Name Dropping | Three students welcomed into innovation group

Three Pajaro Valley Unified School District students have been accepted into the League of Innovative Students, a cohort dedicated to celebrating the outstanding achievements of high school scholars. The community is invited to join in celebrating Noemi Munoz-Negrete of Aptos High and Jose Lopez and Gabriel Melgoza of Watsonville High, who were selected to join the league. The league brings together 40 students from member districts across the nation who will be able to choose to collaborate virtually with members from the Center for Inclusive Innovation staff to join in a variety of meaningful projects. Here is some background of the honored students: • Munoz-Negrete applied for the League of Innovative Students to help find solutions to equity issues faced by first-generation students as well as students of color, according to a release from the district. She listed a goal to attend the University of Southern California to major in business administration and film. • Lopez-Cruz says he greatly enjoys the experience of being a participant in the League of Innovative Students. He looks forward to majoring in engineering and as a senior will be applying to the California Institute of Technology. • Melgoza said he appreciates the opportunity to express his ideas on how to improve student learning outcomes, according to the release provided by the district. He plans to major in architecture and will be applying to UC Berkeley and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Dignity earns honor Dignity Health on Feb. 5 announced that it has been recognized for the second consecutive year as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group. This survey of more than 220,000 individuals included representation at more than 1.5 million companies in America. The list features the top large and midsize companies recognized by their employees, via an anonymous online survey, for genuinely respecting and valuing individuals from different walks of life. “Dignity Health has long been dedicated to creating a workplace that values equity and inclusion,” said Julie J. Sprengel, California region president, CommonSpirit Health in a prepared release. Fundraiser concluded Due to the generosity of its members and the community, Santa Cruz Fly Fishing had a very successful fundraising salmon dinner and raffle Feb. 3 at the Pajaro Valley Rod and Gun Club. The proceeds will be used to fund scholarships at the eight public high schools for seniors who will be studying environmental science in college. Interested students should check with their counselors. The club also uses the money for donations to local environmental and conservation organizations. The club thanked the staff at the California Grill, Michael Bardeau of the Staff of Life Deli (Watsonville) and Mike Imlay of Better Brands for their part in making the dinner profitable. The club also sent a shout-out to the 50-plus volunteers who made the whole event possible. Education These local students were honored for their academic achievements: • Hermes Tonatiuh Pardo, of Santa Cruz, was named to the high honors list for the fall 2023 semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minnesota. • Jordan Berger, of Scotts Valley, was named to the honors list for the fall 2023 semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minnesota. • Tim Lotts, of Scotts Valley, was named to the high honors list for the fall 2023 semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minnesota. • Samuel Kaplan, of Santa Cruz, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester at Purchase College in Purchase, New York. Got a story to tell, an event to report, an award to announce? Tell Name dropping. Email [email protected]. Name dropping is published Sundays and Mondays in the Sentinel.