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Tokay's top student sees glorious future

By Ripley Howe
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Anh Le

Anh Le, Tokay High School's 2003 valedictorian, has her future well thought out.

She plans to attend the University of California, Davis, and will pursue a degree in a biochemistry and molecular and biology major. In addition to the science courses, she will be taking other courses that will lead to a degree in medicine, she said.

"I hope to one day become a pediatrician and eventually open my own practice," she said.

Le will be moving to Davis to live in a dormitory while she attends classes there.

"My family will not be too far, but not too close either," she said.

In her time at Tokay High, Le was a member of the Spanish Club, the Japanese Club and the Key Club.

She has also been taken part in homecoming ceremonies, conflict management, the Link Crew and A-Team at the school.

Le served as president of both the California Scholastic Federation and the Viet Club.

An addition to her responsibilities at school, Le served as a candy-striper at Dameron Hospital and was a teacher at Hung Vuong Viet School.

Le also has interests in athletic activities.

She has been involved in tennis and track and field sports, as well as badminton.

The aspiring doctor received several awards and scholarships at Tokay High.

She was awarded the Golden State Examination diploma, the Principal's Award, the Top of the Class award, Governor's Scholar Award and received the Vaccarezza-Murdaca Family Foundation Scholarship.

She was also named Scholar Athlete, Girl State Nominee and Homecoming Princess.

Looking back at her high school experience, she said she changed more than she thought she would.

"I open up more, and I'm not so afraid to put myself out there," she said. "It's really good."

Le said her most memorable experience at Tokay High School was performing for the '02-'03 International Assembly. At the event, she performed a cultural Vietnamese dance with the Viet Club, and played Taiko drums with the Japanese Club.

"I remember the excitement and the nervousness of going and performing in front of the whole school," she said.

"I will remember that day forever."