Graduation day in Malibu is nearing, and The Malibu Times is proud to honor a group of standout high school seniors at Malibu High School and Oaks Christian School who are on their way to national and international schools to study a variety of subjects, including acting, business, foreign policy and political science. For individual accomplishments of the showcased students, click on the each of their photos.
During his time at Malibu High, Jake Dvorsky has managed to put on quite a show and develop his acting skills. Not only did he participate in several productions, including “Evita,” “9 to 5 The Musical” and “Xanadu,” but he was able to show off while working in the classroom as well. He found creative ways to incorporate his passion for acting with academics, including giving an in-class performance explaining the role of a character in The Great Gatsby, complete with choreography. Dvorsky will stay in the Los Angeles area and attend UCLA as an acting major in one of the country’s most prestigious acting programs.
Samantha Gilliams, who will be remembered at MHS for her “firecracker” personality and spunk, took an active role in both academics and extracurricular activities. She was co-captain of the dance team and planned, directed and participated in the schoolwide performance, “Masque.” Gilliams worked with the Operation Smile campus club, a volunteer organization dedicated to performing life-changing surgeries on children with cleft lips and palates. With a love of French culture and a student of French for four years, Gilliams’ next step in her adventure is attending the American University of Paris.
Gabriella Grahek, The Malibu Times 2013 Youth Dolphin award recipient, spent the majority of her time at Malibu High School volunteering for various causes and working as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, The Current. One of her passions is fighting against human trafficking and sexual exploitation, which she helps combat through her work with the nonprofit Urban Light. Grahek has been traveling with her family to foreign countries to gain cultural knowledge and volunteer for social activism since the age of 4. With more than 900 hours of community service under her belt, Grahek will attend Minerva in the fall, a new progressive liberal arts school that travels to a different part of the world every semester.
Hayley Haag is more than a dancer; she also is an honor roll pupil, AP student and a member of the debate team. While at MHS, Haag was dance team captain and team choreographer for three years, averaging five hours of dance per day after school. She also developed her dancing skills outside of school activities, working at a studio and participating in conventions over the course of her high school years. Haag, who is described as smart, charismatic and fearless, will attend UCLA in the fall.
Michael Jacobson has a knack for leadership that he was able to develop as president of the Associated Student Body at MHS. He also was the MHS student representative for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s Board of Education. Outside of school, Jacobson found time to intern and work at medical facilities, gaining real world experience at a young age. In addition to those commitments, Jacobson played both tennis and football throughout high school. Jacobson is headed to the University of Washington where he will study business.
Described as competitive, respectful, independent and goal-oriented, Chase Lambert made his mark at MHS by playing on the baseball team and working in the film/TV production program. In 2013, he led Malibu to a school-record 24 wins and its first league title since 2005. He played shortstop and was named Most Valuable Player of the Frontier League after compiling a .454 batting average with 44 hits, 31 runs, 19 RBIs and 13 doubles. Having recovered from a sports-related injury that required surgery, Lambert will stay local, playing Division 1 baseball at Pepperdine University.
Shelby Livingstone used her height of 6 feet, 3 inches to her advantage when it came to playing girls varsity volleyball for OCS since her sophomore year. The outside hitter has played the game since she was in middle school and earned the Tri-Valley Most Valuable Player title last year. The OCS Lady Lions have gone undefeated in the league for three straight years and this year achieved CIF Southern Section runner-up status. In the classroom, Livingstone is a member of the National Honors Society with a passion for literature and art history. Livingstone will attend Rice University in Texas to pursue a degree in liberal arts and business.
Devyn Masterson, described as unique, kind, insightful and compassionate, was dedicated to working with the Best Buddies program at MHS, both on a local and national level. She was president of the club on campus, and also a member of the Best Buddies California Leadership Council and attended the Best Buddies Leadership Conference the last two years. Having wanted to become a veterinarian since she was 10 years old, Masterson worked as an intern at Malibu Coast Animal Hospital. Masterson will represent Malibu at the University of Michigan in the fall.
Described as a top-notch athlete, Tyler Savitsky also made his mark in academics during his time at MHS. Known on campus for being a good friend with a great sense of humor, Savitsky played soccer for MHS on the varsity team. After graduation, Savitsky will attend Harvard and play Division 1 soccer, where he will be able to show off his athletic skills as well as his passion for academics.
While at MHS, Danny Sills was one of the lacrosse captains and a member of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, which gave him the opportunity to travel around the U.S. and abroad. He plans to visit Israel for three weeks in July. Sills will attend California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where he plans to study statistics and political science. Sills has been accepted to CSUN’s nationally recognized School of Education, which has admitted several students to the university to participate in a program to support students with Asperger’s Syndrome. He plans to live on campus and join a fraternity during his time at the university.
Colton Wade, an OCS Top 10 Scholar and National Merit finalist and winner, was honored as a 2014 Ventura County Star Scholar. A Malibu resident, Wade served as an academic leader at OCS as Academic Prefect, National Honor Society vice president and a member of the honor board. With an affinity for theater, Wade has starred in every OCS production since his freshman year. This year, he played the role of Corny Collins in the school’s production of “Hairspray.” Wade will attend Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service as a John Carroll Scholar to train for a career in diplomacy.