Three students from this years graduating class of West Seattle High School were singled out by the school administration last week because they represent people who have overcome serious obstacles and have become academic stars. The West Seattle Herald was asked to bring you their stories.

Nicholas Barnecut, 18, is from the well known West Seattle Barnecut family familiar to many for their service station on Admiral Way. He's a three sport athlete and a 3.85 scholar. His obstacle to success was physical.

As he entered high school he was diagnosed with Cushing's Syndrome, described as a growth on the pituitary gland which is about the size of a pea and located at the base of the brain. He underwent surgery to remove it at the end of his Freshman year. During that year he still maintained his fighting spirit and played soccer, and competed in cross country running and wrestling "It was a pretty bitter season in cross country because I was noticeably hurt by that, wrestling is a strength sport and at the end of my freshman year at the worst of my tumor it took away all my muscles. I couldn't even bench the bar." After the tumor was removed a high point came when he finally made the soccer team, though his full recovery took nearly a year.

In a few weeks he will swear into the Coast Guard Academy. "My next nine years are sworn to the Coast Guard. I'm probably going to serve longer than that though. I'm joining the Coast Guard, as opposed to any other branches, because it's a life saving service. I'd like to be a helicopter pilot and do search and rescue or maybe deploy in an operations group which is like a SWAT Team. Seeing the Blue Angels when I was five made me want to go into the military." His four year scholarship to the Academy is "about $365,000," he said. "I feel like I was born for that job."

Barnecut regards his older sister as someone whom he looks up to and inspired him. "When I was a freshman and my sister (Rachel Barnecut) was a senior, she was really good with academics. She majored in engineering just like what I want to do."

He sees the things he's overcome as a learning experience. "One of the things I've really taken up is not believing in self pity. I think no matter what your situation you should still aim high."

Briuktawit "Brooks" Mengistu, 18, is from Addis Ababba, Ethiopia and came here only last summer. "It was really hard and challenging to be in the United States as a senior," even though she had learned english in her home country she still faced language barriers here. "It was really hard to fit in with the seniors here in West Seattle." She focused on her school work, maintaining a 4.0 average.

Her ambition is to be a heart surgeon. "It just fascinates me. I always wanted to be a surgeon and recently I narrowed it down to the heart."

She has a merit scholarship to Pacific Lutheran University awarded to her earlier this year. "it's a part time scholarship depending on my FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) program. She lives with her mother, who does not speak english, so she acts as an interpreter. When Brooks moves out to go to school it will be a big transition for both of them but, "She's happy because she wants me to achieve my dream." While she counts all her teachers at WSHS for helping her she noted that her counselor Tara Vanselow was the most helpful. "I had a lot of questions and I was so confused that I was wondering about a lot of things. She guided me through the things that I should take, and actions I should take. She helped me a lot."

Her achievements now and in the future will be guided by her core beliefs. "I believe in pursuing your dreams because I used to dream, when I was in my country that I would get the best education and become a surgeon. Now that I am steps away from that I feel that is the greatest thing."

Silbee Sanchez, 18, grew up in essentially a single parent home. "My parents separated when I was very young and ever since I was 7 years old I would move back and forth between Seattle and L.A. While I was in elementary school I would move from school to school and now my family is very proud of me because I'm the first one to be graduating from High School," she said. She has a 3.4 GPA.

"I had a lot of other family issues with my parents separating and getting into other relationships and lot of home issues that interfere with school work but I've been able to be involved in school clubs. I've been in FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) a group connected to the Family Consumer Science classes. I did a project my freshman year and I got encouraged to participate in a regional competition and then went on to states and did that every year."

She's been very active in school, kept up her grades while taking care of her younger sister. "I live with my dad and it's like I'm the woman of the house. I have to do some shopping and cooking and take care of my sister. When she was in elementary school I would have to take the bus or walk to go pick her up, like I was her mother."

Sanchez is headed to the University of Washington, majoring in pre-health. "I want to go into women's health. I want to be a gynecologist/obstetrician. My main goal is to deliver babies. That really is fascinating and it's a very important job. I would like to work with women and make them feel comfortable and especially with minorities, relative to health issues."

She said her most helpful person in High School has been her advisor from CAN (College Access Now). Andrea Won. "She helped through the whole college application process. I don't think I could have done it without her because my parents can't help me. She helped me with visiting colleges and to see which majors I would be interested in." Sanchez has a Husky Promise Scholarship which pays for tuition, and grants from FAFSA for room and board.

What has driven her success? "Don't let anyone stop you from reaching what you want," she said, "Having perseverance and to not let anyone put you or your dreams down."