Whitney High School

Teacher: Sarah Nichols

Industry Sector: Arts, Media and Entertainment

Career Pathway: Design, Visual, and Media Arts

Phone: 916-632-6500 ext. 6624

Website: whitneyupdate.com

Amanda Peterson (Class of 2012)

“I recently graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with a degree in Graphic Communication. Cal Poly is unique in that you have to declare your major in the application process and begin you major curriculum starting in the first quarter. Being so involved in yearbook through Mrs. Nichols’ publications/media classes in high school made me absolutely confident and excited about pursuing design in college and as a career. Because of my four years of publication design experience in high school, I started my college curriculum with an understanding of foundational design principles and experience in the Adobe Creative Suite, which allowed me to excel in my classes. I have since interned at a large software company, Mindbody, as a user experience designer and am currently working as a professional designer at a digital agency called Matchfire. I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without my experience in yearbook through the publications classes and learning from such an encouraging yearbook adviser!”

Ilaf Esuf (Class of 2014)

“I had always been good with words, but Whitney High School’s journalism courses (publications and Whitney High Student Media) helped me understand the true power behind choosing the right ones. It was more than storytelling; it was creating perspectives and conversation. We were allowed to embrace creativity and think freely. We were allowed to question, change and grow. I carried these skills with me to every job that followed - from the newsroom at The Daily Californian to the Investigation Lab at The Human Rights Center. As a student at the University of California (Berkeley), I am currently an editorial board member and Arts and Entertainment reporter at The Daily Californian. I am also a legal intern, researcher and journalist for The Human Rights Center partnering with Amnesty International and ProPublica as well as a public policy and social media intern at The City of Oakland.”

Zachary Sobeck (Class of 2009)

“Upon graduation from Florida State University in 2013, I was commissioned as an officer into the United States Air Force through AFROTC. Responsible foremost for disseminating time-critical information concerning Air Force One, Air Force Two, and foreign VVIP visits, my role required constant diplomacy and significant interfacing with the world’s highest ranking diplomatic leaders and their staff. Furthermore, I was called on to take the lead in guidance on protocol policy and procedures to the United States Secret Service, United States Department of State, as well as other Joint Base Andrews agencies regarding the coordination of airlift support to the President, Vice President, cabinet members and other senior officials. This high level of trust and confidence has been recognized by many, as evidenced by my ncreased responsibilities and promotion of duties to Deputy Chief of Diplomatic Missions in November 2014, a position normally reserved for officers of much higher rank. According to my supervisors, I have ‘dually excelled as both a firsthand greeter of our nation’s highest ranking government officials and as an ambassador to diplomatic delegations during U.S. visits of foreign Heads of State.’ When nominating me for my university’s 30 Under 30 award, my superiors wrote this: Zachary skillfully and confidently worked with more than 50 foreign heads of state visiting the United States on official government business. This role not only requires constant interfacing directly with high-ranking foreign diplomats, but also calls on him to spearhead the planning and execution of tasks with countless details and moving parts to mind, amend and execute, oftentimes around the clock.

As President Obama’s U. S. Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Peter A. Selfridge stated, ‘To say that I frequently rely on Zachary’s abilities is an understatement. Zachary is a thoughtful team communicator and has developed an effective approach to navigating extremely stressful circumstances with an effortless air and infectious work ethic. Whether it’s hosting the multiple meetings leading up to a visit or alleviating confusion amongst visiting diplomats on the busy flight line, Zachary’s poise and professionalism have been frequently tested, oftentimes under the direct and ever watchful gaze of the President, the Vice President or the Secretary of State. Through his exemplary service on the front lines of diplomatic engagement, Lieutenant Sobeck has been extremely successful in an environment that inherently leaves very little room for error. He is a tireless worker, a well-respected leader and has demonstrated the organizational and interpersonal skills necessary to succeed in what is certainly among the most demanding foreign relations and communications roles within our Armed Forces.’ Many of those skills were ones I learned and developed during four years in the journalism and media program with Mrs. Nichols at WHS. I am currently earning a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications at Georgetown University.”