Summer 2014 Newsletter Extended: Banquet Recap
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"SURF'S UP" ON AN AWARD-FILLED NIGHT: RPTA END-OF-YEAR BANQUET RECAP
By Alyssa Beatton (RPTA '16), Staff Writer
Students and faculty were invited to attend this year's End-of-theYear RPTA Awards Banquet, which took place on May 29 at the oceanfront Avila Lighthouse Suites. Following this year's "Surfin' RPTA" theme, guests were clad in Hawaiian shirts, seniors were encouraged to write a personal "message in a bottle," and games of limbo and no-handed doughnut-eating ensued. This catered event allowed guests to build their own personal pizza, with the next stop being the dessert table topped with salt water taffy and beach-themed cupcakes.
In addition to celebrating another successful year and sending the seniors off in style, the annual banquet was also an opportunity to recognize those who have served the department over the academic year and have excelled academically through the disbursement of awards and scholarships.
This year's official awards and scholarship winners were:
Outstanding Senior Award - Kevin Mould
Outstanding Contributions (Students) Award - Kristina Durels, Kaylee Daniels, Kristi Union, & Ellis Beardsley
Outstanding Contributions (Alumni) Award - Renoda Campbell
Honored Alumnus Award - Whitney Hrdlicka
Excellence in Senior Project Award - Anna Wagner, Katie Draeger, Jackie Garcia, Ellis Beardsley, & Julie Poincenot
Pismo Coast Village RV Resort Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Scholarship - Josh Pighetti
Pismo Beach Hospitality Association Scholarship - Lanlalit Nathalang
Jerry Lee Frederick Memorial Scholarship - Mike Higgins
Ashley D. Richardson Scholarship - Megan Bartlett
John S. Maher Scholarship - Natalie Pecoraro & Nicole Pelot
Chester and Avis McCorkle Memorial Scholarship - Amanda Lincoln
Georgia & Claude Barnett Memorial Scholarship - Brooke Campbell
Congratulations to all of the award and scholarship winners!
The night continued with senior superlative awards, presented to certain graduating seniors by RPTA Club President Kristina Durels. Senior superlatives were awarded after an online vote.
The 2014 senior superlatives were:
1. Most likely to travel to a foreign country and stay there: Kaya Rader
2. Most likely to work for themselves: Kat Devine
3. Best person to be stranded on a desert island with: Rachel Stevens
4. Most likely to be famous: Christine McCann
5. Most likely to become an RPTA Professor: Kevin Mould
6. Most likely to sport "Tropical Thursday" attire: Greg Belgum
7. RPTA class clown: Anna Wagner
8. Most likely to summit Mt. Everest: Blake Lopez
9. Biggest Central Coast homie/SLOmie: Mitch Moriarty
10. Most RPTA spirit: Kaylee Daniels
11. Most worldly/well traveled: Rachelle Platis
12. Most likely to be featured in Brides Magazine: Taylor Suterko
As the fun ensued, RPTA faculty sang their annual song to the seniors; this year's song was "Surfin' RPTA," following the beat of the Beach Boys' "Surfin' USA".
Special thanks to the RPTA banquet committee, led by Professor Goldenberg who served as faculty advisor. Committee members were: Kristina Durels, Chase Campanelli, Danielle Trujillo, Emily Bishop, Jon Hoffman, Caitlyn Kanzaki, Jen Benvenuto, Rachel Romanelli, Mattie Work, Kendall Price, Keri Forsberg, Chloe Krey, and Nicole Ruback.
Finally, congratulations to the RPTA class of 2014!
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