At the time, however, Teeple was a high school sophomore with a 1.5 grade point average and didn't really care for academics. But "I figured not too many people would like a doctor who dropped out of high school," Teeple said.

Teeple will graduate from Los Gatos High School this month with a 3.6 GPA and will study nursing at Ohlone College.

She was among the 10 high school seniors in the Los Gatos­Saratoga Union High School District who were recently awarded scholarships from the Los Gatos Kiwanis Club for turning around their academic careers.

The Turnaround Scholarships program "is one of the most special programs that we have for students," said Los Gatos High Principal Trudy McCulloch at the May 22 awards luncheon. "The reason is, students are recognized who might not otherwise be recognized."

McCulloch, a member of the Kiwanis, initiated the scholarship in Los Gatos when she became principal in 1998.

"We are so proud of you because you didn't let things get you down; you took charge of your life and overcame it," McCulloch told the scholarship recipients.

"This is the recognition of all your hard work and dedication throughout the years," said Jamie Bielski, a recipient of the award last year. "Always be happy and never be satisfied," she urged.

School officials and town leaders watched as Kiwanis members gave $1,000 checks to Los Gatos High students Teeple, Adam Breslin, Chris Clock, Chris Pate and Claire Schweighofer; Nova students Rex Resa and Jason Fielding; and Saratoga High School students McCord Blackwell, Josh Smith and Sarah Yoo.

Each was introduced by a guidance counselor or teacher who had witnessed the student's change through the years. For Los Gatos High students, the counselor was Teri Zappacosta.

Claire Schweighofer ended her freshman year with a 1.2 GPA but had an interest in literature, writing and drama, Zappacosta said. The teenager realized that she needed to change and ended friendships with people who seemed stuck in an unmotivated mind-set. She began to concentrate on studying, and today has a 3.4 GPA. She hopes to one day study acting in New York City.

"It's been an interesting journey," Schweighofer said.

Zappacosta then talked about Chris Pate, who moved to this country at age 10 and until then had only spoken Dutch. Pate, for the most part, raised himself; then, as a sophomore, he moved in with an aunt and uncle in Los Gatos. "They set one standard for Chris and that was doing well in school," Zappacosta said.

Pate raised his GPA from 1.6 to 3.1 in those two years and joined the water polo team, started volunteering at a homeless shelter and went to Tijuana several times to help build houses.

As a freshman, Adam Breslin hated anything associated with writing and language arts, ending his first year of high school with a 1.65 GPA. "But he did love one thing: football," Zappacosta said. To stay on the team, Breslin had to maintain a GPA of at least 2.0. But he went one step further—he now has a GPA of 3.0, discovered in himself a love for science and hopes to major in business and aeronautical engineering in college.

It was athletics that did it for Chris Clock. Clock, a basketball player, says the sport not only motivated him to improve his grades but taught him life lessons. "Discipline and responsibility really became part of who he is," Zappacosta said.

Clock turned his grades around from a 1.0 GPA to a 3.4 GPA. His family was key throughout the process. "They're the main people who kept me focused these past two years," he said.

Two students enrolled in Nova, the district's alternative education program, received awards.

Rex Resa is currently at a rehabilitation facility in Samoa. According to Nova teacher Bruce Darling, Resa was a substance abuser and has been clean and sober for more than six months.

"We are incredibly proud of his progress. He is an intellectual genius," Darling said. In his 20 years in alternative education, Darling said he had never seen a more serious case of substance abuse.

Resa, who will graduate in June, started at Nova two years ago. Darling read portions of essays that Resa wrote while at Nova and emails that he sent from Samoa about his rehabilitation process.

Jason Fielding had told Zappacosta that he thought school was "boring" and "trying" his freshman year, finishing up with a 1.5 GPA. When she presented Nova to him as an option, "he had no interest in Nova. He had no interest in any school. Basically, he was ready to quit," Zappacosta said.

After some consideration, Fielding decided to try Nova and will graduate with a 4.0 GPA. Besides academically, Darling said, Fielding has grown in other ways—as an athlete, being named an all-league player for beach volleyball; as a public speaker, giving an oral presentation for the first time; and as a participant in class.

The Los Gatos Kiwanis was founded in 1924 and has approximately 50 members. According to event moderator Leigh Weimers, more than $75,000 will be spent this year in all of Santa Clara Valley for Kiwanis Turnaround Scholarships.