MARYSVILLE – Laura Koty and Steven Duong, seniors at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, are the September Marysville Kiwanis-Soroptimists Girl and Boy of the Month.
Laura volunteers at the Marysville Food Bank and at her church, Immaculate Conception Parish. She also volunteered last summer at the Allen Creek School library, and previously with a charity dance project. An accomplished dancer, she has taught that art for three years.
“I get the most out of life helping other people and making a difference,” she said, adding that’s a trait her parents taught her. She is very involved in drama at school, as club secretary and treasurer. She also appeared in a few plays, along with being a Homecoming Court nominee.
She also is in National Honor Society, an art show volunteer, and in the school color guard drill team. Laura ranks sixth out of 272 and is a salutatorian in her class. Her grade point is 3.99.
She also attends Running Start at Everett Community College and has a 4.0 gpa there.
Laura said her desire to help people like her cousin who is disabled, is the reason she wants to go into the field of speaking and hearing science.
Steven has been involved in student government all four years of high school. He was vice president as a freshman, cabinet member as a sophomore, special events coordinator as a junior and is parliamentarian this year. Last year he also was involved in the special needs prom, homecoming committee member and a leadership camp representative.
He also was chairman of the senior citizens play and dinner a year ago.
Steven also is involved in the sports of wrestling and cross country at school. He was an academic honorable mention wrestler last season.
His gpa is 3.75 while taking numerous Advanced Placement classes.
Steven wants to attend UCLA or Berkeley, taking pre-medicine with the goal of someday being a neurosurgeon.
His parents are from Vietnam, so he said he has to grow up fast and become a translator for them. He said as a result he is blundt and honest, but he and his friends push each other to improve as people as a result of that.
Fitzpatrick Varias and Danielle Thea C. Daguison, seniors at Marysville Getchell High School, are the October Marysville Kiwanis-Soroptimists Boy and Girl of the Month.
Fitzpatrick is a standout Navy Junior ROTC student, leading the way as a battalion master chief, basically third in command out of 199 cadets. He has won numerous honors and awards, along with many different leadership positions, in both that organization and previously in an AFJROTC. He has received varsity letters for unarmed drill team, physical strength team and academic team.
He is very involved in the community, volunteering for: Marysville Toy Store, Food Bank, Festival of Trees, Letter Carriers Food Drive, Warm Beach Camp Cleanup and more.
He’s a member of Key Club, National Honor Society (gpa 3.595), the track team and was Bio-Med Academy Math Student of the Month.
His mind set to, “Dream big, and challenge myself every day,” came from his dad and NJROTC chief petty officer. Fitzpatrick said he hopes to get a scholarship and attend San Diego State University, eventually becoming a registered nurse in the Navy.
Danielle also is very involved in the school’s NJROTC program, and she also wants to become a nurse in the Navy, except in neonatal care.
But really really makes her stand out is her community service.
She has volunteered at: the Twilight Cross Country Meet, MG Track Meet, Marysville Toy Store helping parents shop for low-income kids, and the Cinco de Mayo at Totem school. She also was involved in the Candlelight Community Service, Kiwanis Fishing Derby, Festival of Trees, M-P School Painting and Cleanup, Special Olympics, and Warm Beach Christmas Lights.
Danielle also is a cheerleader this year, along with being in Key Club and ASB, planning senior class activities. In NJROTC, she is on the unarmed drill team, color guard and academic team. She has a 3.49 gpa and hopes to attend Seattle University. She’s already part of the Everett Community College in the High School Program.
