CATHIE CAMPBELL - CCAMPBELL@SIERRASTAR.COM
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Keryn Nicholson is a junior at Yosemite High School who has won a
prestigious national award in the art category from the United States
Achievement Academy.
COARSEGOLD - Keryn Nicholson, a junior at Yosemite
High School, was recently notified that she has been named a national
award winner in the art category by the United States Achievement
Academy [USAA].
The Academy selects USAA winners upon the exclusive recommendation
of teachers, coaches, counselors and other qualified sponsors and
upon the Standards of Selection set forth by the Academy. The criteria
for selection are a student’s academic performance, interest and
aptitude, leadership qualities, responsibility, enthusiasm, motivation
to learn and improve, citizenship, attitude and cooperative spirit,
dependability and recommendation from a teacher or director.
" Recognizing and supporting our youth is more important than
ever before in America’s history," said Dr. George Stevens,
executive director of the USAA. "Certainly, United States Achievement
Academy winners should be congratulated and appreciated for their
dedication to excellence and achievement," he added.
Keryn, whose name will appear in the USAA Official Yearbook, was
nominated for the award by her art teacher, Rivka Schaffner.
The talented YHS award winner is the daughter of Michael and Cynthia
Nicholson of Coarsegold and her grandparents are Gloria J. Mulchaey
of Monterey, Donald W. Smith of Redding and Kenneth and Ruth Nicholson
of Etowah, North Carolina.
" Ever since I was little, I’ve loved to sketch on anything
I could get my hands on," said Keryn. "It could be the
best drawing paper or something as simple as the side of my math
paper; it always seemed to give me a sense of fulfillment and calmness.
It still does to this day. I was honored to be nominated for this
award and winning it was a tremendous accomplishment for me and
one that I am truly grateful for."
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