Optimist awards go to students with 'outstanding personal attributes'

The Sunrise Optimist Club of San Diego has honored students were selected for their outstanding personal attribute to their school or community, high academic achievement.

The students are: Jayda Warburton, Point Loma High; Kassandra Elias, Clark Middle School; Bredan Chueng, Challenger Middle School; Anirudh Perubotla, Challenger Middle School; and Anthony Hatashita, Correia Middle School.

Also in attendance were Diane Ryan,Challenger Middle principal, and Richard Del Principe, Clark Middle Vice Principal, along side the students' families and the president and members of the Optimist Club. The recipients were honored with a medal and and certificate and treated to a wonderful breakfast.

Herbert Ibarra was the first Latino principal in San Diego. Born in 1923 to Mexican parents, he was a graduate of San Diego High. He later earned his masters degree in education from San Diego State, and worked to establish guidelines for the second language program for the San Diego school system. He toured the country to establish similar programs in other cities. He became the first student who graduated from San Diego High School to later be the school's principal. The Optimist Club hopes his story will be an inspiration to all students and honors outstanding student leaders with an award in his memory each year.