FHS graduate Brynne Lazarus
By KATHERINE PETERSEN
Brynne Lazarus, who graduated from Fremont High School in June, had a chance to rub elbows with more than 50 celebrities on a weekend trip to Idaho this summer.
Lazarus earned the trip to Sun Valley as part of her reward for winning an American Academy of Achievement Award, sponsored by the Sunnyvale Town Center and its parent corporation, the Hahn Company.
Two high-school seniors are selected annually by a panel of local professionals to attend this three-day, all-expenses-paid "Salute to Excellence" program.
"It was amazing to look around the audience and recognize faces. Rosa Parks was sitting a couple rows in front of me. I feel very lucky that I went," she said.
Joann Liao, who graduated from Lynbrook High School, also received the award.
A total of 325 of the nation's top high-school seniors had an opportunity to interact with more than 50 adult leaders, including entertainers like Steven Spielberg, Tom Selleck, Robin Williams and Janet Jackson, as well as Nobel Prize-winners, professional athletes, authors and former U.S. presidents.
"The American Academy of Achievement honors America's outstanding leaders and perpetuates their tradition of achievement through our youth," said Beth Nastrini, marketing director for Sunnyvale Town Center.
Lazarus, who is a freshman at Stanford University, spent two days listening to talks by and chatting with men and women of exceptional accomplishment. While in high school, Lazarus was involved with many extracurricular activities, including Fremont's dance team and Cascades, a service organization of which she was co-president. She also tutored younger children in reading, which she said was both rewarding and frustrating.
Lazarus likened the "Salute to Excellence" program to attending college classes.
"It was very inspiring. I got a chance to see Scott Hamilton skate," she added.
Some celebrities talked about their careers and themselves, and others participated in panel discussions on subjects like perseverance and changing careers.
Lazarus received encouragement from marine biologist Sylvia Earl to study in the field.
"It was neat to see how impassioned she was about the need to save the environment. I'd been worried about getting a job in the field after college, and she gave me some reassurance," Lazarus said.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 23, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.