Torreys Recognized Winter 2024
Our hearts have grown three sizes with pride.
Closing out 2024 with a bang, LJCDS students and coaches continue to make us proud to be Torreys. Read their accomplishments in academics, arts, athletics, community service, design and innovation, and more.
Academics
Congratulations to Erik Tang ’26 for achieving an extraordinary academic milestone: earning perfect scores on the PSAT (1520), SAT (1600), and ACT (36)! Such accomplishments are exceptionally rare. On the ACT, for example, only 0.1–0.2% of test-takers earn a perfect score. In 2023, out of approximately 1.4 million test-takers, only 1,400–2,800 likely achieved this score. Scoring a perfect 1600 on the SAT is even more challenging, with just 0.03–0.05% of students reaching that mark. Out of 1.9 million SAT takers in 2023, only 570–950 managed a perfect score. Achieving perfection on all three exams is an even rarer feat, likely accomplished by only a few hundred students nationwide each year.
Erik attributes his success to focusing on improving his reading comprehension during the summer, as he typically excels in math. He also completed multiple College Board practice exams. Despite his dedication, the perfect SAT score was a surprise, as Erik’s diagnostic scores ranged between 1530 and 1570.
Arts
Congratulations to Julia Liu ’25 on winning Best Student Director for The Memory Dealer at the New York International Film Awards. She independently directed the film alongside a crew of students from UCSD and SDSU. Julia was also accepted into NYU Tisch for Film BFA.
Delilah Shulman ’26 was selected as a member of the La Jolla Playhouse Teen Council after submitting an application and going through an interview process. The council is an advocacy and advisory group of high school students throughout San Diego County who demonstrate strong leadership qualities and a passion for theater.
Athletics
Teams, individuals, and coaches were recognized for their accomplishments. Go Torreys!
- The Women’s Tennis team won the CIF Division 1 Championship. Read how all the players contributed in The San Diego Union-Tribune article.
- Coach Tina Kinkead was named the Coastal League Volleyball Coach of the Year.
- Ayla Desai ’25 (Golf) was named the Coastal Conference Fall Athlete of the Year. Mission Fed Student Athlete of the Year slideshow.
- Elicia Bikhazi-Green ’25 was named the Eastern League Field Hockey Player of the Year.
- Coach Terri Bamford is the CIF San Diego Section’s all-time wins leader in girls’ basketball.
Community Service
Louie Rosso ’29 has been named a 2024 recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a prestigious national honor. He achieved the highest distinction, the Gold Award, by completing over 100 volunteer hours within a 12-month period. Louie’s contributions spanned 20 nonprofit organizations, supporting various causes, including services for seniors, assistance for the hungry and homeless, support for disabled adults and youth with developmental disabilities, care for shelter animals, art outreach, youth sports programs, and beach cleanup efforts.Vivienne Fullerton ’28 was recognized in People Magazine for her support of the Helen Woodward Animal Center. She made and donated 525 homemade dog toys from recycled plastic bottles, tennis balls, fabric, and socks. Read Vivienne’s motivation in the piece.
Design & Innovation
Matthew DuBois ’26 and Luke Graham ’26 were chosen as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for California’s 50th Congressional District for their app, CheckPoint Student. A panel of local expert judges based their decisions on the app’s purpose, concept, technicality, creativity, and design. CheckPoint Student will be displayed on the Congressional App Challenge and House of Representatives websites and on a digital display in the Capitol Building. The district winners nationwide are invited to the annual #HouseOfCode reception in Washington, D.C. in the spring, the most prestigious demo day in student STEM.
Danny Breise ’26, Ariana Ludwig ’26, and Rafaella Timmermann ’26 were one of three teams to earn a $1,000 grant as winners of the Design For San Diego Challenge. They showcased their idea, “Personal Lockers for the Unhoused” and received feedback during a workshop at the World Design Capital Policy Conference Powered By UC San Diego Design Lab & City Of San Diego. All of the other finalist teams were college students and professional designers. Read more in The San Diego Union-Tribune article from Nov. 13.
Danny Breise ’26, Ariana Ludwig ’26, and Rafaella Timmermann ’26 were one of three teams to earn a $1,000 grant as winners of the Design For San Diego Challenge. They showcased their idea, “Personal Lockers for the Unhoused” and received feedback during a workshop at the World Design Capital Policy Conference Powered By UC San Diego Design Lab & City Of San Diego. All of the other finalist teams were college students and professional designers. Read more in The San Diego Union-Tribune article from Nov. 13.
