HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club is happy to announce that Middletown High School senior Rachel Sutton was chosen as the recipient of the 2012 HVL Garden Club scholarship.

As part of the 2012 community projects for the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club the members chose to offer a scholarship in the amount of $500 to a graduating high school senior interested in majoring in subjects such as horticulture, floristry, natural resource management, viticulture, sustainable agriculture and agriculture production.

Half of the possible points on the evaluation related to participation and leadership in programs and activities and awards with a heavy emphasis on community service that related to the major field of study or science or the environment.

For her senior project, Sutton created a curriculum and guide for teacher-led field trips to the Boggs Ridge State Nature Trail/Cobb Mountain.

“Rachel understands that education is the key to involvement; she placed markers along the trail, providing information that coincides with the species of animals, plants and rocks,” said Therese Nelson, the mentor for Sutton’s curriculum project.

Sutton’s awards included Golden Mustang Award in chemistry May 2011 and Golden Mustang Award in US History May 2011. These awards are presented at the end of each academic year to a select few Middletown High students who exemplify high achievement in specific areas of study.

She also received the Scholar Athlete Award for all three sports – basketball, volleyball and softball, all four years of high school.  

She completed the following Advanced Placement classes: AP English, AP Calculus, AP Environmental Science, and AP Spanish.

Sutton is a strong leader not only in sports, but also in the science field. She began her science interest in elementary school in the science fairs with award-winning projects in greenhouse effects, organic farming, and the importance of recycling.

“In all of her research projects Rachel incorporated how people can become involved and make a difference in their community and the world they share with others,” said Nelson, who also is science coordinator and teacher at Cobb Mountain Elementary School.

“Rachel has a natural curiosity and a desire to truly understand the processes of our world,” said her AP Environmental Science class instructor Suzanna Macedo. “These traits not only make for an excellent student, but for a valuable contributor to society.”

Sutton plans to major in environmental science at California State University at Monterey Bay. She selected this college due to its outstanding environmental science program, but also because of their internship programs with the scientific organization Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

Her career-related goal is to protect and improve the environment now and for future generations. She intends to pursue a career that will give back to the community through sustainability and conservation of natural resources.

For further information please contact Hidden Valley Lake Scholarship Committee Member Marsha Willard, 707-987-2034, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .