Orinda Academy announces that ninth grader Ying Yu Ren has been awarded the school's A Better Chance Award for Excellence. This award is given annually to select scholars in grades 9 through 12 for academic distinction, contributions to school community, and demonstrated ability to achieve in a manner that is representative of the goals of A Better Chance and its member schools. The award carries with it a gift of $350.
A Better Chance is a national organization helping students of color to attend private college preparatory schools.
Chantal Stevens, the director of the College Preparatory Schools Program, said that "All of us at A Better Chance have followed Ying Yu's progress with hope and pride. We deeply appreciate all that has been done by the faculty and staff of Orinda Academy to provide an environment that encouraged Ying Yu's abilities and allowed this scholar to flourish."
Ying Yu is a straight A student at Orinda Academy, making Dean's List and Student of the Semester in her first semester in high school. She began the Chinese/American Club at Orinda Academy where she teaches Mandarin and Chinese culture to other students. She also recently attended the Critical Issues Forum annual conference in Monterey to discuss nuclear non-proliferation topics with international students. Ying Yu served as a liaison with the students from China.
