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Community Corner

Michael Tsay Named Crespi's Valedictorian

A top student, athlete and musician, this multi-talented scholar is ready for the next stage of his life at UCLA.

Michael Tsay, who just graduated from Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino as the valedictorian of his class, learned an important lesson while in school: keeping his life in balance.

The young scholar—he completed his career at Crespi with a 4.625 GPA—was also an outstanding member of his swim team and has played piano for many years.

At first, all that juggling was tough, Tsay acknowledged.

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“I had to decide how to balance my social, athletic and academic lives," he said. "During my time at Crespi, I learned to adapt a better attitude towards working.” 

How did he do it?

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“Rather than complain about how tedious a certain task would be, I try to start working on something as soon as possible, which leaves time for other activities,” he said.

Apparently, Tsay's time-management practices paid off, because he is headed to UCLA in the fall.

He credits his schools with giving him a good foundation for achievement. Before attending Crespi, Tsay graduated from St. Jane Frances de Chantal in North Hollywood, a Carmelite school for grades K-8.

“Attending two Carmelite schools gave me a strong moral foundation to carry on to college and my future," said Tsay. "More specifically, attending St. Jane Frances de Chantal gave me a good feel of what a Christian community is all about, and Crespi taught me the importance of being part of a brotherhood and being a well-rounded man.”

Tsay became active in the school community. He was the president of the Kiwanis Educated Youth (KEY) Club. He completed the Environmental Studies and Outdoor Leadership (ESOL) Sequence, earning honors with distinction. He was also a member of the National Honor Society and was a California Scholastic Federation Gold Seal Bearer.

While at Crespi, Tsay was a recipient of two merit scholarships from the school.  He was a four-year recipient of Crespi’s most prestigious scholarship, the Elijah Leadership Scholarship, and was awarded the Bill Hedlund Memorial Scholarship during his junior year. UCLA awarded Tsay with the UCLA Scholarship Recognition Award.

He was a swimmer all four years at Crespi and was selected as the MVP of the team his freshman and sophomore years. He won the Four-Year Academic Department Award for Science and the Overall Scholar Athlete Award.

Tsay, the son of Ming and Yi Tsay, also has been a pianist since he was young.   

Tsay is excited about entering UCLA. As he moves on with his education, he said he hopes to “mature even more in all aspects, make many lasting friendships and learn a great deal more, both in and out of the classroom.”

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