Four Girls Hold Top Academic Honors Among SMCHS Grads

In the 25-year history of Santa Margarita Catholic High, there have been female valedictorians and salutatorians. This year, though, there was a first. The top four academics at the school were girls.

They were named co-valedictorians and co-salutatorians, and delivered speeches at the school's graduation ceremony last week.

Katie Fernelius (Duke) and Hayley Ritterhern (Stanford) both had grade point averages of 4.84 on the 4.0 scale.

Read more about the SMCHS graduation by .

The salutatorian—the person with the second-highest grade-point average—was also a tie. Jessica Hickey (Chicago) and Elizabeth Zarka (California) had GPAs of 4.8.

All four are part of the school's International Baccalaureate program.

Here's a glance at the four:

Katie Fernlius (will attend Duke), Rancho Santa Margarita

Academic Honors: Academic Award for Greek 2 Honors, Academic Award for English HL1 IB, Student-Advocate Award in Model United Nations, National Merit Commended Scholar, National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation.

Briefly: Will study at least one semester abroad at Oxford. Co-editor of the Mandala Magazine, taught Sunday School at St. John's and worked at Park Terrace nursing home. Traveled to South Korea and China as part of the school's Model United Nations program.

Aspirations: "I want to major in International Comparative Studies with a focus on the Middle East and International Law. I'm also going to minor in English and Arabic. If I somehow undergo human binary fission or discover a time-turner in order to take more classes, then I may throw in a global health minor. I want to become a human rights advocate in developing nations and help to establish legal framework to protect vulnerable minorities. If that doesn't work out, I've always wanted to help name the flavors of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, so that's my back-up plan."

Hayley Ritterhern (Stanford), Laguna Hills

Academic Honors: Biology Honors Course Award, Latin 2 Honors Course Award, Latin 3 Honors Course Award, Chemistry SL Course Award, Social Studies Department Award (from Senior Awards night), and U.S. Government/Model United Nations H Course Award, Richard Voelkel MUN College Scholarship, National Merit Finalist, National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Honors for earning a score of 3 or more on at least four AP tests.

Briefly: A docent at the Dana Point Harbor Institute. One of the youngest lacrosse referees in Orange County, helped begin the Ronald McDonald Club on campus that raises money and cooks meals for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

Aspirations: "My plan is to major in biomedical engineering. I’d love to work on designing more complex prosthetics and wiring these prosthetics right into the brain to give people the chance to have a working limb that behaves just like a regular human one."

Jessica Hickey (Chicago), Ladera Ranch

Academic Honors: AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, University Scholar Recipient, Honor Roll. Traveled to Spain during the summer of 2011 to study archaeology and experience the Spanish culture.

Briefly: Played lacrosse, National Honor Society president, and volunteered for Women Helping Women. Participated in New Orleans service immersion, and taught Faith Formation at San Francisco Solano Church.

Aspirations: "I am completely undecided in my major. I find that everything is interesting and thus, I find it difficult to know what major I hope to pursue."

Elizabeth Zarka (California Berkeley), Coto de Caza

Academic Honors: AP Scholar Award; SMCHS Girls JV Gold Golf Scholar Athlete Award sophomore, junior and senior year; SMCHS Girls Frosh/Soph Soccer Scholar-Athlete Award freshman year; won 20 award distinctions in Model United Nations including five Best Delegate awards; Awarded Best Delegate in a 200 delegate committee in BEIMUN conference in Beijing, China; member of the National Honors Society.

Briefly: Ronald McDonald House Club member, volunteered to assist nurses at Saddleback Memorial Hospital. Participated in Model United Nations, secretary of Future Business Leaders of America Club, and helped freshmen adjust to high school life.

Aspirations: "Public health, in the future I want to attend medical school, become a physician and eventually serve as a member of the World Health Organization."