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Lodi High School top students

Age: 18

Future plans: Attend California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the fall and work as a summer intern at Hutchins Street Square. “After getting my undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, I want to pursue graduate work in materials engineering. Ultimately, I want to have a career designing and manufacturing completely reusable building materials, thereby lowering the consumption of diminishing raw resources.”

Matthew Johnston

Activities: Lodi Youth Commission for two years, tutor, Nerd Club member, active in Emanuel Lutheran Church and its youth group, and part-time job at Don Dobler’s Ski Cottage.

Awards and scholarships: National Merit Finalist, National Merit Scholar, Boys’ State Delegate and First Alternate to Boys’ Nation, Bank of America Achievement plaque award winner, Bank of America scholarship competition winner in science and math, Xerox award in humanities an social sciences, and The Record’s Pinnacle Team.

Most memorable experience: Swing dancing on Friday and Saturday nights during sophomore year. “From seeking out vintage clothing and learning new steps to handing out flyers for our own dances, this was a period of my life that is filled with more memories of friends and fun than any other. ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.’”

Parents: Michael and Pamela Deines and Randolph and Patty Johnston.

Age: 17

Future plans: Attend UC Berkeley in the fall and taking summer classes at Contra Costa Community College. “I want to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. After finishing college, I would prefer to work for an international company. I want to be able to work in different countries and see the different parts of the world.”

Meryl-Jane Tse

Activities: Future Business Leaders of America president, reporter and Central Section reporter; Science Olympiad; Interact club, Modern languages club, math club, science club, badminton, and chairperson of the high school ministry at Life Lutheran Church of Pinole.

Awards and scholarships: CSF Sealbearer, The Record’s Pinnacle Award, first place in FBLA business math and law, fourth place in FBLA accounting, gold medal in chemistry lab event at Science Olympiad state and regional competition, gold medal in qualitative analysis and bronze medal in disease detective at state Science Olympiad contest.

Most memorable experience: Being the FBLA Central Section reporter during junior year. “During my term, I have met many people from California. I had a lot of fun working with other students in the Central Valley. I learned the most skills during my term.”

Parents: Chung-Hing and Josefa Tse.

Age: 17

Future plans: Attend UC Santa Barbara in the fall to major in environmental studies or literature/journalism.

Bret Erickson

Activities: Nerds club, art club president, Link Crew, and Lodi city monitoring project.

Awards and scholarships: UCSB Regent Scholar, Advanced Placement Scholar, Golden State Exam scholar, The Record Pinnacle Team, CSF Sealbearer, and Governor’s scholarship.

Most memorable experience: “Helping put on the Mr. Nerd 2001 pageant and being one of the five AP chemistry students in junior year, and of course, the fun and exciting world of senior AP English.”

Parents: Scott and Catherine Erickson.

Age: 18

Future plans: Attend Whittier College in the fall. “I plan to graduate college and go on to graduate school. I am thinking about political science as a minor.”

Ashleigh Krueger

Activities: California Scholarship Federation, Nerds club, Interact club, district curriculum board, Link Crew, prom, California Girls State, Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission chairwoman and commissioner, church youth group, junior women’s club, organizer and/or volunteer of Wet ’n Wild, Recycle City, junior high dance, Honoring Teens program and women’s charity football game.

Awards and scholarships: California Girls’ State; Principal’s List all semesters; Top of the Class award; Golden State Honors in writing and composition, U.S. history, chemistry, biology; California Scholarship Federation; Bank of America plaque winner in liberal arts; Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award winner, Robert Frost Academic Merit Scholarship, and the Record Pinnacle Team.

Most memorable experience: Seeing my English teacher at Barnes and Nobles on a Saturday night in December. “I realized I was truly a nerd because I was there with a date also. Either my English teacher is really cool or we’re both total nerds.”

Parents: Dr. Kyle and Lori Krueger.

Age: 18

Future plans: Attend Pepperdine University. I’m planning on getting a job related to business management.

Matt Decker

Activities: Varsity basketball, varsity soccer, California Scholarship Federation, Nerds club, chess club, junior varsity soccer, and academic scholarship to Pepperdine.

Awards and scholarships: CSF Sealbearer, Golden State Merit Diploma, Governor’s scholar, and honor roll.

Most memorable experience: Going to playoffs for basketball.

Parents: James and Barbara Decker.

Age: 18

Future plans: Attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. to become a career officer.

Jared Dockendorf

Activities: Football, wrestling, student government, Link Crew leader, school site council, On Fire club, Aeronautics club, Block “L” club, Young Republicans club, and summer student exchange program to Germany.

Awards and scholarships: Eagle Scout, scholar athlete, distinguished student, California Scholarship Federation, Governor’s scholarship, San Joaquin Engineers Council scholarship, and appointment to the US Air Force Academy.

Most memorable experience: “Cutting school this year to go skydiving with two of my friends.”

Parents: Doug and Cathy Dockendorf.

Age: 17

Future plans: Attend UC Davis in the fall for two years of general education classes. “I plan to continue my studies at a university located in Los Angeles or New York in order to pursue my career in theater arts and major in communications or psychology in order to keep my career options open.”

Valerie Galvan

Activities: School productions, On Fire club, Interact club vice president, Nerds Club, speech and debate, Link Crew, California Scholarship Federation, drill team and chairwoman for prom decorations.

Awards and scholarships: Honor roll, principal’s list, Top of the Class award, Golden State Exam honors for Algebra, USAA National Awards, Who’s Who Among High School Students, Golden State Merit Recognition Award, CSF Sealbearer, and University of California certificate of academic achievement.

Most memorable experience: “I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one. My time spent in high school has been the best years of my life and I’m so glad I got to share it with the great friends.”

Parents: Hector and Patricia Galvan.

Age: 18

Future plans: Attend Cal Poly, majoring in engineering. “To become a respected engineer and a loving wife and mother.”

Ashley Harmon

Activities: Math club, California Scholarship Federation, varsity softball and volleyball, and Student Athletic Advisory Board.

Awards and scholarships: All-league and all-area softball honors, softball scholarship offers, and Governor’s scholarship.

Most memorable experience: Playing an undefeated varsity team in 2000 with the best pitcher and most dedicated coach I know. “I love you Carly and Dad.”

Parents: Robert and Faye Harmon.

Age: 18

Future plans: Attend UC San Diego. “To have a career that mergers physics and music.”

Activities: Freshman football and basketball, junior varsity and varsity cross country track, guitar lessons, school newspaper, Science Olympiad and California Scholarship Federation.

Awards and scholarships: CSF Sealbearer, Who’s Who Among High School Students, and Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission Teen Lead.

Parents: Michael and Rita Devencenzi.

Age: 17

Future plans: Attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. and be commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy and serve as a pilot. “I hope to eventually attend law school and continue my service as a JAG lawyer or a civilian lawyer and have a family.”

Brandon Doll

Activities: Football, golf, LHV volleyball club, California Scholarship Federation, Link Crew, student government, conflict management, Teen Lead, school newspaper, hospital volunteer, tutoring, and youth mentoring.

Awards and scholarships: Senatorial nomination from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, National English Merit Award, U.S. National Leadership Merit Award, LHS Academy Biggest Flirt award, Governor’s scholarship, Camp Royal selection, and Boys’ State nominee.

Most memorable experience: Performing a dance routine to “YMCA” by the Village People at last year’s homecoming rally with my buddies. “I was the sailor!”

Parents: Steven and Christy Doll.

Age: 18

Future plans: Attend UC Davis to major in civil engineering. “My future plans include attending UC Davis and becoming a successful and famous engineer.”

Laurie Garcia

Activities: Soccer, softball, cross country, Interact club, Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, Nerds club, and California Scholarship Federation.

Awards and scholarships: Junior Scholar Athlete Award, honorable recognition for softball in SJAA league and secondary gold medal at VICA regionals.

Most memorable experience: Junior year when our varsity softball team went undefeated in league.

Parents: Jeannie Trovinger and Marc Garcia.

Age: 18

Future plans: Attend UC Berkeley to major in business administration with a minor in women’s studies. “ I hope to be accepted to the Haas School of Business at Berkeley. I also would like to travel to Africa to study female genital mutilation for my doctorate.”

Jillian Person

Activities: Cheer leader for four years and varsity captain, junior class president, senior class president, Prom 2000 coordinator, Link Crew, Teen Lead, Camp Royal, Calvary Bible Youth Ministries, California Scholarship Federation vice president and member and Nordstrom Fashion Board.

Awards and scholarships: USA All-Star, Lodi Youth Commission Teen of the Month, Lodi High Top 12 Seniors voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” Soroptomist Volunteer Women in Action scholarship, California Alumni Leadership scholarship, CSF Sealbearer, and Calvary Bible Church “Mover and Shaker” award.

Most memorable experience: Doing Chinese fire drills after Academy Awards at school. “We were all in our formals and heels running around the car screaming and giggling and then my friend “accidentally” left me on the corner and drove off.”

Parents: Verne and Dawnette Person.

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