Taft, Butterworth outstanding seniors

Rob Taft was named Outstanding Senior Boy of the Year and Kristi Butterworth took the Jackie Vix Outstanding Senior Girl of the Year honors for Fallbrook Union High School during the last home football game on Friday, October 28.

The selection committee reviewed the nominees’ resumes and grade point averages to determine the winners. The selection committee agreed, “It was not an easy decision to make, as all the nominees had characteristics one would like to recognize as being truly outstanding.”

Taft is the son of Dr. Charles Taft, MD, and Dr. Christine Taft, MD. His mother said, “I am very proud of him. He’s a great kid.”

“It’s a real honor,” said Taft, who is hoping to attend either Stanford or USC to possibly study bio-medical engineering.

Taft is active in the community as well as in school. He works as the ‘sound board manager’ for Zion Lutheran Church and has been a counselor at Vacation Bible School. He has also taken mission trips to Mexico with the church. He has been an indoor soccer coach for the Boys and Girls Club and has led soccer camps. He participates in varsity soccer, as well as in varsity football and has earned All-CIF Honors in both.

In school he has been a participant in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, JV Academic Team, Academic Decathlon and California Scholarship Federation (CSF). Taft received the Yale Overall Award, has been listed on the Principal’s Honor Roll and was chosen as a Fallbrook Community ‘Student of the Month.’

The Jackie Vix Outstanding Senior Girl Award is awarded in memory of an outstanding FUHS student who was a cheerleader and much-loved student. Vix was killed by a drunk driver in 1973. Friday’s award was presented by Jackie’s brother, Gary Vix.

This year’s recipient, Kristi Butterworth, is president of the Fallbrook High chapter of the California Scholarship Federation and has been a member of the organization since she was in the seventh grade. She is also active as a member of the Interact Club, FCLA, KOPA, Key Club, Academic Team, Avenue Singers, Madrigals and the Disciplinary and Dress Code Committee. She is in advanced dance and is also the current ASB Club Commissioner. Her honors include the A-Team Award, the Principal’s Honor Roll and Warriorheads.

She has also served the community with volunteer work at Silvergate Retirement Center, has assisted with the Community Project to help wounded Marines and dances with the Westside School of Ballet. She has been involved in local theater productions such as the “Wizard of Oz” and “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”

“I was completely shocked — I had no idea,” said Butterworth. “I’m just proud of our high school.”

Butterworth plans to attend UCLA, but she hasn’t decided on a major yet. “I like so many different things that it is hard for me to narrow it down right now.” She is grateful to the committee who chose her for this honor and also wants to thank her parents, Peggy and Steve Butterworth.