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Student Spotlight: 5 Top Teens

Despite the challenges and adversities of the past year, our students have still managed to come out on top. Here are some of the region's best and brightest minds.

Thomas Rexin

Age: 17

Vista Del Lago High School


Thomas Rexin

 

Thomas has already made great strides in his 17 years. An active member of the California Scholarship Federation and Key Club, he’s been a student senator and National Honor Society inductee for the last three years. He’s also adept at the clarinet and has earned his music varsity letter.

Eagar to share his time and talents, Thomas is a peer tutor on STEM subjects and helps second graders with reading and comprehension skills. He also happens to be a big basketball fan, having co-founded his school’s basketball club and worked as a Folsom Youth Basketball Association official. “I thrive to have a balanced lifestyle, keeping fit by eating right, playing basketball, working out, hanging out, and playing video games with my friends,” says the well-rounded teen.

After earning a perfect composite score of 36 on his first try of the ACT, Thomas will be dual graduating this year with a high school diploma and associate degree in interdisciplinary studies in math and science from Folsom Lake College. “I’m proud of these accomplishments because I worked really hard, and it proved to me that hard work does pay off…I plan to earn my bachelor’s degree in the STEM field,” he says.

Thomas’ biggest aspiration is to give back to the community. Realizing the importance of people in his life, he is constantly inspired by his grandparents and looks up to his godfather, Tony, who supports all his endeavors. “The pandemic has given me a new perspective on life and taught me to take advantage of the time that we have with friends and family.”


FAVORITES

Escape: Playing video games with my friends and listening to music.
Guilty pleasure: Lay’s BBQ Chips.
Meal in town: Bidwell Burrito at La Fiesta Taqueria.
Local landmark: Folsom Point.
Movie: Soul.
Musician/band: Kendrick Lamar.
Book: No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy.
Saying: “Life is a journey, not a destination.”


Jacob Maximus No

Age: 17

Jesuit High School


Jacob Maximus No

 

Ask Jacob how he would describe himself and you get an honest yet endearing answer: “oddly mature but still loves to have fun!” This grown-up teen is passionate about helping homeless veterans and uses his position as youth president of Sacramento Stand Down (sacramentostanddown.org)—a nonprofit that works to get homeless veterans off the street, providing adequate health care, shelter, employment, and more—to build awareness and garner support among his peers to the plight of veterans today. “It’s very satisfying when I can make a positive difference in another person's life,” he says.

When he’s not out championing this cause, Jacob spends his time playing basketball, video gaming, and between numerous clubs—Asian Pacific, Mathletes, and Theoretical Astrophysics, to name a few. A member of the Boy Scouts of America, he’s also earned Eagle Scout status—something he’s very proud of.

Jacob strives to be like his father, who has a strong work ethic and unique approach to life. A member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation, Jacob will be attending Emory University next year—his first time living outside California. “I'm looking forward to living in the South,” he says excitedly, ready to face any adventure head-on. “One thing the pandemic taught me is that everyone deals with fear in a different way. I would like to make sure that I approach things with an open mind.”

Favorites

Escape: I'm a foodie.
Guilty pleasure: Video games.
Meal in town: Orange chicken at Panda Express.
Local landmark: Folsom Lake.
Movie: The entire Bourne series.
Musician/band: Luke Combs (thanks to my brother).
Book: Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis.
Saying: "Do a Good Turn Daily"—Boy Scout slogan.


Kriti Vasudevan

Age: 16

Granite Bay High School


Kriti Vasudevan

 

Kriti has as many accomplishments as she has interests. Her love for speech, debate, advocacy, and volunteerism has translated into many worthy undertakings, and she’s determined to make her voice be heard in everything she does.

Her most recent vocation has been her podcast, “Spill the KriTEA” (available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts), where she discusses societal issues and personal passions for an audience of her peers. Topics include the Black Lives Matter movement, skincare, and literacy, and she’s reached listeners in far-flung places like Morocco, France, and Nigeria. Kriti also spends her time studying skincare and shares her experiences and tips on her blog, Let’s Detox About It.

Another way she uses her voice is at Cognitive Exchange, a local student-run nonprofit that aims to teach speech and debate to students in impoverished places across the world to “uplift human potential and provide students with the power of democratic thinking.” Her group’s efforts have resulted in over 4,500 graduates, expanding to schools in Africa and South America. “I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with CEOs and school administrators, but also meet so many compassionate individuals working to uplift their own communities,” she says, adding, “in the future, I definitely hope to travel more and work with more nonprofits—hopefully volunteer with the Peace Corps in Africa for a few years after college.”

Life is one big, beautiful adventure to Kriti and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. “We only have one life, so working hard, doing my best, and taking risks motivates me!”


Favorites

Escape: Music.
Guilty pleasure: Eating tubs of ice cream.
Meal in town: Thai Paradise.
Local landmark: World Peace Rose Garden.
Movie: I prefer TV shows so Friends and Brooklyn Nine-Nine among others.
Musician/band: Ariana Grande and Zayn Malik.
Book: Harry Potter series.
Saying: YOLO—you only live once!

Laine Webber

Age: 18

Granite Bay High School


Laine Webber

 

Laine is a champion lacrosse player but that isn’t the only thing she’s good at. “Not many people know about my high GPA,” she says. “Most people look at athletes and assume we don’t put a ton of effort into academics when that is not true.” After all, if it weren’t for her sport and academic accomplishments, she might not have gotten into the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Laine's love of lacrosse began in the third grade when the Granite Bay High School girls' lacrosse team conducted a clinic during PE. "I rushed home with a flyer and told my mom that I wanted to play lacrosse," she recalls. She's played nonstop ever since and has even won the Sacramento Valley Lacrosse Championship with her team.

Laine was 15 when she met the U.S. Coast Guard women’s lacrosse head coach at a showcase. Her grandma encouraged her interest in the career and Laine applied to their “Cadet for a Day” program where she got to shadow a lacrosse player and experience cadet life. From then on, Laine knew this was what she wanted to do. “I’m often questioned about my decision to pursue a military career, because it’s a very unconventional path for someone from my background,” she says, owing much of her confidence to her supportive parents.  
Off-field, Laine likes to watch The Office and participate at her church. And she’s counting down the days till she leaves for the Academy. “I'm excited to receive an excellent education and give back to the country and communities I love.”
 

Favorites

Escape: Any place outside enjoying nature and my dogs.
Guilty pleasure: In-N-Out Burger.  
Meal in town: Hazumi Sushi Bar.
Local landmark: 5% Beach at Folsom Lake.
Movie: Happy Gilmore.
Musician/band: J. Cole.
Book: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.
Saying: "You have to do what others will not to get ahead."


Kylie Cox

Age: 17

Ponderosa High School


Kylie Cox

 

Kylie loves all the regular teen stuff—reading, hanging out with friends, watching movies…then there’s the other side to her—the one that excels in sports and school. An active member of the California Scholarship Federation, she’s president of the Key Club, has won over 20 local beach volleyball tournaments over the last year, and plays piano. Despite having a full plate, Kylie has also volunteered at the Cameron Park Library and The Bookhouse in Cameron Park, accumulating 200 community service hours in four years—all while raking up a 4.47 GPA. With such outstanding achievements, it’s no wonder that this valedictorian was recently named “Student Service Leader of the Month” by the Kiwanis Club of Placerville.

Kylie’s keen on becoming a neurologist to treat people with brain disorders and research cures for neurodegenerative diseases. “I’ve been following the news every day during the pandemic, and it’s been eye-opening to see how the medical world is reacting to COVID-19,” she says. The pandemic also taught her to step out of her comfort zone. “I was a very ‘safe’ person, [sticking] to what I knew would be successful in the end. However, I’ve lost so many opportunities due to quarantine and realized that I can’t take things for granted anymore; I should take risks and make the most of every opportunity,” she says.

Looks like opportunity’s come knocking, for Kylie’s been offered a full-ride scholarship to the University of Alabama and has also been accepted to Notre Dame. “I know that if I put in the effort, I will be rewarded later by my success.”


Favorites

Escape: Running while listening to music.
Guilty pleasure: Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
Meal in town: Nekter Juice Bar’s acai bowls.
Local landmark: Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort.
Movie: The Princess Bride.
Musician: Tame Impala.
Book: Circe by Madeline Miller.
Saying: “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”—Albert Einstein. 


By Tara Mendanha

Laine's photo by Kelly McMenamin Photography. Kylie's photo by Anna Slojkowski. Other photos courtesy of each student.



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