Meet Blair High School’s Co-Valedictorians

INSIDE OUR SCHOOLS

(L-R) Blair High co-valedictorians Ai Takada and Anna Griffin (Photos – Steve Solis, Taylor Souza)

Editor’s note: Why co-valedictorians? The valedictorian designation is awarded to the top student in the class as determined by GPA. On the rare occasion that the numbers are the same GPA, the same number of units, and the same number of rigorous courses producing the same sum, they are named co-valedictorians.

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Ai Takada (Photo – Steve Solis)

Blair High School Co-Valedictorian Ai Takada has been a Blair Viking since 6th grade following her promotion from Roosevelt Elementary where she started in first grade following her immigration from Japan to the United States.

Ai has received admissions to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Long Beach, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara. She plans to attend UCLA in the Fall and major in Pre- Human Biology and Society with continued educational and career aspirations in becoming a Veterinarian.

Ai was a member of the National Honor Society (NHS) in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, In addition she was a charter member of the Pacific Asian Club, a club that exhibited appreciation for Asian languages, traditions, and cultures. She played clarinet in the Award Winning Advanced and Jazz Bands in both middle and high school. Ai was on the Swim Team in 10th grade and played Tennis with the Lady Vikings in 11th and 12th grades serving as the Team Captain in her senior year.

She received the Harvard Book Award, in 11th grade and is an International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate.

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Anna Griffin (Photo – Taylor Souza)

Blair High School Co-Valedictorian Anna Griffin began her Viking journey in sixth grade after attending PUSD’s Norma Coombs Alternative School.

Anna has received admissions to attend UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, North Park University, Point Loma Nazarene University, and Westmont College. She committed to attend Point Loma in the fall to study psychology and public relations, beginning the journey to become a clinical psychologist.

Anna is an International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate, earning 30 college credits while in high school, and many academic honors.

Anna actively engaged music and sports throughout high school. She played clarinet for Advanced Band during her freshman and sophomore years; she continued music with Jazz Band for her junior year. She swam for the swim team her freshman and sophomore years. Her junior and senior year she played and served as captain of the first Blair girls’ water polo team.

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Proud of your Valedictorian?

We ask high schools across the area to send a photo of their valedictorian and a little bit about themselves to celebrate their achievement as this senior year comes to a close.

Felita Kealing contributed to this article.