Exchange Club honors Clovis students

The Clovis West Exchange Club representatives from L to R: Emma O’ Farrell, Ecy King, Tatiana Samouie, Naasir Farooqi, Mason Kinsey, and Todd Yu. (Courtesy of Clovis West High School/Facebook)

Ten standout students from five Clovis high schools were honored at the Student of the Year Dessert on Thursday, April 11 at Clovis High School.

The Exchange Club of Clovis, an extension of the National Exchange Club, organizes the event and gives the students a chance to win scholarships.

Rick Snow, Exchange Club of Clovis president, said the Exchange Club looks at outstanding all around students, taking into consideration their grades and their contributions outside of class.

“It’s all the activities in school and then we also look at what have they done for the community,” Snow said.

The program first picks 30 students of the month, then selects the 10 students of the year.

“We announce and recognize the top student boy and girl, two students from each of the campuses of those thirty, and they are recognized as the girl and boy Student of the Year,” Snow said.

The 10 kids go on to a district-wide competition where they compete against other students who have been selected as Students of the Year, with a chance to win a $1,250 award. District awardees go on to compete for National Youth of the Year and a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship.

Snow said the Exchange Club of Clovis has had a national winner before and it’s now on its fifth year straight as one of the district winners.

“For five years straight we’ve had a district winner,” Snow said. “There’s no other club in the district that’s close to us and so we’re we’re hoping to keep it going.”

Clovis West senior Tatiana Samouie was one of the 10 students honored at the event.

“I think it’s such an amazing opportunity,” Samouie said. “Each one of us brings something new to the table and I think it’s just a nice opportunity to be around people who have the same goals and ambitions.”

Samouie has a GPA of 4.12 while being involved in the Junior Larcs Club, Youth Court and Mock Trial. She is also involved with the Armenian community in addition to volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America.

“One of my proudest accomplishments is being able to go to scouts since I was a young girl and then now being the leader, so giving back,” Samouie said.

The senior said time management has been the key in helping her succeed in school and other activities.

“If you don’t plan your time out well, you’re gonna run into some interferences where you can’t attend an event because you have too much homework,” Samouie said. “Also you have to prioritize school. So at the end of the day, if you have a test you need to study for that’s more important than going to an event.”