By Zach Horowitz
Audrey Kim
Staff Writer
At this morning’s All Awards assembly, senior Derek Zeoli won the Mira Costa Student of the Year award for his academic and performing arts achievements at Mira Costa.
Costa teachers chose Zeoli from a group of five Student of the Year nominees, including seniors Ryan Cosner, Mai Nojima, Reilly Edmonds and Lauren Irwin. According to Costa Principal Ben Dale, teachers chose Student of the Year based upon the student’s academics, extracurriculars and community service involvement.
“Derek is just a great kid,” Principal Ben Dale said. “He is able to walk in all social circles and he is so nice and well-rounded. He is all about Costa and I admire that.”
While at Costa, Zeoli won Costa’s 2014 Scholar Quiz and participated in the Costa marching band, concert band, wind ensemble, sax pack, vocal ensemble, Muscle, and numerous Costa drama productions, including “Peter Pan” and “Thoroughly Modern Milly.” Zeoli will be studying music composition for film and multimedia at New York University in the fall.
“I was really happy and also really shocked,” Zeoli said. “I am so proud to be considered alongside the other amazing nominees and I’m incredibly humbled to have won.”
The nominees were chosen from the top ten percent of the senior class, based on unweighted grade point averages. According to Principal Ben Dale, Costa teachers chose the Student of the Year based on the student’s participation in academics, extracurriculars, and community service.
“I was extremely excited and super shocked,” Zeoli said. “It was an honor to be awarded alongside such fantastic people.”
Zeoli won Costa’s 2014 Scholar Quiz. He has participated in Costa’s Vocal Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Sax Pack, Muscle, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and drama productions “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “Peter Pan”, and “Fiddler on the Roof”.
“Derek is so involved in the school and is such a friendly, cool person,” Dale said. “Derek totally deserves this recognition for all of his achievements.”
Zeoli has performed with his brother, Zach Zeoli, in many concert halls across the nation. Derek will be studying music composition for film and multimedia at New York University in the fall.
“I’m beyond proud to even be considered alongside him as well as the other three finalists,” Cosner said. “It really was an amazing group of candidates and I’m can’t wait to see how they’ll change the world.”
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