DON KOHLBAUER / Union-Tribune
Ayla Sessions warmed up during softball practice on Tuesday. The Escondido High senior plays catcher and third base. Ayla received the Athena scholarship, which is awarded to well-rounded high school women who plan a career in the sciences. |
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ESCONDIDO – Ayla Sessions can talk easily about softball or science.
The Escondido High School senior has a passion for both athletics and academics, but it is her academic excellence that recently earned her honors from a group of high-powered women in technology and science.
Ayla, 18, was awarded a $2,500 scholarship and laptop by the Athena program, a University of California, San Diego-based organization made up of executive women in technology and science-related industries.
“It was amazing to be chosen. I was flabbergasted . . . and even more honored when I met the other winners,” Ayla said.
Ayla is one of many San Diego County teens awarded scholarships by various civic and community groups, and she is one of five local students to get the Athena scholarship, which is awarded to well-rounded high school women who plan a career in the sciences.
Other scholarship recipients are Bernice Huang of Rancho Bernardo High School, Debbie Hung of University City High School, Kim-Chi Nguyen of Hoover High School and Emily Weir of Francis Parker School.
“I'm not perfect by any means . . . to be in the same league with them was really cool,” said Ayla, explaining that her SAT score was “only” about 2,020 out of the possible 2,400 score.
Ayla's slightly less than perfect score did get her accepted into UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis. Ayla plans to major in biomedical engineering at Davis and hopes to eventually become a pediatrician.
She smiles easily and often when joking with friends or talking about her upcoming high school graduation and career plans. But on the playing field and in the classroom Ayla is focused and serious.
Ayla's sunny outlook and earnest work ethic make her a favorite among her teachers and coaches at Escondido High School, where she has been an active member of the National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation and Best Buddies, an organization that pairs students with special education students. She has also worked at the Interfaith Soup Kitchen and participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
“She's a wonderful kid. She works hard and excels at whatever she does – water polo, softball, academics. She's a good team player,” said Cary Weiler, who coaches the Escondido Cougar softball team, which is headed to CIF playoffs.
Ayla is equally at home on the playing field as she is in the science lab, but she said she's not as stellar as some of her teammates who also played on off-season travel teams and are headed for softball scholarships, including one to Arizona State and one to San Diego State.
Ayla said she's competitive and enjoys playing catcher and third base for the Cougars. Her talent and hard work earned her a spot on the varsity team midway through her sophomore year when an older player got hurt.
Ayla is quick to praise her peers on and off the field. When asked about her 4.57 grade-point average, she modestly points out that others at her school have better grades. “We have an awesome senior class,” Ayla said.
Andrea Sessions, who named her daughter after the strong, resilient character in the Jean Auel book “Clan of the Cave Bear,” said the family is proud and excited for Ayla's success. “She's an outstanding, wonderful girl who is very well-rounded . . . she has a lot of friends, she does volunteer work, plays two sports . . . we have no doubt she's going to be successful in life,” Andrea Sessions said.
The Sessions family, which includes father Michael and brother Andrew, is close-knit and regularly sits down for dinner together in spite of busy work schedules, school activities and sports practices, Andrea Sessions said.
Mother and daughter were impressed by the Athena awards luncheon at the Manchester Grand Hyatt last month, which also honored individuals and companies in technology and related industries.
“I met a lot of amazing women from local companies and I may be able to intern with some of them in the next few summers,” Ayla said. For now, however, she's looking forward to CIF playoffs, her June 1 graduation and a Utah vacation with friends before heading off to UC Davis in September.
Blanca Gonzalez: (760) 737-7576; blanca.gonzalez@uniontrib.com
