Five standout seniors awarded prestigious honor
The Hacienda Five, an honor that recognizes exemplary student-athletes both on and off the field, awarded five seniors the opportunity to represent Diamond Bar High School at the Hacienda League Honor Awards Ceremony.
This year’s Hacienda Five members from Diamond Bar consist of Maddox Bernardino, Alex Kim, Audrey Huang, Kelly Yan and Issac Hui.
“Each school in the Hacienda League chooses five senior athletes that they feel best represent their school and the Hacienda League,” athletic director Kurt Davies said.
One student awarded with Hacienda Five was Maddox Bernardino, the varsity football and baseball captain.
Bernadino helped lead football to the CIF finals this past season and was named Hacienda League MVP and all-CIF twice.
“As an athlete, I have learned to be disciplined and grateful for things that I have. It has also shown me how to have patience when dealing with tough situations, ” Bernardino said.
Another recipient of Hacienda Five was Audrey Huang. She is part of sports medicine, regularly working with the athletic trainer while being CPR and first-aid certified.
Outside of sports medicine, Huang is also a gymnast, winning silver and bronze medals in the 2023 Western National Championship.
“Doing gymnastics my whole life has taught me from many falls to [get] back up on my feet,” Huang said. “Alongside this, I love to make people’s day and help others.”
A part of varsity cross country and track & field, Isaac Hui was also awarded this honor. Hui successfully completed the Long Beach Half-Marathon and also qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Exam.
“I have learned that the results don’t immediately come, but through consistency and dedication and hard work,” Hui said.
A four-year varsity basketball player, award recipient Alex Kim was named First Team Hacienda League this past basketball season.
Kim maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school and is a member of the United Student Body.“[I’ve learned] the importance of resilience and enjoying the process rather than the end result,” Kim said. “I can apply these things I learned from basketball and apply it to many other aspects of life.”
Varsity volleyball player Kelly Yan was the final recipient of the Hacienda Five award.
Yan was named MVP last volleyball season and was given the Hall of Fame award. Equally excellent in academics, she has also been awarded the California State Seal of Biliteracy.
“I’m proud that I was able to be a co-team captain this year,” Yan said. “Taking on this job taught me that I need to take responsibility and lead my team.”
A general consensus among these five student-athletes is that they performed well in both their respective sports and the classroom.
“It’s one of the highlights of the year,” Davies said. “Seeing these amazing students and what that they have accomplished and seeing where they are going to go next, it’s one of the highlights for us athletic directors.”
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