JENNAE DURAN - GARDEN GROVE'S OUTSTANDING TEEN 2010

Jennae is a 17-year-old high school junior at Crystal Cathedral High School in Garden Grove and has been attending private school there since junior high.  During this time she has been a member of the National Honors Society, the Honor Roll, a student led Jazz Ensemble and has received both a Biology and Algebra award. 

Dancing, singing and performing in musical theater productions have always been a passion for Jennae.  She has been trained in classical ballet since the age of four and has had the opportunity to perform with her choir at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry.  Jennae has been cast in several lead roles in her school’s theater productions, including “Cinderella” in Into the Woods and “Laurey” in Oklahoma.  Most recently she was cast as “Mrs. Kelly” in the 2010 production of Annie Warbucks.  Jennae has also performed as a soloist for the Arvella Schuller Scholarship Evening and at the Crystal Cathedral Church and has been the recipient of several vocal and dance scholarships.

Community service is a large part of Jennae’s high school experience as well.  She has volunteered for the Special Olympics, Operation Christmas Child and the Los Angeles Mission.  Most recently she has been trained and appointed as a Donate Life Ambassador for the Costa Mesa Department of Motor Vehicles in order to promote her platform of Organ Donation.

Jennae’s goal at the end of her service as Miss Garden Grove’s Outstanding Teen is to have left a lasting impression in the community by inspiring others to understand the importance of organ and tissue donation and to spread the message that each and every one of us has the power to Donate Life.  She is in the process of coordinating numerous events that will raise awareness about Organ and Tissue Donation and recently participated in the City of Garden Grove’s second annual “Girls Day Out” event.  At this event, Jennae set up an informational booth to promote the cause and distribute informational material regarding the act of organ donation.  She is currently in the process of organizing a Donate Life Awareness Day at the Costa Mesa DMV in order to encourage motorists to register as a donor.

Jennae is both proud and honored to be Garden Grove’s Outstanding Teen and has enjoyed serving the community this past year.  She hopes to be a role model and inspiration to other young girls while promoting her platform of “Organ Donation” throughout the community.