Students of the Month
Estefanía Pedroza, November
Jake Pellegrini, November
Student of the Month, has excelled
Student of the Month is an
at academics while at Mater Dei and
amazing scholar, musician
is a Na onal Hispanic Recogni on
and leader and has earned
Program Finalist. The Na onal
recogni on as Na onal Merit
Hispanic Recogni on Program
is a College Board program that
Semi- nalist.
provides na onal recogni on of the
excep onal academic achievements
Having taken AP European
of Hispanic high school seniors,
History, AP Government,
and iden es academically
AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP
well-prepared Hispanic high Physics, AP English, AP US
school seniors for postsecondary History, Honors Wind Ensemble,
ins tu ons.
Honors English I, II, III, Honors
Spanish I, II, III, Honors
She carries a 4.22 GPA and has
Chemistry, Honors Biology, Jake
taken many AP and Honors classes
carries a 4.63 GPA. He is also
including AP Spanish Literature, AP
a member of Na onal Honor
US History, AP English Literature,
AP American Government, Honors
Estefania Pedroza
Society, California Honor Society
English I, II and III, Honors Biology
and Top Ten GPA.
Jake Pellegrini
and Honors Spanish III.
While at Mater Dei, Jake has been involved in many ac vi es and has had
Campus life is a wonderful way to capture all that Mater Dei has to off er.
a very busy campus life. He is an awesome trumpet player and four year
Estefania is involved in ASB, Academic Decathlon, Na onal Honor Society and member of the Marching Band and Jazz Ensemble. Jake has been ac ve in
California Scholarship Federa on. A tennis player since she was a very young ASB serving as a Daily, Social and Special Events Commissioner and Campus
child, Estefania has enjoyed being a four year member of the Mater Dei girls’
Ministry Commissioner.
tennis program. She has played the last three years as a member of our
varsity girls’ tennis team. The team just nished Trinity League in 3rd place
Community Service plays a big part in Jake’s life. He has worked hard to
and has advanced to team CIF playoff s.
achieved the Eagle Scout Rank in Boy Scouts. Being awarded an Eagle Scout
has always carried with it a special signi cance, not only in Scou ng but also
Community service is a vital part of the Mater Dei way of life as well as
as a young man enters higher educa on, business or industry and community
a gradua on requirement. Estefania has volunteered her me with the
Mater Dei Special Games, Race for the Cure, coaching tennis and tutoring.
service. The award is a performance-based achievement whose standards
She says “My favorite service project was de nitely coaching tennis
have been well maintained over the years. His Eagle Scout project was
because I got to work so closely with younger kids and teach them a sport
building 12 backpack racks at his parish school. He played trumpet at various
and skill that has been such a big part of my life and that I have always
band events including Special Games, Race for the Cure and the Balboa Island
loved.”
Parade. Jake also volunteered his me at Mater Dei summer camp for Urban
Compass. He has worked as a camp counselor for an aqua cs camp at the
At this me of year, our seniors are busy comple ng their college Newport Sea Base teaching young scouts canoeing and kayaking for the past
applica ons. Estefania’s list of colleges that she is considering includes
two summers. “My favorite project was planning my Eagle Scout project
NYU, UCLA, UC Berkley, Brown, Duke, Columbia, UCSB, and UC Santa Cruz.
because I saw the immediate bene t to my elementary school, Our Lady
She is planning to major in Pre Law, English and Hispanic Studies.
Queen of Angels School” said Jake.
When asked to re ect back on her favorite Mater Dei memory, Estefania
College bound in just a few short months, Jake is considering Notre Dame,
had this to say: “My favorite Mater Dei memory has been joining the
Mater Dei Academic Decathlon team, because it truly showed me how
Villanova, Stanford and Yale. He would like to major in science or math.
much diversity there is at Mater Dei, and it has blessed me with many
lifelong friends.” Asked about her Mater Dei experience, she said “My
Jake is a member of Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Newport Beach
experience at Mater Dei has been very versa le, allowing me to meet
where he is an altar server and has been a lector, bible camp counselor, and
new people and learn so many new things, not only in the classroom but
youth ministry leader.
outside of it as well.”
Re ec ng back on his me at Mater Dei Pelligrini states, “My favorite Mater
Estefania lives in Tus n with her parents Maria Soto and Antonio Alvarez
Dei memory was traveling to Hawaii as a sophomore to perform with the Wind
and brother Tony, Jr.
Ensemble. I enjoyed relaxing with my friends in such a beau ful loca on. Our
performance was an experience I’ll never forget. I learned over my four years
that Mater Dei is truly a nurturing environment. I am especially glad that I
got involved with Campus Ministry. The four years ew by and I’m excited to
experience the opportuni es that college will provide.”
Jake lives in Newport Beach with his parents Steve and Anne Pellegrini. Jake’s
brother Nick graduated from Mater Dei in 2009 and is currently a ending
Notre Dame.
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