The Scotts Valley Times is pleased to recognize the valedictorian and salutatorian at Scotts Valley High School for their hard work that put them at the top of their class.
Here they share their post-graduation plans and memories of Scotts Valley High School.
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Valedictorian Jack Brownfield
What will you do after you graduate? Do you have a major in mind?
I want to go into a career in academic research, hopefully becoming a research professor with a university.
I will be majoring in evolutionary biology and ecology at Temple University.
What activities did you participate in at Scotts Valley High?
During my time at Scotts Valley High, I was a member of the cross country and track teams for all four years and captain of both my senior year.
I also participated in the Model United Nations club all four years and was vice-president my senior year. I was also a part of the Haunted House for the last three years, as structure manager, treasurer, and tour guide.
Finally, I’ve participated in the visual arts classes for three years, and showed my IB art portfolio at art night in March.
How did Covid affect your high school experience?
Covid completely derailed high school during my freshman and sophomore years. Classes were taken online to varying degrees of success, and it took a lot of adjusting to get used to not seeing my teachers or classmates outside of the little zoom boxes.
The transition back in person at the end of sophomore/beginning of junior year was also difficult, as we all had to remember how in person classes work and get back into the rhythm of normal school with a normal school schedule.
What did you enjoy most at Scotts Valley High?
The best thing about Scotts Valley High for me was the people I met and the communities I found in my time at the school. I made some amazing friends and found great groups of people through various activities that really shaped my high school experience.
Teachers and staff members also played a big role, and made me feel welcome at the school and supported when I needed it.
The running teams were especially important for me, and basically became a second family to me throughout my time at SVHS. I will never forget the kindness of my coaches, the guidance of the older runners, the support of my teammates, or the joy I found in being a captain for younger athletes.
I will miss the people I met at SVHS more than anything else.
Parents: Cheryle and Rod Brownfield
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Salutatorian Amy Weiss
What will you do after you graduate? Do you have a major in mind?
This fall I will be attending UC Berkeley where I plan to major in urban planning.
What activities did you participate in at Scotts Valley High?
At Scotts Valley High, I participated in many activities, from sports to the arts and clubs. I played girls’ basketball for four years, two years on the JV team, and two years on the varsity team. It was a joy to compete and practice with such a fun and kind-hearted squad, and I am forever grateful for their impact on my life. In my freshman year, I also participated on the swim team but unfortunately never got to compete due to Covid.
In junior year I decided to try a new sport and joined the girls’ varsity lacrosse team, where I was surprised by how easily my basketball skills transferred. I continued playing this year and developed my skills and relationships as I bonded more closely with my teammates.
I played flute in the school band at the beginning of high school but stopped when Covid hit, choosing instead to focus on piano, which I continue to play.
During my freshman year, I joined the Maji Project, a school club centered on clean-water advocacy. As a sophomore, I took on the role of vice president and then led the club as president my junior and senior years. Over my two years as president, the club raised $2,000 for clean water infrastructure through the nonprofit organization Charity: Water, which I am very proud of.
I was also involved in Green Team, our environmental club on campus, and Spanish Club, which raised money for communities in Central America through the Pulsera Project every year.
I also enjoyed participating in the lip sync battle at each homecoming rally and cheering friends on at sports games. I especially loved watching my brother Aaron compete in cross country this year, where the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams competed in the state meet.
How did Covid affect your high school experience?
Covid began in the spring of my freshman year. I distinctly remember the first day of lockdown.
I was supposed to compete in my first swim meet that Friday, only to find out that school was canceled, and we had to stay home.
From the end of my freshman year to the end of my sophomore year, all of my classes were online.
While it was difficult not to get to play sports or see friends, having classes online meant I could take a Cabrillo art class online, something I would not have been able to do during a regular year. That small taste of college-level courses partly motivated me to continue my Spanish education and take Spanish at Cabrillo this year.
During Covid, I spent time hiking the trails in my neighborhood and got to know the wild spaces in my backyard much better. I also had the opportunity to try to learn how to surf with my mom, which was a fun challenge to embark on together.
I won’t pretend that period was easy; it was not. I was often lonely and felt isolated, but it did allow me to explore new things I would not have had the opportunity to experience in a typical year.
What did you enjoy most at Scotts Valley High?
At SVHS, I had the opportunity to take a rigorous load of all International Baccalaureate classes. While the challenging nature of the classes was compelling, I found what I enjoyed most about them was the people.
My peers were a joy to learn alongside, and we grew into a tight community, supporting each other through the demanding classwork. I can honestly say that I learned just as much from my peers as from my professors, and I am so happy to have found a group of such engaged and passionate learners during my high school experience.
Participating in sports has been another important part of my life, especially throughout high school. Not only did I enjoy playing sports, but I also loved to watch friends, and my younger brother, compete and cheer them on at their games.
Another thing I loved at Scotts Valley High was watching drama productions every year. I am always amazed by how much talent we possess in such a small school, and the drama department never fails to stun me with the quality of their productions. It was a joy to watch them.
Lastly, I am grateful for my experience joining different clubs. I enjoyed finding like-minded people and coming together to set goals and advocate for ideas I am passionate about. It was lovely to find many different communities across campus which I could join.
Parents: Scott and Sally Weiss
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Cover Photo: Valedictorian Jack Brownfield and salutatorian Amy Weiss • Credit: Christie Danner