive and motivation when she was 5 years old and suffered from an acute episode of Guillain Barre syndrome. The Las Vegas Day School seventh grader now has a grade point average over 4.0 and routinely makes the Director’s list of Honor Students and the National Junior Honor Society.

“She understands that life has it’s share of ups and downs and that failing is a component of succeeding,” her parents told the judges.

Liberty High School senior Shaun Mabanta volunteers at Dignity Health and created a kindness club at his school. Students in the club greet classmates in the morning and make sure no one has to eat lunch alone.

After Mabanta graduates in two weeks, he will study biochemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno. He wants to be a pediatrician.

“Academics are important, but who you are as a person and who you help, that’s what’s really important,” keynote speaker Erica Mosca, the founder of Leaders in Training Las Vegas, said.

Samuel Grant, a junior at Coral Academy of Science, has testified before the Nevada Legislature in support of hearing impairment legislation, and volunteers at literacy organization Spread the Word. He’s also the president elect of the National Honor Society and his school’s freshman mentorship program.

First-grade winner Sofia Frasier from Scherkenbach Elementary School is an advocate for children with Down syndrome, and Odyssey Charter School freshman Jordan Guimarey, the ninth grade winner, puts together care packages for patients at WestCare, a facility for substance abuse and mental health treatment.

When second-grade winner Rylee Bannister’s class learned about fractions, they followed a recipe to make cupcakes for a family in need. The Staton Elementary School student has a 3.8 grade point average and has won student and conductor of the month awards at her school.

The fourth- and fifth-grade winners both attend Adelson Educational Campus. Fourth grader Ethan Cohen recognizes his introverted nature, his teacher Kim Cooper said, so he tries to push himself out of his comfort zone.

“Everyone is a legend in their own way, especially if you believe you can make another person smile,” Cohen told his classmates while speaking at a school event.

Fifth grader Rachel Super is an academic all-star and still finds time to help the homeless and stay active in her synagogue’s youth group between cross country, swim meets and her heavy course load.

Students were evaluated by a panel of judges including Michael Flores, chief of staff for the Nevada System of Higher Education; Karen Taycher, executive director for Nevada PEP; Michelle Jackson, president of Junior Achievement; Tami Hance, CEO of Communities in Schools of Nevada; and Adriana Arevalo, founder of Media Moves.

The top student from each grade was awarded a $500 scholarship and chose a program at his or her school to receive another $500.

“Keep up the good work,” emcee and radio host Chet Buchanan told students at the end of the ceremony. “I cannot wait to see what mountains you will move next.”

The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, founders of the Adelson Educational Campus.

Contact Max Michor at mmichor@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0365. Follow @MaxMichor on Twitter.