Congressman McCarthy Announces 2012 Merit Award Recipients for Kern County

May 14, 2012

Congressman Kevin McCarthy today announced the recipients of the 2012 Congressman Kevin McCarthy Merit Award for Kern County.

"This award is intended to honor the outstanding achievements that have been made by some of our community's most exemplary students," said Congressman McCarthy. "Today, we recognize the hard work and dedication that these local students have put into their academic and community endeavors. I am proud of each of this year's merit award recipients, and look forward to watching them continue to be successful in the future."

The recipients are:

• Mr. Seth Champness - Garces Memorial High School

• Mr. Caleb Lopez – Taft Union High School

• Mr. Enoch Chang – Bakersfield High School

• Mr. Eric Millan – Centennial High School

• Mr. Alexander Alvarado – East Bakersfield High School

• Miss Karla Murillo – Foothill High School

• Mr. Austin Hacker – Frontier High School

• Miss Breanna Pasqua – Highland High School

• Mr. Uriel Ocampo – Independence High School

• Miss Courtney Steinberg – Kern Valley High School

• Miss Lauren Fringer – Liberty High School

• Miss Janessa Jennings – Mira Monte High School

• Mr. Travis Holloway – North High School

• Mr. Brandon Magno – Ridgeview High School

• Mr. Jesus Meraz Gonzalez – South High School

• Miss Brooke Dickens – Stockdale High School

• Miss Holly Garber – Tehachapi High School

• Miss Elena Del Castillo – West High School

• Mr. Peter Kedzierski – Golden Valley High School

The Congressman Kevin McCarthy Merit Award was created to recognize outstanding high school students who have demonstrated exemplary school citizenship, volunteerism, community service, involvement in extracurricular activities, leadership skills and have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Earlier this year, high school principals were invited to select one outstanding graduating senior per school to receive the Congressman Kevin McCarthy Merit Award.