Icing on the cake

Christine Carrillo

Lindsay Freeman aspires to hold a seat one day in the U.S. Senate and

ultimately serve as an ambassador to a Third-World country.

The 18-year-old Harvard-bound senior from Estancia High School has

high hopes for her future, and no one doubts she’ll try to make them

all happen.

When she received a $10,000 scholarship from the Irvine Co. on

Thursday, much of Orange County became even more convinced.

“She’s fantastic, and we’re just so thrilled,” said Freeman’s

father, Patrick Dunn. “We just knew her mind was set and that

everything she puts her mind to she [makes happen]. Everything she

does, she puts her heart and soul into.”

The Irvine Co. honored 30 high school seniors from 15 schools in

the Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport-Mesa, Orange and Tustin unified

school districts who have demonstrated qualities of community

leadership.

The $2,000 scholarships, which are part of the company’s Investing

in Education 2003 Awards Program, went to college-bound students with

a grade point average higher than 3.0. Eight of those students were

selected as semifinalists and received an additional $1,000. Freeman

and Hilary Havens from Costa Mesa High School were among them. Four

finalists were selected from the eight and received an additional

$7,000 in scholarship funds.

“It’s near impossible to choose, but we put them through a

rigorous project,” said Dan Young, group senior vice president for

the Irvine Co. “These kids can’t just be smart and sociable, they

have to have exceptional skills, too.”

Freeman was one of those students who displayed exceptional

skills.

“I’m just thrilled for her,” said Serene Stokes, a trustee with

the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. “I hope it inspires other

youngsters to strive for this. It all shows you just how well-rounded

[our students] are.”

Freeman plans on earning a double major, in international

relations and government, at Harvard University. And thanks to the

support of her family and the teachers she’s had, Freeman is prepared

for whatever the future holds.

“I have a passion for serving my community and for what I do,” she

said. This is “just the start. I have big plans.”

And this scholarship will aid her in getting there.

“It’s just an incredible honor that Lindsay was selected for, and

to know that she was selected as one of the foremost leaders of that

group makes it very special,” said Tom Antal, principal at Estancia.

“She’s just got a lot of leadership qualities that make you want to

follow her because she’s just so darn smart.”

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at [email protected].