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Galt High School’s top students

Age: 17

Plans: Attend Cosumnes River College, then transfer to a university. I hope to write a book and find a job that’s rewarding.

Eric Randall

Activities: California Scholarship Federation.

Awards and scholarships: Governor’s Scholar Program; Galt Community scholarship; Kiwanis Club scholarship; Academic Excellence awards in physics, U.S. history, reading and literature, mathematics and Spanish; Bank of America award in computer applications; and awards for SAT-9 and SAT scores.

Most memorable experience: My trip to Ashland Shakespearean Festival with my English class. “We had a lot of fun.”

Parents: Stan and Pam Randall

Age: 17

Plans: Attend UC Davis in the fall as a science major and continue on to a master’s or doctorate degree in a related field.

Jason Woods

Activities: Freshman and junior varsity baseball for two years; umpiring youth baseball for four years, including the 1999 Northern California State Babe Ruth Tournament; after-school tutoring of elementary school students for two years; participated 2000 Young Scholars Program at UC Davis, a six week on campus science research course; National Ventures Scholar and published a poem, “Baseball to Life.”

Awards and scholarships: Yenokida Scholarship, Bank of America certificate in business, Governor’s Scholar Program, Galt Community scholarship, Bernard Scenery scholarship, Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award and Joe Serna Jr. Scholarship.

Most memorable experience: Hitting a home run in a 1999 Legion baseball game. “I was a reserve player all year long and did not get to start very much. I was the only person to hit a home run that year and it was my first since I started playing baseball.”

Parents: Vernon and Celica Woods

Age: 17

Plans: Attend CSU Hayward. Also, to establish myself in my profession by gaining employment with a leading computer animation firm.

John Gerling

Activities: California Scholarship Federation, speech team, jazz band, tae kwon do, Warrior band, swim team, and selected to participate in the Governor’s Youth Leadership Forum.

Awards and scholarships: Buck scholarship, Top 10 of Class from ninth through 12th grade, Bank of America award for English, Presidential Scholarship from CSU Hayward, Governor’s Scholar Program, and Hal Connaly Scholar Athlete Finalist.

Most memorable experience: A trip to Orlando, Fla., as an Amateur Athletic Union Youth Excel finalist, where I got to meet and make friends with some of the most amazing individuals I will ever meet.

Parents: Dan and Toni Gerling

Age: 17

Plans: Attend CSU Chico and move into the dorms and meet a whole bunch of new people. “My future goal is to get my teaching master’s degree and become an elementary school teacher. I would also love to move to a small town and own a farm in the country.”

Nichole Wiley

Activities: GHS Health Academy for three years, Health Occupations Students of America state officer, and Warrior softball.

Awards and scholarships: Softball Most Valuable Player freshman year, Schwab scholarship, Dan H. Splawn scholarship, Rotary Club scholarship, Galt Community scholarship and Christermon Foundation scholarship.

Most memorable experience: Homecoming is one of my most memorable experiences and when I got to be princess for HOSA. “It was a lot of fun. Also, I will always treasure my lunches with my friends. We’ve had some pretty goofy times.”

Parents: Randi Ullrich

Age: 17

Plans: Attend the UC Berkeley in the college of letters and science to major in business administration. “I would like to participate in a varsity sport as a walk-on in either volleyball, basketball or softball. In my junior year, I would like to study abroad in Spain for at least one semester. Upon graduation I will attend a prestigious law school and study to be a lawyer.”

Megan Peasha

Activities: Volleyball, basketball and softball for four years, lifetime member of Letterman’s Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation sealbearer, freshmen class officer, senior class treasurer, Relay for Life, Camp Royal, National Youth Leadership Forum on Law.

Awards and scholarships: Scholar Athlete Award, CO-MVP, Best All Around Player Award, Coaches Award, All Tourney Award, Warrior of the Week award, Sierra Valley Conference honorable mention for volleyball and basketball.

Most memorable experience: “There are so many. But, if I had to choose just one, it would have to be my freshman year when the men’s basketball team won Division II Champions.”

Parents: Jacques and Kathy Peasha

Age: 17

Plans: Attend UC San Diego. “I would like to be a math teacher at a high school or possibly at a junior college and travel.”

Randi Munch

Activities: Basketball, track and field, tennis, California Scholarship Federation and speech and debate.

Awards and scholarships: Top 10 (SAT Score), SVC Scholar Athlete Award, GHS girls pole vault school record, Golden State Exams, Presidential Scholar at California Lutheran University, Air Force Science and Math Award, Lillian Barkley Memorial scholarship, Rotary Club, Galt Community scholarship and Governor’s Scholar Program.

Most memorable experience: When my friends and I dressed up as an aluminum foil triplets for super hero day and Bobby Marten wore my foil bra.

Parents: Jim and Kim Munch

Age: 18

Plans: Attend Sacramento City College in the fall, majoring in medical science. Upon earning my Associate of Arts degree, I plan on transferring to the UC Davis to earn a degree in medicine.

Jennifer Van Dyke

Activities: Soccer, volleyball, California Scholarship Federation, Health Career’s Academy, Letterman’s Honor Society, Health Occupation Students of America, Relay for Life, Toy Drive, GHS Spring Barbecue, golf, Forest Lake Junior’s Clinic, Booster’s Tri-Tip Dinner and Long’s Drugs Challenge.

Awards and scholarships: Scholar Athlete; Renaissance “Top Ten” and “Top Ten SAT Score,” Golden State Exam honors in Algebra, chemistry, reading and literature, and high honors in written composition; freshman Soccer “Most Improved Player;” junior varsity volleyball “MVP Defense;” Health Academy Student of the Month; junior varsity soccer “MVP Defense;” varsity volleyball “MVP Defense;” Delta College “Top of the Class;” varsity soccer “MVP Defense;” varsity golf “MVP;” Sierra Valley Conference All-League; Bank of America certificate in history; California Scholarship Federation sealbearer; CIF Female Athlete Recognition; SVC “Women in Sports” representative; Dale Lacky/Pepsi/CIF Scholar Athlete; U.S. National Mathematics award; Elks National Foundation “2001 Most Valuable Student Scholarship Competition” recipient; Rotary Club scholarship; Galt Community scholarship; Ken Johnson Jr. Memorial scholarship; Yenokida Soccer scholarship; Galt Warrior Athletic Boosters scholarship; Leonard Stiehn scholarship; and Governor’s Scholar Program.

Most memorable experience: “I enjoyed the experience as a whole.”

Parents: Tom and Bonnie Van Dyke

Age: 17

Plans: Attend UCLA in the fall and major in business economics. “I hope to get my master’s degree in business economics and then go into the workplace. I plan to get married and start a family.”

Chris Loesch

Activities: Basketball and baseball for four years, Letterman’s Honor Society and Key Club for three years, California Scholarship Federation sealbearer, Science Camp counselor, Kiwanis city park tree planting, basketball coach, and student tutoring.

Awards and scholarships: MVP of the basketball team in senior and freshman years, basketball team captain in senior and sophomore years, Scholar Athlete for eight seasons, recognition on seven Golden State Exams and honors on one, Boys State Alternate, Elks Lodge scholarship, Sierra Valley Conference Mall Scholar Athlete of the Year, Bank of America certificate in math, Galt Community scholarship, Key Club scholarship, Sacramento Emblem Club, Bernard McEnerney Scholarship, and Governor’s Scholar Program.

Most memorable experience: Winning the junior varsity SVC League Championship for baseball during my sophomore year.

Parents: Kathy and Don Loesch.

Age: 18

Plans: Attend UCLA in the fall to major in biology. “I have a full ride provided by the US Navy. After college, I want to become a naval pilot. Afterwards, I plan to continue my education in biological research and I dream of working for the Center for Disease Control. I wouldn’t mind being a research scientist at the Bethesda National Hospital.”

Diana Lopez

Activities: La Raza, California Scholarship Federation, ACLU and Nordstrom Fashion Board, tutoring and worked at Parks and Recreation, Gora Aquatic Center and Long’s Drugs Store.

Awards and scholarships: NROTC scholarship and Bernard McEnerney scholarship.

Most memorable experience: Being nominated to attend the National Student Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. I attended the medical seminar. “The NSLC inspired me to become a medical research scientist and a naval officer. I was able to visit the Bethesda National Hospital and a military hospital where Lt. Parks told me about the variety of opportunities offered by the Navy.”

Parents: Diocelina and Rudolfo Lopez.

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