Staff Report

Rep. Mike Thompson honors Benicia High senior Shannon Sweeney for her work as senior class president and her efforts in organizing the rallies to prevent gun violence. (Courtesy photo)

Rep. Mike Thompson honored Carson Rendell his his work on Benicia High School’s “Panther TV” and in helping organize the rallies to prevent gun violence.

Four students were recognized by Rep. Mike Thompson for the 2018 Student Leaders of the Year in Solano County, including two from Benicia High School. The students were nominated and selected based on their academic achievements, student leadership, community engagement and contributions to Solano County.

Benicia High senior Carson Rendell was honored for his efforts to keep students informed via his work as a student anchor on Benicia High’s “Panther TV” web program. The program is broadcast to the student body every Thursday during the school’s Access period and can be seen on YouTube. Rendell was also honored for helping to organize several rallies in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Back in February, including an on-campus rally and the communitywide march.

Benicia High senior Shannon Sweeney was honored for her role as senior class president. Sweeney helped organize several school events and volunteered several hours throughout the year. She also was instrumental in planning the vigil at City Park held 10 days after the Parkland shooting and was an active organizer in the subsequent rallies to prevent gun violence.

Also recognized were Azaria Riggins and Olivia Sanchez, both of Vallejo High School. Thompson said that Riggins had put in nearly 300 hours volunteering as a tutor for fellow students and worked to promote equity and justice as a student youth leader for Vallejo’s Club Stride. In a statement, the congressman referred to Sanchez as a “a strong and talented artist, who has lent her artistic talents to the community for many local organizations and causes.” Sanchez has been recruited as a summer youth intern for Film Mare Island, where she will put her artistic skills to use on the set of the hit Netflix series “13 Reasons Why,” which has several scenes filmed in Vallejo.

“These students represent the best about our district, even at such a young age, and I am proud to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments in naming them 2018 Student Leaders of the Year,” Thompson said in a statement. “Please join me in congratulating these students for their incredible work!”

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