House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy recognizes outstanding students with the 23rd Congressional District Merit Award

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Whip, gives us his weekly report. In his words:

 "This week and the coming weeks, I have the distinct privilege of recognizing and honoring our most outstanding high school seniors in our community.

 "Our community has some talented students and I want to take the opportunity to recognize them with the 23rd Congressional District of California 2014 Merit Award for students in Kern, Tulare, and Los Angeles counties. This 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 23rd Congressional District of California 2014 Merit Award.


"This award is not only about outstanding academic achievement; it is also meant to recognize the character and positive values that these students uphold.  I look forward to watching these young leaders continue to succeed in the future.”


Student Recipients



Kern County

Mr. Austin Huckaby - Bakersfield Christian High School

Mr. Patrick Crowley – Bakersfield High School

Miss Sarah Manges – Centennial High School

Mr. Ben Ward– East Bakersfield High School

Miss Breana Garcia – Foothill High School

Miss Erin Glavin – Frontier High School

Mr. Ryan Young – Garces Memorial High School

Miss Sara Baldridge – Highland High School

Mr. Michael Cushine – Independence High School

Mr. Mason Meyers – Kern Valley High School

Miss Morgan Wonderly – Liberty High School

Mr. Jacob Allen – Maricopa High School

Mr. Andrew Francis – North High School

Miss Gurjot Kaur – Ridgeview High School

Miss Pratyusha Gogulapati – Stockdale High School

Mr. Clayton Wikoff – Taft Union High School

Mr. Kyle Mathes Orr – Tehachapi High School

Miss Casey Ross – West High School

Miss Kassidy McLaughlin – Rosamond High School

Mr. Ruben Juan Soto – Mojave High School

Mr. Dane Adams – Desert High School

Mr. Kristoph Livingston – California City High School

Mr. Chad Cracraft – Sherman E. Burroughs High School

Miss Lydia Alverson – Boron High School



Tulare County

Mr. Jose Gonzalez – Granite Hills High School

Miss Kayla Holloway – Harmony Magnet Academy

Mr. David Ivancovich – Monache High School

Mr. Anthony James Moore, Jr. – Porterville High School

Miss Jakoba Duffin – Strathmore High School



Los Angeles County

Miss Amanda Tepe – Lancaster High School

Miss Ariel Andal –Desert Christian High School

Mr. Daren Harrell – Quartz Hill High School





 "Also, I want to recognize the artistic talent of our local high school students, and I am pleased to announce the winners of our 2014 Congressional Art Competition. Congratulations to all of the winners and especially to the competition’s overall winner, Frontier High School’s Jacey Cruz, whose winning piece, “San Francisco,” will soon arrive in Washington.  I look forward to Jacey’s visit to our nation’s Capital for the unveiling of her artwork where it will be displayed for visitors to see during their visit to the U.S. Capitol building this year. In addition, all of this year’s winners will hang in my office in Washington for the next year.