Class of 2008: Dunn sets sights on Fresno State

When it comes to responsibility and leadership, Monache High School’s 2008 valedictorian — William Dunn — has always exhibited plenty of it. The 2008 Monache High School valedictorian is also a 2008 Governor’s Scholar — one of the top 144 students in the State of California who were honored by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“When I think of William Dunn, I think of quality,” said Cindy Frederick, guidance technician at Monache. “William is a wonderful, mature young man whose outlook on life exceeds his years.”

Dunn, with his 4.42 grade point average and No. 1 in his class, has always taken the most rigorous courses offered at school and consistently chooses the most challenging paths, Frederick said.

“He has always been interested in research — always full of questions,” his mother Rebecca Dunn said. “He is one of those boys who would always ask questions. He never minded doing homework, and always liked school.”

While at Monache High School, Dunn has been active in cross country, track and field, and wrestling. He has also been involved in Alive in Him, California Scholarship Federation, and is captain of the Academic Decathlon.

“I really enjoy the academic decathlon,” Dunn said. “You get to learn a lot of odd things about different topics not normally studied.”

When Dunn is not working on school work, he tutors sixth and eighth grade students in English and math. He also said he enjoys pool parties and hanging out with friends.

His love for the outdoors, especially the mountains, has been evident since he joined the Boy Scouts as a C

ub Scout in first grade. He earned his Eagle Scout wings by helping restore the outdoor education center at Los Robles Elementary School.

“Obviously William is very comfortable in the academic arena, but he has gladly stepped into the real world of other interests as well,” Frederick said. “He has volunteered hundreds of hours through his involvement with the Eagle Scout project. [Los Robles Elementary] is happily benefitting from his renovation of their half-acre school garden.”

Dunn rebuilt picnic tables and planters, worked on the irrigation, and on the upkeep of the large garden.

Aside from all of that, Dunn is also active in the Foothill Presbyterian Church and is involved with the youth group at Church of the Nazarene in Porterville.

Dunn plans to attend California State University, Fresno where he will participate in the Smittcamp Honors College Program and major in physics.

“I believe he will achieve his goal of working for NASA,” Frederick said. “He is a unique young man who will make a difference in this world by his determined spirit, his moral character, and his dedication to excellence.”