Kristen Ward introduction by Yashar Bahman

Hello, my name is Yashar Bahman and I am sure that by now you all know why I am here and that is to shed more light on the already shining Kristen Ward.

She is an amazing and outstanding individual without whom I wouldn't be where I am today. Her proactivity has no limits; it seems like since diapers she has been in every organization, every sport, every club and every honors program, ranging from starting the Yell Leaders in the sixth grade, to single handedly organizing and initiating a school wide recycling program that not only has generated over thousands of dollars in revenues, but serves as a role model and precedent for future schools and organizations. She rekindled the Hoover Car smashing tradition, has more hours of community service than I am willing to count, was a four year varsity volleyball player, being captain and making second team all-league two years in a row. She is currently in the California Scholarship Federation, the National Honors Society, the president of the French club, gets great grades, and maybe some sleep.

The most distinguishable thing about Kristen though I learned when I first met her. I will never forget that day. It was the third day of kindergarten when she turned to me with a bright smile after roll call and told me that she was always last because her last name started with the letter W. Now, those two sentences sound seemingly insignificant, yet with them she somehow managed to ease the uncomfortable pressure in a room filled with strangers. Although it has been over thirteen years since that day she still has that ability that only born leaders can have, the confidence that helps all those around her, the gift that facilitates anything she could possibly be doing as if she's done it a million times before. And even though she's always last alphabetically, she'll never be last in our hearts.