With helmet stickers, hair bows, jersey ribbons and plans for a special award, students and staff at Francis Parker School are honoring the memory of varsity cheer coach Brooke Powers Wilson as teams head into CIF playoff season.

Wilson died of melanoma Oct. 19. A celebration of life was held Nov. 2 at the Malibu Nature Preserve. She was 33.

Brooke Rose Powers Wilson joined the Parker family in 2010 and is remembered as a role model of passion and strength.

"During her time at Parker, she put an immense amount of dedication and love into the cheer program," team co-captain Hannah Lettington said in farewell comments at an Upper School assembly. "She created the Middle School cheer program as well as introducing a cheer team to the Lower School."

Calling her coach "one of the craftiest ladies you'll ever meet," senior Hannah said Wilson would sew in the stands and make all the bows worn and boxes stood on at games.

She was diagnosed with skin cancer in February 2013 but continued to support Parker cheerleaders until her final days.

"At times she gave our team more attention than she did herself," said Margaret MacVean, the other cheer co-captain. "Even once she was hospitalized, she did not let that hold her back. She would Facetime us to teach us choreography and constantly requested video updates of how our skills were coming along."

The cheer routine performed at Homecoming a day before her passing was her vision and final gift to the school, Margaret said at the Town Hall, adding: "It was her idea to combine cheer and dance team forces. ... Although she was in the hospital, she was able to ... watch halftime live. We are so grateful to have been influenced by her perseverance and so honored to have been able to make her dream come true in her final days."

At Parker, varsity football players have added the letters BW to their helmets in remembrance of Wilson. The girls volleyball team players have sewn pink ribbons on their jerseys.

Michael Stutts, Wilson's assistant, said the team has ordered special hair bows in memory of their beloved leader.

"We will also be dedicating a place in the cheer/multipurpose room specifically to her and making a new award to hand out each year to a cheerleader who the team feels has set an example of Brooke's passion for the sport and for life," said Stutts, taking over as head coach.

Stutts worked with Wilson for only two months.

"However in that time, as short as it was, her positive spirit and passion had a large effect on me," Stutts said. "Just getting to know her a little, I quickly saw how many different things she was involved with and how hard she worked at all of them, on top of her fight with cancer."

While hospitalized, Wilson would text Stutts for information about the team and constantly asked for videos of their progress, he said.

"Her love for Parker and the Parker cheer team was something rare and very special," he said. "I'm very thankful for getting to work with her for the time in which I did, and hope to continue spreading her energy and love for cheer into every future athlete I work with."

Lettington told the Oct. 21 Field House assembly:

"We all benefited from the passion she shared for cheer, the strength she exhibited throughout her fight against Melanoma, and the inner and outer beauty she possessed. She always led us by example and served as a role model for what a cheerleader, and woman, should be like.

"She was much more than a cheer coach, and we hope the Parker community can remember and honor her legacy as the women that gave her all to the program. She will forever hold a place in our hearts."

Wilson is survived by John Wilson, her husband of four years; her parents, Barbara Tullo Booth and Kevin Powers; and her mother-in-law, Sheri Williams.

More details: Los Angeles Times death notice

Caption: Brooke Wilson, a high school and collegiate competitive dancer and cheerleader, earned a degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Northridge, and coached cheerleading and gymnastics throughout the Los Angeles area, including 15 years with the city's Department of Recreation & Parks before moving to San Diego.

Stirring laughter and quiet awe, four members of the Greatest Generation parried questions from Upper School students Tuesday at Francis Parker School, giving a living history lesson of World War II.

Meanwhile, a nine-member panel of mostly younger men and women — but also famed Wall Street analyst and financier Arthur Lipper III — stressed the importance of service to a separate Middle School audience in a concurrent Veterans Day program.Navy veteran George Coburn of Vista, the eldest at 95, was asked how the war changed him.

"Real simple," Coburn told a packed Field House on the Linda Vista Campus. "When I joined the Navy, I was a boy. When I left the Navy, I was a man." Big applause followed.

Coburn described how he was one of only 32 survivors of the battleship Oklahoma, which lost 429 sailors when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The ship turned upside down in 10 minutes after torpedo strikes, and Navy Shipyard workers had cut an opening for them to escape, he said.

Joining him in front of an American flag were Army Air Corps veteran Fred Troy, 91, of Los Alamitos and Navy veterans Ray Hahn, 92, of Bay Park and Andy Anderson, 90, of Kearny Mesa.

At J. Crivello Hall a short walk away, a minute of silence was observed on the 11^th minute of the 11^th hour — noted by Head of Middle School Dan Lang as the moment World War I ended Nov. 11, 1918.

Marine Corps veteran Lipper said he had come to sell the students on service.

"There are only two kinds of people," Lipper told 300 students as well as faculty. "Those who serve others and those who don't."

Lipper recalled how he first tried to enlist, but was sent home and told to eat bananas to make the 112-pound weight minimum. He eventually did.

In the Korean War, Lipper was wounded with the Recon Company of the 1st Marine Division — but downplayed his Purple Heart (which he brought to show students).

Lipper told attentive students: "All it signifies was an awardee was in a place of combat and unfortunate enough to get hit."

Middle School panelist and Parker parent Matt Heidt, a Navy SEAL winner of the Bronze Star Medal for valor, told of serving in Iraq, the Panama Canal Zone and other conflict zones.

Being in military service teaches a person that "you are not as important as the team or unit," Heidt said. He urged students to become "the most important kind of person in the world — a reliable one."

And he offered students a fresh perspective: "Veterans are not victims. They are your protectors."

The students also heard from Marine Corps veteran Jeremy Croft who was involved in relief work following the 2011 Japanese tsunami. He called his service "one of the best times in my life." Now a teacher in training, Croft said the military taught him the values of teamwork, humility and compassion.

And he echoed Lipper: "The biggest thing is to serve others."

A number of Parker parents were on the panel, including Navy veterans Bernice Alota and Malcolm Potts; Traci Jones, retired from the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps; and Coast Guard Capt. Mike Rorstad,

Also on the panel was Assistant Head of the Middle School Christi Cole, whose father retired as a two-star admiral from the Navy. She was joined by Middle School science teacher Sergina Bach, who served in the Coast Guard Reserve and is married to a Navy SEAL captain.

Bach spoke about the nomadic nature of military life and the sacrifice that military spouses and families make for love of country. She has taught at nine different schools and opted this year to stay at Parker when her husband was reassigned to Texas. Bach and her husband take turns flying out for visits.

Alota told of her husband, an active-duty naval officer deployed to the Middle East. She spoke about her pride in being part of the military and for her husband and Navy veteran father.

At the Upper School, the four veterans sat in front of Old Glory and heard a brief chronology of the war by social studies teacher Cherie Redelings, who next summer will travel to Europe to study World War II in the 2015 Understanding Sacrifice program offered through National History Day.

Students asked searching questions:

• What made you as an 18-year-old want to enlist?
• How have generations of young people changed?
• What role should America play in the world?

To that question, Coburn said: "Frankly, I think we're going in the wrong way. America should be for America — and keep our hands off other nations and other peoples."

Instead, he said, America should be an "example of freedom and prosperity — an example not in the way of war but in the way of peace."

Captions:

Upper School social studies teacher Cherie Redelings served as moderator for Q&A for a Veterans Day program at Francis Parker School in Linda Vista. Taking part in the Field House were World War II veterans (from left) Fred Troy, 91; George Coburn, 95, Ray Hahn, 92; and Andy Anderson, 90. (Credit: Ken Stone, Parker Office of Communications)

Coast Guard Capt. Mike Rorstad, a parent of several Parker students, was part of a nine-member panel discussing the meaning of service on Veterans Day before 300 Middle School students at Francis Parker School's J. Crivello Hall concert venue.

With family members, coaches and friends smiling on the sidelines, three Francis Parker School seniors signed national letters of intent Wednesday, committing to play at colleges in California, Nevada and New Jersey.

Center fielder Jonah Davis, a rare left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, signed to play with the University of Nevada, Reno, using his left hand in the Peters Family Building on the Linda Vista Campus.

His teammate Grant Shives, a left-handed pitcher who helped the Lancers win a San Diego CIF title in June, signed with the University of Pacific in Stockton.

And volleyball star Grace Forren, a key to Parker's state championship last year, committed to Seton Hall University — only 14 miles from New York City.

Jonah, 17, of University City had been courted by many schools but chose Nevada.

"I loved everything up there [in Reno]," said Jonah, a 5-11, 185-pounder. "I was looking for both the sports ... and the academic side. It was a very tough decision. No second thoughts about committing early."

A member of the San Diego Show travel team since age 12, he saluted his coaches there as well as at Parker.

Parker coach David Glassey has been a "great influence," he said. "He's really honed my skills as a leader — since I was a freshman. He's never been easy on me. He knows the potential I have."

Grant, 17, of Clairemont is looking beyond his playing days.

"I'm going to college to be a student-athlete, so the 'student' comes first," Grant said. "I'm going to major in sports management," aiming for a front-office role, perhaps a general manager of a ball club. "It's really the stuff that fascinates me — the statistics."

A baseball player since age 4, Grant threw 78 1/3 innings last season — more than six times the previous year. His earned run average was a sparkling 1.25 with nine wins and 49 strikeouts.

His goal is to be a starter for the Pacific Tigers, but he'll compete for a relief role his freshman year.

"They have said they will give me every opportunity to earn my time on the field," said Grant, a 6-2, 230-pounder (who expects to play at 220 this season). "Nothing's ever given. Everything's earned. That's the mantra I have in life. You can't just guarantee stuff because the most constant thing in life is change."

Change is familiar to Grace, a 17-year-old volleyball standout from La Jolla.

The 5-11 outside hitter said she sent a "ton of email" to schools, and eventually chose the Pirates of Seton Hall in South Orange, N.J.

She's not sure of her college major but plans to minor in music performance. She's played the violin since age 6 and is a principal violinist today.

Grace called National Signing Day "really exciting because I have been verbally committed for a little while. But knowing that I'm going to school there makes it feel that much closer."

Francis Parker School's boys lacrosse, tennis and golf teams and girls lacrosse team each had the highest combined team GPAs by sport last spring in the San Diego CIF Metro region.

The squads were named top All-Academic Teams, and two Parker seniors were recognized as Cymer Scholars in a program overseen by the local CIF section, students were told this week.

The Metro region takes in all of the San Diego Unified School District plus city independent schools.

Three Parker girls lacrosse players also have been named Academic All-Americans by US Lacrosse, the sport's national governing body.

"Balancing a tough academic schedule with a competitive athletic schedule takes commitment and sacrifice," said girls lacrosse coach Antoinette Allen, addressing an Upper School Town Hall on Nov. 13.

"It's incredible how many of you are able to do both with your academic courses and extracurricular activities. I'm very impressed, and encourage you to keep up the good work."

Named Academic All-Americans by US Lacrosse are Parker seniors Hannah Ehrenfeldt, Corinne Nixon and Corryn Knapp.

US Lacrosse says an All-Academic team member is a "player who exhibits exemplary lacrosse skills, good sportsmanship on the field, and represents high standards of academic achievement in the classroom. This player should also have left her mark beyond the lacrosse field and the classroom by making significant contributions of service to the school and/or community."

Knapp also was recognized as the Cymer Scholar in the San Diego CIF program. She had the highest cumulative weighted GPA on her team as a junior.

The 2013-14 Spring All-Academic Teams, sponsored by Mission Federal Credit Union and tech company Cymer, listed the top teams for as many as 11 sports in the North, South, Inland, East and Metro regions of San Diego CIF.

Cymer Scholars of the boys teams were Dylan Crispen (lacrosse), Spencer Collins (tennis) and Patrick Riley (golf). Crispen and Riley are 2014 graduates. Collins is a senior this year.

Girls lacrosse coach Allen said team members were recognized this month because grades were submitted to San Diego CIF after the school year. Her lacrosse team had the highest unweighted GPA in the region, she said.

The verdict is in: Meeting a Supreme Court associate justice was an unforgettable moment for four Parker students.

Seventh-grader Christopher Morales, sophomore Indra Galindo and juniors Jennifer Cantabrana and Angelica Vera spent at least three hours last month with Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

"She spoke to us about working hard to achieve our dreams and overcoming adversity," said Angelica.

Sotomayor, the first Latina on the nation's highest court, was in San Diego for a downtown conference.

She attended a private reception Oct. 19, hosted to support students furthering their education through programs including Reality Changers, Nativity Prep Academy and Barrio Logan College Institute.

"The most valuable thing about meeting her was being able to see a role model for a strong woman who became successful despite not growing up with wealth or any other advantages," Angelica said.

"I learned that success is a possibility even if I come from a background that makes it more difficult to achieve. I also learned to never forget where I come from and to try and help others around me."

Christopher's mother, Superior Court Judge Yvonne Campos, was one of the reception's co-hosts. Other Parker students are mentored by Judge Robert Longstreth and his wife, Veronica, colleagues and friends of Campos.

"The students were taken to and from the reception by the Longstreths," Campos said. "Attending students received a copy of her biography 'My Beloved World' in advance of the reception. The justice generously posed for pictures with students in their respective school uniforms or with their sponsoring organization."

Sotomayor, who has served on the Supreme Court since August 2009, also was near Parker that week, appearing at the University of San Diego where she spoke as part of the law school's Jane Ellen Bergman Memorial Lecture Series.

Devising arguments nearly on the spot, Francis Parker School students took first place in a county debate tournament Saturday (Nov. 15) at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa. More remarkable, the 14-member team has only one senior.

"Parliamentary debate is extemporaneous and thus extremely difficult because teams have to be ready to present a convincing argument on any subject, regardless of their comfort level with the material," said junior Hadley DeBello, team captain. "Team members had no knowledge of their topic or their position until 20 minutes before each round began."

The event was part of the San Diego Imperial Valley Speech League, and attracted nearly two dozen schools.

Parker entrants besides DeBello were senior Rachel Mehrberg; juniors Nicole Keeney, Alex Blood, Rex Winn, Ted Gehring, Eric Linssen, Isaac Gray and Sonia Aceves; sophomores Haley Braner, Sophia Swedback and Faith Tomlin; and freshmen Elias Jinich and Aviva Waldman.

Three rounds were held — each arguing a separate topic: "Physical education should be valued over the arts." "The U.S. should limit travel from nations suffering from the Ebola epidemic." And "The American two-party system is a threat to democracy."

Parker was split so that half the teams would argue either side against opposing schools, DeBello said, adding: "The team is extremely proud of its win. San Diego regional competitions are very competitive, and it is incredible that a team as young as ours could defeat programs that have been running for over a decade."

New head coach is Karen Van Riper, a Parker parent and former prosecutor. Assistant Head of Upper School Marc Thiebach and Upper School Dean Nancy Anderson help guide the debate team.

A week after committing to play college volleyball at Seton Hall, Parker's Grace Forren of La Jolla has been named a U-T San Diego High School Athlete of the Week.

"A 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter, Forren slammed home 25 kills to help lead the fourth-seeded Lancers to a nail-biting 24-26, 25-21, 23-25, 25-17, 15-7 victory over Scripps Ranch in the San Diego Section Open Division quarterfinals," the U-T said.

Although Parker lost to Torrey Pines on Wednesday (Nov. 18) in the CIF San Diego semifinals, the Lancers are expected to be among the top Southern California seeds in the state CIF Division IV playoffs. The first game is Nov. 25, with the venue to be announced Sunday.

"We definitely have a real good chance of winning the state championship again," she said. The 17-year-old standout helped the Lancers win their eighth state title last December.

Last week, Grace signed her name to a National Letter of Intent to play at Seton Hall in South Orange, N.J.

She said she admired the coaches, campus and players at Seton Hall, and could even recite a favorite stat: "It's 17.4 miles from Penn Station in New York."

Grace was one of three Parker seniors signing national letters, joining center fielder Jonah Davis, going to the University of Nevada, Reno, and teammate Grant Shives, a left-handed pitcher who signed with University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Grace is not sure of her college major but plans to minor in music performance. She's played the violin since age 6 and is principal violinist with the Lancer Orchestra.

Seton Hall — which competes in the Big East Conference with the likes of Georgetown, Marquette and Villanova — had a 23-6 record last season and is ranked in the top 20 percent of 333 NCAA Division I programs. Head coach is Allison Yeager, a former star outside hitter herself.

A volleyball player since fifth grade, she didn't decide to focus on the sport (she also liked basketball) until her freshman year.

Her talents extend to doubles volleyball — played on the sand. In the team's first year, Grace and teammate Brianna Goldberg led the Lancers to the Division II county championships last May at Dog Beach.

Terri Devine, Parker's veteran Dean of College Counseling, is proud of her contribution to First Lady Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative.

Devine was among educators from 32 states taking part in a recent event.

"The group of invited experts focused on strategies to strengthen the school counseling profession through enhanced preparation in college and career readiness," Devine said.

The Nov. 17 conference at San Diego State University was held in partnership with the White House's College Opportunity Agenda and the Reach Higher Initiative.

As a past president of the Western Association for College Admission Counseling, Devine was invited to share her expertise on college counseling issues and help develop national college counseling programs and strategies.

The Reach Higher initiative is Michelle Obama's effort to "inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university."

In a video aired at SDSU, the first lady said: "I know if we truly want to help young people reach their college dreams, we need to support our school counselors.

"Our young people have so much potential, and they need someone in their lives who believes in them and can show them the steps they need to take to get to college."

In California public school districts, the state's ratio of 1,016 students per counselor is the highest in the nation. For Parker's senior class, the ratio is 42 students per college counselor.

Parker's sailing team was in sixth place this week after the second event of the Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association season — and was the top independent school in the 48-team rankings.

The Lancers raced in the Sea Otter Regatta in Monterey Oct. 11-12 and the Anteater Regatta on Nov. 8-9, hosted by the UC Irvine sail team at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. The regular sailing season has four more events.

The Parker team is coached by Ty Reed and Randy Lake.

Parker sailors practice at the San Diego Yacht Club and have a record of achievement in the Pacific Coast association, ranking fifth among 57 schools in 2008-2009. Lancer teams have been ranked in the top 10 in seven of the past 10 years.

PCISA sponsors five district regattas and four Pacific Coast Championships Regattas (dinghies, single-handed and team racing), with the top schools qualifying for the national championships.

More than 80 schools are registered in the local league — the largest in the nationwide Interscholastic Sailing Association.

Parker's current rankings can be found here.

[See photo gallery on SmugMug.]

Parker junior Nicole Magbanua on Wednesday was named a High School Athlete of the Week by U-T San Diego and the San Diego Hall of Champions for her recent standout volleyball performances.

"With 24 digs in the Division V state championship match against Ross Branson, the junior libero helped lead the Lancers to their third straight title, 25-22, 25-11, 15-25, 25-17," said the U-T citation. "In the Southern California Regional, she added 28 digs in a victory over Bishop's."

Nicole is the fourth member of the team to be so honored this season. Senior Grace Forren (Nov. 19) and juniors Jenn Wineholt (Oct. 1) and Sien Gallop (Oct. 29) also were recognized as Athletes of the Week.

Earlier this week, Jenn was named to the honorary All-San Diego Girls Volleyball Team (First Team) and Grace to the same list (Second Team), while sophomore runner Brooke Trossen made All-San Diego Girls Girls Cross Country First Team for her Division V county title and her 10^th-place finish in the state meet in Fresno.

Former Parker star shortstop Nick Noonan '07 has signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Reporting from Major League Baseball's winter meeting in San Diego, Sherman tweeted the news Thursday morning.

In June 2007, Noonan was the 32nd pick overall in the MLB draft, signed by the San Francisco Giants. At Parker, he batted a career average .505 with 32 home runs, 156 RBI and 105 steals in 110 attempts.

"Noonan is known as a gritty player and has battled injuries along the way," wrote Jed Weisberger of pinstripedprospects.com. "He played in 22 games with San Francisco in 2013, batting .219 (23-for-105)."

Weisberger said that if Noonan, 25, is healthy, "he could serve as a utility player for the Yankees and will likely battle with Jose Pirela and Rob Refsnyder for a spot depending on future moves by the club. He may also end up as a veteran presence at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, as he also plays shortstop and third base."

Noonan's MLB stats are here.

Forty Lower School students fanned out Wednesday morning at the Toys R Us on West Morena Boulevard, renewing a Season of Giving tradition.

The children weren't shopping for themselves. They picked out presents for young patients at Rady Children's Hospital in Kearny Mesa.

Going into carts were Barbie Dolls, Legos, board games, comic books, action figures and art supplies. Fifth-graders led each group, and sometimes did the math — since each group had a $200 spending limit.

"It was a really positive experience," said Jamie Herold, a Spanish teacher in her first year as adviser to the Student Council, whose members went shopping. "They said this was so much fun. You could really feel the empathy."

The store opened early — 7:20 a.m. — just for Student Council members from the Mission Hills Campus and more than 10 parents, along with staff.

Money for the shopping spree came from December bake and hot chocolate sales, Herold said. About $1,500 was raised and spent.

Acting as Santa's elves, six groups of Parker grade-schoolers with parents supervising deployed throughout the store, hunting for items they considered perfect for their Rady age-group counterparts.

Herold said the School may take fifth-graders to Rady Children's Hospital early next year to show them where the gifts went — completing the circle.

Parker's Season of Giving also relies on family support. This year's parent chair is Anne Dixon.

Just before Christmas, Parker sophomore Meghana Reddy was featured in a U-T San Diego feature interview titled SD teen makes magic with 3D printer. Her nonprofit, Limbs with Love, donates prosthetic hands to adults and children around the world.

"Last summer during a family trip to India, I had the opportunity to visit an orphanage in a remote village," Meghana told Nina Garin. "I was shocked and moved by the sight of a few children who were missing limbs. Then I realized that I could use 3D printers to create prosthetic hands that are inexpensive."

Ceri Keith's Middle School math class was featured in KUSI news segments about its use of Judo Math as a learning and motivation tool. She and several students were interviewed. See it here.

With a small gong and the trappings of a Do-Jo, her class conquers algebra lessons as if they were steps to a new colored judo belt.

"You are presented with material, you attack it on your own, you have lots and lots of resources," Keith said on broadcasts Tuesday and Wednesday. "You have to keep working at it until you get it."

Students master a skill level, and get a bracelet — yellow, orange, blue and ultimately black.

Dan Thoene, founder and CEO of Judo Math — a former sportscaster who created the program while teaching at High Tech Middle School — also was shown in the segment.

In his 10th season at Parker, Tomey on Monday was five games short of the milestone.

"I'd like to think that I've made a difference everywhere that I've worked," Tomey told reporter Jordan Whitley in the 2 1/2-minute piece.

The Lancers, 8-4 this season, are playing this schedule through the end of January, when Tomey is expected to notch No. 400.

Upcoming games (all at home except where noted):

• Tuesday, 1/13 Monte Vista (Spring Valley) at 7 pm
• Friday, 1/16 Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach) at 7:30 pm
• Monday, 1/19 St. Augustine (San Diego) @ Torrey Pines at 5:30 pm
• Tuesday, 1/20 Army-Navy (Carlsbad) at 7 pm
• Friday, 1/23 @ Bishop's (La Jolla) at 7:30 pm
• Tuesday, 1/27 @ La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla) at 7:30 pm
• Friday, 1/30 Horizon Christian Academy (San Diego) at 7:30 pm

Parker student photography is highlighted in a U-T San Diego gallery on the current Museum of Photographic Arts exhibit in Balboa Park.

Works by 29 Parker students are part of the "We Are Family" exhibit through Feb. 1 based in the Casa de Balboa building of Balboa Park. Parker work makes up a third of the images displayed.

Images titled "Parental Portrait" by senior Olivia Fidler and "Framed" by junior Athena Malcolm appear in the online gallery.

A U-T report headlined "Youth photos evoke family" quoted Suda House, a professor of art and photography at Grossmont College in El Cajon and a trustee of the museum.

"What I find to be the most exciting about the group of images on the wall is the spontaneity, the authenticity, the trust that you can feel in the work," House said.

Other Parker students involved include Trevor Appel, Bailey Avila, James Baker, Isaac Gray, Natalie Greenberg, Gabriel Gross-Sable, Annette Gulsado, Caroline Harari, Lily Horne, Grayson Lang, Jonathan Lemberg, Hannah Lettington, Kate Liang, Jonas Munson, Wolf Recht, Caroline Sanborn, Sharni Smith, Bradley Sommer, Anna Wilson, Caroline Wohl, Ansel Yaley and Parker Zimmerman.

In addition, photos by Parker students Haley Cloyd, Emma Moore, Maggie Oswald, Jona Plevin and Jessica Samuels are on digital display at MOPA as well as at two extension sites. About two dozen works from "We Are Family" also will be on view at the Chula Vista Public Library, 365 F St., and the North Park Library, 3795 31st St.

For more, see MOPA's We Are Family page.

Grace Forren, among the Parker stars of last month's state title in volleyball, was named a U-T High School Athlete of the Month in early January.

"Stepping up in the big match has been a trademark of the Lancers senior," said the citation. "She did just that to lead Francis Parker to its third consecutive state championship. The 5-11 Forren, an outside hitter, collected 18 kills as the Lancers downed Ross Branson 3-1 for the Division V title."

Forren, who has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Seton Hall, also won Athlete of the Week honors in November.

Pedro Gallardo, 17, will travel to Puerto Rico at the end of this month to receive a Hispanic Heritage Foundation award for his work in the Healthcare/Science category.

The senior is one of eight national honorees and the only Californian honored from a pool of 4,500 applicants.

In addition to the trip to Puerto Rico, Pedro won a $1,500 education grant from category sponsor CVS Health, a Google laptop and personalized styling from Macy's.

"The reason I applied for the Healthcare category is because I am very much interested in biology, especially oncology research," said Gallardo, a leukemia survivor. "I vowed that I would give back to the medical community in the future."

Pedro, a Coronado resident, will make the all-expenses-paid trip to Puerto Rico with his father.

He was among 21 Latino high school seniors honored Oct. 22 for their accomplishments in the classroom and community at the 16th Annual Los Angeles Regional Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards at USC

Pedro took part last summer in a two-month research program at the Stanford School of Medicine, working in a lab that researched graft-versus-host disease, which affects blood cancer (mostly Leukemia) patients.

"It was truly an incredible experience," he said, "and it reaffirmed my interest in being able to conduct biology research in the future."

The Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards were established by the White House in 1987. For more about the Youth Awards, see the official site.