October Club Meeting
After taking the first week of the month off to recoup from our fabulous 2024 Wine & Dine, we were back with a fantastic October 15th meeting thanks to Bob and his team.
Our lunch with fellow the Los Alamitos, Cypress & Seal Beach Rotarians and guests was a lot of fun. We met as usual at On The Greens at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress.
The meeting got kicked off with some great announcements and introductions from our Club President Mike McCray and we went right into lunch conversations. This is the time each meeting that we get to discuss current area happenings and get to know the people at our table just a little better.
Each month during the school year* our Club recognizes an outstanding CTE student from both Los Al and Cypress High Schools.
Student Excellence Recognition
Our first recognition went to Hananiah Vijay Jebakumar, who is a senior at Los Al High School and is in the Computer Science Pathway.
Over the past three years Hananiah has completed all the courses in the Computer Science pathway. During this time, Hananiah has always been inquisitive and eager to learn more about programming.
She is a natural leader in the classroom and is always happy to help other students get “unstuck.” As a captain of the Los Al CyberPatriot team, Hananiah has played an important role in the team’s success over the last 2 years.
Finally, Hananiah has been a valuable ambassador for Comp Sci, representing our program at the Middle School elective fair and on the CTE Advisory Board. Her teacher, Alan Grant, was happy to nominate Hananiah and believes she is very deserving of this award!
Based on all of Chase’s achievements and contributions through the 2 years he’s been at Cypress High School, his teacher Dean Delgado highly recommends Chase for this Rotary Club recognition.
From Mr. Delgado:
Chase Linden is a rare find amongst students. He can go anywhere and fit right in. Just like how he moved to Cypress High School last year as a junior and entered as an Advanced Graphic Comm class surrounded by students who have known each other for over a year.
Chase jumped right in like he’s always been at Cypress his whole life. He took the lead on helping the Advanced Graphic Comm class make and sell stickers for the fundraiser and raised over $150.Chase also represented the class by meeting with the school principal with graphic design ideas. Chase volunteered at lunch time, he helped out at Open House, he went in front of the camera on CTV.Chase is always ready to support and help everyone. He is also a wonderful friend and counselor to other students in the classroom. He is also a very responsible pet owner. Now this year, Chase is a senior and volunteered to be my TA. He is loved by my 4th period freshmen class. They look to him as a role model and mentor.
Kurt Varricchio:
From Juvenile Delinquent to Baseball Agent!
Following the inspirational stories and hearing about bright futures from our students, our Club welcomed the inspiring Kurt Varricchio, President of KVA Sports and author of the compelling memoir, Behind in the Count: My Journey from Juvenile Delinquent to Baseball Agent.
After enjoying our delicious meals, Kurt captivated everyone with his remarkable journey, filled with resilience and humor.
He shared stories from his childhood, navigating challenges such as filling his stomach with one last scoop of Ovaltine and sleeping on the rooftops of local strip malls. After losing his father to cancer at just two years old, Kurt faced numerous obstacles but refused to let his difficult past define him.
Kurt focused on his education, graduating high school with an impressive 4.0 GPA, earning a full scholarship to Florida State University, and completing a Master’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin.
Since 1995, he has made significant strides in professional sports, representing players in the NFL and MLB as a successful sports agent.
His powerful message resonated with all present: “Don’t give up on kids. Every child deserves a chance, and what you do matters.”
Kurt’s story serves as a reminder that no matter how behind you may feel in life, there’s always a chance to rise and make a difference.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Kurt for sharing his incredible journey with our Rotary community and inspiring us all to support our youth.
*The Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Cypress & Seal Beach recognizes a terrific CTE student each month during the school year for their accomplishments with a certificate and a $250 check they can us in any way they see fit. These students are nominated by their teachers and we invite the student with their parents and teacher to join us for lunch for the presentation.
Career Technical Education (CTE) is a high school program that provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to be prepared for a variety of careers. CTE programs are hands-on and personalized, and can help students explore different career fields. Both Los Alamitos and Cypress High Schools offer excellent opportunities for students to explore these technical career paths during their high school curriculum. Click the school name to find out more about the current CTE options at Los Al and Cypress high schools.
