(Richmond, CA) INDEPENDENT & GAZETTE Sun., July 26, 1981-15

Student of the Week

Unmatched in achievement

Paul Meissner man of many talents

Paul Meissner is El Cerrito High School’s last Student of the Week for the past school year, but he could well have been that school’s Student of the Year.
His youth - which lasted through Kensington Elementary School - was spent in a relatively uneventful manner. At Portola Junior High School, he was concertmaster of the orchestra, vice president of the Junior Red Cross and was on the honor roll during his entire stay at Portola.
At El Cerrito High, his record is unmatched. In addition to maintaining a Straight “A” average in a difficult university preparation program, which included taking classes at the University of California, Meissner became a life member of the California Scholarship Federation; was a member of the school string, symphony and pit orchestras; was on the Class of 1918 central committee; belonged to the Young Life organization; played in the El Cerrito Jazz Ensemble and the Marching Band; announced El Cerrito High School football games; was a member of the State Honor Orchestra and concertmaster of the Richmond Unified School District Honor Orchestra; represented his school at California Boys’ State; was his school’s speaker for the Council of Richmond Industries; and was his school’s representative and second place winner in the Bay Area Engineer’s Week Scholarship Competition.
His list of scholarships reads like Who’s Who in Scholarship America: second place winner in the Bay Area Engineer’s Week competition, $2,100; Finalist, Bank of America Scholarship Awards, minimum stipend, $500; California Alumni Scholarship, $100; Soroptimist Youth Citizenship Award, $75.
He has been active in the Boy Scouts of America, and is an Eagle Scout. He also holds many Scouting honors, and was senior boy leader for the Mt. Diablo Council Training Conference. Meissner is a first violinist in the California All State Honor Orchestra, and is written up in “Who’s Who Among American High School Students.”
“Paul is one of only eight seniors who has maintained a 4.0 grade point average out of a class of 387. He has excelled in such classes as math analysis, advanced placement calculus, advanced placement English, advanced placement history, physics, chemistry and foreign language,” reports El Cerrito High principal James Nelson. “He took four units of chemistry and one unit of computer science at the University of California during the fall quarter, and three units of physics and two units of computer science at the university last spring. He is one of a very select group of outstanding students who has career options open to him in virtually any area. It is easy to predict unqualified success for one possessing his talent and energy.”
Meissner has his career picked out. He will enroll at the University of California and major in chemical engineering. As a career, he hopes to combine chemical engineering with business management, and hopes to work in the field of energy development.
“I have a few things that have helped me along the way,” Meissner says. “A supportive family, some good friends and a God who really cares. I try to consider the impact of my actions on other people as much as possible. In fact, each of us must continually explore the human element involved in all parts of society, including science, math and music. For while extensive knowledge can often bring satisfaction, true fulfillment in life can only come from using this knowledge for the betterment of mankind.”
Nature plays a role in Meissner’s life, for he has backpacked nearly 500 miles in the High Sierra. “I especially enjoy challenging, high elevation, long distance treks. My goals for future travel include climbing Mt. McKinley in Alaska, the Canadian Rockies and visiting Europe.”
“In addition to his obvious combination of ability and regular work, Paul will succeed because he accepts personal responsibility for his accomplishments and his rare failures” comments calculus teacher Sanford Berman.
Meissner is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Loren P. Meissner of Kensington. His father is a computer scientist, and he describes his mother, Peggy, as “A mother.” He has an older brother and sister, Phillip and Patricia, both of whom are attending college.