Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Sarah Jones doesn't let her academic success keep her from having fun during her senior year at Saratoga High School.

SHS student wins citizenship prize

By Tim Persyn

When an assistant principal describes a student as a "tribute to her family" and "the pride of our school," the subject of such praise must truly be top-notch.

Sarah Jones, a first-rate citizen of Saratoga and student at Saratoga High School, received such choice words from her assistant principal in a letter of recommendation for the "Good Citizens Certificate" contest held by the Los Gatos Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Jones, a high school senior, won the certificate in the SHS category, the criteria for which included the demonstration of such qualities as dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in the home, school and community. While she was at it, she also won DAR's District 6 essay competition. Jones will now send her award-winning prose on to the DAR's state competition.

Perhaps the most impressive activity in her long résumé of community service is Jones' three years of volunteer work for the Amigos de las Americas organization, in which she spent two summers in Latin America serving as a health worker in two rural villages in Paraguay and Honduras. In this capacity, she motivated and led towns in a campaign for better public health.

"I get a lot out of knowing I'm helping other people," said Jones. "With Amigos, I felt like I was getting something important accomplished."

She also liked the cultural exchange aspect of her work in Latin America. "I love traveling, and I liked the idea of going to another country and learning about it and its people."

In North America, Jones is involved with her other great love, journalism. While maintaining a 4.31 GPA, she is currently serving as editor-in-chief of her school newspaper. This requires her to manage a staff of about 32 people.

"I enjoy and learn a lot from researching stories," Jones said. As an editor, she has the chance to work with people to reach a larger goal. "I like working with other people in a big group to get something accomplished," Jones said.

Noreen Likins, Jones' academic adviser, said of her star student: "She's a very, very remarkable woman."

Likins added that Jones was admitted on early admissions to Stanford University. "They are looking for talented, well-rounded individuals, not just people who can perform academically," she said.

In her letter of recommendation, SHS Assistant Principal Karen K. Hyde said Jones has been described by her teachers as "one of our very best," "respected by peers and staff."

"She possesses natural intellectual powers," Hyde said. "She brings magic to classrooms and programs and teaches all of us a lesson in leading by example."

When she attends Stanford next fall, Jones would like to experiment with different subjects, but she's leaning toward a career in medicine or writing. "Hopefully, whatever I do will be service-oriented," she said.

Hyde thinks that whatever Jones decides, the future is bright. "I know that Sarah, because of her ability, her values, and her determination, will truly live 'happily ever after,' " she commented in her letter.